Big 12 Basketball: Analyzing each program’s 2019 recruiting class

Texas has been one of the nation’s top recruiting programs for the last several years. While the Longhorns have not been tremendously successful on the court under head coach Shaka Smart, their recruiting efforts have been phenomenal. Texas’ 2019 recruiting class features three commits and is ranked at No. 17 in the nation. These three players will all play major roles with the program and it will be interesting to see if the Longhorns take a leap up the national rankings soon. Hiring defensive savant Luke Yaklich as an assistant coach was a great step this offseason.

Texas’ top two commits this season both man the center spot most naturally. Will Baker is the higher-rated of this duo at No. 35 in the nation and he is a true 7-footer with plenty of skill. He can score in a variety of ways and should be one of the top scoring centers in college basketball during this coming season. Texas’ offense will be able to run through him through extended stretches on the campaign while he likely pairs with Jericho Sims in the frontcourt.

Kai Jones is the other big man commit from this class at No. 51 overall. He stands at 6-foot-10 with a lengthy wingspan and oozes athleticism. As a result, there is plenty of defensive potential surrounding this budding star. Jones will be competing with Baker and Sims for a starting spot this season but he should be one of the team’s top reserves if relegated to that role. He has an incredibly high ceiling as a potential NBA big man in the near future.

Donovan Williams is the last commit as a 6-foot-5 shooting guard straight out of the Lone Star State. Williams is regarded as the No. 73 overall prospect in the class and brings plenty of physicality to the wing. He should be a great fit in Texas’ defensive scheme and this could make him a valuable contributor right away. There are not a ton of proven wing pieces on the Longhorns’ roster so Williams could crack the rotation relatively quickly.