2023/2024 Portal News

[Sincerely hookem]

Ain’t gonna lie I’m feeling mixed emotions about this one although we was in the running for her out of hs I didn’t feel like we needed her now and I get it. On the other hand I wanted to commend VS for not having a lot of TO with the roster like I thought or last year. Only thing with that is WE STILL DONT HAVE ANOTHER TRUE GUARD OR COMBO GUARD so why take a unproven C. I might bite those words later but right now I stand on it.

 

[chuckhorn]

Herron, a 6-foot-4, four-star center, was ranked as the 11th-best post, as well as a top-70 player in the class of 2022 by ESPN.

R

 

[DFW_Horn]

I just don’t get it. I saw DeSoto play twice live and once on tv. The 2 live games - Amina was the best of their 3 bigs. In the state championship game, Sa’Miyah Smith was the best of the 3. I think the comp to Ebo isn't too far off based on what I saw though I have heard she struggled with a leg injury that may have slowed her down and impacted her conditioning. I saw her a few years ago after a Texas-TCU game in Fort Worth and she was slimmer then - I'm pretty sure she was a freshman or sophomore at the time.

 

[racerx5908]

Well, there it is. Anyone know how she was ranked coming out of high school? Also, not sure how this will work on scholarship distribution. Maybe they believe she’ll get a medical RS this season and be ready next season? She just had the surgery 8 mos ago. We obviously have a very different need for this upcoming season.

According to HoopGurlz (take with a grain of salt)

2022 High School Girls' Basketball Recruits - Kentucky - ESPN

4-start, #11 Post.

 

[racerx5908]

 

[Moooooo]

Congrats to Tionna, and getting to reunite with Amina Muhammad!

I still recall when she camped with us many summers ago, and Aston offered her; seems so long ago. Never hurts to add another player from DFW, especially DeSoto H.S.

 

[Born in ATX]

I hope this doesn't affect our scholarship numbers for 2023. We've had too many players on scholarship who aren't medically cleared to play (and let's face it - one that was just taking advantage of everyone). The staff needs to wrap up an experienced guard before the season starts who has the skills to run the team and break a press. We have a lot of talent coming back and need to make sure one kink in the wheel doesn't derail us again.

 

[Moooooo]

Coach Lovato started following Kentucky transfer, 6'5 Tionna Herron out of DeSoto. So did walk-on, Sarah Graves.

Seems like forever since my social media detective work unveiled clues which led to us gaining a new player. Seems like it happened fast. She entered the transfer portal on May 10 or so; one week later and she's chosen Texas.

For someone who didn't play last season and underwent major surgery, I'm actually surprised she didn't enter the transfer portal much sooner (waiting a day or two prior to the May 11 deadline).

 

[Moooooo]

Well, there it is. Anyone know how she was ranked coming out of high school? Also, not sure how this will work on scholarship distribution. Maybe they believe she’ll get a medical RS this season and be ready next season? She just had the surgery 8 mos ago. We obviously have a very different need for this upcoming season.

The rules/guidelines change often.

Even though she redshirted this past season, she would need to apply for a waiver to have it officially designated as a "medical" redshirt; you only get one of those, IIRC. So, if she redshirts again this coming season (regardless of the reason), it will still cost her one season of eligibility.

She still counts as a scholarship player this coming season whether she plays or not (just like Codio and Maul counted this past season).

Tionna Herron – UK Athletics

 

[Moooooo]

 

[Moooooo]

 

[Moooooo]

 

[TXSNOS]

Prater? Statesman is a bit confused.

 

[BALL IS LIFE]

Like it. Low risk, high reward kid.

 

[brnkj]

Ain’t gonna lie I’m feeling mixed emotions about this one although we was in the running for her out of hs I didn’t feel like we needed her now and I get it. On the other hand I wanted to commend VS for not having a lot of TO with the roster like I thought or last year. Only thing with that is WE STILL DONT HAVE ANOTHER TRUE GUARD OR COMBO GUARD so why take a unproven C. I might bite those words later but right now I stand on it.

Ideally a Jewel Spear, Tiana Mair, or JJ Quinnerly type player would suit our immediate needs no doubt about that. We tried but... If there's anything left out there of that type I'm sure we are still trying. Meanwhile taking Tionna Herron doesn't HURT anything. Hell it might just help because, as I said before, we are one TJ injury away from being down to one true center. TJ does have a history of injury and those lower back issues do not go away. You learn to treat and play with them as best as possible, but they can flare up at any given time.

 

[brnkj]

Like it. Low risk, high reward kid.

Thank you! And you also may be establishing a positive connection to the DeSoto HS program.

 

[brnkj]

Prater? Statesman is a bit confused.

Perhaps that means there's going to be news of Prater coming.

 

[Moooooo]

Women’s Basketball signs Tionna Herron - University of Texas Athletics (texassports.com)

"We are super excited to be able to welcome to the Longhorn family Tionna Herron," head coach Vic Schaefer said. "She is another top 60 player from the state of Texas. She is a two-time defending champ of the DeSoto Lady Eagles. Tionna adds quality young depth to our front court that we are excited about developing in the coming months and years. Tionna and Abbie Boutilier are the future centers for many years to come for Texas women's basketball."

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Vic has stated before that taking a transfer this offseason with more than one season of eligibility could affect the numbers for the 2024 high school recruiting class. With Herron having 4 years of eligibility remaining, it could be that Vic didn't like where things stood with 6'5 Adhel Tac of South Grand Prairie.

 

[texexted]

Women’s Basketball signs Tionna Herron - University of Texas Athletics (texassports.com)

"We are super excited to be able to welcome to the Longhorn family Tionna Herron," head coach Vic Schaefer said. "She is another top 60 player from the state of Texas. She is a two-time defending champ of the DeSoto Lady Eagles. Tionna adds quality young depth to our front court that we are excited about developing in the coming months and years. Tionna and Abbie Boutilier are the future centers for many years to come for Texas women's basketball."

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Vic has stated before that taking a transfer this offseason with more than one season of eligibility could affect the numbers for the 2024 high school recruiting class. With Herron having 4 years of eligibility remaining, it could be that Vic didn't like where things stood with 6'5 Adhel Tac of South Grand Prairie.

Not a buzz generator but if she’s good it will be a pleasant surprise. Still waiting for a high-impact portal player.

 

[Moooooo]

Not a buzz generator but if she’s good it will be a pleasant surprise. Still waiting for a high-impact portal player.

With the team returning 11 players including 4 starters, plus 2 high school signees (one who could be an immediate starter), the chances of that were always low unless it was an elite shooting guard.

 

[Moooooo]

Former DeSoto star Tionna Herron transfers to Texas (expressnews.com)

 

[Moooooo]

Optimistic comment that Tionna could be ready for start of season

 

[texexted]

With the team returning 11 players including 4 starters, plus 2 high school signees (one who could be an immediate starter), the chances of that were always low unless it was an elite shooting guard.

Don’t tell Kim Mulkey that’s how the portal works…

 

[Moooooo]

Don’t tell Kim Mulkey that’s how the portal works…

We're not coming off a national championship season. And, Mulkey had to replace two senior starters.

Clearly not apples to apples situation.

 

[brnkj]

Women’s Basketball signs Tionna Herron - University of Texas Athletics (texassports.com)

"We are super excited to be able to welcome to the Longhorn family Tionna Herron," head coach Vic Schaefer said. "She is another top 60 player from the state of Texas. She is a two-time defending champ of the DeSoto Lady Eagles. Tionna adds quality young depth to our front court that we are excited about developing in the coming months and years. Tionna and Abbie Boutilier are the future centers for many years to come for Texas women's basketball."

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Vic has stated before that taking a transfer this offseason with more than one season of eligibility could affect the numbers for the 2024 high school recruiting class. With Herron having 4 years of eligibility remaining, it could be that Vic didn't like where things stood with 6'5 Adhel Tac of South Grand Prairie.

I agree this was a good strategic pick up given that we have no commitments for 2024 yet.

 

[Sangre Naranjada]

We're not coming off a national championship season. And, Mulkey had to replace two senior starters.

Clearly not apples to apples situation.

Plus, Mulkey is a horrible human being who has no reservations about portalling over a younger player she sweet talked into signing just a year prior.

She WILL stab her players in the back, and I for one am pleased our program doesn't have that kind of history.

 

[flash34]

In the few games I saw on TV, Herron was the most skilled of the DeSoto players. Good hands, smooth with a good mid-range shot and footwork especially around the elbows. I even commented on here about my thoughts. Good depth pickup for this year. Will play way before Boutilier is ready.

 

[texexted]

We're not coming off a national championship season. And, Mulkey had to replace two senior starters.

Clearly not apples to apples situation.

Nothing is “apples to apples” - no type teams or programs are alike. However - successful portal recruiting strategies can be similar.
I like Mulkey’s approach (and I’m not a Mulkey fan): Scrub the portal for the absolute best players in the country and get them on your team. Worry about positions and egos later.

 

[Bucksgal]

Perhaps that means there's going to be news of Prater coming.

I've got my fingers and toes crossed.

 

[Moooooo]

Nothing is “apples to apples” - no type teams or programs are alike. However - successful portal recruiting strategies can be similar.
I like Mulkey’s approach (and I’m not a Mulkey fan): Scrub the portal for the absolute best players in the country and get them on your team. Worry about positions and egos later.

If it were that easy, everyone would be doing it and enjoying the highest success. Just because you reach out to the best players in the portal doesn't mean they want to come join your program; the reasons vary.

Based on social media, our coaching staff reached out to players like Lauren Betts, Te-hina PaoPao, Endyia Rogers, Jewel Spear, etc. Not one visited.