With Turner’s commitment, expectations soar for Longhorns

Thanks to his commitment, many look at the Longhorns as a favorite to win next season’s Big 12 championship and make a deep run in the NCAA tournament. Turner, a consensus top 10 national recruit (ranked No. 2 overall by ESPN, No. 9 overall by Rivals), comes to the 40 Acres as the most heralded recruit since Kevin Durant, said the Dallas Morning News.

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Nearly 7-feet tall, Turner’s skills project him more as a power forward than a back-to-the-basket post player. His frame – and game – will remind many of another heralded recruit, Lamarcus Aldridge, writes Corbett Smith in the Dallas Morning News.

Texas fans, it seems, might send a thank-you shout out to the newly minted NBA Most Valuable Player for the assist he gave his former coaches in convincing Turner to choose the Longhorns, writes Jared Christopher in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

Turner said the Longhorns’ blue-collar approach drew him in, Mike Finger reported for the Houston Chronicle.

“They’re a real blue-collar program,” Turner said. “The only reason I’m here is through hard work, and I felt like that’s what Texas is about.”

Following its surprising return from the precipice of disaster following a 16-18 campaign in 2012-13, the hard-working Longhorns already carried positive momentum into next season. Texas might have struggled down the stretch, but Cameron Ridley’s buzzer-beater against Arizona State gave the Longhorns a much-needed NCAA Tournament win.

The Longhorns return everyone, making Texas the deepest and most experienced team in the Big 12. Now, with the addition of Turner as well as wing shooter Jordan Barnett and junior college power forward Obinna Oleka, the Longhorns might be the most talented.

After Turner’s announcement, ESPN recruiting director Paul Biancardi just couldn’t help himself, Brian Davis wrote for the Austin American-Statesman. “Texas just made themselves the favorite in the Big 12,” Biancardi said. “Yes, I am saying (they could derail Kansas).”

Texas coach Rick Barnes is no stranger to pressure or the expectations that come with bringing in top talent. In fact, he welcomes them, as he told Kirk Bohls for the Austin American-Statesman.

“We’ve never shied away from expectations,” Barnes said. “Ours will be higher than everyone else’s.”

And on Barnes’ roster, no player will face higher expectations than Turner. With Texas’ returning core, Barnes won’t have to rely on the marquee freshman carrying the load, though he’ll surely figure centrally in what the Longhorns do at both ends of the court.

Offensively, Turner will likely step into the power forward spot and spend time playing facing the basket as well as in the post. With its depth, Texas won’t need him to be an explosive scorer like Durant – who averaged 25.8 points as a Longhorn. Turner, who averaged 16.7 points as a junior and 18.1 as a senior at Euless Trinity, might find his points with a variety of mid-range jumpers to complement his low post moves, much like Aldridge did when he averaged 9.9 points as a freshman and 15.0 as a sophomore at Texas. Turner’s game mirrors Aldridge, but it also includes comfort at the three-point line – he averaged about one per game last season – and could be vital in keeping defenses honest when he steps to the high post or beyond.

Defensively, Turner gives Texas one more athletic shot blocker and rebounder. As a junior and senior at Trinity, Turner averaged better than 12 rebounds and seven blocks per game. He joins a front line that led the Big 12 in rebounding and shot blocking last season with twin towers Ridley and Prince Ibeh as well as Jonathan Holmes. Again, Aldridge would be a model to shoot for – he averaged a pair of blocks and nine rebounds while winning Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2006.

If Barnes’ returning Longhorns continue to improve, and Turner’s play lives up to expectations, Texas might just live up to those lofty expectations.

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