Big 12 Basketball: 5 biggest takeaways from 2019 recruiting classes

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - MARCH 16: The Iowa State Cyclones celebrate with Lindell Wigginton #5 after he is named to the Big 12 first team after defeating the Kansas Jayhawks 78-66 to win the Big 12 Basketball Tournament Finals at Sprint Center on March 16, 2019 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

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MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – APRIL 08: Texas Tech Red Raiders fans cheer 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 Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

2. Texas Tech becoming a national recruiting power

It’s been a historical 12 months for the Red Raiders program. They went from making the Elite Eight for the first time to make it just recently to the national championship game. Head coach Chris Beard and the staff was busy in between, bringing in the 16th-best overall recruiting class.

Combo guard Jahmius Ramsey is the highest-rated prospect ever to commit to Texas Tech, ranked No. 31 overall. He was a pretty early commit, allowing the team to add several other key prospects. That includes four-star forward Terrence Shannon and power forward Tyreek Smith, who came in just this offseason. Clarence Nadolny and Russek Tchewa are only three-star recruits but so were Zhaire Smith and Jarrett Culver, who eventually developed into first round NBA Draft picks.

The recruiting ability for the Red Raiders extends not only with high school players but also on the transfer market. TJ Holyfield and Chris Clarke shore up the frontcourt this season, while Joel Ntambwe of UNLV has tremendous potential as a sit-out transfer. Texas Tech may never be at the level to be consistently going after five-star prospects like Kansas but grabbing quality transfers can be just as good.

With the Texas Longhorns struggling to take that next level under Shaka Smart, the No. 2 spot in the Big 12 is wide open. As long as Coach Beard is around, the Red Raiders has as good a shot as anyone to be the biggest thorn in the side of the Jayhawks.

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