NCAA Basketball: Graduate transfer TJ Holyfield down to five schools
Texas Tech Red Raiders
After making it to the national title game, the Red Raiders are going to have to retool their roster after losing several key players. One of them includes Tariq Owens, a grad transfer from St. John’s who was one of the best defenders in all of NCAA Basketball last season. Another great big man defender in Norense Odiase also graduates, leaving Texas Tech in need of some bigs.
They do bring in 6’9 forward Khalid Thomas, one of the top Junior College transfers in the 2019 class. But like the struggles of Deshawn Corprew showed this team, not all JUCO’s make as big of an expected impact. The team has been out in the transfer market, looking at several grad transfer bigs to come in immediately.
That’s why the Red Raiders have made the full court press for Holyfield, who is an ideal fit for the team’s system. He’s not as good as a defender as Owens was but he’s the best available frontcourt player on that end of the court. The Stephen F. Austin transfer is also a better offensive player which is big for a team that loses their best scorer Jarrett Culver.
Holyfield already knows Texas Tech personally, scoring 10 points in 25 minutes before fouling out in the Lumberjacks Round of 64 loss in the 2018 NCAA Tournament. Add to it that the short distance between the schools, the Red Raiders would be a very appealing option.
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Prediction: With no inside info at all, it looks to be a two-horse race between Illinois and Texas Tech when factors such as playing time, familiarity and winning are considered. But unless Holyfield really wants to play for Coach Underwood again, it’s hard to see a grad transfer turn down the national runner up for a team who just finished under .500 this season. Look for Holyfield to make the short trip to Lubbock to play in the Big 12 in 2019-20.