Texas Tech Basketball: Why both star freshmen should return for another year

Texas Tech will be losing some key pieces from the team’s historic season. But I’ll explain why the youngest ones shouldn’t go.

Texas Tech University has gone further this season than ever before, making it to the Elite Eight for the first time in school history. They ultimately fell to juggernaut Villanova, but the overall positives completely outweigh that off night.

The star of the season was point guard Keenan Evans, who elevated his game to an All-American level. His growth in his final season was noticed by everyone, including NBA scouts, who have him projected as a late first – early second round pick.

But while the senior ball handler got most of the credit, there were two freshmen who did most of the dirty work on both ends.

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At the start of the season, both Zhaire Smith and Jarrett Culver were thought of as mere role players, but each of them became stars in their own right. The duo had the task of not only scoring at least in double figures each night, they also had to guard the top players on the opposing team.

With the season now over, both players have an important decision to make. Both have a future in the NBA, the question will be when do they go? Smith, in particular, will make Red Raiders nervous, as he’s a sure-fire first-round pick if he goes. He has the ideal size at 6’5 and can shoot the deep ball at a 40% clip. Smith certainly can make an impact in the NBA.

But if all things are even (don’t know the financial situation of these players), I would recommend that both players return for at least one more year. Smith and Culver are the only two non-seniors who average over five points a night, so they’ll become the focal points on offense.

They also can easily improve their draft stocks as well. These guys already have the physical capabilities for the next level, and has shown in a small sample size a good level of production. Another big year from both players and the word “lottery” will be involved.

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Texas Tech will lose over 85% of the team’s production if both players decide to leave. But head coach Chris Beard will be able to develop his new crop of players alongside these two stars if they stay and be the new faces of the program. A lot will in riding in the coming weeks of their decisions.

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