On Wednesday, the Texas Longhorns basketball program grabbed the spotlight on the national stage when they received the commitment of big man Myles Turner. Turner is the No. 4 overall recruit for the 2014 basketball recruiting class according to 247sports.
What does this commitment mean for the Texas program?
1. High expectations
Whether it’s in academics or in athletics, everyone has high expectations on the 40 acres – high expectations is the standard. The difference now is that those same high expectations extend nationally for the Texas Longhorns. Jeff Borzello of CBSSports.com says that Texas is a solid top 10 team. These basketball expectations are the standard a football school dreams about but rarely realizes.
Unlike football, basketball is a long season – particularly so when carrying the mantle of national expectations. Especially early in the season, I expect the Longhorns to drop a few games that they’re favored to win. However, doing so won’t remove them from the conversation for a regular season Big 12 title, a conference tournament championship or even a potential trip to the Final 4.
2. Cameron Ridley is skipping all throughout campus
http://www4.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Cameron+Ridley+uk3OI_aHgnBm.jpg
photo credit: zimbio.net
Okay, maybe that’s a bit of an exaggeration but he has to be a very happy guy right now. Ridley’s offensive forte is strictly on the low post – he doesn’t step out and make jump shots like Myles Turner. Having Turner in the Texas offense is going to stretch defenses, in the same way Jonathan Holmes did this season when his shots were falling.
The key for Cameron Ridley now is that he’ll have both Turner and Holmes with him on the floor. The spacing those matchups create will undoubtedly result in more one-on-one scenarios for Ridley on the post. Then he’ll have options to score or kick it out to a teammate for an assist. Essentially the double teams that collapsed on Ridley in 2014 simply aren’t going to be able to do so in 2015.
3. A lockdown on the border?
While everyone loves Kevin Durant, Avery Bradley and Tristan Thompson, they were not players from the state of Texas. Very good players that Texas needed but Longhorns fans love players from their home state.
The State of Texas is regularly producing elite basketball talent, and while Rick Barnes must avoid chemistry problems (2013 comes to mind), he needs to target the blue chip Texas prospects and keep them from leaving the state.
The scholarship numbers and recruiting in basketball is tremendously different than football. Whether it’s from a perception or a roster perspective, Texas can’t afford to miss on elite Texas talent and then have them play in Lawrence, KS. Turner’s commitment will ease the concerns of Texas prospects similar to the effect that TJ Ford had for the program.
Regardless of the outcome of the 2014-2015 season, Myles Turner was a big win for the Texas Longhorns.
