Yesterday, Texas Tech received the letters of intent from Keenan Evans, Norense Odiase, Justin Jamison and Davaugntah Williams to join Justin Gray and Zach Smith.
Texas Tech Adds Four: Texas Tech added four additional players to their 2014 recruiting class (via Texas Tech). Yesterday, Texas Tech received the letters of intent from high schoolers Keenan Evans and Norense Odiase and JUCO players Justin Jamison and Davaugntah Williams. All of their information and links are below in the table. These four players join two other players that signed last year in Justin Gray and Zach Smith.
Best Class Ever (Not Really, But In a Really Long Time): This may be the best class for Texas Tech basketball since before I can remember with every player being rated a 3-star by 24/7 and head coach Tubby Smith talks about two of his big men, Justin Jamison and Norense Odiase (LAJ):
"They understand how to play," Smith said. "They were taught the game. They’re good passers and willing screeners. Both have excellent touch around the basket with their right and left hand. They’re bulky, something that we need. The size and the bulk for the loss of players that graduated. See both of those guys playing and contributing a lot. In the Big 12, you better have an inside presence. They both do."
And head coach Tubby Smith said that replacing the frontcourt was the primary key (via DT):
"Our most pressing issue was trying to find some size, especially with the loss of Kader Tabsoba, Dejan Kravic and Jaye Crockett," Smith said. "We lost some real frontcourt size there. Not only were they big, but they were mature and older players. How do you replace that? You try to find good players that have that type of talent, and we think we did that in this recruiting class."
Evans Gets the Call, All That And Next: Richardson Berkner G Keenan Evans is set to join Texas Tech and he should be a big-time combo guard for Texas Tech, one that can play the point and shooting guard positions (via DMN):
"I was practicing and my dad said I got a call," Evans said. "We’d talked with (Tech assistant) Coach Pooh Williamson but I got on the phone with Coach Smith and he said I was the kind of guard he needed to score and run his offense and he was offering me a scholarship. That gets your attention."
In some bad news, F Aaron Ross re-injured his knee, the same one that sat him out all of the 2012-13 season, and will be out until January. Get well soon.
Right now there are two open scholarship spots after the transfers of Jordan Tolbert and Dusty Hannahs. There's also the possibility of a transfer, or maybe the coaching staff will save the spots until next year. I think this would give Texas Tech three spots for next year if they don't use these scholarships.
2014 Class
GUARDS
JUSTIN GRAY
SHOOTING GUARD
HT/WT: 6-4/180
HIGH SCHOOL: Berkeley Prep (Tampa, FL)
VIDEO: Clip 1 | Clip 2
RECRUITING SERVICES: Rivals | Scout N/R | ESPN 80 | 24/7 Sports 85
CUMULATIVE RANKING: 0.8381
VTM PROFILE DATE: October 4, 2013
OFFERS: Harvard, S. Florida, Stanford, Texas Tech and UCF
KEENAN EVANS
POINT GUARD
HT/WT: 6-3/170
HIGH SCHOOL: Berkner (Richardson, TX)
VIDEO: Clip 1
RECRUITING SERVICES: Rivals | Scout | ESPN 69 | 24/7 Sports 83
CUMULATIVE RANKING: 0.8344
VTM PROFILE DATE: October 16, 2013
OFFERS: Colorado, Colorado St., Fresno St., North Texas, Texas St., Texas Tech Utah St., UTEP, Western Kentucky, Wichita St.
DEVAUGNTAH WILLIAMS
COMBO GUARD
HT/WT: 6-3/205
JUCO: Missouri State-West Plains (West Plains, MO)
VIDEO: Clip 1
RECRUITING SERVICES: Rivals N/R | Scout N/R | ESPN N/A | 24/7 Sports 85
CUMULATIVE RANKING: 0.8500
VTM PROFILE DATE: March 10, 2014
OFFERS: Arkansas, Iona, Loyola Chicago, Kent St., Southern Miss, Texas Tech and UTSA
FORWARDS
ZACH SMITH
SMALL FORWARD
HT/WT: 6-7/205
HIGH SCHOOL: Plano East (Plano, TX)
VIDEO: Clip 1
RECRUITING SERVICES: Rivals | Scout N/R | ESPN N/R | 24/7 Sports 70
CUMULATIVE RANKING: 0.700
VTM PROFILE DATE: October 6, 2013
OFFERS: Creighton, Marquette, Nebraska, San Jose St., St. Bonaventure, TCU, Texas Tech, UTEP, Washington St., Wright St.
JUSTIN JAMISON
POWER FORWARD
HT/WT: 6-9/260
JUCO: Missouri State-West Plains (West Plains, MO)
VIDEO: Clip 1
RECRUITING SERVICES: Rivals N/R | Scout | ESPN N/A | 24/7 Sports 84
CUMULATIVE RANKING: 0.8400
VTM PROFILE DATE: March 11, 2014
OFFERS: Florida St., Kent St., Oregon, Pittsburgh, SMU, TCU, Texas Tech, Wichita St.
NORENSE ODIASE
POWER FORWARD
POSITION: Power Forward
HT/WT: 6-9/265
HIGH SCHOOL: Elev8 Sports Academy (Delray Beach, FL)
VIDEO: Clip 1
RECRUITING SERVICES: Rivals N/R | Scout N/R | ESPN N/A | 24/7 Sports 84
CUMULATIVE RANKING: 0.8163
VTM PROFILE DATE: March 16, 2014
OFFERS | Georgia, Old Dominion, Texas Tech and TCU