From Inside the Red Raiders
Player development has been a major cog in Texas Tech’s success under Chris Beard. This ranges from developing players into all-Big 12 talents, think Zach Smith, Keenan Evans, Davide Moretti to NBA draft prospects, such as Zhaire Smith, Jarrett Culver and Jahmi’us Ramsey.
This season, Beard has a few candidates primed to make such a leap. One is looking to become the fourth straight drafted Red Raider while the other two are in position to make the leap to all-Big 12.
A deep roster may prevent all three from breaking out, but growth is expected nonetheless, with the trio being on the cusp of Red Raider royalty.
Terrence Shannon Jr., sophomore forward
The baby-faced sophomore with the physical attributes of a wide receiver returns to Lubbock in hopes of being drafted to the NBA next year. This hope isn’t a reach, with Shannon being commonly tabbed as a first-round pick in the 2021 draft. Culver’s situation two years ago was similar, with both players projected as a first rounder following freshman seasons filled with flashes of NBA ability.
The difference between the two is Shannon having more physical potential than Culver. It’s probable that the forward has more potential than any player Beard has coached, at least based on physique. Standing at around 6-foot-7 with a strong build, solid burst of speed, high-level leaping, and long arms, Shannon has the tools for an elite, all-around defender and deadly driver and slasher.
Utilizing these tools will certainly make “TJ” a lottery pick in the draft, and with Beard as his coach, this goal should be reached. The NBA appeal lays on Shannon’s ability to become nearly unstoppable when driving, while switching onto every player defensively.
Tuning his offensive abilities will also boost the Big 12 all-freshman into NBA draft lottery contention. While he possesses the assets to be a destructive driver, Shannon needs to round-out his dribbling and finishing. Weak hesitation moves and simple crossovers prevented Shannon from being a 15-point per game scorer last season, as his creation was limited. A reluctance to use his athleticism when going up for layups led to some basic layup attempts. His performance in these two areas won’t fly in the NBA. Another aspect that limited his scoring was a lack of an outside jumper. His form, however, looked much improved from high school, leaving optimism that his shooting is trending upwards. A free throw percentage of 82.9% is an indicator that Shannon can have a perimeter shot.
The sky’s the limit for Shannon, and with high-leveled intensity and a stout head coach, the Chicago native should reach the sky.
Kyler Edwards, junior guard
While Shannon has the highest ceiling, Edwards is the nationally common pick to break out this season. The preseason all-Big 12 honorable mention is on multiple breakout-watch lists after being thought of as a prime candidate to take a step forward last season, until experiencing a sophomore slump.
Many saw Edwards as a microwave-scorer coming out of high school, and this held true through his first two seasons. The 2019-20 season saw him with lows, such as totaling five points on 18.2% shooting vs Texas, and highs, such as his flamethrower-performance vs Iowa State, scoring 22 points on 66.7% shooting.
Everything is on the table for Edwards, he just needs to make the shots. He improved in shot-creation areas last season after being a catch-and-shoot player his freshman season, with his separation, ball handling, post-up scoring, and finishing all making leaps. The confidence is still there, too.
Making the transition from stand-still shooter his freshman year, when he shot 44.9% from downtown, to a shot-creator role last season, shooting 32.2% from three, likely threw him off. Adjusting from an off-ball shooter to having the rock in your hands consistently isn’t an easy leap to make, especially for a guard.
Seeing his ability to be a deadeye-shooter from the outside his first season to his advanced shot-creation last season, Edwards has the mix for being a top scorer in the Big 12, and it’s foolish to assume he’ll struggle again this season.
Edwards also made an unexpected improvement last year in his passing, finishing 11th in the Big 12 in assists with 95, after appearing to be a shot-hungry guard following his high school and freshman seasons.
Combine his scoring ability with his playmaking, Edwards could be one of the top offensive weapons in the conference.
Kevin McCullar, sophomore guard
When discussing examples of Beard and his staff developing players, McCullar provides a recent example. His freshman season saw a forgetful beginning, averaging 4.3 points on 22.2% shooting from three over the first two months. The assist-to-turnover ratio was more alarming for the guard during that period, averaging 0.6 assists to 1.3 turnovers.
Beard was reluctant to play McCullar more due to the turnover rate and shooting struggles, until the redshirt sophomore flipped the switch, averaging 10.6 points on a 40% clip from the outside, while closing the assist-to-turnover ratio gap, with 0.1 more turnovers than assists. Gaining Beard’s trust earned McCullar a spot in the starting lineup for the final six games.
This overnight transition saw McCullar’s shooting take a drastic leap, going from a 47.1/22.2/60.6 shooting split to 56.1/40/94.4.
Defensive improvements were also made as “Mac” averaged 1.9 steals during the late season stretch, performing as Texas Tech’s most versatile stopper. Rebounding also became a calling card for McCullar, snagging 7.7 boards per 40 minutes during the stretch. Don’t be surprised if he’s the team’s top defender this season.
McCullar was a bright spot in the team’s 2-5 season finale, appearing as Tech’s most consistent and mature player, despite being a freshman. Hitting clutch shots, playing spectacular defense, moving without the ball, crashing the glass, knocking down open jumpers, McCullar was arguably Tech’s best and most reliable weapon during this stretch.3COMMENTS
The physical traits are there, too, as McCullar possesses a lengthy 6-6 frame. This combined with his ball handling ability allows him to play any perimeter position. With some added muscle, his grit and nose for the ball can allow him to play some four, too.
The San Antonio native’s combination of high basketball IQ, versatility, toughness, and maturity with little experience could lead to McCullar becoming one of the all-time Red Raider basketball greats; and with the trust of Beard, McCullar’s journey to that plateau can start this season.
