Texas Tech Lady Raiders Basketball 2023-24 Roster Preview
The Texas Tech Lady Raiders are preparing for the 2023-24 women’s basketball roster and below is a preview of every player on the roster entering November’s opening game.
Below are the returning players, the transfers and the freshmen that will play a role in Texas Tech’s upcoming season.
Expected to Return
Kilah Freelon
The 6-foot-1 sophomore guard/forward is seeking more playing time after she averaged 3.1 points in 32 games, with one start. She ended up with 100 points and 90 rebounds for her first season at Tech. She had three double-digit scoring games late last season.
Jasmine Shavers
The 5-fot-8 sophomore guard sat out the 2021-22 season after transferring in from Mississippi State. She earned a full-time starting job last season and averaged 7.8 points and 3.6 rebounds per game. She was a three-time Big 12 Freshman of the Week Selection, one of two Lady Raiders to earn that award last season. She had a career-best 26 points against Kansas State. She is capable of averaging double figures in a season.
JoJo Nworie
The 6-foot-5 forward/center redshirted last season after an injury and is now a redshirt sophomore. Before that, she was with Southern Idaho in 2021-22, where she averaged 12.6 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.9 blocks at the Juco level. She was named an NJCAA All-American. Her size and that skill set should be useful in rotational role to start with in 2023-24. Note: At Big 12 Media Days coach Krista Gerlich said that Nworie would miss the season with an injury.
Rhyle McKinney
The former SMU transfer wrapped up her second season with Texas Tech as a starter. The 5-foot-9 junior guard averaged 7.8 points. She was Tech’s only player with a 3-point shooting percentage better than 40 percent (41.4). She had 12 games of 10 points or more, including back-to-back games of 20 points. The Lady Raiders will take more of that this season.
Saga Ukkonen
The 5-foot-9 junior averaged 1.4 points in 27 games last season, with two starts. Before joining the Lady Raiders the Helsinki, Finland, native played for the FBA Märsky club team, where she averaged 8.8 points, 1.5 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game.
Bailey Maupin
She was one of a handful of players that earned Big 12 Freshman of the Week honors and was named to the All-Big 12 Freshman team. Now a 5-foot-10 sophomore, she averaged 10.2 points last season, the only other Lady Raider besides Bre’Amber Scott to average double figures. She was one of the best free throw shooters in the conference last season (91.6 percent).
Ashley Chevalier
The 5-foot-7 junior transferred to Tech from Texas during the 2021-22 season. In a bench role last season she averaged 10.7 minutes and nearly two points. She’ll seek to expand her playing time this season.
Jazmaine Lewis:
The 6-foot-4 senior gave the Lady Raiders solid rebounding off the bench as she averaged 3.1 boards, along with 5.6 points. She shot 60.9 percent from the field. Before joining Texas Tech she was at new Big 12 member Houston.
Arrivals Via Transfer
Elena Arike
The former UTEP forward joined the Lady Raiders on May 1 as a transfer. The 6-foot-2 senior led the Miners with 11.9 points in 2022-23 and added nearly six rebounds. She can be an outside or inside forward for the Lady Raiders this season.
Jazion Jackson
A UTEP transfer, the 5-foot-9 guard averaged 11.6 points last season, while grabbing 5.8 rebounds and dishing out 2.3 assists. She also shot a career-best 36 percent from the 3-point line. She won’t have to rebound as much on this team, but she figures to be a perimeter option from deep this season. She was First-Team All-Conference USA. She also played at North Texas before joining UTEP. Note: At Big 12 Media Days coach Krista Gerlich said that Nworie would miss the season with an injury.
Jordyn Merritt
The 6-foot-3 senior Florida transfer averaged 7.1 points and 5.4 rebounds and was named All-SEC Freshman in her first year with the Gators three seasons ago. In her 2021-22 season she averaged 10.1 points per game.
Jada Wynn
The 6-foot-1 sophomore guard figures to be a developmental prospect for the Lady Raiders after she averaged 3.4 points in her first season at Colorado. She averaged 16.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game in high school.
Class of 2023 Recruits
Loghan Johnson
Johnson, a 5-foot-8 guard, was ranked as an ESPN top 100 recruit when the Lady Raiders signed her during the early period in November. She played at Houston Christian in Houston, Texas.
Achol Magot
Magot, a 6-foot-7 center, is the program’s tallest player and played at Southern Arizona Volunteer Prep in Tucson, Ariz.
Kelly Mora
Mora is a 6-foot-1 forward and local product as she played her prep ball at Monterey High School in Lubbock.
Starting Five: Maupin, Jackson, Arike, McKinney, Merritt
First Four of Bench: Johnson, Lewis, Shavers, Wynn
You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard
