We continue our recruit and return series with the Texas Longhorns, whose season ended with an 87-83 loss to Nevada. A look at what the 2018-19 season could hold:
Possible 2018-19 starting five:
Who is lost: Center Mohamed Bamba will be a lottery pick who likely goes in the top five of the draft, so he'll almost certainly be a one-and-done. The potential departure of guard Kerwin Roach is the bigger question. The junior -- who is currently ranked 59th in ESPN's top 100 draft prospects -- likely projects as a second-round pick, but he's worth keeping an eye on should he improve his stock to sneak into the first round.
Who is added: Texas signed four prospects in the early signing period headlined by ESPN 100 forwards Gerald Liddell and Kamaka Hepa. The 6-foot-7 Liddell, the 10th-ranked small forward in the country, is versatile and can play multiple positions. The 6-9 Hepa and the 6-11 Jaxson Hayes will add some size and rebounding in the frontcourt. Local product Brock Cunningham from nearby Austin Westlake High is a 6-7 forward who can score and is the son of former Texas All-American defensive lineman Ed Cunningham.
What it means for next season: Shaka Smart's fourth season at Texas will be a critical one for the program. The Longhorns took a step forward in 2017-18, but considering the caliber of recruiting class, it might not have been as big a step as they, or Longhorn fans, had hoped for. Still, getting back to the NCAA tournament is something to build on. Davis' status is important; he has been held out ever since his name appeared in leaked documents reported by Yahoo! Sports, but if his eligibility can be resolved, it'll be key for the Horns' backcourt.
Trending: Up. A top-20 recruiting class that followed a top-five class before it (of which Texas will only lose one player) should position the Longhorns well in terms of depth going into next season. Coleman has shown signs of what made him so coveted; a continued improvement for him will be big. If Sims can take a leap forward, this has the look of a deep, veteran squad capable of making serious noise in the conference next year.