Texas Tech University Athletics
'I love being back out here': Tech Basketball Takes the Court
August 27, 2026 | Men's Basketball
While some see chaos surrounding college athletics, today inside the Womble Practice Facility there was a far different scene playing out than the one on social media and legal system. There's a sense of normalcy, urgency and joy. Close your eyes and you'll hear basketballs bouncing, loud music, whistles and yelling from players, managers and coaches as they start practicing and are pumping each other up. Open your eyes and you'll see 14 players smiling and focused as the first out of season practice for the 2026-27 Texas Tech basketball team is about to begin.
"I love being back out here," Tech head coach Grant McCasland said as he walked onto the court.
With classes beginning this week and a full roster assembled, Thursday was the first time the five returners and nine newcomers were all on the court together after a summer of individual workouts and strength and conditioning – knowing that in 56 days they'll be playing an exhibition at Kentucky and the season opener is only 67 days away. Coaches gave instructions on how the practice would go before strength coach Andrew Wright led the warmup session. Music blared and the sound of basketballs hitting the court echoed throughout. Along with normalcy, urgency and joy – there was also a sense of relief that they were all on the court together doing what they love.
"It was really nice having everyone here," said Cruz Davis, who was the first signee to join the program back on April 17 after averaging 20.1 points and 4.7 assists at Hofstra last season. "It was a long summer not having a full team but we still put in the work to be ready for days like this. We did a lot of learning today and that will only continue. I had a lot of fun playing with the guys today."
Practice would begin and end the same way the past three seasons have been conducted under McCasland – each season which has resulted in NCAA Tournament appearances. After warmups, the team ran a drill with three players each pushing the ball quickly up the court. The drill requires crisp passes and results in one player dunking or making a layup and the other two shooting 3-pointers. Assistant coach Jeff Linder stops the drill after a couple minutes and tells everyone, "Throw a strike. Percentages go up with better passes." McCasland, watching from the sideline as the drill continues, blows his whistle and adds, "We're going to figure this out. We're all right. We are never going to stop."
The fast-paced drill, without defenders, pushes each player to make good passes, move quickly and knock down shots. On one sequence, Darrion Williams hits a 3-pointer and the next one sees Trey Hall throw down a dunk. Hall, a freshman from Crowley, is competing in his first-ever college practice. Williams is not. He's back at Texas Tech after playing at NC State last season after beginning his career at Nevada as a freshman and then playing for the Red Raiders as a sophomore and junior. A two-time All-Big 12 selection, Williams has played in 133 career games and has recorded 1,601 points, 825 rebounds and 387 assists. Thursday was his first team practice as a Red Raider since the day before the team played Florida in the 2025 Elite Eight.
"It felt really good for me," Williams said. "Being back home, in a number 5 jersey and on this court, it just feels right. It was great getting out there with all of us together competing with a lot of energy and expectation. It's a really great feeling."
During a 4-on-4 drill, Williams drills a 3-pointer after getting a perfect pass from Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn. A couple plays later, Josiah Moseley saves a loose ball from going out of bounds and finds Gibbs-Lawhorn open for a shot – nothing but net.
"I've been wanting to be on the court with our entire team all summer," said Gibbs-Lawhorn, who averaged 20.7 points per game at UNLV last season and signed with Tech on April 23. "Today was great. It's a blessing to have our whole squad together. Coach was right when he said we have a lot to work on but I know everyone here is ready to work and become a team. We have to come together faster than some other teams that have been together longer but we're ready to make that happen."
On the sidelines off the court, the best player in the nation is on the ground without shoes on and continuing his rehab from an ACL injury that cut his All-American junior season short. JT Toppin is connected with everything that is going on, but not able to be on the court practicing. "I hate not being able to be out there but I'm getting there," Toppin said the day before this workout. "I'm doing good." Toppin watches the team practice as he stands on his right leg and throws two-handed passes to an assistant athletic trainer. He does toe raises against the wall and then a skipping exercise where he taps his toes against a half balance ball. A two-time Consensus All-America who has scored 1,593 points and has 907 rebounds in his career, you can tell he despises not being able to practice and that he's going to come back stronger than ever.
Back on the court, the 4-on-4 drill continues with Damarion Dennis making a pass to set up Jamichael Stillwell for a 3-pointer and Gibbs-Lawhorn finding LaTrell Hoover for an easy basket inside. Atwell, who set a new Texas Tech single-season record last season with 130 made 3-pointers, makes a pass to Moseley who splashes a 3. In a half-court drill that follows, Atwell is on the sideline talking to Dennis about spacing. Dennis, who transferred from Wyoming, takes the instruction from Atwell and a couple of plays later makes a shot. Atwell had said, "Let him see you. It's an easy 3." Just 10 days ago, Atwell officially signed with the Red Raiders to return as a 5th Year.
"It feels like I never left and we're right back to it," Atwell said. "I love it. There are a bunch of new guys but it feels the same. We're going to have to gel quickly but I can see everyone out here is ready to put in the work. I'm one of the few returners so I can definitely provide leadership because I understand what our coaches want us to do and what has made our program successful. We have a lot of talented new players and I'm here to help them out and can be like a crutch when they need support with anything they need."
Another 5th Year making the most of his opportunity is Stillwell who played at UCF last season. Stillwell signed with Tech on August 7 after averaging 11.6 points and 8.1 rebounds per game last season in Orlando following one season at Milwaukee and two in the junior college ranks. During the half-court drill, Stillwell showed what makes him such a dynamic and imposing player – powering himself by a defender, making a direct path to the basket and throwing down a dunk.
"We got a feel for everyone today," Stillwell said. "It's a new system for a lot of us so it may take some time, but we're learning. We have a short amount of time now so we have to work hard every chance we get to be together. It's definitely time to get going."
As the final drill of the first day nears its end, Davis kicks out a pass to freshman DaKari Spear whose shot circles the rim and drops in for a 3-pointer. A couple of plays later, Spear throws up a lob pass to Bassala Bagayoko who throws down a dunk and then Spear makes a turnaround jumper in the lane. It's his first college practice with his new teammates after a standout prep career and he's already showing why many think he's going to make an immediate impact.
"I could see our potential today," Spear said. "It was really exciting. I know I've got a lot to learn but I'm ready."
Every Texas Tech practice ends with "20 Makes". It's a finishing drill where everyone on the team lines up in three different spots behind the 3-point line and shoots 3-pointers. Time is put on the clock and 20 makes must be made to officially end practice. McCasland explains the drill to the newcomers who are doing it for the first time as the returners who have done this hundreds of time get ready. The team misses the mark on the first attempt and goes to the other end where a shot from Dennis puts them at 20 to complete the first day. This process will end every practice this season and has helped the past two teams set new Tech single-season records for the most 3-pointers in program history and NCAA Tournament appearances. As time ends, and the task is complete, the team gives each other high fives and hugs. There's no chaos to be seen, it's a strong sense of normalcy, urgency, joy – and some relief.
"How do we make people better," McCasland says to the team who is now in a circle at midcourt. "Build each other up. Every day is important. We have the people, energy and fight."
Tech will have another out of season workout on Friday. The first official practice is on September 21. An exhibition at Kentucky is scheduled for October 23 at Rupp Arena. The season opener against Jackson State is on November 2. Illinois, a Final Four team from last season, comes to Lubbock on November 10. In other words, and with many more challenges ahead, the season is rapidly approaching and there's no time to worry about chaos that some have defined the sport as being in.
Today was about normalcy, urgency and joy. It was about getting better and becoming a team.
Follow the Red Raiders: Keep up with Texas Tech men's basketball news at TexasTech.com and at the team's social media on Instagram, X and Facebook.
