Texas basketball projected 2023-2024 starting lineup

Texas basketball starting point guard: Max Abmas

The most impactful addition via the NCAA Transfer Portal this offseason for the Longhorns is the former Oral Roberts two-time Summit League Player of the Year Abmas. The super senior guard is one of the best facilitators and scoring guards in college basketball.

Getting Abmas in the mix takes Texas from a decent backcourt to one that could be the best in the Big 12 this season.

There is a good chance that Terry and the Longhorns go with a starting backcourt that looks more like a three-guard lineup with position-less basketball on offense this season. The backcourt guard duo of Abmas and Hunter will share the ball-handling duties on offense.

But Abmas is the likely candidate to be the primary facilitator of the offense when it’s all said and done this season. Abmas is a proven ball-handler, facilitator, creator, and shot-maker. He averaged 22 points per game, 4.5 rebounds, and four assists last season at Oral Roberts while shooting an efficient 44 percent from the field, 37 percent from deep, and 92 percent from the free-throw line.

While Hunter is a capable primary ball-handler and facilitator, he is an inconsistent shot-creator and shot-maker from deep.

Moreover, in the modern age of college hoops, you need a top-tier starting backcourt (i.e., UConn this year and Baylor three seasons ago). Adding Abmas puts the Longhorns over the top as a legitimate postseason contender and a top-20 caliber team.