Texas Basketball: 4 immediate impact studs to get out of the portal

Bryce Hamilton, G

It is the Longhorns’ ability to round out the backcourt/wing rotation that could largely determine their fate during the 2021-22 season. Beard has assembled a solid coaching staff and is building a potent roster. But the problem at this moment in time is that the roster is still getting built, and it is far from done.

With senior standout guard Matt Coleman headed for the NBA, and the likes of senior big man Jericho Sims and freshman power forward Greg Brown still determining their draft decisions, a lot still hangs in the balance for this program’s roster.

There’s a rather new entrant to the transfer portal that could help solve at least part of the roster problem for the Longhorns this offseason. Beard could turn to the 6-foot-4 and 205 pound former UNLV Rebels and talented four-star recruit Bryce Hamilton out of the transfer portal for help in solidifying the backcourt rotation.

The two-time All-MWC guard was very solid for the Rebels the last few seasons. In an increased role during his junior campaign, Hamilton averaged a career-best 17.9 points per game, 6.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.3 steals, and 0.1 blocks. And he shot 43.0 percent from the field, 31.3 percent from beyond the arc, and 65.6 percent from the free-throw line.

Hamilton has improved his defensive play over the course of the last three years, and his offensive production has steadied out in the last two seasons. His offensive box plus/minus rating remained well above zero in the last two seasons, and his defensive rating improved each of the last three years too.