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Texas Basketball: 5 reasons Courtney Ramey, Jaxson Hayes best Big 12 freshmen duo

By Andrew Miller

AUSTIN, TEXAS - JANUARY 19: Jaxson Hayes #10 of the Texas Longhorns reacts as Brady Manek #35 of the Oklahoma Sooners walks by during second half action at The Frank Erwin Center on January 19, 2019 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chris Covatta/Getty Images)
AUSTIN, TEXAS - JANUARY 19: Jaxson Hayes #10 of the Texas Longhorns reacts as Brady Manek #35 of the Oklahoma Sooners walks by during second half action at The Frank Erwin Center on January 19, 2019 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chris Covatta/Getty Images) /
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AUSTIN, TEXAS – JANUARY 19: Jaxson Hayes #10 of the Texas Basketball Longhorns reacts as Brady Manek #35 of the Oklahoma Sooners walks by during second half action at The Frank Erwin Center on January 19, 2019 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chris Covatta/Getty Images)
AUSTIN, TEXAS – JANUARY 19: Jaxson Hayes #10 of the Texas Basketball Longhorns reacts as Brady Manek #35 of the Oklahoma Sooners walks by during second half action at The Frank Erwin Center on January 19, 2019 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chris Covatta/Getty Images) /

There are two emerging freshman stars in the fold for Texas basketball at a pivotal point of the Big 12 slate with Courtney Ramey and Jaxson Hayes.

At this point of the regular season, Texas basketball is hoping to ride the strength of its starting five that is rolling of late to get a good seeding in the NCAA Tournament. What the looming concern for Texas basketball is right now is the cap it has for seeding for Selection Sunday. Texas basketball seemingly has a set floor and ceiling with its resume with only a handful of regular season games left.

A big run in the Big 12 Tournament would be much needed for Texas basketball to reach beyond about a seven or eight seed. But, the strength of the starting five and some of the quality wins on the resume would put the floor for them around a 10 or 11 seed, barring a complete meltdown. We wouldn’t put it past this Texas basketball team with the level of inconsistency in this regular season, though.

What’s providing such a spark for Texas basketball at this point of the Big 12 slate is the play of a pair of freshman starters. That duo of standout true freshmen for Texas basketball is made up of forward Jaxson Hayes and point guard Courtney Ramey.

Neither Ramey nor Hayes was a starter at the outset of the 2018-19 regular season. But, solid play and faith from head Texas basketball coach Shaka Smart landed them in the starting five at the latter stretch of Big 12 play.

And, amid a season of turmoil and the seat heating way up under Smart at times, making this move to give bigger roles and increased playing time to Ramey and Hayes was an absolutely fantastic coaching decision. He should get some credit for at least doing that.

Here’s a look at the five reasons why the freshmen combination of big man Jaxson Hayes and guard Courtney Ramey for the Texas Longhorns is the best in the Big 12.

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