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Texas basketball coach Sean Miller picked up his third transfer portal commitment of the week Friday when former Tennessee guard Amari Evans announced his intention to join the Longhorns.
The 6-foot-5, 220-pound Evans, who just finished his freshman season at Tennessee, joins former TCU power forward David Punch and former Colorado guard Isaiah Johnson as Texas's portal arrivals. Evans, a four-star recruit out of Pittsburgh, Penn., played in 35 of the Volunteers' 37 games and served as the sixth man in all but two of those games. He played just 14.4 minutes per contest while averaging 4.1 points and 3.2 rebounds but earned the trust of Tennessee coach and former Texas coach Rick Barnes with his rugged defense. Evans ranked third on the Vols with 34 steals this past season and often got matched up with an opponent's top scoring threat on the wing.
Miller spent much of his debut season bemoaning a porous defense for a Texas team that went 21-15 and reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. Evans will alleviate some of those concerns either at shooting guard or at small forward.
Texas Longhorns head men's basketball coach Sean Miller watches the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament Elite 8 game against Michigan at Dickies Arena on Monday, March 30, 2026 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman)
Miller and Texas general manager Chris Ogden still have some work to do since the Longhorns lost seven of the eight players in their rotation during an NCAA Tournament run that ended with a 79-77 loss to Purdue in the Sweet 16. Forward Dailyn Swain declared for the NBA draft after an all-conference junior season. Guards Tramon Mark, Chendall Weaver and Jordan Pope used up their eligibility, and Miller lost starting forward Cam Heide, reserve forward Nic Codie, reserve forward Declan Duru and reserve guard Simeon Wilcher to the portal.
But a starting rotation is starting to take shape. Post Matas Vokietaitis announced his intentions to return to Texas last week and will team with Punch in a formidable front court. Johnson will likely start in the backcourt alongside 6-5 McDonald's All-American recruit Austin Goosby, the jewel of the Longhorns’ 2026 recruiting class. Evans could start on the wing and replace the departed Swain in the starting lineup, but Miller may want more position size at the spot. The Longhorns will likely sign a few more guards to add depth and outside shooting.
A set of forwards in rising redshirt freshmen John Clark and Lewis Obiorah are expected back, since neither have yet announced any intentions to transfer. Incoming freshman Coleman Elkins will be another forward on next year’s roster.
Miller also will welcome two more freshmen in shooting guards Bo Ogden and Joe Sterling. Ogden, the son of Texas general manager Chris Ogden, recently earned the Central Texas boys player of the year award from the American-Statesman after leading Westlake High School to the state tournament.
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The 6-foot-5, 220-pound Evans, who just finished his freshman season at Tennessee, joins former TCU power forward David Punch and former Colorado guard Isaiah Johnson as Texas's portal arrivals. Evans, a four-star recruit out of Pittsburgh, Penn., played in 35 of the Volunteers' 37 games and served as the sixth man in all but two of those games. He played just 14.4 minutes per contest while averaging 4.1 points and 3.2 rebounds but earned the trust of Tennessee coach and former Texas coach Rick Barnes with his rugged defense. Evans ranked third on the Vols with 34 steals this past season and often got matched up with an opponent's top scoring threat on the wing.
Miller spent much of his debut season bemoaning a porous defense for a Texas team that went 21-15 and reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. Evans will alleviate some of those concerns either at shooting guard or at small forward.
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Texas Longhorns head men's basketball coach Sean Miller watches the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament Elite 8 game against Michigan at Dickies Arena on Monday, March 30, 2026 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman)
Miller and Texas general manager Chris Ogden still have some work to do since the Longhorns lost seven of the eight players in their rotation during an NCAA Tournament run that ended with a 79-77 loss to Purdue in the Sweet 16. Forward Dailyn Swain declared for the NBA draft after an all-conference junior season. Guards Tramon Mark, Chendall Weaver and Jordan Pope used up their eligibility, and Miller lost starting forward Cam Heide, reserve forward Nic Codie, reserve forward Declan Duru and reserve guard Simeon Wilcher to the portal.
But a starting rotation is starting to take shape. Post Matas Vokietaitis announced his intentions to return to Texas last week and will team with Punch in a formidable front court. Johnson will likely start in the backcourt alongside 6-5 McDonald's All-American recruit Austin Goosby, the jewel of the Longhorns’ 2026 recruiting class. Evans could start on the wing and replace the departed Swain in the starting lineup, but Miller may want more position size at the spot. The Longhorns will likely sign a few more guards to add depth and outside shooting.
A set of forwards in rising redshirt freshmen John Clark and Lewis Obiorah are expected back, since neither have yet announced any intentions to transfer. Incoming freshman Coleman Elkins will be another forward on next year’s roster.
Miller also will welcome two more freshmen in shooting guards Bo Ogden and Joe Sterling. Ogden, the son of Texas general manager Chris Ogden, recently earned the Central Texas boys player of the year award from the American-Statesman after leading Westlake High School to the state tournament.
Continue reading...
