Texas Basketball: 4 early portal targets the Longhorns are in contact with
TJ Bamba, G
Among the best guards currently available in the portal as of the writing of this article on the evening of April 4 is the former Washington State Cougars standout 6-foot-5 and 210-pound junior floor general TJ Bamba. The Bronx, NY, native is a true NBA-caliber talent that the Longhorns are going after in the portal this offseason.
Weingarten reported on Twitter on March 28 that Texas is one of at least a couple dozen schools that have reached out to Bamba since he originally entered the portal on March 27. A few of the other schools that have reached out to Bamba are the LSU Tigers, Arizona Wildcats, Kansas, Tennessee Volunteers, Arkansas Razorbacks, and UConn Huskies.
Washington State’s TJ Bamba tells @Stockrisers he’s heard from:
— Jake (@jakeweingarten) March 28, 2023
LSU
Arizona
Oregon
Maryland
Illinois
Villanova
Florida
Kansas
St. John’s
Florida State
Tennessee
Mississippi St.
Texas
Clemson
Arkansas
UConn
Colorado
Arizona State
GA Tech
BYU
Xavier
Iowa State
Rutgers
Texas looks to be fighting an uphill battle if it wants to make a serious push in the race to land a commitment from Bamba out of the portal. But this type of talent that can score 16 points per game on 37 percent shooting from deep at 6-foot-5, and while playing at any position between the one and the three, is probably worth pushing for.
Bamba already declared for the 2023 NBA Draft and announced he would be simultaneously entering the transfer portal. If Bamba isn’t selected in the 2023 NBA Draft, he could be a name to watch for the Longhorns to fill depth in the backcourt unit with the likes of senior guard Marcus Carr and Rice running out of eligibility this offseason.