Texas Longhorns Basketball: Devonta Pollard Will Roll Tide

Devonta Pollard, the only remaining player left on the Texas Longhorns 2012 recruiting wish list, committed earlier today to play for Alabama. Pollard had Texas, Missouri, and Georgetown amongst his finalists. While many in Longhorn circles felt good about Texas' chances of landing Pollard, in the end, the "close to home" pull and familiarity of SEC country was too important for the Mississippi native and too much for Texas to overcome.

With Pollard now a member of the Crimson Tide, Texas has likely finalized its 2012-13 roster. Sheldon McClellan is the favorite to start at small forward, joined by fellow sophomore returnees Julien Lewis and Myck Kabongo in the backcourt. Either returnee Jonathan Holmes or Jaylen Bond will get first crack at the 4, with incoming freshman Cameron Ridley taking over as starting center.

Losing out on Pollard stings for next season, but it does open up an available scholarship for the 2013 recruiting class. Texas currently has two open scholarships, though both Kabongo and Ridley should be considered possible NBA early entry candidates. The Longhorns have multiple offers out, but are highest on two Texas five stars, Julius Randle (Plano Prestonwood Christian Academy) and Keith Frazier (Dallas Kimball).

Texas wraps up its 2012 class with Ridley, Prince Ibeh, Connor Lammert, Ioannis Papapetrou, DeMarcus Holland, and Javan Felix. Lammert and Papapetrou are redshirt candidates, though that prospect appears less likely without Pollard on board.

We'll have more analysis on the incoming freshmen and potential of next year's team over a summer series.