Chris Beard is profiting from his scorched earth recruiting policy

While Red Raiders wait for Matt Haarms to announce his decision, the Red Raider basketball program has already picked up two college transfers. Viva the Matadors takes a quick look at what Texas Tech is getting.

Esahia Nyiwe

The first to commit was Esahia Nyiwe (pronounced like Isaiah Ny-wee) from Clarendon College. Nywie calls Omaha, Nebraska his hometown but was born in Sudan. Nyiwe is eligible immediately and has 3 years to play 2 seasons should a red-shirt year be needed.

Esahia “Zaye” Nyiwe can put the ball on the floor when needed and he can finish with authority. The 6’10” JUCO transfer is athletic enough to be able to guard the post as well as helping out at the 3 point line to defend guards. One important quote I want to bring to your attention comes from Carlos Silva Jr in the Lubbock AJ:

“They envision me kind of like a Tariq Owens-type player,” Nyiwe said of the coaching staff’s plan for him. “Big presence on the defensive side who can also guard multiple positions. I take big pride on defense. My length and athleticism helps me a lot.”

“Zaye” averaged about 8 points, 8 rebounds, 2 blocks, and 1 assist a game (very Tariq-like numbers). After the rebounding issues (or lack thereof) Tech had in several games this past season, I think I’m more excited about the near double digit rebounding average than the blocks average. “Zaye,” I got to be honest. You had me at Tariq. You had me at Tariq.

Jamarius Burton

Jamarius Burton comes to Texas Tech by way of Wichita State. The 6’4” guard plans to sit a year per current NCAA transfer rules. According to the following interview on Tech Talk with Chris Level and Aaron Dickens, Burton plans to use the year to develop his body and game.

You can listen to the full interview here

Burton averaged about 10 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists as a Shocker. If you listened to the radio interview, Burton said the coaches wanted him to fill the Matt Mooney role. Hold up!

So you’re telling me the Red Raiders have picked up a potential Tariq and Mooney clone AND Tech will have them for more than one year. Sign me up right now and twice on Thursday. Time will tell if those shoes are too big for these transfers to fill, but if they come even close to the production that Tariq Owens and Matt Mooney provided, then I for one will be happier than a Kurt Wilson Super Regional 3 run bomb.

Whether Texas Tech lands Matt Haarms or some other transfer or even no one else for this upcoming basketball season, rest assured that the roster will be primed to make another Final Four run (in the words of Chris Beard himself) “sooner rather than later.”