Texas Tech continues to add talent to their program, and they did so once again this afternoon. Recently, they added a graduate transfer in PF TJ Holyfield, a graduate transfer (And former Top 100 player) in SF Chris Clarke, and now a near Top 100 recruit in PF Tyreek Smith.
Here are his measurables:
Tyreek Smith – Power Forward (Trinity Christian, Cedar Hill, TX)
Height Weight 6’8′ 205 lbs Ratings: 89 by 247sports (153rd overall, 24th PF) / 81 by ESPN / 4-star by Rivals (101st overall, 18th PF) / 92.88 by 247composite (140th overall, 25st PF)
Interest: Texas Tech (Warm), Houston (Warm), LSU (Warm), Oregon (Warm), TCU (Warm)
Much like a lot of the commitments over the past couple months, Texas Tech recruitment of Smith wasn’t serious until after the season. Smith was committed to Texas A&M in September and signed in November, but was released once Billy Kennedy was canned. That’s when the Red Raiders appeared on his radar.
He started getting renewed interest from several teams in late April, which included the teams above along with Kansas State, Oklahoma, Ole Miss and Tennessee among others. Houston got an official visit the first weekend in May, followed by the Red Raiders last weekend. However, that would be his last visit, which is typically a good sign for the last team that player visited.
Shortly after that, we found out Josh Mballa was transferring out, Chris Clarke was transferring in, and Khalid Thomas was going to play ball elsewhere. This meant that a Smith commitment was very likely, especially since Thomas, Mballa and Smith were all power forwards.
Then, this afternoon, Smith became the 12th scholarship player, the ninth newcomer and the 10th player to commit to Texas Tech this cycle (Thomas before he decommited). Although positions aren’t too important because of positional basketball, he would be the fourth big man on the roster along with Holyfield, Tchewa and Savrasov. Here is what he can do on the court:
When I watch Smith’s highlights, the thing I like the most the athleticism, which is pretty much what Beard is looking for this class. Tech lost a shot blocker in Owens, and it looks like that is Smith’s strong suit. He also looks like he lives in the paint and is a strong dunker.
One thing I don’t notice is any jumps shot. Everything in the first film above seems to be dunks, and the second video shows a few lay-ups, but no jumps shots. That’s not a huge deal though, because big men aren’t always shooters and players like Owens, Odiase and Hamilton have expanded their range in their time at Tech.
Chris Beard doesn’t have many weaknesses, but it seems developing young big men hasn’t been his strongest skill. But Smith does have the talent and has a chance to make an impact right away. If he can’t Holyfield is experienced and Texas Tech does have a lot of taller small forwards. Small ball seems to be what Beard is best at anyway.
Here is an updated recruiting table following Smith’s commitment.
Texas Tech Basketball Commits
| Position | Player | Ht/Wt | School/Hometown | Composite | Commitment |
| Guard | Kevin McCullar | 6-5/180 | Wagner (San Antonio, TX) |
90.63 | July 5, 2018 |
| Center | Russel Tchewa | 7-0/255 | Putnam Science Academy (Putnam, CT) |
86.28 | October 11, 2018 |
| Guard | Jahmius Ramsey | 6-4/190 | Duncanville (Duncanville, TX) |
98.80 | November 8, 2018 |
| Forward | Andrei Savrasov | 6-9/215 | Orenberg, Russia | N/R | January 28, 2019 |
| Forward | Terence Shannon | 6-6/185 | IMG Academy (Bradenton, FL) |
96.72 | March 11, 2019 |
| Guard | Clarence Nadolny | 6-3/190 | Scotland Performance Institute (Scotland, PA) | 86.78 | April 29, 2019 |
| Forward | TJ Holyfield | 6-8/227 | Stephen. F Austin University | NR | May 11, 2019 |
| Guard | Chris Clarke | 6-6/205 | Virginia Tech | 97.65 | May 15, 2019 |
| Forward | Tyreek Smith | 6-8/205 | Trinity Christian HS (Cedar Hill, TX) |
92.88 | May 18, 2019 |
| Position | Player | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guard | Matt Mooney (6-3/200) | ||||||||
| Davide Moretti (6-2/175) | |||||||||
| Jarrett Culver (6-5/195) | NBA | ||||||||
| Kyler Edwards (6-3/200) | |||||||||
| Kevin McCullar (6-5/180) | |||||||||
| Jahmius Ramsey (6-4/190) | HS | ||||||||
| Clarence Nadolny (6-3/190) | HS | ||||||||
| Forward | Brandone Francis (6-5/215) | ||||||||
| Deshawn Corprew (6-5/210) | |||||||||
| Khavon Moore (6-7/215) | TR | ||||||||
| Josh Mballa (6-7/215) | TR | ||||||||
| Tyreek Smith (6-8/205) | HS | ||||||||
| Andre Savrasov (6-9/215) | |||||||||
| Terrence Shannon, Jr. (6-7/185) | HS | ||||||||
| TJ Holyfield (6-8/230) | TR | ||||||||
| Chris Clarke (6-6/215) | TR | ||||||||
| Center | Norense Odiase (6-8/250) | ||||||||
| Malik Ondigo (6-10/215) | TR | ||||||||
| Tariq Owens (6-10/205) | |||||||||
| Russel Tchewa (7-0/255) | HS | ||||||||
| TOTALS | 13 | 12 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 0 |
13 scholarships each year | Black Box = Scholarship Year | Red Box = Redshirt Year | HS = Playing high school | JC = Playing junior college | TR = Transfer | NBA = Declared for NBA Draft