The transfer portal got a temporary facelift this offseason, granting an extra year of eligibility for athletes from the class of 2022. Specifically, this has set off a wave of roster shakeups across college basketball. Texas Tech instantly became one of the biggest beneficiaries of this ruling when Darrion Williams announced he was coming back to Lubbock after spending a season with the NC State Wolfpack.
CBS Sports gave the reunion an A+ grade, and it’s easy to see why. Williams, according to CBS’ analysis, became the best version of himself in Lubbock. The Texas Tech staff is banking on that magic returning with him.
The fit is more than sentimental. Williams brings mismatch-hunting scoring and elite passing that should give shooters like Cruz Davis, DaKari Spear, and Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn easy looks. Bringing that offensive punch to the court matters even more with All-American big man JT Toppin still working back from a torn ACL.
There’s one bit of concern for Red Raiders watching this team closely. Williams reportedly had stretches at NC State where his energy dipped. CBS Sports rightly points out this won’t fly under Texas Tech head coach Grant McCasland.
His program is built on demanding maximum effort from every player on the roster. If that switch flips the way it did in 2025, the payoff could be significant. CBS Sports projects Williams as a 15-point, five-rebound, three-assist contributor on a Red Raiders team expected to be among the Big 12’s when March rolls around. He averaged 13.3 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game in his first stint with the Red Raiders.
Williams’ commitment lands amid what national writers are calling an unprecedented free-agency window in college hoops, driven by ongoing legal fights over fifth-year eligibility. Programs across the country are scrambling to add experienced, battle-tested players before the season tips off, and Texas Tech didn’t just participate — it landed one of the headline names. Of all the fifth-year moves graded around the sport this week, Williams’ return to Lubbock stood out as the highest-graded reunion of them all.
For Red Raider fans, the pieces are falling into place for another deep March run.
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This article originally appeared on Red Raiders Wire: Texas Tech earns excellent grade for adding Darrion Williams
Reporting by Andrew McCleary, Red Raiders Wire / Red Raiders Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Andrew McCleary, Red Raiders Wire | USA TODAY Network
