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A week into his tenure in Austin, Texas basketball coach Sean Miller has yet to sign a player in the transfer portal.
But expect some news soon as the first wave of player movement sweeps across college basketball. Texas has already hosted several players on campus and via Zoom.
The spring portal window opened March 24, the same day that Texas officials announced Miller as the replacement for the fired Rodney Terry. Miller and his staff have their hands full rebuilding the roster considering five Texas players used up their collegiate eligibility: forwards Arthur Kaluma, Jayson Kent, Ze’Rik Onyema and Kadin Shedrick as well as guard Julian Larry. Wing Devon Pryor has entered the portal, and Tre Johnson, the SEC’s freshman of the year, is expected to declare for the NBA draft any day.
MORE: Sean Miller was the right hire for Texas' future. Here's why. | Golden
That likely leaves Miller with three players — junior guard Jordan Pope, junior guard Chendall Weaver and graduate guard Tramon Mark— as the only eligible returning players who averaged at least 10 minutes a game from a team that went 19-16 and lost to Miller’s Xavier squad in a First Four game.
Pope told the American-Statesman after the Longhorns’ loss to Xavier that he hopes to return to Texas, and Weaver has posted multiple social media posts with Miller and the new Texas coaches.
Mark, a 6-foot-5 guard with one more season of eligibility, has not yet entered the portal and has given no indication of his plans for a final collegiate season.
The rest of the current Texas roster flashed some potential but saw limited action. Nic Codie, a 6-foot-8 forward, played just 5.5 minutes a game as a freshman while 6-11 freshman post Jamie Vinson played in just nine games. Sophomore Malik Presley, a 6-6 wing from San Marcos, redshirted this season after playing in 26 games as a freshman at Vanderbilt in the 2023-24 season.
So how can Miller and his revamped staff start filling the holes in the roster? Let’s take a look at five potential portal targets that Texas has either interviewed or hosted.
The 6-foot-4 junior guard at Xavier earned third-team All-Big East honors this season after he averaged 16.5 points and led the Musketeers with 99 made 3-pointers. He’s been open about his strong relationship with Miller, but Texas has some stiff competition in the portal, considering Conwell visited Indiana on Monday. This could be the first test of UT’s NIL commitment under Miller. Conwell is ranked No. 11 in On3’s portal ratings and is expected to visit Austin this weekend.
More a stretch four than a true big man, the 6-foot-10, 210-pound redshirt junior reportedly included Texas among his top five targets after entering the portal following four years at Nevada. Clemson, Washington, Virginia and Notre Dame are also on the list for Davidson, who's No. 19 in the portal by On3. He averaged 15.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.2 blocks this past season for the Wolf Pack.
Davis, who just completed his sophomore season at Southern Illinois, could fill a hole for Texas if Mark doesn’t return. A physical 6-6, 215-pound guard ranked No. 43 the portal by On3, Davis averaged 16.3 points with five rebounds and 2.6 assists for the Salukis while shooting 38% on 3-point shots. He’s already has had Zoom calls with Texas and DePaul, per reports.
Rebuilding his front court and finding more size seems like an offseason priority for Miller, and Obioha looks like a good fit. The 7-foot, 280-pound big man played his first two seasons at Niagara before transferring to UNC-Wilmington for his junior year. He started 23 of 35 games this season while averaging 9.2 points and six rebounds on 63.9% shooting and showed his ability against stout competition with seven points and had nine rebounds in an NCAA Tournament loss to Texas Tech. He reportedly has a visit scheduled for Texas.
A 6-foot-8 sophomore wing who’s projected as a future NBA player, Swain had a breakout season for Xavier, averaging 11 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.6 assists. The former four-star recruit and one of the top prep players in the state of Ohio for the 2023 class visited Austin on Monday, but the No. 20 player in On3’s portal rankings also has a visit scheduled with Ohio State in his hometown of Columbus, Ohio.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: NCAA transfer portal: 5 players Sean Miller may target for Texas
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But expect some news soon as the first wave of player movement sweeps across college basketball. Texas has already hosted several players on campus and via Zoom.
The spring portal window opened March 24, the same day that Texas officials announced Miller as the replacement for the fired Rodney Terry. Miller and his staff have their hands full rebuilding the roster considering five Texas players used up their collegiate eligibility: forwards Arthur Kaluma, Jayson Kent, Ze’Rik Onyema and Kadin Shedrick as well as guard Julian Larry. Wing Devon Pryor has entered the portal, and Tre Johnson, the SEC’s freshman of the year, is expected to declare for the NBA draft any day.
MORE: Sean Miller was the right hire for Texas' future. Here's why. | Golden
That likely leaves Miller with three players — junior guard Jordan Pope, junior guard Chendall Weaver and graduate guard Tramon Mark— as the only eligible returning players who averaged at least 10 minutes a game from a team that went 19-16 and lost to Miller’s Xavier squad in a First Four game.
Pope told the American-Statesman after the Longhorns’ loss to Xavier that he hopes to return to Texas, and Weaver has posted multiple social media posts with Miller and the new Texas coaches.
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Mark, a 6-foot-5 guard with one more season of eligibility, has not yet entered the portal and has given no indication of his plans for a final collegiate season.
The rest of the current Texas roster flashed some potential but saw limited action. Nic Codie, a 6-foot-8 forward, played just 5.5 minutes a game as a freshman while 6-11 freshman post Jamie Vinson played in just nine games. Sophomore Malik Presley, a 6-6 wing from San Marcos, redshirted this season after playing in 26 games as a freshman at Vanderbilt in the 2023-24 season.
So how can Miller and his revamped staff start filling the holes in the roster? Let’s take a look at five potential portal targets that Texas has either interviewed or hosted.
Ryan Conwell: Could Xavier guard follow Sean Miller?
The 6-foot-4 junior guard at Xavier earned third-team All-Big East honors this season after he averaged 16.5 points and led the Musketeers with 99 made 3-pointers. He’s been open about his strong relationship with Miller, but Texas has some stiff competition in the portal, considering Conwell visited Indiana on Monday. This could be the first test of UT’s NIL commitment under Miller. Conwell is ranked No. 11 in On3’s portal ratings and is expected to visit Austin this weekend.
Nick Davidson: Sharp-shooting Nevada post an outside threat
More a stretch four than a true big man, the 6-foot-10, 210-pound redshirt junior reportedly included Texas among his top five targets after entering the portal following four years at Nevada. Clemson, Washington, Virginia and Notre Dame are also on the list for Davidson, who's No. 19 in the portal by On3. He averaged 15.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.2 blocks this past season for the Wolf Pack.
Kennard Davis: Physical guard seeking bigger platform
Davis, who just completed his sophomore season at Southern Illinois, could fill a hole for Texas if Mark doesn’t return. A physical 6-6, 215-pound guard ranked No. 43 the portal by On3, Davis averaged 16.3 points with five rebounds and 2.6 assists for the Salukis while shooting 38% on 3-point shots. He’s already has had Zoom calls with Texas and DePaul, per reports.
Harlan Obioha: UNCW big man would bring needed size
Rebuilding his front court and finding more size seems like an offseason priority for Miller, and Obioha looks like a good fit. The 7-foot, 280-pound big man played his first two seasons at Niagara before transferring to UNC-Wilmington for his junior year. He started 23 of 35 games this season while averaging 9.2 points and six rebounds on 63.9% shooting and showed his ability against stout competition with seven points and had nine rebounds in an NCAA Tournament loss to Texas Tech. He reportedly has a visit scheduled for Texas.
Dailyn Swain: Promising wing showed potential at Xavier
A 6-foot-8 sophomore wing who’s projected as a future NBA player, Swain had a breakout season for Xavier, averaging 11 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.6 assists. The former four-star recruit and one of the top prep players in the state of Ohio for the 2023 class visited Austin on Monday, but the No. 20 player in On3’s portal rankings also has a visit scheduled with Ohio State in his hometown of Columbus, Ohio.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: NCAA transfer portal: 5 players Sean Miller may target for Texas
Continue reading...
