Texas Basketball: Early projected starting lineup in 2024-25

Texas basketball ended its 2023-24 season heartbreakingly, losing 62-58 to Tennessee in the Round of 32. However, the college basketball news cycle never ends, as Coach Terry and his staff have shifted their focus to the 2024-25 season.

For college basketball coaches, April recruiting is two-fold.

Texas basketball faces another offseason of roster-building via the transfer portal

First, and arguably most important, you must convince your current roster to return. Chendall Weaver and Kadin Shedrick have already announced their intentions to return to Texas, whereas Chris Johnson and Alex Anamekwe have hit the portal. Over the next month, we will closely monitor Tyrese Hunter and Dillon Mitchell's decisions.

Second, you must supplement your current roster with additions from the transfer portal. The portal opened on March 18, and more than 1,400 names have entered since then.

For Coach Terry and his staff, Texas must target specific needs rather than reaching out to all of the top names. Last season, the Longhorns brought in five portal additions, four of which were in the postseason rotation.

With the departures of Max Abmas, Brock Cunningham, Dylan Disu, and Itheil Horton, the current Texas basketball roster looks a bit depleted. Coach Terry will need to bring in anywhere from three to five portal additions, depending on what the rest of the roster decides to do.

The foundation for the 2024-25 season is laid in April. I took a look at what I believe the Texas basketball starting lineup will look like in November.

Point Guard: Tyrese Hunter, Senior

Tyrese Hunter's future is undecided as the rising senior mulls over whether to return to Texas, enter the transfer portal, or declare for the 2024 NBA Draft. Word around the Hunter camp has been quiet, so predicting him as the 2024-25 starting point guard is merely a guess.

That said, returning to the Forty seems like the most logical decision for the 2022 Big 12 Freshman of the Year. Hunter declared for the NBA Draft last offseason and, after receiving feedback, decided it would be in his best interests to return to Texas.

Most of Hunter's stats improved year over year at Texas:

• PPG: 10.3 -> 11.1
• APG: 2.5 -> 4.1
• SPG: 0.8 -> 1.3
• FG%: 39.4% -> 45.2%
• 3P FG%: 33.7% -> 34.3%

However, his shooting prowess is still not what it needs to be for an undersized guard in the league.

During Hunter's sophomore year at Texas, he played second fiddle to Marcus Carr. Last season, he played second fiddle to Max Abmas. If Hunter returns for the 2024-25 season, the Racine, WI, native will be Coach Rodney Terry's clear-cut lead guard.