It’s been a few years since the Texas Longhorns had a player selected in the NBA Draft, going back to 2021 when Jericho Sims was selected by the New York Knicks with the 58th pick. In 2022, former Longhorns shooting guard Donovan Williams found himself undrafted, but would later be picked up on a two-way deal with the Atlanta Hawks.
NBA Draft Following March Madness Disappointment
Last summer point guard Sir’Jabari Rice, who spent his fifth year of eligibility with the Longhorns, signed a two-way contract with the San Antonio Spurs but has yet to hear his name called up from the G-League’s Austin Spurs.
This year the Longhorns, who bowed out of the NCAA Tournament, which you can follow on this website, with a second-round loss to the Tennessee Volunteers, featured three players who could very well hear their name being called during the 2024 NBA Draft. With no surefire stars entering what is presumed to be one of the weaker draft classes in recent history, there is a good chance that at least one of the following four Longhorns will be selected among the sixty individuals in the 2024 Draft class.
As of this writing, no Texas Longhorn players have officially made their declaration, which they have until April 27. After testing the waters, any underclassmen can withdraw their name by May 29th and retain their NCAA eligibility should they not hire an agent.
Max Abmas - Projection Late Second Round / Undrafted
After four years at Oral Roberts, the fifth-year transfer finished his college eligibility averaging 16.5 points, 4.3 assists, and 3 rebounds. Abmas flirted with the idea of heading to the NBA in 2021 after earning the Summit League Player of the Year award but withdrew his name at the deadline.
Despite being one of the statistical leaders for the Longhorns, two factors playing against Abmas are his size, standing just 6’, 175lbs, and his age, entering the draft at 23 years old. In hindsight, Abmas may have been better off sticking with the 2021 or even the 2022 draft when his stock was the highest. However, today’s NBA is all about shooting, something that Abmas does and does well.
Dylan Disu - Projection Late Second Round / Undrafted
Another elder statesman entering the draft at 23 years old, the Longhorns big man was the team’s second-leading scorer (15.5ppg) and rebounder (5rpg) but was their best three-point shooter (45.1%). Weighing in at 6’9”, 220lbs, Disu’s ability to step outside and knock down the long ball could be enticing for a team looking for a stretch big man who likely won’t be seen as much of a big when it comes to the NBA.
Tyrese Hunter - Projection Late First Round / Early Second Round
After claiming the Big 12 Rookie of the Year and a spot on the conference’s All-Freshman team, Hunter hoped that he would be a bigger fish in a bigger pond. Blessed with quickness and explosiveness, Hunter tested the NBA waters last year before ultimately deciding to return to Texas for his junior season. While his overall numbers are not much better than his freshman season with the Iowa State Cyclones, what does help Hunter’s third year stand out is his shooting percentages.
A player whose game is built off of his energy, Hunter plays bigger than his 6’, 175lb frame leads you to believe. Hitting 45% from the field, 34% from downtown, and 71% from the line certainly makes the third-year point guard that much more attractive to teams than he was last year.
Dillon Mitchell - Projection Early Second Round
Basically, doubling his minutes, points, rebounds, assists, blocks, and steals from his freshman year to his sophomore season, the only thing missing from Mitchell’s game is a three-point shot. Considering the style of play in today’s NBA, the fact that Mitchell only attempted eight three-pointers in two seasons as a Longhorn may turn off some NBA teams.
An elite floor runner and finisher at the hoop, often with a powerful dunk, Mitchell’s explosive athleticism and defensive flexibility could find him drafted late in the first round. However, his lack of outside shooting could be the reason why he drops into the second round.
Abmas and Disu have no choice but to move on to declare for the NBA Draft as they have maxed out their college eligibility. Hunter and Mitchell both ran through the pre-draft process following their first year in Texas and will likely do so again this year.
With a trio of star-studded incoming freshmen in Tre Johnson, Cam Scott, and Nicolas Codie arriving on campus, having Hunter and Mitchell return to campus will only strengthen the Longhorns roster, helping them compete with Houston, Iowa State, and Baylor for Big 12 supremacy next season. While the 2025 NBA Draft is predicted to be a lot stronger than this year’s, making a deep run into the NCAA Tournament could help elevate Hunter and Mitchell’s draft stock.
