Projecting Texas basketball’s starting 5 with Tyrese Hunter
Wing: Jabari Rice
I already mentioned how I firmly believe that the addition of Hunter will really reshape how Beard and his staff configure the starting unit early next season. Texas has many more options to work with at this point of the offseason knowing that Hunter can stake down the job as the starting point guard.
That’s where I believe that the former New Mexico State two-way shooting guard Rice could be a nice fit to slide up to play some minutes as a small-ball wing. The 6-foot-4 and 180-pound Rice definitely has the defensive versatility to play some key minutes at the three.
And this will round out an incredibly disruptive and active trio on the defensive end of the floor in this starting unit with these three guards between Carr, Rice, and Hunter.
Having Rice playing at the three would also give the Longhorns another decent open shooter that could spot up from beyond the arc and hit open shots when the ball is kicked out to him from Hunter when he’s driving the lane. Rice has shown in the past that he is a more than capable shooter from deep on open catch-and-shoot looks.
Moreover, if Beard and the Longhorns are going to take to the route of playing a three-guard lineup in the starting unit, that will reshape how the wing unit is built out. Texas would likely want to add another versatile wing out of the portal this offseason if Rice is going to be the starter on the wing early next season.