Texas Basketball: Horns in ‘heavy’ pursuit of transfer DeVante Jones

One of the most heavily involved programs in the NCAA Transfer Portal early this offseason is Texas basketball. Newly hired former Texas Tech Red Raiders head coach Chris Beard is putting good work in the transfer portal thus far in the midst of a plethora of change within the program.

Beard and the Longhorns have experienced a plethora of volatility both in terms of roster attrition and on the recruiting trail in the last few weeks. That was to be anticipated, though, with an abrupt complete change in coaching regime after a once-promising season came to an end early in March Madness.

Texas doesn’t look like they’re going to be done in the transfer portal anytime soon, though. With the transfer portal playing such a big role in the configuration of some of the top major conference rosters around the country this offseason, the Longhorns are taking center stage in the national headlines.

And a new name is coming to the forefront for Beard and the Longhorns out of the transfer portal at this point of the season. According to a report from 247Sports this week, former Coastal Carolina Chanticleers standout guard DeVante Jones has an interest in taking his talents to the Forty Acres next after putting his name in the transfer portal earlier this offseason.

Texas basketball among the finalists for DeVante Jones

There are four reported finalists in line to land a commitment from Jones out of the transfer portal this offseason. And Texas is one of those four finalists. The other three are the Michigan Wolverines, Baylor Bears, and Memphis Tigers.

Here’s more on what this 247Sports piece had to say about the Longhorns pursuing Jones out of the transfer portal.

"“I love what they’re doing with the program and the people they brought in like the point guard from Kentucky. I feel like Askew and I can play alongside each other with one having the ball in hand while the other being that creator. I feel like that could be a good spot for me if I did decide to come back to college. They’re doing something big over there so I can definitely see Texas being in my final three, final five, or whatever the case may be.”"

If the Longhorns were to land Jones, that would be their fourth addition out of the transfer portal already this offseason. Texas has already landed commitments from the former Kentucky Wildcats freshman guard Devin Askew, junior Utah Utes forward Timmy Allen, and junior Creighton Blue Jays forward Christian Bishop.

Jones is a two-time All-Sun Belt Team selection and the 2020-21 Sun Belt Player of the Year. He would truly be able to make an immediate impact for Texas out of the portal if he were to land on the Forty Acres.

In 26 games played with Coastal Carolina last season, Jones averaged 19.3 points per game, 7.2 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 2.8 steals, and 0.2 blocks. And he shot 48.7 percent from the field, 36.8 percent from beyond the arc, and 86.2 percent from the free-throw line.

Texas finished up last season with a record of `19-8 (11-6 Big 12) under the direction of former sixth-year head coach Shaka Smart. Then Smart bolted Austin to take the head coaching job with the Marquette Golden Eagles, who was then replaced by Beard on April 1.