LUBBOCK, Texas— Like most Division I athletic programs, the Texas Tech men’s basketball roster is ever-changing. While we are still months out from the 2024-25 season, Grant McCasland is forming the new team right here in Lubbock this summer. Coach McCasland has put together a new lineup, not from top to bottom, but with six new players and one new coach, it’s time for an update.
Jeff Linder – Coaching assistant
First, let’s start with Grant McCasland’s hire of Jeff Linder as his new assistant coach, replacing Dave Smart. Linder and McCasland go way back; Linder was McCasland’s assistant at Midland College right down the road. In fact, in the 2005-06 season, Midland College made it to the junior college Elite Eight. Before coming to Lubbock, Linder spent the last four seasons in Laramie, Wyoming coaching the Cowboys with a 63-59 overall record. In 2022, Linder took the Cowboys to the NCAA tournament and finished the 2021-22 season 25-9. Just before his stop in Laramie, Linder was at Northern Colorado for four years at the helm leading the Bears to a 80-50 record.
Kevin Overton – sophomore transfer from Drake
Shooting guard Kevin Overton comes from Drake after one year, averaging 11.3 points per game and shooting 34.6% from beyond the arch. At Drake, he helped lead the Bulldogs to the NCAA 2024 tournament after winning the Missouri Valley Conference championship. Originally from Oklahoma City, Overton played a prep year at Sunrise Christian Academy in Kansas where he was under the coaching of Luke Barnwell – now a Texas Tech assistant coach. The 6-foot-5 sophomore is already nicknamed ‘KO’ and now has big shoes to fill as fans used to chant for Kevin Obanor in the United Supermarkets Arena.
Elijah Hawkins – graduate transfer from Minnesota
Elijah Hawkins transfers to Texas Tech for his sixth year of college basketball after spending three years at Minnesota and two seasons at Howard University. Known for his assists nationally ,this past season Hawkins averaged 7.5 assists per game and tallied 247 assists in 33 games in the 2023-24 season. For reference, the single-season record at Texas Tech is 212, held by John Roberson in 2008-09 and he is the only player for the program to surpass 200. Hawkins started all but one game for Minnesota last year and played the most on his team, averaging 33.3 minutes per game. After becoming one of the nation’s best passers last year, the Hawkins should see a lot of playing time for the Red Raiders this upcoming season.
JT Toppin – sophomore transfer from New Mexico
After withdrawing his name from the 2024 NBA Draft, JT Toppin committed to Texas Tech University following his incredible freshman season at New Mexico. Toppin collected Mountain West Freshman of the Year and All-Mountain West Second Team, averaging 12.4 points per game, 9.1 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game in the 2023-24 season. Originally from Dallas, Toppin stands at 6-foot-9 posting several double-doubles at UNM, notably against Air Force with 23 points and 13 rebounds. He is now Grant McCasland’s second consecutive MW Freshman of the Year to transfer to Texas Tech, following the first Darrion Williams. Toppin was a four-star recruit from Faith Family Academy of Oak Cliff and was ranked twelfth in ESPN’s transfer rankings.
Leon Horner III – true freshman
From Frisco, the 6-foot-6 true freshman Leon Horner III is Grant McCasland’s first signee from high school this off-season. Horner graduated from Dynamic Prep, where he averaged 14.5 points per game this past season, and he was a significant part of their run to the Texas Christian Athletic League 6A State Championship. Horner’s first three years in high school he spent on the Frisco Memorial team raking up 889 points, 419 rebounds and 121 assists total. As of June, Horner is one of three true freshmen on Grant McCasland’s new roster.
Christian Anderson Jr. – true freshman
From Oak Hill Academy, true freshman Christian Anderson Jr. signed to play with the Red Raiders after averaging 19.1 points per game and 4.6 assists per game this past season. Originally from Georgia the point guard is ranked as the No. 101 overall recruit out of the 2024 class. Anderson spent time on a few international teams and preparatory teams and chose the Red Raider program over several other universities.
Federiko Federiko – senior from Pittsburgh
The 6-foot-11, 225-pound center from Pittsburgh Federiko Federiko comes to Lubbock with one year of eligibility remaining to play for the Red Raiders. This past season he averaged 4.7 points per game, 5.1 rebounds per game and a pair of games with 10 rebounds per game. Originally from Cario, Egypt, Federiko was born in Finland, where he represented Finland in the 2019 FIBA U18 European Championship. However, he played his senior year of high school at First Love Christian Academy in Washington, Pennsylvania and then went to Northern Oklahoma for his first collegiate basketball season. Federiko should fill big gaps in the lane for the Red Raiders as the team lost a few off the roster following the 2024 season.