Texas Basketball Recruiting: NCSU commit Jalen Lecque made wrong decision?

What the 2019 Texas basketball recruiting class is lacking for backcourt talent and depth would be solidified with four-star CG Jalen Lecque.

The ability of the 2020 Texas basketball recruiting class to get off and running here soon will largely depend on what happens in the NIT Semifinals. Interestingly enough, there’s a host of teams that the Texas basketball program was both in competition with on the recruiting trail and on the hardwood in this year’s NIT bracket.

The number programs that the Texas basketball program was in competition with on the recruiting trail for the 2019 cycle that also was in the NIT field is pretty stunning. That list includes the NC State Wolfpack, Xavier Musketeers, TCU Horned Frogs, Wichita State Shockers, and the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

However, NC State is a key program here to highlight in competition with the Texas Longhorns basketball program on the recruiting trail. NC State was knocked out of the NIT Quarterfinals by the Cinderella-story of this tourney so far with Lipscomb. Now, Lipscomb will face up against Wichita State on its side of the NIT bracket for the semis.

Texas basketball gets a Big 12 foe in TCU in the NIT Semifinals on April 2 at Madison Square Garden in New York City following its dominant win over the Colorado Buffaloes. What this NIT run could be showing for Texas is that some key targets of the 2019 recruiting class could have made the wrong decision.

We have to consider that 20/20 hindsight is always something that wins the day logically, but doesn’t play a factor in reality on the recruiting trail. But, a decision that one of the biggest guard targets for this 2019 Texas basketball recruiting class should have some level of regret by now.

The talented four-star New Hampshire native combo guard Jalen Lecque announced his commitment to NC State and signed his National Letter of Intent last fall. Lecque committed to the Wolfpack over competing suitors like the Kentucky Wildcats, Tennessee Volunteers, and the Texas Longhorns basketball program.

That decision from Lecque also came while the Longhorns were hitting their stride during non-conference play. Head Texas basketball coach Shaka Smart should’ve played a bigger role in his final commitment and signing decisions.

However, as good as all this sounds, the decision made for Lecque is already locked in. He signed his letter of intent back on Nov. 3, 2018. But, he’ll be joining an NC State basketball program that could have a tough time competing in the ACC during his career in Raleigh.

Meanwhile, this off-season could be a turning point for the Horns, depending on what happens with the current coaching staff at hand. Either way you look at it, there will be some changes coming to the Forty Acres that are hopefully for the better.

At least the Horns are rounding out this 2018-19 campaign in positive fashion. This successful NIT run, as bad as it sounds, could have a profound effect on the recruiting trail since it was rather quiet of late for the 2019 and 2020 classes.