Texas Tech basketball: Daniel Mading commits to Red Raiders
By Doug Winkey
Texas Tech has one of the most veteran-heavy teams in the country. They will get young blood next year with a commit from Daniel Mading.
Texas Tech basketball knows that it’s tough being the second favorite sport in Lubbock. They also have to contend with being the third or fourth most popular program in their own state. The Red Raiders are seventh in the Big 12 under first year coach Chris Beard.
TTU is one of the oldest teams in the country with only one freshman and two sophomores on the roster right now. Their scholarship chart shows seven seniors. Five of those players have played in over 20 games. Only Quinnipiac transfer Giovanni McLean has failed to make a real impact and I believe DePaul transfer Tommy Hamilton IV is redshirting.
Recruiting is a big task this spring with so many players leaving. Coach Beard got a boost for his 2017 class when Daniel Mading of New Jersey committed this week.
Mading’s commitment is big for several reasons. First, it raises the team’s class ranking to sixth in the Big 12. The conference has some of the nation’s best recruiters, so every new player helps the program’s national perception. Second, it expands the program’s recruiting footprint into New Jersey, which is not a heavily recruited area in Big 12 circles. Finally, it fills an immediate need with forwards Aaron Ross, Anthony Livingston, and Matt Temple graduating this year. Junior Zach Smith could also leave early with his production this season.
Mading is currently listed at 6’9″, 175, which is a bit thin for a traditional post. His first role will likely be as a reserve with a focus on adding strength. He is the 24th best center in the country and top 10 in the New Jersey/Delaware region. Mading joins Lubbock native Jarrett Culver as the second committed freshman for the Red Raiders. The team will still rely heavily on upperclassmen next year with multiple incoming transfers, but Mading is key for building a sustainable recruiting foundation.
Next: Larry Eustachy making negative headlines for Colorado State
I still have no real idea if Coach Beard is cut out for the Big 12. He has only coached D1 basketball for one season and that was in the less competitive Sun Belt Conference. However, he was a long-time assistant under Bob Knight and his son when they led Texas Tech. The Big 12 is a tough group with which to compete, but Beard considers this a dream job. Getting Mading is a great snag for this program.