TCU Basketball: Why Trazarien White is the most important team transfer for 2024-25
By Joey Loose
While they haven’t had a deep postseason run, fortune has smiled on TCU in recent years after decades of basketball dormancy. Head coach Jamie Dixon has been sensational at his alma mater, regularly getting the Horned Frogs in contention in a Big 12 packed with talent. This past season saw them in the NCAA Tournament again, even though that journey ended in the first round. Getting back there won’t be an easy task this year either.
There are a lot of changes for TCU, beginning with the departure of leading scorer and star Emanuel Miller. A few other seniors like Jameer Nelson Jr. and Avery Anderson are also gone, while starters JaKobe Coles and Micah Peavy both transferred in the offseason. Among the returning talent, the most notable name is Ernest Udeh Jr., a backup center with plenty of potential, but clearly Dixon had work to do in recent months.
The Horned Frogs built a new rotation using the Transfer Portal. Dixon and his staff already landed a few freshmen in the frontcourt and added heavily in the backcourt. Among the more notable additions were Frankie Collins, point guard at Arizona, talented scorer Noah Reynolds from Green Bay, and former Kansas State shooting guard RJ Jones, though that’s not quite everyone they added.
The top name of the offseason is Trazarien White, a small forward from the state of Texas who spent the last three seasons at UNC Wilmington after a JUCO season to begin his career. He blossomed into a star for the Seahawks last season, averaging 19.8 points and 6.8 rebounds per game while hitting 39% of his 3-pointers and earning First Team All-CAA honors.
It’s not just that White is the most productive player that TCU added in the offseason, it’s that he fills an important hole in the frontcourt. The Horned Frogs landed six guards and wings with the Transfer Portal and White might be the one they rely on the most. He’s shown an ability to score all over the court, boasted solid rebounding figures, and has the talent to play against stronger opposition. The one question obviously is how he fares with the transition from CAA to Big 12.
If he nails that transition, White can be an All-Big 12 forward this upcoming season. He’s a great shooter and slides right into Miller’s old role in the lineup. We’re not saying to expect that same level of production, especially right off the bat, but don’t be shocked if White is putting up key numbers for the Horned Frogs throughout the season. His experience meshes well with the other new faces in this rotation, even if that experience came at the mid-major level.
dark. Next. Offseason grades for each ACC team. Offseason grades for each ACC team
You could argue that Collins could be more vital to TCU’s success and it’s possible that one or more of these new additions becomes a better scorer than White. Still, he’s an elite mid-major talent who’s demonstrated his ability and could excite in Fort Worth in the coming months. Did the Horned Frogs add enough in the offseason to get back to the Big Dance? Does White have what it takes to play strong basketball in the Big 12?