Texas Ranks No. 6 After Three Transfers

The Longhorns open the 2026-27 season without three players who left the program for South Carolina, Duke and Houston.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Basketball

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Texas starts the 2026-27 season ranked No. 6 after losing Jordan Lee, Aaliyah Crump and Justice Carlton to transfer. The program earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament for the third consecutive year and reached the Final Four twice in a row for the first time in 20 years.

Why it matters

The departures reshape a team that has been among the country's most consistent tournament programs. The Longhorns are still viewed as a strong threat to No. 1 South Carolina in the Southeastern Conference race.

Lee was Texas' No. 2 scorer at 13.2 points per game last season before transferring to South Carolina. Booker shot 3 of 23 in the Final Four loss to UCLA, including a stretch of 17 consecutive misses.

The players

Jordan Lee

A Texas guard who averaged 13.2 points last season before transferring to South Carolina.

Aaliyah Crump

A Texas player who transferred to Duke after the Longhorns' Final Four run.

Justice Carlton

A Texas player who transferred to Houston following the season.

The details

Lee, Crump and Carlton transferred after the Final Four loss to UCLA, moving to South Carolina, Duke and Houston respectively. Texas opens the season Wednesday night against Fairleigh Dickinson, with Booker needing 31 points to become the program's fourth career 2,000-point scorer.

Final Four loss to UCLA: the transfers followed the defeat.
Wednesday night: Texas opens its season against Fairleigh Dickinson.

Season Trajectory

Texas earned a No. 1 seed for the third straight year and reached consecutive Final Fours for the first time in 20 years. The transfer losses now test whether that elite standing can be sustained through roster turnover.

Fantasy and betting interest may center on Booker, who needs 31 points to reach 2,000 career points. The Wednesday opener against Fairleigh Dickinson gives the first look at how the rotation has been rebuilt.

The takeaway

Roster turnover is the central test for Texas this season, as its Final Four standing now depends on replacing three contributors. Fans tracking the team should watch how quickly the rotation settles in the early games.