Former TCU forward David Punch is headed to Texas after averaging 14.1 points and 6.8 rebounds, giving the Horned Frogs a major offseason loss.
TCU basketball is losing one of its biggest pieces from last season, as forward David Punch has committed to Texas out of the transfer portal.
For the Horned Frogs, it’s a tough offseason hit after Punch emerged as one of the team’s most productive and reliable players during the 2025-26 campaign.
Punch averaged 14.1 points and 6.8 rebounds per game for TCU and earned All-Big 12 honorable mention recognition after playing a major role in the Frogs’ frontcourt.
His blend of scoring, rebounding and physicality made him one of the most important players on the roster, and now that production is heading to a conference rival.
That stings even more considering how well Punch played when the games got bigger.
Late in the season, he looked like a player taking another step. He averaged 25 points per game in two Big 12 Tournament contests, then followed it up with a strong NCAA Tournament opener against Ohio State, posting 16 points and 13 rebounds in TCU’s first-round win.
While his season ended on a rough note against Duke, where he shot 1-for-10 and finished with 4 points and 2 rebounds, that one game doesn’t erase the impact he made throughout the year.
From TCU’s perspective, this is the kind of portal departure that creates a real void. Punch wasn’t just a rotational piece.
He was a proven scorer, a dependable rebounder and one of the players the Frogs could lean on in meaningful moments. Replacing that production won’t be easy.
Texas clearly saw the value. The Longhorns continue to add portal talent under Sean Miller, and Punch gives them another experienced frontcourt option with upside.
For TCU, though, the story is much simpler: a key contributor is gone, and a rival just got better.
That makes the offseason challenge for the Horned Frogs even more urgent. David Punch helped TCU win games in a major conference. Now the Frogs have to figure out how to replace him before next season tips off.