Gerry Hamilton

Welcome to the OTF community @Joe Zura will bully me and you from time to time … but he’s very funny

No. Ben Henshall was in the NBA draft and pulled out ... his ask was over 1mill ... but at the end of the day Henshall told colleges he doesn't really want to do the school thing. We shall see if that changes, but he may opt for overseas big contract and then to the NBA. The Texas staff preferred another big over a guard after having the guys in workouts. Especially a multi-year guy

Haha

Rothstein has Texas at No. 24 to start

Sean Miller is going to be more position less basketball, team runner in year one. Tramon Mark is the team runner. He's actually good at it in a quality system IMO Simeon Wilcher and Jordan Pope are more CG's. Texas will run some offense through Dailyn Swain at times too. He's really good at making reads and plays. There are a lot of teams playing and ascending without the old school PG types. Florida just won an NC without a true PG. Houston was in the NC game with team runners more than a pure PG. Sean Miller will sign more of a true PG/elite team runner at Texas too in the future IMO.

Totally agree that basketball is a quickness sport in terms of movements for guards and wings. I would just say there are a lot of players in the NBA without elite athletic ability. And there are a lot with very good athletic ability, and some with slightly above average athletic ability that just know how to play and maximize every ounce of ability. There are a lot of players making a boat load of money in the league that aren't elite athletes, but those guys have developed skill and playing the game the right way at such a high clip We are a little different on Duru ... I see a high-level athlete with length on the court as a developing 18 year old ... His whole key will be the ability to shoot the ball long term IMO. He shot 36.5-37% from international three (college line) in recent tournaments. That's quality for his size/age as a floor spacing four. If he becomes a 38-40% three-point shooter, he will likely be on the board as a potential/likely NBA draft pick after 2-3 years in college.

You said elite athleticism … In terms of elite athleticism… Florida Gators had zero Clayton is a plus lateral movement athlete, but not pro elite in terms of vertical ability or quickness. 1st rounder Alijah Martin … not a pro elite athlete when compared to others in agility and vertical pop. Second round pick None of the Gators bigs will turn in pro elite athleticism testing numbers, but Condon will be drafted for sure and Hough likely will be IMO, knowing how to play is just as important. And the ability to create floor spacing through range in the current game

For the athleticism convo … this was Duru’s vert testing numbers as a 17-18 year old … This was NBA Combine numbers this year for all forwards in the draft in standing vert and max vert

How many elite athletes did the National Champion Florida Gators have last year in your opinion?

He didn’t decide to come over until later. He had a lot of interest if he had made the decision earlier (Baylor, Illinois, etc…) What will hurt him in year one is not getting to Austin until August. You act like everyone doesn’t have any development left as a player sometimes. Blows my mind to be honest.

https://www.espn.com/espn/feature/story/_/page/bracketology/ncaa-bracketology-2026-march-madness-men-field-predictions

On Duru … where he begins at Texas and possible impact he could make year one out of the gate will come down to Codie and John Clark … where they are at by August. They should be well ahead to start

No. Roster is complete

Duru will report in August.

Texas beat Oklahoma, Colorado and some others for him

Declan Duru’s IG https://www.instagram.com/declan_durujr?igsh=azFpMm80ODJtNzk=

Rotation player year one, but a guy that will impact winning. His ability to shoot the ball as a stretch four is key in year one.

OnTexasBasketball on IG … if you don’t folllow https://www.instagram.com/p/DL2akN9gU7w/?igsh=cmpudzNwOXRhZ28w

Future NBA draft pick level pickup IMO ... From NBAdraft.net Notes: Measured: 6’8″ (w/o shoes), 8’8.25″ standing reach, 223 lbs, 7’0″ wingspan, 31.5″ standing vert, and a 38.5″ max vert at the 2024 Basketball Without Borders Europe …

Texas 2025-26 roster... Tramon Mark, CG, 6-6, Gr. (10.6 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists) Simeon Wilcher, CG, 6-4, junior (8.0 points, 1.9 rebounds, 1.4 assists) Jordan Pope, CG, 6-0, senior (11.0 points, 2.0 rebounds, 1.7 assists) Chendall Weaver, G, 6-3, senior (6.9 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.4 assists) Dailyn Swain, F/G, 6-8, junior (11.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.6 steals at Xavier) Camden Heide, F, 6-7, junior (4.7 points, 3.6 rebounds, 39.2% from three at Purdue) Matas Vokietaitas, C, 7-0, sophomore (10.2 points, 5.4 rebounds at FAU) Lassina Traore, C, 6-10, senior (11.9 points, 10.3 rebounds, 1.2 assists in 2023-24 at LBSU) Declan Duru, PF, 6-9, freshman Nic Codie, PF, 6-9, sophomore John Clark, PF, 6-8.5, freshman Lewis Obiorah, C, 7-1, freshman

As a player ... can really shoot the ball as a stretch four with athleticism and a strong presence. After 2-3 years, an NBA draft prospect IMO

He is expected to impact the team. Not saying starter or 12 and 5 per game, but he's going to help Texas win games year one.