Point guard Julian Larry becomes third player to join Texas basketball from the portal Sunday
Thomas Jones
Good things apparently come in threes for the Texas basketball program, which concluded a busy day in the transfer portal Sunday by nabbing former Indiana State point guard Julian Larry.
Texas also welcomed former Indiana State player Jayson Kent and former Arkansas player Tramon Mark on Sunday, revamping the roster and calming concerns from a restless fan base eager for some good portal news.
A Texas spokesperson confirmed all three commitments to the American-Statesman on Sunday evening.
Unlike wing players in the 6-foot-8 Kent and the 6-6 Mark, Larry gives Texas a proven player at the point. A four-year starter at Indiana State, the 6-foot-3 Larry averaged a career-high 11 points and 4.8 assists for a squad that went 32-7, won the regular-season Missouri Valley Conference title and reached the finals of the NIT. He’s shot better than 52% from the floor in each of the past two seasons and better than 45% from 3-point range in that same span. He's averaged 2.9 rebounds and 1.3 steals in his career.
How does Julian Larry fit in with Texas?
Along with Kent (130 career games) and Mark (100), Larry provides plenty of experience with 130 career games. That veteran presence will help offset the loss of Max Abmas, Brock Cunningham, Dylan Disu and Ithiel Horton, all of whom graduated after playing five collegiate seasons.
Larry also will give Texas a true point guard, which they didn’t have this season. Tyrese Hunter has played some point in his three years, but he spent much of this last season off the ball while Abmas handled most of the point-guard duties despite leading Texas in scoring.
Hunter has indicated he will explore his NBA options for a second consecutive year. If he does return to Texas, he’ll likely join Larry, junior Chendall Weaver and incoming freshman Tre Johnson in a loaded backcourt rotation.
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More portal news to come for Rodney Terry?
Texas has only lost little-used guards Chris Johnson and Gavin Perryman as well as backup forward Alex Anamekwe to the portal, but the Longhorns did miss out on incoming freshman Cam Scott, a four-star guard who received his release from his letter of intent to play at Texas last week.
Terry and his staff hosted Kent and Larry over the weekend, and they are reportedly set to host former Oregon State guard Jordan Pope this coming weekend.
The team could still use some help in the paint, especially if Dillon Mitchell declares for the NBA draft after starting for the past two years. Returners Kadin Shedrick and Ze’Rik Onyema are the only other two scholarship players at the power forward or post positions.