Texas Basketball Recruiting: This is how the 2019 recruiting class could look
![NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 21: Head coach Shaka Smart of the Texas Longhorns looks on against the Northwestern Wildcats in the second half of the 2016 Legends Classic at Barclays Center on November 21, 2016 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 21: Head coach Shaka Smart of the Texas Longhorns looks on against the Northwestern Wildcats in the second half of the 2016 Legends Classic at Barclays Center on November 21, 2016 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/8f619fd6ce9df7fad5154f2c9b837e6f09d2cfc2be392fafdafb0142f30d1263.jpg)
No player in this recruiting class for Texas could bring more athleticism and vertical ability than five-star shooting guard and California product Cassius Stanley. Texas was one of the first programs to offer Stanley, and that decision from the coaching staff came with good reason.
Stanley can drive and dunk with the best of them, and could provide an addition to the lineup similar to what ultra-athletic guard Kerwin Roach Jr. does. Although, Stanley should come along earlier in his college career than Roach did. Either way, having Stanley end up as an NBA prospect like Roach has is not the worst of endings.
Most of the prospects here brings something unique that would allow the Texas program to compete at the highest level of the Big 12, and make it far into the NCAA Tournament. Athleticism at the level of Stanley is something incredibly difficult to find on the recruiting trail which means that the Horns should invest everything to bring him into this recruiting class.
Stanley is the perfect fit for what Smart is trying to do, and is as unique of prospect as you’ll find among five-star shooting guards. His shooting ability will come along by way of the respect that opposing defenders will give up for his driving ability. Everything lines up for Stanley to become a star in college.