Texas basketball flips high-flying two-way F Devon Pryor from LSU

New head coach Rodney Terry added his second commitment to the 2023 Texas basketball recruiting class on July 10. Texas flipped the high-flying 6-foot-7 and 180-pound three-star Houston (TX) PSAT Academy small forward Devon Pryor from the LSU Tigers early this week.

Pryor was originally committed to LSU on May 9, 2023, in the Tigers’ 2024 class. But he will be reclassifying to sign with the Longhorns in the 2023 class after essentially flipping to Texas on the morning of July 10.

The fast-rising two-way wing Pryor was one of the hotter commodities in the 2024 class since the spring. Since late April, Pryor’s recruitment started to blow up as he received offers from the Virginia Tech Hokies, Oklahoma State Cowboys, Penn State Nittany Lions, Colorado Buffaloes, TCU Horned Frogs, and LSU, among others.

Texas basketball lands former LSU wing commit, 3-Star PSAT Academy F Devon Pryor

Once Pryor re-opened his recruitment on July 7, Texas aggressively pursued him on the recruiting trail. Terry and assistant coach Brandon Chappell were in communication with Pryor right after he de-committed from LSU.

Although Texas didn’t offer Pryor until June 28, 2023, Terry was communicating with the in-state wing recruit more than a year ago. Pryor had connections to Terry, both natives of El Paso, TX.

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Terry and the Longhorns hosted Pryor on an unofficial visit last week, before his commitment to Texas and reclassification to join the 2023 class.

Texas gets a lengthy, versatile wing in Pryor

Pryor’s ceiling is much higher than his three-star ranking in the 247Sports Composite (along with all the other ratings from the major recruiting services) would otherwise indicate.

His physical tools and versatility are special. Given his 6-foot-7 height and explosiveness/lateral agility, Pryor’s combination of length and athleticism is unmatched by most other three-star recruits in the 2023 class.

On the offensive end of the floor, Pryor threatens opposing defenders with his ability to shoot off-the-dribble or drive the lane. He can slash to the rim and finish by dunking the ball or using his length to make impressive shots in the paint through contact.

Pryor also utilizes his length to pull up above opposing defenders from the mid-range and deep. He possesses a solid fundamental shooting stroke, consistently draining shots from beyond the arc and the mid-range.

At PSAT Academy, Pryor can play on and off-ball on the wing. He has a good handle on the ball and knows when to pull up and dish it out to an open teammate. Pryor is also a pronounced catch-and-shoot threat from deep and the mid-range.

Pryor’s potential on the defensive end is sky high

On the defensive end of the floor, Pryor’s physical tools and tenacious on-ball pressure make him a force to be reckoned with. Pryor’s wingspan, sticky on-ball defense, and lateral agility give him the ability to be one of the most potent and switchable defenders among wings in this class.

Pryor will be a disruptor on the defensive end at the next level, with the ability to get his long arms in passing lanes to generate turnovers. He’ll also be able to disrupt shots with his length and vertical ability.

Pryor will be electric finishing in transition

Another benefit of Pryor’s quickness, length, and vertical bounce is the ability to get out and run in transition. Pryor utilizes his length to disrupt passing lanes, which results in opportunities to get easy buckets in transition.

Whether Pryor is carrying the ball up in transition or running to the basket to finish at the rim, he will be electric. Pryor can use his quickness to glide past opposing defenders and his insane vertical ability to finish with an electric dunk at the rim.

Areas of improvement

Adding muscle will be the most important area to develop for Pryor. At 180 pounds, Pryor needs to add at least 15 or 20 more pounds of muscle to get his frame to an adequate size to compete at the collegiate level. Getting his weight up will allow Pryor to more effectively fight through contact and finish in the lane on offense.

On the defensive end, adding muscle means Pryor hypothetically can better hold his own in one-on-one defense closer to the basket and on the glass.

Fit at Texas

Pryor will be a developmental wing for the Longhorns that projects to be an impact player in the rotation in two or three seasons. Terry and the Longhorns have the option to develop Pryor’s game and get his weight up in the next season or two. Then, Pryor should be ready to compete for a spot in the starting rotation either during the 2024-25 or 2025-26 season.

He’ll also be able to learn and develop under some experienced and proven wings/forwards among the upperclassmen for the Longhorns this year.

Texas’ projected final rotation for 2023-24 season

Starters

G-Max Abmas

G-Tyrese Hunter

W-Ithiel Horton

F-Dillon Mitchell

C-Dylan Disu

Bench

6-Kadin Shedrick, C

7-Chendall Weaver, G

8-Brock Cunningham, F

9-Chris Johnson, CG

10-Ze’Rik Onyema, PF

11-Alex Anamekwe, F

12-Devon Pryor, SF

Texas’ roster finalized heading into the 2023-24 season

Terry and the Longhorns completed the projected roster heading into the 2023-24 season in the last few weeks. Pryor is the third and final addition to the roster this summer. Texas also added four-star combo guard and former Kansas Jayhawks commit Chris Johnson from the high school ranks in the 2023 class.

Former UCF Knights redshirt senior transfer shooting guard Ithiel Horton was the other addition in the last few weeks for Terry and the Longhorns to round out the roster for next season.

Terry and this staff have done an impressive job assembling this roster for his first year as the full-time head coach heading into the 2023-24 season. After an up-and-down start to the offseason assembling the roster, Texas has put together a group of a dozen scholarship players capable of making another deep postseason run and competing for a Big 12 title.