Texas Tech Basketball: 2019 forward Tyreek Smith adds needed frontcourt depth
There have been some roster turnover for Texas Tech Basketball in the frontcourt. Good news is that 6’8 forward Tyreek Smith has been added to the team.
After decommitting from Texas A&M after a head coaching change, four-star 2019 forward Tyreek Smith has decided to play for Chris Beard and Texas Tech Basketball. He picked the Red Raiders over both the Aggies and Oklahoma, who made a strong push towards the end.
Originally from Cedar Hills in Texas, Smith came into the national spotlight the last two years and especially after a big senior season. He averaged 17.5 ppg, 12.3 rpg and 2.9 blocks a game at Trinity Christian High School. All of the local D-1 schools in the region came calling, with Texas A&M originally winning the battle.
Now it’ll be Texas Tech who gets to add them to their roster, joining an already stacked group of recruits. It pushes the Red Raiders to a top-15 overall 2019 class, currently No. 1 in the Big 12 (expect a Kansas signee to change that though). The 6’8 forward operates more so in the paint offensively but projects to be a good defender – something a Texas Tech big man must do under Coach Beard. He’ll have to extend his shooting range to be a more valuable rotation piece but his physicality and toughness will serve him well versus Big 12 opponents.
It’s an important move for the team to get Smith, after the recent decision by top 2019 JUCO forward Khalid Thomas to reopen his recruitment. The Red Raiders did get great pickups, landing grad transfers Chris Clarke and TJ Holyfield. But with them both being seniors, it was important to land a player that not only will have a small impact this upcoming season but an even bigger one years down the road.
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If we’re comparing just Smith and Thomas as players, it’s a drop-off in talent when it comes to immediately contribute. But this could pay off in the long-term for Texas Tech, as the incoming freshman looks like an under-recruited prospect that could make a bigger impact than expected. Just like the last couple of 1st round NBA picks to come out of Lubbock.