Texas has signed another major piece from the transfer portal for next season.
Former TCU forward David Punch - a major contributor of 14.1 points and 6.8 rebounds per game for the Horned Frogs this past season - has made his commitment out of the transfer portal to the Texas Longhorns.
It's the second major pickup for incoming second-year head coach Sean Miller after Texas inked former Colorado guard Isaiah Johnson days prior.
Punch was a Big 12 honorable mention this season and, like Johnson, was a four-star transfer portal recruit by On3's metrics this cycle. Both are considered to be fringe NBA Draft prospects a year from now.
For a Longhorns team that has already lost Dailyn Swain to the NBA Draft process after its remarkable Sweet 16 run, these reinforcements are a massive win for maintaining the program's competitiveness and solidifying Miller's place among the top recruiting circles.
In offseason rankings, Punch's commitment has propelled Texas up to No. 2 in the transfer portal class standings, according to 247Sports.
But perhaps the biggest bonus of Punch's addition is in completing the frontcourt alongside 7-footer Matas Vokietaitis, who came on strong for the Longhorns in the postseason.
The Lithuanian center announced his return to Texas for the 2026-27 season, and joining Punch, can fortify one of the best one-two punches in the country ... pun intended.
Vokietaitis made a massive impact in his first year in Austin averaging 15.6 points and 7.1 rebounds per game while shooting an impressive 66.9 percent from the floor.
He started 36 games and quickly became one of the most reliable frontcourt players in the conference, especially as he grew more comfortable in Texas’ system.
That growth showed up in the biggest moments. During the NCAA Tournament, Vokietaitis delivered 49 points and 27 rebounds across three games, giving the Longhorns a steady force in the paint during their deep March run.
Punch also saw his play increase in the postseason for the Frogs, who upset Ohio State in an 8 vs. 9-seed matchup in the first round of the big dance.
He averaged 25 points per game in two Big 12 tournament outings, then scored 16 points and grabbed 13 rebounds against the Buckeyes. Much of his momentum, however, came to a screeching halt against Duke in Round 2. Punch was held to 1-for-10 shooting for 4 points, 2 rebounds and a pair of turnovers in 30 minutes of play as the Blue Devils moved on.
Despite that rough ending, Punch's college career still holds a bright future as he teams up with one of the game's best pure big men and inherits a fast-growing culture of winning Miller has influenced in Austin.
