Texas Tech’s 2023 hoops recruiting class ranks 17th after 247Sports update

247Sports updated its 2023 basketball recruiting rankings Monday and Texas Tech’s class checked in at 17th nationally on the strength of a pair of commits in Drew Steffe and Jason Jackson.

Steffe, a 6-foot-5, 175-pound guard out of Frisco (TX) Memorial High School, committed to Texas Tech back in January over announced offers from Arizona State, Auburn, DePaul, Georgia Tech, Oklahoma State, Oregon State, Rice, Saint Louis, SMU, TCU, Tulane, UTA, UTEP, Western Michigan and Xavier.

Steffe’s recruiting ranking dropped a little bit with the update from 247Sports. The three-star recruit is rated as No. 143 overall player in the country, the No. 23 shooting guard in the nation and the No. 14 overall player in Texas for the 2023 class according to the 247Sports Composite, an average of the major recruiting rankings services. 247Sports itself ranks Steffe as the No. 28 shooting guard of the class and the No. 16 overall recruit in the Lone Star State.

247Sports national recruiting analyst Brandon Jenkins projects Steffe as a Power-5 starter and provided the following evaluation:

“Steffe is a confident long-range shooter who can stick the three-point shot, especially of the catch. Although he is more of a floor spacer than a true playmaker, Steffe will be effective in offensive structure because he cuts well away from the ball and is also an instinctive ball-mover and passer off the dribble when playing within the flow of an offense. His confidence and dedication in improving his foot speed and lateral quickness will enhance his defensive abilities and determine his labeling as either a shooter or a scorer.”

Jackson, a 6-foot-3, 180-pound guard out of Sarasota (FL) Riverview High School, committed to Texas Tech in May over announced offers from Florida, LSU and Virginia Tech.

Though Jackson remains in 247Sports’ Top 150, his national ranking also dropped 13 spots with the update. The four-star recruit is rated as No. 130 overall player in the country, the No. 18 shooting guard in the nation and the No. 15 overall player in Florida for the 2023 class according to the 247Sports Composite. 247Sports itself ranks Jackson as the No. 123 overall prospect in the country, the No. 22 shooting guard of the class and the No. 10 overall recruit in the Sunshine State.

247Sports national recruiting analyst Eric Bossi provided the following evaluation after watching Jackson play during the summer:

“Jason Jackson looks like an ideal guy for the way Mark Adams likes to do things at Texas Tech. He’s a lengthy two guard who has tremendous burst and explosion when going to the rim and he makes just enough jumpers to keep defenders honest. His body should really explode in the weight room, and he’s got all the tools to be a high end defender in the Big 12 who can lock up from one through three.”