Texas Tech lost in heartbreaking fashion to eventual national champions Florida. After blowing a nine-point lead late in the game, they failed to come through in the biggest moments and win. Florida made a habit of winning key games, but it still hurts. Star JT Toppin seemed destined to leave, but he decided to continue with the Red Raiders for one more season. However, fellow star Darrion Williams opted to test the transfer portal, leaving an opening on an elite team. However, Texas Tech got great news on Saturday when LeJuan Watts committed to play for the Red Raiders next season. What does Watts provide for the Red Raiders? Can he help fill in for Williams and lead Texas Tech back to the national championship game they made in 2019?
NEWS: Washington State transfer forward LeJuan Watts has committed to Texas Tech, he tells @On3sports.
The 6-6 sophomore averaged 13.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game this season. Scored 22 points on Georgetown in The Crown. https://t.co/Ue20rqwJST pic.twitter.com/0Uj0drf2be
— Joe Tipton (@TiptonEdits) April 13, 2025
Texas Tech Adds Potential Froncourt Replacement LeJuan Watts in Portal
What Does LeJuan Watts Bring to Texas Tech?
Watts played in the WCC for Washington State during his sophomore campaign. It may not be the best conference in basketball, but they have several respectable teams. Watts averaged 13.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game to go along with 1.1 steals. He also showed strong efficiency, shooting 54.9% from the floor and 42.2% from three. He never pressed the issue for the Cougars, only averaging 8.9 shot attempts per game. While his offensive numbers don’t blow you away, he has shown his discipline on the offensive end to be an important scoring option for a good team. At 6-foot-6, he may be too small to play power forward in the Big 12, but he could fill in nicely at a wing position.
Can Watts Replace Williams?
Texas Tech relied on Williams for a lot this past season. Williams averaged very similar numbers to Watts: 15.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game. Williams was less efficient, but in a better conference and with higher shooting volume. Altogether, Williams proved to be the perfect complement to Toppin. The only question will be whether Watts and Toppin can find the same chemistry. Toppin loves to crash the rim and outplay opponents in the paint. Watts provides Texas Tech and Toppin with an outside scoring option to lessen the need for paint presence. If teams choose to crowd the paint, Watts will beat them with the three. If they stay to cover Watts, Toppin has proven his incredible finishing at the rim. It seems like a perfect marriage, but time will tell.
Can Texas Tech Compete in the Big 12?
Houston just made the national championship game and brings an elite squad back next season. They won’t be going anywhere. Kansas will always have a good team with Bill Self. Iowa State has lost a few players to the portal, but only injuries halted their momentum last season. At the end of the day, replacing lost players and improving them will always be a challenge.
However, Texas Tech was the last team to beat Houston before the national championship. The Red Raiders gave Florida everything they could handle in the Elite Eight. Watts may not be the superstar game-changer that could elevate a program to a title, but this team was already close. LeJuan Watts at least brings Texas Tech right back into the conversation for the best team in the Big 12. That’s all that matters until they add more to the roster. For now, Watts is an elite signing.
Photo credit: © Eakin Howard-Imagn Images
