SEC Basketball: 2024 offseason grades for each team
By Justin Wiles
Texas Longhorns - Grade: A+
Much like its former Big 12 counterpart Oklahoma, Texas has had an extremely busy offseason. Along with joining the SEC, Texas saw a large portion of its roster leave after the NCAA Tournament. The team's top four scorers are no longer with the team. Max Abmas and Dylan Disu ran out of eligibility. While Dillion Mitchell and Tyrese Hunter opted for the transfer portal.
What Texas was able to do this offseason can only be described as impressive. Rodney Terry took a change in conference and the changing roster in stride and brought in some of the better players in the portal to help improve his team.
Texas added five players who averaged double-digit points last season. Arthur Kaluma averaged 14.4 points at Kansas State, Jordan Pope averaged 17.6 points at Oregon State, Julian Larry averaged 11 points at Indiana State, Tramon Mark averaged 16.2 points at Arkansas, and Jayson Kent averaged 13.5 points at Indiana State. Kaluma, Larry, and Kent all found success at their previous schools as second, third, or even fourth scoring options. While Pope and Mark were both main options.
Rodney Terry didn’t only build a strong offense this offseason. Many of the transfers are solid defenders as well. Arthur Kaluma is a strong wing defender with good length and athleticism. Tramon Mark has quick hands and forces steals and turnovers. And Jayson Kent is a solid defender inside and out. And with Kadin Shedrick returning for his final year, Texas should have a strong post presence on both ends of the court.
It’s hard not to like what Texas did this offseason. Rodney Terry brought in a truly balanced transfer class to build on the success the Longhorns had last season. Even with the Longhorns joining the SEC this offseason, Texas should see success right away.