Big 12 Basketball: Top 5 rising seniors for 2018-19

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AUSTIN, TX – JANUARY 17: Kerwin Roach II #12 of the Texas Longhorns slam dunks against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at the Frank Erwin Center on January 17, 2018 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chris Covatta/Getty Images) /

4. Kerwin Roach Jr., Texas

Texas has been relatively underwhelming during head coach Shaka Smart’s three years with the program, going 50-50 with a 23-31 record in the Big 12 play, but Roach has developed from a raw athlete to one of the Big 12’s best players during that time.

Following a slower start to the season, Roach went on to average nearly 15 points per game over the final 17 games of the season, including five games with at least 20 points and four games with at least 15 points and five assists.

That late-season burst earned Roach an All-Big 12 honorable mention and caused him to test NBA Draft waters before opting to return to school and he’s expected to build on that momentum.

Smart’s teams have largely lacked on-court leadership during his time in Austin but that won’t be the case in 2018-19. Look for Roach to step up and become Texas’ full-time go-to guy.

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