NCAA Basketball: Analyzing new options for 5-star 2022 recruit Enoch Boakye

While the Longhorns haven’t had the greatest win-loss record under head coach Shaka Smart (until this season), they do have a history of sending talented centers into the NBA Draft. There’s a real chance that tradition continues this year, with both freshman forward Greg Brown and sophomore forward/center Kai Jones getting 1st round buzz.

Assuming both depart and Jericho Sims graduates as a senior, that leaves just seldom-used reserve Kamaka Hepa in the frontcourt on the current roster since Will Baker transferred at the beginning of the season. The team does have a pair of forward commitments in the 2021 class, including four-star big David Joplin.

However, neither he nor three-star prospect Keeyan Itejere are true five-men. And with Damion Collins off to Kentucky, the potential options for a talented center for Texas are starting to get slim. Barring an offseason transfer pickup, Boakye could reclassify and come right in to get immediate minutes.

And this would be a nice partnership, as the Longhorns system would work well for Boakye on both ends. And if he’s not a surefire “one and done” guy, Texas could have an effective center for multiple years as they reload the roster. This is an under-the-radar option that makes sense on paper, so don’t be shocked if there are talks between them.