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NCAA Basketball: Ranking the 10 teams in running for 5-star Daimion Collins

By Tristan Freeman

BROOKLYN, NY - MARCH 13: Shaka Smart of the Virginia Commonwealth Rams calls a play during the game against the Richmond Spiders in the quarterfinals of the men's Atlantic 10 tournament on March 13, 2015 at the Barclays Center in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. The Rams defeated the Spiders 70-67. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
BROOKLYN, NY - MARCH 13: Shaka Smart of the Virginia Commonwealth Rams calls a play during the game against the Richmond Spiders in the quarterfinals of the men's Atlantic 10 tournament on March 13, 2015 at the Barclays Center in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. The Rams defeated the Spiders 70-67. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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LUBBOCK, TEXAS – JANUARY 29: Guard Terrence Shannon Jr. #1 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TEXAS – JANUARY 29: Guard Terrence Shannon Jr. #1 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /

1. Texas Tech Red Raiders

In just four years since arriving in Lubbock, head coach Chris Beard has turned Texas Tech Basketball into arguably the top program in the entire state of Texas. It was done at first with under the radar recruits and transfers but now… the Red Raiders are in five-star territory. That includes notable offseason transfer pickup Mac McClung and No. 1 overall class of 2021 recruit Jonathan Kuminga, who most observers believe will go to Texas Tech if he doesn’t go pro when he decides soon what to do.

As far as the future goes, the Red Raiders are in very solid shape both on the perimeter and the wings. Transfer Jamarius Burton, Kyler Edwards, Terrence Shannon Jr., and incoming top-50 players Micah Peavy and Nimari Burnett create a solid core for both this and next season. The frontcourt has been more of an effort to put together, using offseason grad transfers to provide starters and depth.

UNLV sit-out transfer Joel Ntambwe and VCU grad transfer center Marcus Santos-Silva will be the upcoming starters but there will be a need to find a quality big man in the 2021 class. Of all realistic options, Collins would be perfect for head coach Chris Beard’s system, particularly on defense. Tariq Owens was the defensive anchor on the 2019 national title team and Collins, right now is Owens with 1st round NBA potential. You thought Texas Tech’s defense has been problematic before, imagine what they’ll be with a true athletic center inside.

Next. Expansion candidates for Big 12. dark

While Texas may be the current favorite to land Daimion Collins, look for both Texas Tech and Baylor to make a major run to land him. Depending on the timing of his decision, he could be looking at multiple top-15 programs battling it out in the Big 12. Development of the respective starting centers could be a difference-maker in how this ends up. Either way, this process is a long way from being a done deal.

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