Players for Texas Basketball to Target in the Transfer Portal

It’s already been a few weeks since the NCAA transfer portal, but things have been quiet thus far for the Texas Longhorns. No players have joined the program while forward Alex Anamekwe, who hasn’t seen much playing time the past two seasons, is the only player to enter the portal. However, things won’t stay that way for long. Both sophomore forward Dillon Mitchell and junior guard Tyrese Hunter could consider going pro. That would create even more roster vacancies on top of Max Abmas, Dylan Disu, Kadin Shedrick, Brock Cunningham, and Ithiel Horton exhausting their eligibility.

With so many players set to leave the program, the Longhorns have some work to do. They don’t exactly look like a good bet to win the SEC next season in their first season in a new conference. Before placing any bet, use USA Legal Betting as a resource to learn more about where sports betting is legal and what sportsbooks best fit what you want.

Of course, Texas fans should remember that a quiet portal isn’t necessarily bad news. A year ago, Rodney Terry took his time finding Shedrick and Abmas in late April, Chendall Weaver and Ze’Rik Onyema in early May, and Horton during the summer. Terry could follow a similar timeline this year. Of course, with at least half a dozen roster spots opening up, the Longhorns could become quite active in the portal. With that in mind, here are some players Texas could target in the transfer market ahead of next season.

Eddie Lampkin, Colorado

Lampkin should be a familiar name for Texas fans from his days at TCU. He spent last season at Colorado, helping the Buffaloes win a First Four game and then upset Florida in the NCAA Tournament. Lampkin is a big bodied center who has one year of eligibility left and could help the Longhorns replace the loss of players like Disu and Cunningham in the frontcourt. He averaged 10.6 points and seven rebounds per game last season, making him a proven commodity in the post.

Micah Peavy, TCU

Peavy is another player who Texas fans should remember, as he’s played at both Texas Tech and TCU. He’ll also test the NBA waters but could easily return to college for another year and find a new home. The 6’8’’ forward is another candidate to replace a player like Disu. Of course, he’s more of a wing player than Lampkin, who is a true big man. After averaging 10.9 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game for TCU last season, Peavy would likely make an immediate difference for the Longhorns.

AJ Storr, Wisconsin

Storr is another player who will test the NBA waters while also seeking a new home if he returns to college. He began his career at St. John’s before spending last season at Wisconsin. The 6’7’’ forward averaged 16.8 points per game for the Badgers, making him one of the best players in the transfer portal. Texas will have to compete with programs like Kansas, Illinois, and Oregon if they want Storr to come to Austin. However, the Longhorns nearly earned his commitment out of the portal last year, so they might have a leg up in catching one of the biggest fish in the portal pond.

Brendan Wenzel, Wyoming

There is an obvious theme here with Texas seeking frontcourt players. But the Longhorns also need backcourt help, which is why a player like Wenzel is on the radar. The San Antonio native considered Texas coming out of high school, potentially giving the Longhorns the inside track. He’s a bigger guard at 6’7’’ who showed obvious improvement in each of his seasons at Wyoming. Wenzel averaged 11.6 points per game and shot 37.7% from the perimeter this past season. He’s the classic example of a player who has excelled at a mid-major and is now ready to contribute at a program like Texas for one year.

Jestin Porter, Middle Tennessee

Porter also fits the mold of a mid-major product who could do big things at a place like Texas. While a little undersized at 6’1’’, that didn’t stop the Houston native from averaging 13.9 points per game at Middle Tennessee this past season. While Porter isn’t a pure point guard, he’s a great scorer with two years of eligibility left, so he wouldn’t be a one-and-done player with the Longhorns. That could make Porter a more attractive option for a Texas team that is set to underdog a lot of roster turnover this offseason.