Texas Basketball: 3 early star transfer portal targets this offseason

K.J. Williams, PF/C

Another big man that could help make an immediate impact for the Longhorns that the staff could add out of the transfer portal this offseason is the former Murray State Racers senior power forward/center K.J. Williams. It’s obvious that the Longhorns need help in the frontcourt unit.

It’s more specific than Texas just needing more depth in the frontcourt unit this offseason, though.

Texas has some specific needs to address in the frontcourt unit that could dramatically upgrade the roster next season. That includes adding rim protection and more emphatic inside scoring. Getting some rebounding help, especially on the defensive end of the floor, wouldn’t hurt anything for the Longhorns either.

And this is where targeting Williams out of the transfer portal could come in handy for Texas. He would check a lot of the boxes that the Longhorns have to fill among their needs in the frontcourt unit.

Williams is a 6-foot-10 and 245-pound rebounder that ranks among the better rebounders in the mid-major conferences (averaged around 8.5 boards per game this season). He’s also a pretty solid defender (averaging around 1.5 steals and one block per game this season).

You also can’t overlook the inside scoring ability that Williams brings to the table. The reigning Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year just averaged around 18 points per game, with the bulk of that scoring coming within six feet of the basket.

Williams could be a nice fit for the Longhorns. Really the only downside in the skill set he brings to the table is the fact that he likely won’t be one of the best rim protectors that emerges among big men in the portal this offseason. He is more of an average rim protector for a 6-foot-10 big man.

All in all, though, Williams would clearly be a worthwhile transfer portal target that could make a big splash right away on the Forty Acres.