Texas Tech’s roster got a late summer boost, and both additions come with NBA Draft implications.
The Red Raiders signed Darrion Williams and Donovan Atwell after the pair were granted eligibility this summer, giving the program two more experienced pieces just as the 2026-27 season is approaching. The move comes amid a broader college basketball shake-up sparked by a court ruling tied to members of the 2022 recruiting class, which opened the door for several players who took part in the 2026 NBA Summer League to return to the NCAA level.
Atwell is the more immediate name from a draft-stock perspective. He suited up for the Bulls’ Summer League team and averaged 10.6 points and 1.8 rebounds over five games, shooting 50% from the field and 48.5% from 3-point range on 6.6 attempts per game. At 6-foot-5 and 200 pounds, he brings the kind of profile teams covet on the wing: a hard-nosed perimeter defender with real shot-making ability.
His work against AJ Dybantsa in 2025-26 stood out, and while the expectation is that his three-point clip won’t stay quite that high, Atwell still looks like a legitimate “3 & D” candidate at the next level. He began his college career at UNC Greensboro, spending his first three seasons there before posting 13.5 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game while hitting 46.3% from the floor and 45.8% from deep on more than eight attempts per night.
The offensive package is mostly built around the jumper, but that may be enough. With his defensive tools and shooting, Atwell has a path to becoming a draft name in 2027.
Texas Tech also added international big man Bassala Bagayoko, who declared for the 2026 draft before withdrawing his name. Born in 2006, the 6-foot-10 Mali native spent last season with Surne Bilbao Basket in Spain’s top professional league, where he averaged 3.9 points and 3.4 rebounds while shooting 55.7% from the field in 12.7 minutes across 31 games.
Bagayoko’s best outing of the 2025-26 season came against Barça in late December, when he posted 14 points, 7 rebounds and a steal, going 5-of-6 from the field and a perfect 4-of-4 at the line. He matched that 14-point, 7-rebound line once more against UCAM Murcia, adding an assist and a block while shooting 5-of-8 from the field, 1-of-3 from 3-point range and 3-of-4 from the free throw line.
If he puts together a strong season in the Big 12, Bagayoko could also work his way into 2027 NBA Draft discussions.
In Other News...
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Donovan Atwells return has given Texas Tech a finished look heading into the season, and it is easy to see why this roster is drawing plenty of attention on paper. The mix around him has real balance, with Cruz Davis expected to help steady the backcourt, Darrion Williams bringing his all-around versatility and JT Toppin adding another intriguing frontcourt piece to a group that already looks deeper than the usual preseason chatter suggests.
Atwells value is not hard to spot, either. His shooting gives the Red Raiders another reliable spacing threat, while his defensive ability adds to a lineup that can do more than simply score in bunches. Even so, the bigger theme around Texas Tech is that some media outlets may be selling the group short in preseason rankings, which makes this team one of the more interesting watch points before games even start counting. [Read more 🡒]