When it became clear that players from the 2022 high school class would be on the verge of getting a 5th year through various lawsuits across states, a few teams appeared to be clearly trying to get multiple players. One of them was the Texas Tech Red Raiders, who had just 10 players on the roster a couple of weeks ago and several open spots.
The first commit for Texas Tech during this stretch was Jamichael Stillwell, a 6’8 forward from UCF. He averaged 11.6 ppg and 8.2 rpg last season and is a proven Big 12 player. Stillwell can play both the four and five-spots and will likely be the team’s starting center while All-American JT Toppin recovers from his torn ACL injury.
NEWS: NC State transfer forward Darrion Williams has committed to return to Texas Tech, he told @On3.
— Joe Tipton (@JoeTipton) August 7, 2026
The 6-6 senior averaged 14.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game this past season. Williams previously earned First Team All-Big 12 honors during his first stint with… https://t.co/7MUM87I7i8 pic.twitter.com/DxZcfvukzI
The next player to join the Red Raiders is a familiar face, as Darrion Williams is set to return to the program. He started 67 games for them from 2023-25, averaging 13.3 ppg and 4.6 rpg, shooting 39% from three-point range. The 6’6 forward transferred to NC State a year ago, where he went on to lead the team with 14 ppg and 4.6 rpg, shooting 40% from deep on nearly six attempts a game.
Williams is one of the best 3-and-D players in college basketball, and his ability to shoot the ball at a high clip makes him invaluable. He and Toppin were a dynamic duo in the Big 12 in the past, and with Stillwell joining the mix, it’s shaping up to be one of the best frontcourts in the nation.
This doesn’t even include the two previous portal commitments earlier in the offseason. Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn (20.7 ppg at UNLV) and Cruz Davis (20.1 ppg and 4.7 apg at Hofstra) were two of the top-scoring guards in the country and could be the starting backcourt. Or, one of them could be the 6th man if Texas Tech managed to get Donovan Atwell (13.5 ppg) back for another year. He’s also suing for another season of eligibility and likely will be available as well.
If Atwell ends up returning along with who else the Red Raiders have on the roster, they’ll go from being unranked in most past preseason polls to a top-10 or even a top-5 ranking to open the 2026-27 campaign.
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