Introducing an almost entirely new roster, UTSA men’s basketball looks to immensely improve this year as they gear up for the 24’-25’ season. With new head coach Austin Claunch at the helm, the basketball program has done wonders acquiring talent within the transfer portal. Filling out key defensive needs and obtaining underrated offensive firepower, the organization has completely turned the roster around in a little under six months.
Though the team may lack big time college basketball names, its collection of size, defensive and offensive prowess make it one as formidable as any within the American Athletic Conference.
One of the more sizable improvements the team has made is obtaining defensive specialists. Adding elite two-way guards such as Skylar Wicks, Tai’Reon “Scootah” Joseph and others, the Roadrunners have successfully constructed a formidable defensive backcourt for their upcoming season. Nearly every guard UTSA has acquired from the transfer portal has proven to be capable of defensive greatness, as almost all averaged multiple steals in past seasons.
The team has also made sure to add rim and paint protection, acquiring intimidating defensive bigs such as Jonnivius Smith and Jaquan Scott. Both forwards, along with rebounding machine David Hermes will look to provide a dominant presence inside the paint.
While the addition of two-way players will aid UTSA tremendously this year, it is the upgrades in offensive firepower that will take the ‘Runners to the next level. Looking to replace the offensive output lost in the transfer portal last season, the ‘Runners will most likely look to its newly added guards to carry a bulk of the scoring load.
Hybrid guards such as Wicks, Raekwon Horton and Paul Lewis are slated to make an immediate impact, as each have the ability to space the floor, knock down threes and finish around the rim. Four-star transfer Primo Spears will also heavily impact the team’s offensive output, as the 6-foot-3 guard is known for his ability to score at will against any opponent. Averaging 10 points per game last season at Florida State, Spears proved to be an elite scoring threat, notching double-digit point performances in 19 contests last year.
Loaded with talent on both sides of the ball, UTSA men’s basketball is set to have an incredible upcoming season. The team’s combination of elite guard play along with anchoring bigs will undoubtedly prove to be an improvement over last year’s lackluster roster. While expectations for the team have remained relatively low, fans should be extremely excited to see the new Roadrunners in action.
