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3 new additions that could lead Texas basketball to the Final Four

By Andrew Miller

Tyrese Hunter, Texas Basketball (Photo by David K Purdy/Getty Images)
Tyrese Hunter, Texas Basketball (Photo by David K Purdy/Getty Images) /
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Tyrese Hunter, G

The most hyped-up addition for Beard and the Longhorns this offseason by way of the transfer portal or the recruiting trail is the reigning Big 12 Newcomer of the Year and Iowa State Cyclones stud freshman guard Tyrese Hunter. As one of the elite playmakers and potent two-way guards in the Big 12 last season, Hunter made waves for the Cyclones.

This is another new addition for the Longhorns that found some postseason success on another team last season. Hunter helped lead the Cyclones to an unlikely run to the Sweet 16, including upsets of the six-seed LSU Tigers and three-seed Wisconsin Badgers. Iowa State would eventually fall short to the 10-seed Miami Hurricanes in the Sweet 16, though.

Hunter was insanely impressive, though, for Iowa State in the NCAA Tournament. In his three games in the Big Dance with the Cyclones, Hunter averaged around 14 points per game, five assists, four rebounds, a whopping four steals, and 0.5 blocks while shooting 41 percent from the field and 44 percent from beyond the arc.

If Hunter can find a similar level of production for the Longhorns this coming season compared to what he did in the Big 12 Tournament and NCAA Tournament last season, Texas is going to be in a great spot for this backcourt unit.

And with this projected backcourt duo for the Longhorns this season that features the returning super senior guard Marcus Carr and Hunter, it feels like the sky is the limit for this starting five.

Hunter did have some weaknesses in his game throughout last season, including poor shot selection at times and sometimes forcing plays on offense when nothing is there. But he showed improvement in those regards down the stretch last season as he was only a true freshman.

The positives in Hunter’s game include his raw playmaking and bucket-getting abilities, rebounding, and disruptiveness on defense (averaged two steals per game last season) should be elevated with this supporting cast during the 2022-23 season.

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