AUSTIN – At least Univeristy of Texas basketball coach Rodney Terry has a sense of humor.
This was Sunday afternoon just off to the side the set hosting ESPN’s SEC Now, which was originating from Texas’ SEC Celebration on the South Mall Lawn. Four days ago on Thursday, Kansas State transfer Arthur Kaluma committed to the Longhorns. The program announced the Irving native’s signing on Friday, bringing Terry’s roster to the NCAA maximum of 13 scholarships.
In other words, Terry’s second roster as head coach of the Longhorns is now set, even if it did take longer than he would have liked.
“It was June 28 before we finally put our final piece together in terms of our last roster spot,” Terry said Sunday through a smile. “I’m excited about our guys right now. We’ve had them on campus, this coming week will be four weeks. Guys are working hard, they’re getting better, they’re developing great chemistry. I like our team. We’ve got a lot of work to do, but it’s a fun group.”
Kaluma was due to arrive in Austin on Monday, while Terry indicated that Arkansas transfer Tramon Mark, a projected backcourt starter, still has coursework to finish in Fayetteville before his arrival. Not having Mark, who averaged 16.3 points and 4.3 rebounds per game, available is less than ideal, but Terry made a valid point Sunday.
“He’s a veteran guy that’s going to have to have an impact when he gets here,” Terry said. “He’s been through it already, he’s played four years of college basketball and he’s been highly successful doing it. He’ll pick things up really quick, and hopefully, we’ll have him for the latter part of the summer.”
With Kaluma’s arrival, Texas will have 12 scholarship players on campus. Of those 12, eight are new, including five from the NCAA Transfer Portal. The challenge for Terry and his staff is to ingratiate all of those new pieces with four returners, of which only two, Kadin Shedrick and Chendall Weaver played rotation minutes.
On paper, Texas has enough to return to the NCAA Tournament in its first season in the SEC, but tourney bids are not handed out based on paper.
“I told them earlier today that we have a room full of great teammates, and if we’ve got guys that are selfless and willing to make sacrifices, they can be as good as they want to be this year,” Terry said. “I think the best teams I’ve been a part of have been team-led and have guys that love being with each other.”
Outgoing (9)
Max Abmas (eligibility), Dylan Disu (eligibility), Ithiel Horton (eligibility), Brock Cunningham (eligibility), Alex Anamekwe (transfer portal), Gavin Perryman (transfer portal), Chris Johnson (transfer portal), Dillon Mitchell (transfer portal), Tyrese Hunter(transfer portal)
Returning (4)
Kadin Shedrick (6th-year Sr.), Chendall Weaver (Jr.), Ze’Rik Onyema (5th-year Sr.), Devon Pryor (So.)
Incoming (9)
Tre Johnson (Fr.), Nicolas Codie (Fr.), Jamie Vinson (Fr.), Tramon Mark (5th-year senior; transfer portal, Arkansas), Jayson Kent (5th-year senior; transfer portal, Indiana State), Julian Larry (5th-year senior; transfer portal, Indiana State), Jordan Pope (Jr.; transfer portal, Oregon State), Malik Presley (So. transfer portal, Wake Forest), Arthur Kaluma (Sr.; transfer portal, Kansas State)