Texas Tech basketball is facing roster turnover, with key exits, NBA Draft decisions and transfer portal needs shaping Grant McCasland’s plan for 2026-27.
Texas Tech basketball is heading into a pivotal offseason, and the transfer portal is expected to play a major role in shaping the Red Raiders’ 2026-27 roster.
After Texas Tech’s NCAA Tournament run ended in the second round, Grant McCasland and his staff are now juggling roster attrition, NBA Draft decisions and portal recruiting as they try to reload for next season.
The clearest departures come from the senior class. Guard Donovan Atwell, Texas Tech’s third-leading scorer, played all 34 games and gave the Red Raiders reliable production throughout the season.
Tyree Bryan also exits after carving out a steady role off the bench, averaging 17 minutes per game and providing veteran depth in the backcourt.
The bigger storyline, though, may be what happens with Texas Tech stars Christian Anderson and JT Toppin. Anderson has built serious NBA Draft momentum after a breakout junior season in which he paced the team in several major categories.
Toppin remains one of the most important decisions of the offseason. The standout forward has pro upside, but a late-season injury could impact whether he leaves now or returns for another year in Lubbock.
Texas Tech has already seen movement in the portal. Sophomore guard Leon Horner III entered after appearing in 23 games and averaging roughly eight minutes per outing.
Freshman guard Nolan Groves is also on the move after playing in 23 games with two starts during his lone season with the program.
That leaves McCasland’s staff with obvious needs and potential opportunities.
Red Raiders on SI noted that Texas Tech is expected to pursue a starting-caliber point guard and frontcourt help, with portal names like Saint Mary’s forward Paulius Murauskas, Colorado guard Isaiah Johnson and Louisville big man Sananda Fru standing out as possible fits.
Murauskas averaged 18.4 points and 7.6 rebounds, Johnson posted 16.9 points per game, and Fru added 9.0 points with 6.1 rebounds.
It’s still early, but Texas Tech basketball is clearly entering one of the most important portal stretches of the McCasland era.
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