Since his arrival in Lubbock two seasons ago, Grant McCasland has done a fantastic job getting Texas Tech back on track. The Red Raiders had taken a slight downturn under predecessor Mark Adams, but McCasland’s first two seasons have corrected that course. This program was back in the Big Dance while tying for 3rd in the Big 12 in his debut before advancing to the Elite Eight last season, pushing eventual champion Florida to the brink.
What has become enormous news for the Red Raiders is the return of JT Toppin, the leading scorer and rebounder from last season who’ll continue to be a rising star as a junior. Texas Tech loses a ton of talent to graduation or transfer, including starters Elijah Hawkins, Chance McMillian, and Darrion Williams, but this team does get Christian Anderson back after really solid production as a freshman last season.
As for filling in the holes on the roster, McCasland and his staff have landed a very nice flock of talent from the transfer portal. Former VCU big Luke Bamgboye provides depth in the frontcourt while Villanova’s Josiah Moseley could play big minutes at power forward. A flock of impressive wings fill the rest of this transfer class, with Texas Tech notably nabbing Donovan Atwell from UNC Greensboro alongside Tyeree Bryan out of Santa Clara.
The fifth and final name is the most impressive of the group in LeJuan Watts, a 6-6 wing originally out of Fresno. Watts was the Big Sky Rookie of the Year at Eastern Washington before following coach David Riley to Washington State for this past season. As a sophomore, he became a full-time starter and averaged 13.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game with solid efficiency numbers.
Watts performed at a high level and took that measured step forward as a sophomore, becoming a reliable scorer and distributor in the WCC. He ranked 5th in that league in true shooting percentage with the hopes that he can just as effective an offensive weapon for the Red Raiders. He’ll slide into a major role next to Anderson in the backcourt, giving the Red Raiders a dynamic duo that they’ll depend heavily on moving forward.
Not exactly known as a shooter, Watts is an efficient weapon who can make plays all over the court. He’s most important here not just because of his talent but because the Red Raiders really needed another scoring threat like him. He’s not someone who’s going to knock down several 3-pointers each night, but Watts can score in bunches and facilitate and another fantastic season in Lubbock only happens if he’s on his game this season.