It can’t hurt to have Patrick Mahomes recruiting for your college basketball program.
Mac McClung had a serious choice to make. The Georgetown player knew he was ready to transfer and seven schools remained in view. Each of them would impact not only his hopes for college glory but potential pro plans as well. The only question was how to decide.
It’s impossible to know (without asking McClung directly) how much Patrick Mahomes swayed his opinion (if at all), but it’s impossible to ignore the online exchange as the Kansas City Chiefs star quarterback tried to get McClung to pick his alma mater at Texas Tech.
The exchange went something like this. Eight days ago, McClung introduced his top 7 with the following post on Twitter:
Top 7 pic.twitter.com/Pn1lzLvxdS
— mac mcclung (@McclungMac) May 20, 2020
The list of schools above shows Texas Tech was already a finalist for his services. The Red Raiders made the list along with Memphis, Auburn, Wake Forest, USC, Arkansas, and BYU. The following day, Mahomes decided to chime in with his recommended choice.
That first jersey in red is where it’s at!! Come on and make a run at the natty in Lubbock! #GunsUp https://t.co/m4BNWLtFem
— Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) May 21, 2020
One week later, McClung made it official: he was going to be the next Red Raiders recruit.
https://twitter.com/McclungMac/status/1265722767590207494
And of course, Mahomes had to welcome him to the family.
Letssss get it! #WreckEm https://t.co/dDgAZJKllC
— Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) May 27, 2020
It’s not as if the Red Raiders basketball program really needs Mahomes to sell the program—although it certainly can’t hurt. Ever since Chris Beard arrived as head coach, Texas Tech has been one of the hottest college basketball programs in the country. Two seasons ago, they lost the title game to the Virginia Cavaliers. It was the first Final Four and title appearance in school history. The year before, they’d made the Elite Eight for the first time.
McClung, a 6’2 guard, averaged 15.7 points, 2.4 assists and 3.1 rebounds last season for the Georgetown Hoyas. McClung was originally going to come out for the 2020 NBA Draft, but instead decided to return to school and enter the transfer portal. It’s yet unknown if he will be eligible for the 2020-21 season for the Red Raiders.