Last-minute transfers Texas basketball can target this spring

Berke Buyuktuncel, PF/C*

Probably the most viable transfer target for the Longhorns among the big men available in the portal late this spring is former UCLA Bruins true freshman power forward Berke Buyuktuncel.

It sounds like Terry and staff have already kicked the tires on Buyuktuncel in the portal this spring, which is why there is an asterisk next to his name on this list.

On Texas Football's Gerry Hamilton reports on May 17 (premium content) that Texas "remains in contact" with Buyuktuncel a few weeks after the spring portal window closed in early May. Texas reportedly likes the "skill set and upside" the UCLA transfer brings to the table as a skilled stretch forward who has multiple years of eligibility remaining to be developed in the frontcourt.

Buyuktuncel is a skilled offensively player who can play minutes as a stretch-five in a small ball lineup or as a floor-spacing four who can still protect the rim and rebound at a high level. He is an above-average ball-handler for a 6-foot-9 forward and is likely to become a more consistent shooter and scorer during his sophomore campaign compared to his freshman year at UCLA where he shot 39 percent from the field and 30 percent from deep.

The schools that have already shown interest in Buyuktuncel in the portal this spring are the Nebraska Cornhuskers, Ohio State Buckeyes, Kentucky Wildcats, Iowa Hawkeyes, and Texas, among others.

Buyuktuncel officially visited Nebraska earlier this week. Visits to other interested schools in this portal recruitment like Texas, Kentucky, and Iowa, shouldn't be ruled out either.

The deciding factor for Texas in this portal recruitment could be the push that other major conference schools make to Buyuktuncel. It also matters if the Longhorns can seal the deal with Toppin in the portal in the coming weeks.

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