After a thrilling NCAA Tournament run that nearly propelled Texas Tech to the Final Four, Red Raider fans were eagerly anticipating the return of key contributors, JT Toppin, and Christian Anderson for another shot at a National Championship. However, the future of the program now hangs in the balance following the news that top star, the heart and soul of the team, will officially explore all his options this offseason. He is entering the transfer portal while simultaneously testing the NBA Draft waters, leaving Texas Tech in a precarious situation as they await his decision.
His decision to declare for the NBA Draft while maintaining his NCAA eligibility has put the Red Raiders in a tough spot. With the NBA Draft process set to take place in the coming months, Tech faces uncertainty about whether he will return for his senior season. Underclassmen like Williams have until mid-June to withdraw from the draft, meaning the program may have to wait until then to find out whether their star player will come back for one last run. In the meantime, Tech is left to navigate the potential fallout from this waiting game, with the program uncertain of where it stands for next season.
The timing of Williams’ decision is especially challenging for the Red Raiders. The NBA Draft Combine, taking place from May 11-18, is likely when Williams will begin to make more definitive choices about his future. In the interim, Tech’s coaching staff must weigh the risk of offering a large NIL deal to retain Williams versus pursuing other players in the transfer portal to bolster their roster at the small forward position. This is a high-stakes decision for a program that has dreams of contending for a National Championship in the 2025-26 season. If Williams decides to leave, those aspirations may be in jeopardy.
Williams’ stellar performance in the NCAA Tournament only heightened his stock. Averaging 15.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 3.6 assists for the season, he was nothing short of spectacular in the tournament. His Sweet 16 heroics against Arkansas, where he scored 20 points, grabbed nine rebounds, and made a game-winning layup in overtime, showcased his clutch ability and cemented his status as one of the top players in college basketball. With such a strong finish to his junior season, it’s understandable why Williams is now considering his future in the NBA, leaving Texas Tech with a difficult decision to make as they try to plan for the 2025-26 season.
For Red Raider fans, this offseason has become an unexpected rollercoaster ride. While the hope was to see Williams, Toppin, and Anderson return to form the foundation of a potential National Title contender, Tech’s immediate future now depends on how Williams handles his NBA prospects and whether he decides to return to Lubbock. For the program, this waiting game could determine whether their championship dreams stay alive or fade into uncertainty.