Five-star center recruit Myles Turner announced on Wednesday that he had committed to Texas, choosing the Longhorns over offers from Kansas, SMU and many more.
Myles Turner commits to Texas
The five-star center chose the Longhorns over Kansas.
Turner, a native of Euless, Texas, is rated as a the fourth-best player in the country by the 247 Sports composite ratings, and the second-best center nationally. Before he committed, he was he highest-rated player left to come off he recruiting board in the 2014 class. At 6’10, 223 pounds, he is likely to be a lottery pick whenever he leaves college for the NBA Draft.
While Turner’s one of the country’s hottest prospects right now, he was a relative unknown early in his high school career. However, an Anthony Davis-like growth spurt turned him into a formidable shot blocker and an All American-caliber player, his high school coach told Sports Illustrated:
When Turner began his prep career, it did not seem likely this announcement would be so highly anticipated. Turner relied on his size (estimated to be 6-foot-4, 165 pounds) to overwhelm opponents, and his coach at Trinity (Texas) High, Mark Villines, did not foresee greatness in him. “He didn’t explode,” Villines said. “He wasn’t a stud in the eighth grade. He was just a pretty good kid.”
Turner has long been rumored to be staying in the region for college, and Kansas and Texas were long considered his leaders.
Kansas may have the better brand name, but with Turner choosing Texas, the Longhorns have a chance to make the jump back to elite next season. All of the starters return, giving Rick Barnes’ team tremendous depth, as Turner joins the already impressive frontcourt of Jonathan Holmes and Cameron Ridley. It could get crowded as Barnes tries to find playing time for everyone, but that’s a good problem to have for the Longhorns, who should challenge for a Big 12 title, along with Kansas, Oklahoma and Iowa State.
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