Texas Tech Basketball: Breaking down the 2019 recruiting class

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - APRIL 08: A view of the Texas Tech Red Raiders shorts prior to the 2019 NCAA men's Final Four National Championship game against the Virginia Cavaliers at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 08, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

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ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 30: Coach Beard of Texas Tech celebrates. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

Tyreek Smith – Cedar Hill, TX

PF | 6-foot-8 | 205 lbs | No. 140 overall

One of the better defending frontcourt players in the 2020 class, Tyreek Smith fills a need for Texas Tech right away. As I have mentioned already, the program has a few frontcourt pieces to replace this offseason and Smith looks poised to fill an immediate role. At 6-foot-8 with above-average athleticism, he is a solid option at the power forward position and he puts a ton of effort into each play.

Smith has not shown a ton of offensive skill to this point but his defensive abilities are well-documented. He has great leaping ability and timing when it comes to blocking shots, rebounds at a high rate, and can defend up or down a position when necessary. He also runs the floor quite well and could develop into a strong rim-running forward in his time in Lubbock. It is important to mention, though, that the Red Raiders will not need him to be an elite scorer right away.

Smith’s defensive abilities will make him a viable option for frontcourt minutes during his first season on campus. Even though Texas Tech is expected to play T.J. Holyfield and Chris Clarke plenty of minutes in the frontcourt, Smith could find a way to find some playing time, maybe even as a small-ball center for some rotations. Either way, he will be a major piece of the puzzle after those two graduate following the 2019-20 season.

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