Big day for the Big 12: Ramsey & Baker stay in state

Two of the most coveted prospects in the state made their college decisions yesterday, with both Jahmius Ramsey and Will Baker opting to stay local with commitments to Texas Tech and Texas, respectively. Analyst Lyndon Cook takes a look at the impact each will have at their program, and the implications their additions make to the recruiting class at each.

Texas Tech and Chris Beard were leaders in the clubhouse in Jahmius Ramsey’s recruitment for some time, but Memphis had been making a strong push at the player and Louisville was still in the mix on decision day. Ramsey cited the coaching staff’s willingness to give him the keys to the offense and play through him as major reasons for him to stay in state. Ramsey is an explosive athlete who can change the game on either side of the ball and showed some great improvement shooting the ball this fall.

Getting Ramsey represents the latest in a series of recruiting wins for Texas Tech, adding a second 4-star player from the Texas 2019 class. Ramsey will link up with Kevin McCullar, who will join the Tech team over the winter break as an early graduate. Coach Beard and the rest of the staff in Lubbock have already shown what he can do with unheralded recruits, as Zhaire Smith became a one-and-done after flying under the radar as a high school player, and Jarrett Culver has been projected as high as the 11th pick in the latest NBA mock drafts. With Ramsey becoming the highest-ranked commitment in school history, there is plenty of optimism surrounding the Red Raider program as things stand.

Ramsey and McCullar are joined by 6-foot-9 forward Kahlid Thomas of College of Southern Idaho and 7-footer Russel Tchewa of Putnam Science Academy.

The anticipation for Texas fans grew as the final weeks of Will Baker’s recruitment were coming to a close. Going into Thursday’s decision, Baker was down to UCLA and Texas. But ultimately Baker made the decision to stay in Austin and head to Texas, with Shaka Smart adding the TexasHoops.com No.3 player in the state into the fold. Baker is the super rare 7-footer who can handle the ball in transition, use great body control to score inside, and shoot it with NBA range, and will give Texas a foundation to build their next generation on.

Baker joins a strong recruiting class for the Longhorns, with Fort Bend Elkins guard Donovan Williams already pledged to UT after making huge strides this summer and blowing up to a 4-star prospect. The real question for Baker will be how long he stays at Texas, with many in the industry tipping him as a potential one-and-done. Either way, the Austin Westlake product will enjoy his time playing in front of family and friends in the Texas capital.