Grading every portal addition for Texas so far this spring
Jordan Pope, G
Quality scoring guards like Jordan Pope don't come along too often in the transfer portal. It's one thing to score over 15 points per game at a mid-major school like Indiana State. But the former Oregon State Beavers sophomore guard Pope scored nearly 18 points per game in just his second season against some quality teams in the Pac-12.
Pope led Oregon State in scoring and assists in each of the last two seasons. He's a quality playmaking guard who scores with volume and efficiency. In Pope, Texas is getting the only guard who scored over 15 points per game, shot over 50 percent on two-point field goals, 37 percent from three, and 85 percent from the free-throw line in the Pac-12 (per Sports Reference).
Texas needed to replace its entire starting backcourt with Abmas exhausting his eligibility and Tyrese Hunter transferring out this spring. Pope gives the Longhorns a true playmaking guard who can initiate the offense, while replacing the scoring and outside shooting its losing with the departure of Abmas.
Grade: A+
Malik Presley, Wing
Texas's most recent portal pickup this spring is former Vanderbilt Commodores sophomore wing Malik Presley, who is returning to his home state for his sophomore campaign. Presley gives the Longhorns more length and athleticism on the wing.
He adds long-term upside as a developmental player who can switch between the two, three, and four, given his length, versatility, and slashing ability. I believe Presley fills the role that sophomore forward Alex Anamekwe did in the forward/wing rotation for the last couple of years.
Presley was the most surprising commitment at the time his pledge was announced a couple of weeks ago. Texas has prioritized targeting impact big men who can play in the low-post on both ends of the floor, which is the biggest remaining need in the portal late this spring.