Longhorns May Have Just Seen Their Caleb Love Chances Increase
AUSTIN, Texas -- To say it's been an unexpected offseason - let alone past five months - for Texas Longhorns men's basketball would be a heavy understatement. Now, the team might've just found itself one step closer toward putting a cherry on top of all this unpredictability.
Team sources confirmed to LonghornsCountry.com on Monday that North Carolina transfer guard Caleb Love, who recently decommited from Michigan, has strong mutual interest with Texas on a possible commitment, though anything is far from a guarantee. An additional report from 247Sports said that Texas, Arizona and Gonzaga are the leading landing spots for Love.
But after Thursday's events, it's possible the running could be down to the Longhorns and Gonzaga, with other unnamed teams potentially in contention as well.
Per reports from Eurohopes.com, Arizona landed a 2023 commitment from Spanish guard Conrad Martínez on Thursday, giving coach Tommy Lloyd another foreign talent in the backcourt after Kerr Kriisa committed to West Virginia earlier in the offseason.
As Arizona's SB Nation site put it, this commitment "probably closes the door" on the Wildcats' pursuit of Love.
"It also makes it very unlikely the UA would still be in the mix for North Carolina transfer guard Caleb Love, unless it were to take Tautvilas Tubelis—who plays less than most walk-ons—off scholarship," SB Nation's Brian J. Pederse wrote.
However, as Texas fans are currently seeing, one commitment hardly puts an end to a team's potential pursuit of someone else.
Go back in time a few weeks.
The Longhorns had added Oral Roberts transfer guard Max Abmas and the return of Tyrese Hunter loomed. With these two all but set to command the backcourt and with Love having already committed to Michigan, it seemed pretty much impossible that there could be any way for the former Tar Heel to somehow be in transfer contention for Texas.
But the craziness surrounding Love's recruiting journey this offseason now has Texas in the running. With the Longhorns likely focused on getting the best talent available, a potential starting backcourt trio featuring Love, Abmas and Hunter now seems to be the goal.
There's obviously still work to be done to secure a commitment from a guy who became arguably the top player in the portal upon leaving UNC, but it's hard not to sit back and imagine the intrigue Love would add should he come to Austin. Texas' trio of guards would instantly be considered one of the best groups in the country.
This past season, the Tar Heels failed to make the NCAA Tournament, but Love averaged 16.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.8 assists. But despite UNC's disappointing season, it's understandable to see why Love is a target for programs focused on winning a championship. Averaging 18.8 points per game, Love embodied what it meant to be clutch in the biggest moments during the 2022 NCAA Tournament, as he led the No. 8 Tar Heels all the way to the National Championship, where they were one half away from winning it all.
Thursday's new out of Tucson could certainly benefit the Texas Longhorns regarding Love, but to what extent remains to be seen.
You can follow Zach Dimmitt on Twitter at @ZachDimmitt7
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