3 former 5-Star recruits Texas basketball should target in the portal

Patrick Baldwin Jr., SF

The third and final standout freshman on this list that could be an excellent portal target for Beard and the Longhorns this offseason is the Sussex, WI, native, and first-year small forward Patrick Baldwin Jr.

The difference between Baldwin and the other former five-star recruits on this list is just how highly touted he was coming out of high school. Baldwin was a top-five rated recruit in the country coming out of Hamilton High School in Wisconsin this past recruiting cycle. He’s not all that far removed from filling the mold of an elite forward.

Baldwin is clearly an NBA-caliber talent, and the Longhorns could be able to take advantage of the opportunity of having this level of skill available in the portal this spring. If Baldwin is open to communication with Texas this spring, this is something that Beard and his staff should jump on immediately.

What Baldwin showed coming out of high school was the profile of an elite lengthy scorer that can be a threat from essentially every level of the halfcourt offense. He improved late in high school in terms of his ability to pull up off-the-dribble while being able to create his own shots from almost anywhere on the offensive end of the floor.

But the 6-foot-9 and 220-pound frame that Baldwin brings to the table, combined with a high level of athleticism, makes him an excellent wing/forward to matchup on the defensive end too. He’s a smart player off-ball and a very disruptive defender on-ball.

Baldwin is another example of an elite talent showing up in the transfer portal that could find his path to the NBA. If he finds the right fit with Texas, this would be a tremendous addition that could dramatically change the shape and potency of this rotation.