Texas Basketball: 3 reasons DeVante Jones should choose Longhorns

Assume a starting guard role while Devin Askew develops

The ability to make an immediate impact is something that could happen for Jones at most any of the finalist schools that he has in mind at the moment. But he could replace the senior standout Texas guard Matt Coleman in the Longhorns starting five were he to take his talents to the Forty Acres next.

Texas does have a gap to fill in their starting five with Coleman potentially leaving for the NBA. And while there is certainly the potential for Askew to come in and earn a starting spot next season, that might take some time for the former five-star recruit to fit into that level of a spotlight.

Jones already has the proven experience from his time with Coastal Carolina that he can truly be one of the most productive and efficient guards in the Big 12. Last season, Jones registered a sparkling 28.9 player efficiency rating, 6.3 box plus/minus rating, and .280 win shares per 40 minutes.

Meanwhile, Askew has not proven himself to nearly the same extent in a starting role as of yet. His freshman campaign at Kentucky did show progress down the stretch, but there’s still a significant level of improvement that he needs to show before Beard can have enough confidence that he’s good to go.

An ideal situation for Jones, Askew, and the Longhorns could be if the former Chanticleer could assume the starting role in the backcourt rotation to fill the void of the departed Coleman. Then, Askew could develop and potentially fill that role in the 2022-23 season, or beyond.