Donovan Dent to UCLA?
When New Mexico guard Donovan Dent entered the transfer portal, it felt like the madness of the offseason had officially begun. Dent has been in contact with nearly every top program across the country, but could the California native be on the verge of returning home? It seems UCLA is gaining significant traction in his recruitment, and at this point, it’s safe to say that a return to California is the favorite.
Donovan Dent would be a tremendous addition to any program, including Texas. However, with the NIL opportunities that schools like UCLA, North Carolina, and Kentucky offer, combined with the benefits of playing for those prestigious programs, it’s hard to see the Longhorns making a serious push in his recruitment. At this stage, it seems unlikely that Texas will be a major factor.
No more Moe Odum:
Moe Odum, the standout guard from Pepperdine, announced on Thursday that he will be taking his talents to Tempe, Arizona, to play for the Arizona State Sun Devils.
In my opinion, Texas missed an opportunity by not pursuing Odum more aggressively. He’s highly efficient in transition, can create his own shot when needed, and elevates his teammates through his playmaking. Overall, it’s an excellent pickup for the Sun Devils, and they’re a team to watch closely as they continue to secure more visits from portal players in the future.
What’s that coming down the track?
It’s Silas Demary Jr., the talented guard from Georgia, entering the transfer portal. Demary had a well-rounded sophomore season, averaging 13.5 PPG, 3.9 RPG, and 3.1 APG. He’s set to be one of the top names to watch at the shooting guard position in this portal window.
Koa to Arizona:
On the Pat McAfee Show on Thursday, five-star power forward Koa Peat announced he will be committing to the University of Arizona to play for Tommy Lloyd’s Wildcats, joining Dwayne Aristode and Bryce James for the upcoming season.
This decision shouldn’t come as a surprise to Longhorn fans, as the chances of Peat committing to Texas were always slim. After a coaching change, it’s rare for a program to land top-tier prospects who were previously recruited by the former head coach. That said, this shouldn’t be seen as a major miss for Texas, as the Longhorns had more pressing needs to address during the offseason.
Putting the pieces together:
Over the past few days, Texas has reached out to James Madison guard Bryce Lindsay and San Diego State center Magoon Gwoth and today was no different as the Longhorns connected with Baylor freshman Jason Asemota.
I like this for two reasons. First, while Asemota’s stats may not be as enticing as some would hope, in the world of NIL, I don’t expect Asemota to be a major financial commitment for Texas, leaving room for further roster upgrades. The second reason is that I view him as more of a developmental addition for Sean Miller and his staff. While it may take time, I believe Asemota has the potential to evolve into the prototypical wing Miller typically develops in his program.
When New Mexico guard Donovan Dent entered the transfer portal, it felt like the madness of the offseason had officially begun. Dent has been in contact with nearly every top program across the country, but could the California native be on the verge of returning home? It seems UCLA is gaining significant traction in his recruitment, and at this point, it’s safe to say that a return to California is the favorite.
Donovan Dent would be a tremendous addition to any program, including Texas. However, with the NIL opportunities that schools like UCLA, North Carolina, and Kentucky offer, combined with the benefits of playing for those prestigious programs, it’s hard to see the Longhorns making a serious push in his recruitment. At this stage, it seems unlikely that Texas will be a major factor.
No more Moe Odum:
Moe Odum, the standout guard from Pepperdine, announced on Thursday that he will be taking his talents to Tempe, Arizona, to play for the Arizona State Sun Devils.
In my opinion, Texas missed an opportunity by not pursuing Odum more aggressively. He’s highly efficient in transition, can create his own shot when needed, and elevates his teammates through his playmaking. Overall, it’s an excellent pickup for the Sun Devils, and they’re a team to watch closely as they continue to secure more visits from portal players in the future.
What’s that coming down the track?
It’s Silas Demary Jr., the talented guard from Georgia, entering the transfer portal. Demary had a well-rounded sophomore season, averaging 13.5 PPG, 3.9 RPG, and 3.1 APG. He’s set to be one of the top names to watch at the shooting guard position in this portal window.
Koa to Arizona:
On the Pat McAfee Show on Thursday, five-star power forward Koa Peat announced he will be committing to the University of Arizona to play for Tommy Lloyd’s Wildcats, joining Dwayne Aristode and Bryce James for the upcoming season.
This decision shouldn’t come as a surprise to Longhorn fans, as the chances of Peat committing to Texas were always slim. After a coaching change, it’s rare for a program to land top-tier prospects who were previously recruited by the former head coach. That said, this shouldn’t be seen as a major miss for Texas, as the Longhorns had more pressing needs to address during the offseason.
Putting the pieces together:
Over the past few days, Texas has reached out to James Madison guard Bryce Lindsay and San Diego State center Magoon Gwoth and today was no different as the Longhorns connected with Baylor freshman Jason Asemota.
I like this for two reasons. First, while Asemota’s stats may not be as enticing as some would hope, in the world of NIL, I don’t expect Asemota to be a major financial commitment for Texas, leaving room for further roster upgrades. The second reason is that I view him as more of a developmental addition for Sean Miller and his staff. While it may take time, I believe Asemota has the potential to evolve into the prototypical wing Miller typically develops in his program.
