We march forward breaking down the new faces around the Moody Center this offseason. Today, it’s about the highest-rated addition Sean Miller and company made, former TCU star David Punch. The rising junior is coming off leading the Horned Frogs to the tournament as an 8 seed and knocking off Ohio State in the first round. Punch gives Matas Vokietaitis a running mate on the interior, making Texas one of the most formidable front courts in the SEC.
2025 Stats: 14.1 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 1.9 BPG, 1.3 STL, 50.3 FG%
Punch, like Isaiah Johnson, is on the heels of a remarkable scoring season, averaging a shade over 14 points per game. Punch does less of his damage on the outside, shooting just 23.9% from distance on 1.4 attempts per game. However, at 6’7”, 246lbs, his ability to work inside the paint is as good as anyone in the country. He’ll give Texas the star next to Vokietaitis that they were missing last season.
Punch has well-earned his status as a top 10 transfer this offseason. He brings great length and athleticism to the table, is productive on both sides of the floor and can notch a double-double any given night. He will allow Vokietaitis to be even more effective rebounding the ball and open space for Isaiah Johnson, Austin Goosby and the rest of the back court. On top of that, he’s heading into his third year in college basketball with more room to grow.
Sean Miller has added a number of elite transfer portal players but none more so than Punch. He brings experience, confidence and fills a massive position of need. The duo of Vokietaitis-Punch figure to be as good as any in the SEC, another strong sign for what Year Two could look like under Miller. Punch can not only be the most impactful transfer for Texas but possibly the best player on the team next season.
Punch is someone Texas fans will become very accustomed with next season. Tomorrow, we’ll talk about Elyjah Freeman, the former Auburn wing that brings remarkable potential to the table. The Florida native has a chance to be the defensive anchor for Texas and take a major leap on the offensive end next season.
This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Fresh Faces On The Forty: Transfer forward David Punch
Reporting by Tommy Bresee, Longhorns Wire / Longhorns Wire
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