In the desperate pursuit interior talent, for both the present and future, Shaka Smart and the Texas Longhorns landed a commitment from Tulane transfer Dylan Osetkowski.
Happy to say that I will be continuing my basketball career at Texas University! Thanks to everyone!! #HookEm pic.twitter.com/ucIiSJtpfK
— Dylan Osetkowski (@DylanOsetkowski) April 13, 2016
Osetkowski, a 6'9, 255-pound power forward, averaged 11.3 points and 8.3 rebounds for the Green Wave as a sophomore, but elected to transfer once head coach Ed Conroy was fired following the season. From that point, mutual interest between Osetkowski and Texas surfaced and a visit to the Forty Acres sealed the deal:
Just talked to Dylan Osetkowski. New Texas transfer says he was blown away by campus visit. "I just felt Texas was the best fit for me."
— Brian Davis (@BDavisAAS) April 13, 2016
Due to NCAA transfer rules, Osetkowski will have to sit out a year, but will have two years of remaining eligibility once he joins the team for the 2017-18 season. This is still substantial news, despite Osetkowski's commitment not impacting the upcoming season. Once he's eligible, Texas won't have any remaining upperclassmen in the paint with Shaquille Cleare entering his senior season. Additionally, four-star center James Banks is the only other option Texas has down low at the moment, which would mean Osetowski's entrance to the rotation would add some much-needed interior depth for Smart and the Longhorns.
Osetkowski committed to Texas over Arizona, Oklahoma, Baylor and Maryland; some significant competition that the Horns clearly came out on top of.