Texas Basketball: Why Arthur Kaluma is the most important team transfer for 2024-25

While things might be stabilizing at Texas, this upcoming season will certainly be quite the experience for the Longhorns. Coming off another trip to the NCAA Tournament under head coach Rodney Terry, the Longhorns transition into the SEC, becoming new members of one of the nation’s toughest basketball leagues. They’re already familiar with toughness from their extended run in the Big 12, though that’s not the only change coming to Austin this year.

The changing landscape in college basketball plays a part, but there’s not a ton of returning faces from last year’s squad. Max Abmas and Dylan Disu are both onto professional ball while fellow starters Tyrese Hunter and Dillon Mitchell transferred in the offseason. The two most notable returners for the Longhorns are forward Kadin Shedrick, who had previously transferred from Virginia, and Chendall Weaver, who did solid work as an underclassman.

Fortunately there’s no panic in Austin, as Terry and his staff had a productive offseason with several additions from the Transfer Portal. The Longhorns nabbed both Jayson Kent and Julian Larry from last year’s explosive Indiana State squad. They also landed Tramon Mark, the former Arkansas guard who could be one of the biggest gets of the offseason. Another notable addition is Jordan Pope, an Oregon State guard who did big things as an underclassman in the Pac-12.

While the focus could’ve been on either of those last two names, we’re instead thinking about the impact that Arthur Kaluma will make this season. A 6’7 forward originally from Boston, Kaluma spent his first two collegiate seasons playing on some very talented Creighton squads. A double-digit scorer in both seasons, he then transferred to Kansas State and was equally productive, averaging 14.4 points and 7.0 rebounds for career-best numbers as a junior.

After success in both the Big East and Big 12, Kaluma becomes one of the major new pawns as Texas adjusts to life in the SEC. Kaluma is a talented scorer and rebounder and could possibly lead the Longhorns in both categories as a senior. He had significant postseason experience with the Bluejays and has proven he can be a winning contributor. He’s also coming off the best long-range shooting season of his career, even during a disappointing campaign for Kansas State.

Year one in a new league is difficult for any team; don’t let Houston’s Big 12 title last season teach you anything different. There’s a major influx of new talent and there’s certainly going to be an adjustment for this staff. The new faces in town will lead the show, and it wouldn’t be a shocker to see major numbers from Kaluma in this frontcourt.

We’re not quite sure how all of these pieces will come together, but there’s reason to believe that Texas can compete for a league title and get right back into NCAA Tournament shape. There’s significant talent among these new pieces, with Kaluma and Mark among the most important. Does this team have enough to make waves as new members in the SEC? Does Kaluma transition flawlessly to life at his third school?