College Hoops Top 50

Last Year: 23-11; 11-7, Third in the Big 12 Conference, lost in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament

Head Coach: Grant McCasland (Second Year)

Projected Starting Lineup

PG Elijah Hawkins – 5’11”, 160 5th-year Senior

G Kevin Overton – 6’5″, 200 Sophomore

F Darrion Williams – 6’6″, 225 Junior

F JT Toppin – 6’9″, 225 Sophomore

F/C Federiko Federiko – 6’11”, 215 Senior

Experienced Reserves

G Kerwin Walton – 6’5″, 210 5th-year Senior

G Chance McMillan – 6’3″, 190 5th-year Senior

F Devan Cambridge – 6’6″, 210 5th-year Senior

F Eemeli Yalaho – 6’8″, 240 Sophomore

Freshmen

G Christian Anderson – 6’2″, 165

W Leon Horner – 6’4″, 215

So far as debuts go, Grant McCasland made quite a statement in his first season as head coach of the Red Raiders. Jumping up from the mid-major ranks straight into the consuming inferno that is the Big 12 Conference is a tall task, but McCasland managed the feat. With 23 wins and a share of third place in the league, Texas Tech made an admirably smooth transition from the disaster exit of Mark Adams a year prior. 

It’s just that, well, the Red Raiders are still smarting from the way last year ended, too. Tech was smacked out of the Big 12 tournament by an 82-59 margin at the hands of Houston, and followed it up with an 80-67 defeat against NC State in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament. That the Wolf Pack would go on to make a Final Four run came as little consolation to a team which felt it had been in position to achieve more. 

Clearly, McCasland has already learned that in some leagues, one must fight fire with fire. In hopes of ensuring greater success in the year ahead, the Red Raiders have added some strong new pieces. Following a tumultuous year, sophomore guard Pop Isaacs left for Creighton, but McCasland brought in four impact transfers to balance things out. Now, it’s looking like Tech is set to roll at least eight-deep with quality, proven veterans featuring more versatility than last year’s model. Guns up, indeed.

Versatility is sort of a calling card for Darrion Williams. The Mountain West Rookie of the Year two seasons ago at Nevada showed up in Lubbock and immediately proved his worth to McCasland. A great passer, steadily improving inside-out scorer, and fantastic rebounder, Williams makes an impact all over the floor. Despite moving up to the country’s heaviest heavyweight class, Williams got better as his sophomore season went on. 

“The first half of the season I was doing okay, but then once we played UCF at home I went on a good stretch and played with more confidence,” Williams told Draft Digest this summer. “I wasn’t second guessing myself and began to understand how hard it is to play at that level.” Williams posted his fifth double-double of the year in that aforementioned win over Central Florida – he would pile up nine of them on the season. In Tech’s next tilt, Williams hung 30 and 11 rebounds as the Red Raiders thrashed #6 Kansas, 79-50. 

Including those contests, Williams went off over Tech’s final 11 games. He averaged 15.6 points and 9.2 rebounds, and Williams shot an incendiary 55.9% from the land of trey during that span. For the season, the 6’6″ Williams ranked third in the Big 12 in rebounding average. That he’s such a strong playmaker to complement his other good works makes Williams a particularly difficult force to stop. The savvy lefty sees the floor and processes the action very well at both ends of the court, and Williams uses his lower-body strength and quick feet where others rely on bounce or pure brawn. Even when the opponent commits considerable attention towards limiting his damage, Williams finds different ways to help out. He’s the type of player who leads a winning team, and this year Williams is ready to become the Red Raiders’ star. Williams should get to spend more time on the wing with some of McCasland’s newcomers being natural post players, and that means trouble for the perimeter players who will have to try and stop him. 

Though he came off the bench in all but one of his 33 games played, Chance McMillian also averaged double figures for Tech last winter. He’s back for a second and final season in Lubbock, and McMillian is going to be counted on for even more production this time around. A 39.9% career shooter from long range, McMillian hit 65 triples last year, one of three Red Raiders to can at least that many. McMillian also sank a team-leading 90.9% of his free throw tries, helping Tech to rank 12th nationally in team free throw percentage. He loves to shoot from the top of the key or left wing, and McMillian is one of those guys no opponent wants to see heat up. He could well be the team’s 6th man again this winter, but regardless of role, McMillian should play big-time minutes throughout. 

While McMillian was a deep threat off the bench, Kerwin Walton was a concern for the other team as soon as the ball was tipped last year. The former UNC transfer had his most productive season last winter, tying McMillian with 65 triples. Though his role has changed from year to year at each of his stops, Walton has been a flat-out sniper right the way through. His 65 deep balls fell at a magnificent 47.8% rate, and as such, McCasland made sure to keep Walton involved. Per Synergy Sports, Walton was a play finisher for 57% of the possessions when he was on the floor, and he shot 48% on catch-and-shoot opportunities, which was the fourth-best rate in all the land. He also posted the best field goal percentage as a spot-up shooter of any Big 12 player who attempted at least 100 such tries, sinking 63.6% of his looks. 

After ripping up his knee just eight games into his Tech career, Devan Cambridge will return for a redshirt sixth season of college ball. It’s particularly unfortunate that Cambridge suffered the injury by jumping for a rebound and then landing badly on his own teammate. With two healthy knees, Cambridge has proven to be one of the nation’s genuine superfreak leapers, and Tech is hoping to see a return to that form this fall.

The former Auburn and Arizona State forward is something like an aggressive post player trapped in a wing’s body. Quick and springy, Cambridge can guard on the perimeter as well as in the post, and has proven to be a difficult matchup for lots of other players defensively. Last year, he was going to be a vital aid to the Red Raiders as a rim protector, and if he can return to full health, Cambridge will give Tech a trio of dangerous shot blockers for the year to come. He’s a strong finisher around the basket, and Cambridge has built a reputation for highlight-reel dunks. Though he likes the three-ball, the triples don’t always love him back, and Cambridge is a 28.8% career shooter from distance. As of late September, McCasland could give no certain timetable for his return, but that Cambridge’s recovery was going well. Whenever he gets to return to action, Cambridge will do so in a show-stopping way. 

Last year, after Cambridge went down, Tech’s post depth consisted of solid veteran center Warren Washington and a handful of young forwards. It was not an ideal situation – especially with Washington missing time due to injury as well. This time around, Tech should not be constrained into playing small almost all of the time. 

“The things he does and his tenacious ability to go grab the ball defensively, and then he’s got a lot of offensive talent. I’m just telling you, we’re really excited about his ability.”

– Grant McCasland on JT Toppin

The arrival of New Mexico transfer Jadyn ‘JT’ Toppin is one of two proven bigs that McCasland has added to the equation, and it’s possible that Toppin has only scratched the surface of his true potential. The Mountain West Rookie of the Year last winter (see the pattern in Lubbock?) was also the league’s leading rebounder right out of the box. Those credentials aside, Toppin has been dropping jaws and introducing his new teammates to his athleticism and abilities around the rim in summer practice.

“The ball bounced off the rim and Toppin grabbed it from over the top of him (Darion Williams) and pivoted and dunked it with his right hand at the rim,” McCasland related one such instance to The Daily Toreador in late July. “And Darrion Williams looked at me, and I looked him and I was like ‘Yeah.’”

“It’s one thing to watch it on film and watch in games. It’s another thing to be out here and experience. The things he does and his tenacious ability to go grab the ball defensively, and then he’s got a lot of offensive talent. I’m just telling you, we’re really excited about his ability.”

Five Stats Which Tell The Tale (with national ranks)

35.9% – Team 3FG Percentage (62nd)

70.9% – Defensive Rebounding Rate (273rd)

14.9 – Personal Fouls Per Game (32nd)

2.5 – Blocks Per Game (301st)

14.7 – Assists Per Game (68th)

A rangy, strong, and bouncy 6’9″ post player, Toppin shouldn’t be intimidated by the Big 12. In addition to leading the MWC in total boards, Toppin was tops with 132 offensive rebounds – the sixth-highest tally of any player in America. He racked up a spectacular 78 putback tries last season, providing second and even third opportunities for the Lobos to get a score – and Toppin converted 73.0% of the reloads he tapped towards or flushed down the rim, per Hoop-Math. Among the guys who will play in the Big 12 this year and attempted at least 150 shots near the rim last season, nobody shot better overall than Toppin’s 68.0%, per Synergy Sports. 

Toppin also led the Mountain West in blocks as a freshman, and is a huge upgrade to Tech in terms of being a force at the back end who can also slide over to the 4 spot to allow for even bigger lineups. As McCasland’s anecdote alludes to, Toppin has incredibly functional dexterity and body control at both ends of the court, and can swat shots or control rebounds that are well away from the spot he was standing a moment before. He wasn’t great at the foul line (56.5%), but Toppin can shoot the rock. He hit 11 triples at 34.4% last winter, and after working out for NBA Draft scouts this summer, Toppin has a blueprint for further improvements. It’s possible that no Big 12 team added a more promising prospect at a position of such tremendous need than the match of Toppin and Tech, and the folks in Lubbock are expecting great things from their new post star. 

With Toppin on board, Williams in the fold, and Cambridge coming back, the addition of former Pittsburgh center Federiko ‘Fede’ Federiko almost feels like overkill to what has been a thin Tech frontcourt. In his two seasons with the Panthers, Federiko – now the Red Raiders’ second Finnish-born player – started 53 of the 68 games he played and blocked 101 shots along the way. At 6’11”, he can operate at the pivot beside Toppin for stretches, allowing Williams to play the 3 and provide McCasland the chance to play a bigger lineup than Tech has had in years. Though Federiko is tall, he is not particularly wide, and his wiry strength will be tested by the dudes in his new league. There is not a tremendous amount of variety to Federiko’s offensive approach, but he’s hoping to expand that repertoire. Just three of the 156 shots he made at Pitt came from anywhere but the rim, per Bart Torvik, and 72 of them were dunks. Frustratingly, his free throw percentage plummeted from 64.7% as a sophomore to just 41.3% last winter. If Federiko can be efficient at both ends this year, he will be a tremendous asset for a different type of Tech team.

To lead this merry band, McCasland needed a new point guard to replace the graduated Joe Toussaint. Enter Elijah Hawkins, who ranked fourth in the nation in assists for Minnesota last year. The former Howard star hit the ground running in the Twin Cities, helping the Golden Gophers to exceed expectations. Across his first three seasons, Hawkins has racked up 589 helpers, and his 247:90 assist to turnover ratio last winter was the best of his career. A floor general who likes to vary tempos and attack different portions of the defense early in a game to expose weaknesses, Hawkins generally has a plan and executes it. While Hawkins occasionally tries to do too much, his spark has always been a vital event for his teams, and if he can continue last season’s trajectory of fewer miscues despite another hop up in competition it will boost the Red Raiders. A good outside shooter, Hawkins brings 134 career triples and a 37.6% rate from distance to Lubbock. He has been slightly less effective as a scorer closer to the basket, but Hawkins probes the interior of opposing defenses effectively for both buckets and to set up his guys off the bounce. With lob options, versatile play-finishers, and shooters around him, Hawkins should fit right in as the maestro of an improved Red Raider offense. 

Five Out-of-Conference Games to Keep an Eye on

N Texas/Syracuse – November 22

N Texas A&M – December 8

N St. Joe’s – November 21

vs DePaul – December 4

vs Wyoming – November 13

Though Williams might pick up more minutes on the wing and there are already two established 2-guards on the roster, Kevin Overton is a talent who likely will not be denied. The Oklahoma-born Overton spent his freshman season at Drake, but he looked like anything but a rookie most of the time. On NCAA Tournament team, Overton started every game and fit seamlessly as the #3 option in support of star scorers Tucker DeVries, who ended up elsewhere in the Big 12, and Atin Wright, who is now with McCasland’s former North Texas outfit. Standing 6’5″ with a good idea of how to use his length on the perimeter, Overton also has the quickness and mind to become a genuine stopper defensively. He was a productive shooter from the land of trey as a freshman, sinking 62 triples at a 34.6% rate, and Overton showed veteran savvy as a scorer overall. He moves very well without the ball, fights through screens effectively, and cuts to the rim like he means it. Overton made 62.0% of his shots near the rim and a strong 46.5% from mid-range, per Bart Torvik. Tough, efficient two-way play like he showed last year is the key to McCasland’s heart, and it’s only a matter of time until Overton becomes one of the Red Raiders’ most valuable pieces. 

Returning sophomore Eemeli Yalaho will be looking to grow into a more consistent role up front this year, and two freshmen will round out Tech’s depth in the backcourt. The team’s second Finn, Yalaho didn’t play much as a freshman but is reported to have progressed nicely this summer. With a solid frame and face-up shooting ability, Yalaho can offer a different look off the bench. Given his improvements, it’s intriguing to consider what the Red Raiders could do with Yalaho operating opposite Williams and Toppin in a quicker three-forward lineup.

Christian Anderson was ranked as a Top 100 prospect by multiple recruiting services following the conclusion of his prep career, and this summer he won a gold medal. The German-born, Georgia-raised point guard led Team Germany to this year’s FIBA U18 EuroBasket championship, averaging 20.3 points and 5.0 assists for the tournament. He’s fast from one end to the other and quick in tight spaces, and Anderson plays with cool confidence. He’ll probably need to get stronger before making a real impact, but there’s a great deal to like about Anderson as this team’s point man of the future. Leon Horner is more of a wing player, but Tech’s second freshman is a versatile recruit. He can cover a range of players defensively, and Horner has a reputation for bringing great energy to the floor. 

Since taking over in Lubbock, McCasland has impressively regained the momentum Tech had going a couple of years ago. Last year, the Red Raiders played hard, defended well without fouling, and shared the ball effectively. Unfortunately, they often got worked on the glass because they played small much of the time. This year, they’ll have more size and rebounding prowess to hold their own against some of America’s most pugnacious frontcourts. As an unusual bit of fun there is potential for the Red Raiders to face Texas as well as Texas A&M before Big 12 play begins. With tilts against Houston and TCU coming up in-conference, as well, Tech may be able to crown themselves kings of the Lone Star state if they truly fire on all cylinders. A return to the second weekend of March Madness would work just fine, too. That seems like a more attainable goal anyway, and the Red Raiders are fixin’ to ride hard into this year’s Big Dance.