Could former Texas basketball G Jacob Young re-join the Longhorns?

This is an important point of the offseason for the Texas basketball program as their roster for next season is likely to be heavily constructed out of additions from the NCAA Transfer Portal. Newly hired former Texas Tech Red Raiders head coach Chris Beard has already landed a trio of key transfer portal additions for this program.

That list that has emerged thus far includes the former Kentucky Wildcats freshman guard and elite five-star recruit Devin Askew, junior Utah Utes forward Timmy Allen, and junior Creighton Blue Jays forward Christian Bishop. And there could be more additions out of the transfer portal just around the corner for Beard and the Longhorns.

A particular area of need that’s come to the forefront for the Longhorns out of the portal this offseason is at the point guard position. If Texas is in fact set to lose senior guard Matt Coleman to the NBA Draft, then they will need to find a proven guard to take his place in the backcourt rotation.

Adding Askew definitely could help the Longhorns, but he might more of a long-term potential project than an immediate impact solution at the point guard position.

Jacob Young could bring a familiar face to Texas basketball

A point guard that Longhorns basketball fans are very familiar with from his first two years of his college career is the redshirt senior guard and former four-star recruit Jacob Young. Ahead of the 2018-19 season, Young put his name in the transfer portal and landed with the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in the Big Ten.

Over the course of the last two seasons, Young took his production and effectiveness to a whole new level. Last season, he averaged a career-best 14.1 points per game, 1.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.7 steals, and no blocks. And he shot 46.9 percent from the field, 36.9 percent from beyond the arc, and 72.6 percent from the free-throw line.

A lot of the counting stats, shooting percentage, and advanced metrics that Young registered last season with the Scarlet Knights were good for career bests.

He also registered a career-high 4.8 box plus/minus rating, 17.6 player efficiency rating, .102 win shares per 40 minutes, and a 54.4 true shooting percentage. All but one of those advanced metrics were career-bests for Young last season.

On the surface, it makes a lot of sense for Beard and the Longhorns to pursue Young out of the transfer portal. His familiarity with the program and proven game experience would both be very valuable for this Longhorns team that is losing a ton of depth from last season’s team.

Texas finished up with a record of 19-8 (11-6 Big 12) last season under the direction of former sixth-year head coach Shaka Smart. And then Beard replace Smart as the Longhorns next head coach back on April 1.