Texas Basketball: 3 most important returning players so far this offseason

The NCAA Transfer Portal has already commanded part of the headlines for head coach Chris Beard and the Texas basketball program in the early phases of this offseason. Texas has lost a trio of notable players to the transfer portal already this offseason.

Those three losses to the portal for Beard and the Longhorns this spring includes the sophomore defensive standout point guard Devin Askew, senior guard Courtney Ramey, and junior big man Tre Mitchell. None of these three Longhorns transfers have found their next home out of the portal yet this offseason, though.

However, Beard and the Longhorns have brought back some key players that will be integral parts of the roster next season. Texas has actually brought back more pieces than originally anticipated and we haven’t even hit the month of May yet.

Most important Texas basketball players that declared they’re returning for one more season

Texas is still waiting on a decision from the potential to-be seventh-year senior shooting guard/wing Andrew Jones as to whether he will return for one more season in college. But the rest of the Longhorns players from last season’s team have arrived at a decision for their next steps this spring.

That brings about an interesting conversation about how Beard and the Longhorns staff plan to build out the roster for the remainder of this offseason. If nothing else, though, at least Texas is getting back some key pieces to help Beard continue to establish the foundation for the future of this program.

With that in mind, here’s a look at three of the most important returning Longhorns players for next season.