Texas Basketball: Breaking down transfer guards interested in Horns

Texas does have a habit of taking on projects that are still very talented players under the direction of Smart, who will now be entering his sixth year on the Forty Acres. One name that recently hit the transfer portal that the Longhorns could definitely go after to make their next project, at least over a course of two years, is rising Rhode Island Rams junior shooting guard Tyrese Martin.

In 30 games played last season with Rhode Island, the 6-foot-6 and 205 pound Martin averaged 12.8 points per game, 7.0 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and 1.1 steals, while shooting 42.3 percent from the field, 32.1 percent from beyond the arc, and 66.2 percent from the charity stripe. That amounted to a 2.5 box plus/minus rating and 51.4 true shooting percentage.

There’s clear flaws in Martin’s game, but he has ample room for improvement if he has a more talented supporting cast at his next landing spot. Shooting below 33 percent from beyond the arc for his career and still holding a three-point attempt rate well over 40 percent is a problem. Texas already had enough issues under Smart with poor shot selection and overall efficiency.

Rothstein of CBS Sports reported on March 26 that the list of schools that had interest in Martin spanned all over the country. The highlights of the schools going after him includes the Seton Hall Pirates, Arizona State Sun Devils, Ole Miss Rebels, Louisville Cardinals, Georgia Bulldogs, and Oregon Ducks.