Sean Miller has assembled the No. 2 portal class in the country. Auburn Transfer Elyjah Freeman is the final piece that completes what could be a preseason top-ten ranking for the Texas Longhorns.
Sean Miller has rebuilt this roster from scratch in a matter of days, and the results are turning heads nationally. With the addition of Auburn forward Elyjah Freeman on Sunday, Texas now holds the No. 2 ranked transfer portal class in the country according to 247Sports, trailing only Louisville. Four additions in one window and the Longhorns look like an early contender to be one of the best teams in the SEC next year.
Freeman fills the most important remaining need on the roster. Dailyn Swain declared for the NBA Draft, leaving the starting wing spot empty heading into next season. Freeman, a 6-foot-8 sophomore with two years of eligibility remaining, slides directly into that role.
He spent last season at Auburn after dominating Division II basketball at Lincoln Memorial as a freshman, and he held his own in the SEC, starting 21 games, averaging 9.2 points and 5.2 rebounds and leading the Tigers in steals. His 4.3 box plus-minus reflects a player who impacts winning beyond raw numbers.
The roster Miller is assembling around Freeman is built for multiple positions of strength. Isaiah Johnson, the four-star Colorado transfer and 247Sports' top-ranked backcourt addition for Texas, averaged 16.9 points on 48.6% shooting as a freshman and projects as a primary scorer.
David Punch from TCU is a physical, switchable forward who finished as the No. 8 overall player in the portal per 247Sports, giving Miller a frontcourt piece who defends everyone from guards to post players.
Amari Evans from Tennessee provides versatility off the bench, capable of playing multiple wing positions.
McDonald's All-American Austin Goosby adds another scoring option at guard. Up front, the combination of Punch and returning center Matas Vokietiatis gives Texas size and range.
Freeman's value on this roster is not in volume scoring. It is in the things that do not always show up in a box score. His length and athleticism at 6-foot-8 allow Miller to deploy a switching defense that can guard multiple personnel groups without breaks in coverage.
His ability to finish at the rim benefits from playing alongside ball-dominant creators like Johnson and Goosby. His rebounding and defensive activity fill the role Swain occupied without requiring him to replicate Swain's offensive creation.
The concerns around Freeman are real. His free throw rate and mid-range efficiency need development and his offensive creation off the dribble is still growing. But on a roster this deep, he does not need to do everything. He needs to defend, rebound and compete.