Texas basketball made a run to the Sweet Sixteen from the First Four last March. Can the Longhorns go further this time with a stellar freshman class?
The tradition continues! It’s another year of our countdown of the top 100 preseason teams in college basketball until the start of the season. Each day, we will reveal the next team until we reach the team slotted at number one. Up next: Texas basketball.
Despite a middle-of-the-road finish in the SEC, Texas basketball stepped up when they needed it most. Losing five of their last six games to stumble to an 18-14 record, the Longhorns found themselves in the First Four. That’s when things clicked for Sean Miller’s group in his first year at the helm, as Texas basketball beat NC State, BYU, and Gonzaga in order before falling by two points to Purdue in the Sweet Sixteen.
Looking to build off of last year, the Longhorns will have to do so without most of the team that went so far in March. Only Matas Vokietaitis returns to the roster among those who recorded minutes last year for Texas basketball. Despite this mass exodus, prognosticators have high hopes for the Longhorns this season, and they are ranked seventh in the preseason AP poll.
At point guard, Colorado transfer Isaiah Johnson will take the reins. He’ll see plenty of time on the court, having averaged over 16 points per game as a freshman last season with the Buffs. Backing him up will be international recruit Mantas Laurencikas, who will see reserve minutes.
At the other guard spot will be five-star freshman Austin Goosby, prep teammate of another five-star prospect to be named shortly. Goosby is one of the few D-I athletes to share the name of the city he plays in. On the court, he’s ready to play Power Five basketball right away, and has the length to be disruptive on defense and rebound on both ends. He’ll need to put on some more weight, but for now he will still be a solid contributor regardless. Fellow freshman Joe Sterling will provide depth at the two.
Over on the wing, the starting nod could go to Auburn transfer Elyjah Freeman, who played decently in the last 10 games for the Tigers, all of which he started. But true freshman Marcus Spears Jr., primarily a power forward, could start in a modified three role. Spears is behind TCU transfer David Punch in the power forward pecking order, but is too good to keep on the bench. Tennessee transfer Amari Evans and freshman Bo Ogden will also see reserve minutes on the wing.
The aforementioned David Punch comes over from TCU, just three hours north of Austin. Punch was third in the Big 12 last season with 1.9 BPG despite playing power forward at a height of “just” 6’7″. He’ll make an immediate impact for the Longhorns.
If Marcus Spears doesn’t start on the wing, he’ll be the first player off the bench and backing up David Punch, though both will see plenty of time on the court. Redshirt freshman John Clark will see time this season as well. And at center, it’s the returning Matas Vokietaitis. Last season, he was Texas basketball’s force down low, and the seven-footer will remain in that role this season. Redshirt freshman
Texas basketball is a trendy pick to win the SEC, and they certainly have the talent to do so. Actually accomplishing that feat, however, is another story. Can the Longhorns play better than last year with almost a completely new roster? And is Sean Miller…back?
Head coach: Sean Miller (22nd season overall, 2nd at Texas)
2025-26 record: 21-15 (9-9)
2026 postseason finish: Lost to Purdue (79-77) in Sweet Sixteen of NCAA Tournament
Notable departures:
- All contributors except for Matas Vokietaitis
Notable non-conference games:
- vs. Baylor (Nov. 15) – San Antonio, TX
- vs. Georgetown (Nov. 26) – San Diego, CA
- vs. Saint Mary’s OR UCLA (Nov. 27) – San Diego, CA
- at Louisville (Dec. 1)
- vs. Miami (Dec. 12) – Houston, TX
- vs. Memphis (Dec. 16)
Projected Rotation
PG: Isaiah Johnson (6-2, 182, So.)
2025-26 stats: 16.9 PPG, 3.0 APG, 2.9 RPG, 1.0 SPG, 37.8 3P% (Colorado)
SG: Austin Goosby (6-5, 205, Fr.)
247Sports Composite No. 19 ranked recruit
SF: Marcus Spears Jr. (6-9, 206, Fr.)
247Sports Composite No. 8 ranked recruit
PF: David Punch (6-7, 245, Jr.)
2025-26 stats: 14.1 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 2.0 APG, 1.9 BPG, 1.3 SPG (TCU)
C: Matas Vokietaitis (7-0, 255, Jr.)
2025-26 stats: 15.6 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 0.6 APG, 61.9 FG%
6: Elyjah Freeman (6-8, 205, Jr.)
2025-26 stats: 9.2 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 1.2 APG, 1.3 SPG (Auburn)
7: Amari Evans (6-5, 220, So.)
2025-26 stats: 4.1 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 0.8 APG, 1.0 SPG
8: Lewis Obiorah (7-1, 255, So.)
247Sports Composite three-star recruit in Class of 2025
9: Bo Ogden (6-6, 215, Fr.)
247Sports Composite No. 50 ranked recruit
10: John Clark (6-9, 245, So.)
247Sports Composite four-star recruit in Class of 2025
11: Joe Sterling (6-4, 205, Fr.)
247Sports Composite No. 120 ranked recruit
12: Mantas Laurencikas (6-4, 210, Fr.)
International Prospect (Lithuania)
Texas basketball team MVP: Matas Vokietaitis
As the only returning contributor from last year’s squad, Vokietaitis bears a lot of responsibility as a leader in Austin this season. He had some great games last year, notably a 23-point, 16-rebound performance in the NCAA tournament as Texas basketball dispatched BYU. There are plenty of things to like about his game: Vokietaitis was first amongst all qualifying SEC players with a 61.9 FG% last season, and fifth in total rebounding percentage.
However, Vokietaitis has a few things to work on, especially with his status as the lone returnee from the Sweet Sixteen squad of last season. For starters, he needs to play far more disciplined on defense. Not only did he lead the SEC in personal fouls last season with 123, but he was second amongst all D-I players. That’s not good, as he fouled out five times and tallied four fouls 14 times over the course of the season. Vokietaitis recorded a foul in all 36 games he appeared in last season. He also could work on ball distribution, though that’s less of an issue; Vokietaitis averaged just 0.6 APG last year.
Ultimately, his offensive production at the rim does open up the floor on that end, and 15 PPG is 15 PPG. But there are some aspects of his game that need work if Vokietaitis is going to be “the guy” for Texas.
Texas basketball make-or-break player: David Punch
David Punch, pound for pound, is one of the best power forwards in basketball. After starting 27 of 32 games as a freshman for TCU two seasons ago, Punch bumped up his production, doubling his PPG average and APG average while improving as a rebounder as well. Though the Longhorns didn’t need a power forward in the portal after they signed Marcus Spears Jr., having Punch is certainly better than having to play against him.
He uses his size well near the basket and has an innate ability to grab boards. One of his best games last season came against Oklahoma State in the Big 12 tournament, where he scored 26 points while adding seven rebounds and four blocks. If he can do that for the Longhorns…watch out.
Key statistic: Free throw attempts per game
Last season, Texas basketball attempted 25.4 free throws per game, a mark that put them inside the top 15 nationally. However, they only made 74.3% of those free throws, which isn’t horrible, but sits outside the top 100. The Longhorns need to make more of their attempts from the charity stripe. At the risk of sounding like an old man, free throws are free for a reason. Unfortunately, the Longhorns may truly struggle from the line this season. Matas Vokietaitis led the team with 7.9 attempts per game last season, but made only 66.9% of his attempts. David Punch was no better at TCU, connecting on 65.3% of his free throws.
No other member of the Texas frontcourt has taken a free throw at the collegiate level, and small forward Elyjah Freeman shot 69.9% from the line last season. In an admittedly small sample size, his backup Amari Evans made only 57.5% of his free throws last season. Luckily for Texas basketball, Isaiah Johnson shot 82.1% from the line as a freshman last season. Unluckily for Texas basketball is the fact that no other player in their rotation has compiled a D-I season of even 70.0% from the stripe. This is a situation to watch.
Texas basketball 2026-27 projections
Projected conference finish: 3rd in the SEC
Projected postseason ceiling: NCAA Elite Eight appearance