Texas basketball lands Arkansas-Little Rock graduate transfer PF Mareik Isom

Head coach Shaka Smart has another frontcourt piece in place for the 2016-17 season with the Sunday news that Arkansas-Little Rock Trojans graduate transfer Mareik Isom, a power forward from Austin Bowie, will join the Texas Longhorns program, his father told Horns247.

So while the Longhorns missed out on Duquesne Dukes graduate transfer forward LG Gill recently, Isom could end up being a key addition to next season's team because he's much more of a known quantity than signee James Banks or even consensus five-star target Jarrett Allen.

A 6'9, 215-pounder, Isom averaged a rather modest 5.9 points per game and 2.7 rebounds. However, he's an excellent three-point shooter, hitting 39.6 percent of his long-distance attempts on the season and leading the Sun Belt by hitting 49.2 percent during conference play. In what will likely be an increased role at Texas, he'll serve in a similar capacity this year as Connor Lammert did last year.

So Isom's ability to stretch the floor and provide spacing for an offensive attack that will feature slashing players like Kerwin Roach, Andrew Jones, and Tevin Mack will be extremely important.

The current frontcourt for the 'Horns next season will feature Banks and senior center Shaquille Cleare. Allen, the Austin St. Stephen's prospect, opted not to sign a National Letter of Intent, but is thought to be a heavy Texas lean as he continues to ponder his decision.