Adam Zagoria covers basketball at all levels. He is the author of two books and an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Sports Illustrated, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide.
By SAM LANCE
Texas has landed one of the top players in the transfer portal in former Oral Roberts guard Max Abmas. The 6-foot, 175-pound guard from Rockwell (TX), announced the move via Twitter.
The highly coveted guard is ranked the No. 8 overall available transfer by 247Sports and No. 45 overall by Evan Miya.
Abmas has already amassed quite the college career at Oral Roberts. After a stellar freshman campaign averaging 14.5 points per game, Abmas took his game to the next level sophomore year. His 24.5 points per game was the best in the entire country and led Abmas to be honored as an AP All-America Honorable Mention.
The past two seasons, Abmas has averages of 24.2 points and 4.2 assists per game. He leaves Oral Roberts 10th in school history with 1,819 total points and fourth in school history with 301 career 3-pointers.
Abmas is most known for his performance in the 2021 NCAA Tournament in Indianapolis, as he helped Oral Roberts advance to the Sweet Sixteen before falling to Arkansas. During the run, he became the first player since Steph Curry in 2008 to score at least 25 points in each of the first three games of the tournament.
As for Texas, this is newly hired head coachRodney Terry’s second pickup in the transfer portal this offseason. He’s looking to build a roster to replicate or elevate last year’s Big 12 Tournament champion, Elite Eight squad. Now, he’s added an elite guard in Abmas, and rim protector in Virginia transfer center Kadin Shedrick to help him do so.
Other notable players locked into Texas’ roster next year include senior forwards Dylan Disu and Brock Cunningham. Texas will also bring in the No. 4 recruit in the class of 2023 — power forward Ron Holland. Point guard Tyrese Hunter and forward Dillon Mitchell have also left the door open to return, but they are testing the NBA Draft waters.
As it stands now, Abmas is the only guard locked into the Longhorns’ roster.
Follow Sam Lance on TwitterFollow Adam Zagoria on TwitterFollow ZAGSBLOGHoops on InstagramAnd Like ZAGS on Facebook
