Texas Basketball: 3 immediate impact signees in the 2021 class

3) 2021 Texas basketball signees who can make an immediate impact: David Joplin

Since the lone signee in the Longhorns 2020 recruiting class was the highly coveted local product Brown, a power forward, adding depth at the position might not seem like a huge key in the 2021 class. But the likely possibility that Brown will be a one-and-done player on the Forty Acres makes it key for Smart to not pass up the potential to bring in more power forward depth in the 2021 class.

That’s why the importance of the Longhorns signing prospects like the 6-foot-9 and 190 pound big man Itejere and the four-star Brookfield Central power forward David Joplin is so significant. Texas is also getting very different forwards out of Itejere and the 6-foot-7 and 215 pound Wisconsin native Joplin in this class.

Itejere is more of a traditional big man that can run the paint on both ends of the floor. Meanwhile, Joplin is a bit more versatile, with the shooting stroke and overall quickness to expand his game more to what could potentially appeal to the modern NBA.

Joplin does need to have more polish to his game, but he’s a good shooter already and a solid two-way forward. He’s also hits the glass hard and could be a very reliable rebounder and one-on-one defender for the Longhorns once he arrives to campus next year.

What Texas is getting out of Joplin is the nation’s No. 112 2021 high school prospect, No. 22 power forward, and No. 4 prospect out of Wisconsin (247Sports Composite). The Top247 ranks him as the nation’s No. 59 high school prospect, No. 15 power forward, and No. 4 prospect out of Wisconsin.

Joplin picked Texas over offers from nearly a dozen other schools. The other highlighting schools on his offer sheet includes the Butler Bulldogs, Georgetown Hoyas, Iowa State Cyclones, Minnesota Golden Gophers, Mizzou Tigers, and Vanderbilt Commodores. He committed to Texas back on Aug. 16, 2020.