Kentucky will be team to watch for Texas Tech basketball player looking to transfer
Texas Tech basketball player Terrence Shannon Jr. has entered the NCAA transfer portal, and Kentucky will be a team to watch as his new recruitment unfolds.
Shannon — a 6-foot-6 wing from Chicago — played three seasons for the Red Raiders, who were eliminated from the NCAA Tournament by Duke on Thursday night. By Friday, he had entered his name in the transfer portal, and UK was one of the first schools to have a conversation about his next step.
The Wildcats are likely to add a few players from the portal again this offseason, with several departures expected from the 2021-22 roster. Shannon has started 53 of 83 games over three seasons with Texas Tech, and he’s been one of the key players on the Red Raiders’ defense, which was ranked No. 1 nationally by KenPom this season.
Shannon averaged 10.4 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 25.0 minutes this past season, starting in 20 of 26 games. He also has the length, athleticism and defensive ability on the perimeter that has been a hallmark of some of John Calipari’s best teams at Kentucky.
UK, Illinois, Michigan and UConn were among the first schools to have contact regarding Shannon on Friday, according to his Mac Irvin Fire AAU program.
There’s already a Kentucky connection.
UK assistant coach Chin Coleman previously coached the Mac Irvin program and still has close ties to that organization. Coleman also came to UK as a renowned recruiter in the Chicago area.
Shannon played his first two seasons at Texas Tech for Coach Chris Beard, who left for Texas last offseason. After one season under Coach Mark Adams, the Chicago native is looking at other options, though he will still consider a return to the Red Raiders.
Most of Shannon’s statistical numbers took a slight dip with a new role in his junior season — he averaged 12.9 points per game as a sophomore — but he has developed into a respectable three-point threat over his time in college. He made just nine three-pointers as a freshman (shooting 25.7 percent from deep), jumped to 35.7 percent last year, then shot 38.4 percent (going 33-for-86 from long range) during his junior season.
Shannon was the No. 90 recruit in the 2019 class, according to the 247Sports composite rankings.
This story was originally published March 25, 2022 at 2:49 PM.
