Texas Basketball: 3 transfers set to become stars for Longhorns in 2023-24
Ithiel Horton, SG/SF
Former UCF Knights redshirt senior transfer shooting guard Ithiel Horton was a big portal addition for Terry and the Longhorns. He was the fifth, and likely final, portal commit for the Longhorns in the 2023 class.
Assuming that he gets the starting spot on the wing heading into next season, Horton will be able to be a significant contributor right away.
Horton gives the Longhorns a proven, experienced, and switchable wing on both ends of the floor. He thrives as an off-ball scorer, which is the role he’ll likely fill on the wing for Terry and the Longhorns next season.
We should expect Horton to get plenty of catch-and-shoot looks from deep, along with ample opportunities to push the pace in transition when the ball is in his hands. He is a very efficient catch-and-shoot threat from deep, shooting 37 percent on those looks last season.
Terry likes his teams to move the ball effectively to create open shots from deep, along with running a lot of pick-and-roll and pick-and-pop plays. He also wants to run fast in transition to put pressure on opponents in the Big 12.
Running fast in transition and creating more open shots will only benefit a proven off-ball scorer such as Horton.
On the defensive end, Horton is versatile and disruptive. He averaged 1.5 steals per game at UCF last season, good for a 2.7 steal percentage (top 10 in the AAC). Horton is also a good rebounder capable of helping the Longhorns win more battles on the glass game in and out.
All in all, Horton is the type of player that can average at least a dozen points per game, five rebounds, and 1.5 or two steals while shooting around 37 or 38 percent from deep. Those are the type of numbers that an All-Big 12 performer posts.
If the Longhorns can get Horton to cut down on the deep contested three-pointers and the late-shot clock heaves, he should dramatically increase his efficiency shooting from deep. And if opponents have to more consistently respect the threat Horton poses from beyond the arc, that will open up more space for him to drive the lane and get to the rim or find open teammates for high-percentage looks.