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4-star SG Tamar Bates requests release from Texas

Shaka Smart’s departure has now impacted the 2021 recruiting class for the Longhorns.

Tamar Bates
247Sports

The departure of Texas Longhorns head coach Shaka Smart to become the next head coach for the Marquette Golden Eagles has now officially impacted the 2021 Longhorns recruiting class with Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy shooting guard Tamar Bates announcing on Monday that he’s requested his release from his National Letter of Intent.

The 6’4, 175-pounder who hails from Kansas City signed with Texas last November after committing to Smart and his staff in August over a group of finalists that also included Alabama, Creighton, Iowa State, Kansas, Missouri, and Oregon.

Smart was a big reason why Bates committed to the Longhorns.

A consensus four-star prospect, Bates is currently ranked as the No. 56 player nationally and the No. 14 shooting guard, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings. The remaining three members of the Texas recruiting class are Iowa combo guard Emarion Ellis, Wisconsin power forward David Joplin, and North Carolina power forward Keeyan Itejere.

The decision by Bates will put some extra pressure on Smart’s replacement, as sophomore forward Kai Jones has already turned pro, freshman forward Greg Brown III is expected to join him, senior guard Matt Coleman and senior forward Jericho Sims are not expected to take advantage of the eligibility freeze, and sophomore guard Donovan Williams and senior forward Royce Hamm Jr. are both in the NCAA transfer portal. As a result, Texas is expected to have six scholarships still available for next season.