Texas Tech basketball is reshaping its roster after major portal losses, but JT Toppin’s return and three veteran guards give Grant McCasland a strong base.
Texas Tech basketball has already had one of the busiest roster resets in the Big 12, and Grant McCasland’s 2026-27 Red Raiders are starting to come into focus.
The transfer portal has hit Texas Tech hard, especially in the backcourt, but the Red Raiders have also answered with proven scoring, veteran guard play and the biggest piece of all ... JT Toppin is expected back in Lubbock.
Toppin’s return changes the entire feel of the offseason. Before suffering a late-season ACL injury, he was Texas Tech’s top scorer and rebounder, giving McCasland a reliable frontcourt centerpiece on both ends.
If Toppin returns healthy, the Red Raiders have the kind of anchor that can stabilize a roster dealing with heavy turnover.
There’s plenty to replace, though.
Donovan Atwell, Tyree Bryant and Jack Francis are out of eligibility, while Christian Anderson is expected to move on to the 2026 NBA Draft after a breakout sophomore season.
Anderson averaged 18.5 points and a Big 12-best 7.4 assists per game, delivering massive performances in some of Tech’s biggest wins, including 27 points against Duke and 31 against Cincinnati.
Atwell is another major loss after averaging 13.5 points and shooting nearly 46 percent from 3-point range. He also became a bigger late-season weapon after Toppin went down, averaging 19.5 points over a key five-game stretch.
The portal exits are significant, too.
Jaylen Petty, LeJuan Watts and Luke Bamgboye were the biggest departures. Petty, who committed to UCLA, showed real scoring upside as a freshman and dropped 24 points in Tech’s NCAA Tournament win over Akron. Watts is headed to Washington after averaging 11.8 points and six rebounds, while Bamgboye landed at TCU after giving Texas Tech important frontcourt minutes off the bench.
To reload, Texas Tech went directly after guards who can score.
Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn arrives from UNLV after averaging 20.7 points per game and shooting 41.4 percent from beyond the arc. Cruz Davis brings more firepower after averaging 20.1 points and 4.7 assists at Hofstra while earning CAA Player of the Year honors.
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Damarion Dennis adds another veteran option after scoring in double figures 19 times at Wyoming while shooting 54 percent from the field.
The Red Raiders may not be done, but the outline is clear. Toppin gives Texas Tech its frontcourt foundation, while Gibbs-Lawhorn, Davis and Dennis give McCasland a rebuilt guard group with real scoring punch.
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