Texas Tech University Athletics
November 01, 2026 | Men's Basketball
Tech set to open season at 6 p.m. on Monday against Jackson State
There's a stoic philosophy from Seneca that states, "True happiness is to enjoy the present''. When committed, it can help free you from worries about the past and future. You're in the moment, focused on what matters โ not dwelling on the past or being consumed by the future. Throughout Big 12 Media Day in Kansas City, Texas Tech head coach Grant McCasland talked to national media about the upcoming season and his roster. Two players on this year's squad, who were back in Lubbock at the time โ probably on the court putting up shots - kept coming up when he talked about what he loved most about his team. Cruz Davis and Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn. "We're getting them at the right time," he said. "They're not trying to prove themselves. They're playing to win."
Seneca's philosophy extends to say, "True happiness is to enjoy the present, without anxious dependence upon the future". From the first day both players arrived on campus in the summer, this is how they've carried themselves. "I don't just lead to lead, I want to lead to win," said Gibbs-Lawhorn who is only two points away from the 1,000-point career milestone. Experience hast taught them this, and it comes after years and years of proving themselves, working and searching, succeeding and stumbling, always getting back up to continue the fight. Last season, it all came together for both of them in terms of individual success. Gibbs-Lawhorn averaged 20.7 points per game at UNLV. Davis scored 20.1 points per game and led Hofstra to the NCAA Tournament. It set up the present that they're now enjoying at Texas Tech with the season opener at 6 p.m. on Monday against Jackson State.
"These guys have persevered and won," McCasland said. "They are unbelievably hard working and legit only care about our team winning. That is the most exciting part of my days walking into practice. Isn't that a cool time in your life where you've worked really hard and you get to a place where you feel like it's where you're supposed to be and what you're supposed to be doing. Every day I walk into the gym, I see that in them. It's so awesome."
If you long for the days of someone growing up in a town where everyone goes to the same elementary, middle and high school and then they attend a university where they graduate in four years, join the alumni association and only have love for that school for the rest of their lives โ this side of their story probably isn't for you. On the other hand, if you appreciate the pursuit of a passion, the drive to achieve goals and uncanny adaptability โ you may want to stick around. If you love living in the present, this story is for you. Davis and Gibbs-Lawhorn have moved around in their basketball careers โ a lot. During high school, Gibbs-Lawhorn, who is from Indiana, played for four different prep programs in four different states. A Plano, Texas native, Davis played at South Garland High School during his first two prep seasons before transferring twice โ his second time taking him to Huntington Prep in West Virginia. Both prep paths worked to attract high-level college programs, Davis signing with Rick Pitno's team at Iona and Gibbs-Lawhorn signing with Brad Underwood and playing two seasons Illinois. Gibbs-Lawhorn played those two seasons at Illinois and then transferred to UNLV. He comes into his first season at Tech with 998 career points and has played in two NCAA Tournaments, including reaching the 2024 Elite Eight while at Illinois. Davis played one season at Iona, one at St. John's and the past two at Hofstra โ earning Coastal Athletic Association Player of the Year last season and producing 1,327 career points and 335 assists along the way.
"Since my freshman year in high school, every team I've been on has been a new team," Gibbs-Lawhorn said. "Completely different. Learning how to connect quickly and build that team chemistry fast has been really important to me. I really believe that the greater the bond you have as a team it really shows on the court. I try to bring energy and experience. I want to be a prime example of putting the team first and caring about everyone out here."
"My experience from all these other places have shown me how to adapt," Davis added. "Every situation is going to be different. You're not always going to be in the same role. Every team is different. I just do whatever I can to make my teams better."
One is cerebral, the other exuberant. Once in the spotlight on Monday night at United Supermarkets Arena and throughout the season (in person or on television), it won't take you long to tell difference between the two. The similarities and differences will be striking. Dra has a controlled swag, in demeanor, play and celebration. Cruz, well, it's a game played on cruise control with unexpected bursts that will surprise opponents and result in points. ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย
"One thing similar about Cruz and Dra is their will to win," McCasland said. "It's also their consistency and their will to work is unreal. I say this often about guys who separate themselves, but they come to practice every day with the competitiveness that you want. They couldn't be more different as people though. Dra is the most outgoing and could be the most talkative player I've ever coached and Cruz is simple and talks the least. Cruz dresses a little basic and Dra always has something crazy on. They couldn't be more different off the court in their personalities, but their approach and competitiveness is the same."
The differences and similarities aren't missed on Dra and Cruz โ despite only being on the same team for a couple months leading into the season. Statistically, they were strikingly similar last season. Davis shooting 40.0% on 3-pointers (82 makes) and Gibbs-Lawhorn making 41.4% of his 3-pointers (101 makes). With JT Toppin scoring 21.8 points per game last season, Tech has three players who averaged 20 or more points per game โ players who consistently produce and are consistent in their approach.
"We're both super competitive guys," Davis said. "Dra has a lot of energy. Super high energy. Always yelling and talking. We're both focused on the main goal though. That's competing and winning."
"He's the same person every day," said Gibbs-Lawhorn of Davis. "He's a great player who is all about the team."
Gibbs-Lawhorn, entering his first season at Tech, is a basketball lifer. "I wasn't even walking yet the first time I started playing basketball," Gibbs-Lawhorn said. "My dad is a basketball trainer and got me started real early. I would be in a play pen on the court when he was training guys. I've loved the game forever." In high school, Gibbs-Lawhorn went from McCutcheon High School in Indiana to RSL Academy (Now Utah Prep) to Montverde Academy (Florida) to Word of God Academy in Overtime Elite which was based out of Atlanta, Georgia during his prep career. During that time, he competed with and played against multiple current NBA players โ including Asur and Amen Thompson and Derik Queen. "I always wanted to be among the best of the best and get better," he said. "It's easy for me to adapt because I've moved around so much," Gibbs-Lawhorn said. "Any place I go to, I feel at home." If you're doing the math, Texas Tech is the eighth different program Gibbs-Lawhorn has played for since his freshman season in high school. There could be a sense of alarm for a need for consistency, but he, and his coaches, have no worries about that. They see it as a positive with experience and perspective building a player ready for any moment.
"The main thing you can control is your energy," Gibbs-Lawhorn said. "Energy can be negative or it can be positive. I always try to bring positive energy. A positive impact. It's hard to find a team of 12-14 guys who are committed to one goal and put all ego aside, but I really feel we have one of those teams," Gibbs-Lawhorn said. "It's not about how much we play or missing or making shots. It's about making each other better and winning games. Having a team like that is important to get to where we all want to be."
Last season at UNLV, Gibbs-Lawhorn put his full potential on display and earned Mountain West Conference Newcomer of the Year and All-MWC First Team honors. The success came after two seasons at Illinois where he had averaged 5.9 points per game as a sophomore and 2.4 as a freshman. At UNLV, he would post a game with 42 points against Nevada where he hit eight 3-pointers and comes into this season with 43 games scoring in double figures โ 33 that came last season.
"I see my role as being a leader and being there for the guys," Gibbs-Lawhorn said. "I want to relay messages and cut out any confusion about what it takes to win. I think I've learned that in my career."
Davis, who along with Gibbs-Lawhorn spoke to a group of donors on Friday afternoon, talked about how the opportunity at Tech is affecting his life. With a brother who has autism, his father stays at home to take care of him while his mother's working income provides for his family. With NIL, Cruz is now helping the family out financially as well. "Basketball helps a lot," he said. Davis put himself in this position playing for the Red Raiders with a couple strong seasons at Hofstra โ highlighted by a senior season last year where he went off for 20.1 points and 2.5 assists per game. He put up 36 points at Pittsburgh and had five games scoring 30 or more. He led Hofstra to the NCAA Tournament, scoring 14 points and having six assists in a loss to Alabama to end the season. Davis had started his career at Iona, averaging 6.5 points per game as a freshman before transferring to St. John's when Pitino changed programs. Davis suffered an injury in his sophomore season and would take a medical redshirt after only four games. "Playing for Coach P, he's a Hall of Fame coach, who has helped me a lot. He's a tough coach to play for but always gets the best out of you. Playing for him and now Coach Mac is going to make me the best player I can be. I've learned a lot and a lot of it is about being adaptable and to be ready for any role you're coached to be in." Another transfer sent him to Hofstra where he would take his collegiate career to another level, averaging 14.4 points per game as a junior and then earning Coastal Athletic Association Player of the Year last season.
Texas Tech fans can recall Seneca's philosophy that says, 'True happiness is to enjoy the present, without anxious dependence upon the future'. Why? Well, let's lean into three straight trips to the NCAA Tournament under McCasland and sustained success over the last 10 years. But, staying true to the present, let's trust Davis and Gibbs-Lawhorn and what they bring to a team full of talented players through their approach.
"They don't shy away from expectations because they felt they have felt the squeeze of playing in big games and expectations," McCasland said. "They understand the difficult times in the season that is coming. They already know what this is all about. It's not just me telling them. They've experienced this already. Their eyes are wide open to understanding that you have to play for each other and put in the work not only for themselves but for everyone on the team. They both have great individual talents but they prioritize their teammates because they know it takes everyone doing this together."
They've put up the points and won the awards. They've proven themselves. Now it's all about winning. Enjoying the present.
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