The Longhorns make their first transfer portal addition of the offseason.
Indiana State Sycamores transfer forward Jayson Kent committed to the Texas Longhorns on Sunday afternoon, Kent told On3 following an official visit to Austin with former teammate Julian Larry, a guard.
NEWS: Indiana State transfer forward Jayson Kent has committed to Texas, he tells @On3sports.
The 6-8 junior averaged 13.5 points and 8.1 rebounds per game this season. https://t.co/090AoccpJS pic.twitter.com/AQTPuJixhh
— Joe Tipton (@TiptonEdits) April 14, 2024
#HookEm pic.twitter.com/Omeyr4vJxf
— Rodney Terry (@RodneyTerry) April 14, 2024
Kent will be a super senior for the Longhorns and head coach Rodney Terry in 2024-25, using an extra season of eligibility afforded by the coronavirus pandemic.
A 6’8, 205-pounder who was born in Austin before playing high school basketball in the Chicago area, Kent started his college career at Bradley before transferring to Indiana State, where he played the last two seasons. Kent has one year of eligibility remaining.
Like Larry, Kent was a role player for his first three seasons before taking on a larger role last season as the Sycamores finished as the NIT runners up. Kent averaged 13.5 points per game on 63.9-percent shooting from the field and 36.6-percent shooting from three, the latter a significant improvement from his combined average of 27.0-percent three-point shooting in previous seasons. At 2.2 three-point attempts per game, Kent’s shooting volume from distance exactly matched that of Texas forward Brock Cunningham in 2023-34. Kent was also a prolific rebounder at 8.1 boards per game with 2.1 of those rebounds coming off the offensive glass.
A slasher and extremely capable finisher who shot 77.2 percent on close twos last season and led Indiana State with 37 of the team’s 45 dunks, Kent benefited from playing with talented big Robbie Avila, who created space for Kent to cut to the basket off the ball or rim run in the pick and roll. Kent’s improved shooting ability also allowed him to space the court when working from the corners.
Kent is the first offseason addition for Texas out of the NCAA transfer portal.