Point guard Julian Larry becomes third player to join Texas basketball from the portal Sunday

Good things apparently come in threes for the Texas basketball program, which concluded a busy day in the transfer portal on Sunday by nabbing former Indiana State point guard Julian Larry.

Texas also welcomed former Indiana State player Jayson Kent and former Arkansas player Tramon Mark on Sunday, revamping the roster and calming concerns from a restless fanbase eager for some good portal news.

A Texas spokesperson confirmed all three commitments to the Statesman Sunday evening.

Unlike wing players in the 6-foot-8 Kent and the 6-6 Mark, Larry gives Texas a proven player at the point. A four-year starter at Indiana State, the 6-3 Larry averaged a career-high 11 points and 4.8 assists this past season for a squad that went 32-7, won the regular-season title in the Missouri Valley Conference and reached the finals of the NIL Tournament. He’s shot better than 52% from the floor in each of the past two seasons and better than 45% from 3-point range in that same span. He also averages 2.9 rebounds and 1.3 steals in his career.

How does Julian Larry fit in with Texas?

Along with Kent (130 career games) and Mark (100 career games), Larry provides plenty of experience with 130 career games. That veteran presence will help offset the loss of Max Abmas, Brock Cunningham, Dylan Disu and Ithiel Horton, who all graduated after playing five collegiate seasons.

Larry will also give Texas a true point guard, which they didn’t have this past season. Tyrese Hunter has played some point in his three collegiate seasons but spent much of this last season off the ball while Abmas handled much of the point-guard duties despite leading Texas in scoring.

Hunter has indicated he will explore his NBA options for a second consecutive season. If he does return to Texas, he’ll likely join Larry, junior Chendall Weaver and incoming freshman Tre Johnson in a loaded backcourt rotation.

More: Texas basketball recruit Tre Johnson lights up scoreboard at McDonald’s All-American Game

More portal news to come for Rodney Terry?

Texas has only lost little-used guards Chris Johnson and Gavin Perryman as well as backup forward Alex Anamekwe to the portal, but the team did miss out on incoming freshman Cam Scott, a 4-star guard who received his release from his letter of intent to play at Texas last week.

Terry and his staff hosted Kent and Larry this weekend, and they are reportedly set to host former Oregon State guard Jordan Pope this upcoming weekend.

The team could still use some help in the paint, especially if Dillon Mitchell declares for the NBA draft after starting for the past two seasons for Texas. Returners Kadin Shedrick and Ze’Rik Onyema are the only other two scholarship players at the power forward or post positions.