The Texas Tech basketball program has long been a beneficiary of the transfer portal, but not every player who has come to Lubbock through this recruiting method has hit a home run — in fact, many have ended up striking out.
Recently, we looked at five transfer students who made a positive impact on the program despite only being on campus for one season, and today we’re looking back at five former Red Raiders who did the opposite and failed to live up to the expectations that came with joining through the portal.
2021-22. Players. 468. . Sardar Calhoun. Sardar Calhoun. Techniques. . 5
When Texas Tech welcomed Saldaar Calhoun to campus from Florida State, there was a sense that he could be the type of shooter fans would love — after all, he shot 39.7% from 3-point range in 2020-21.
But the Red Raiders got very little out of Calhoun in the 2021-22 season. In fact, he was gone after eight games.
Calhoun played just eight minutes per game during his time with the Red Raiders and only attempted 23 field goals, making eight of them.
Additionally, he shot just 6-of-18 (.333) from three-point range, which was far from what Tech expected from him.
After leaving the program during the first semester of the season, he didn’t play a second semester before enrolling at Drake University. In 2022-23, his final season of college basketball, Calhoun averaged 7.3 points on 38.5% 3-point shooting at his fourth school (counting the junior college ranks). Still, he didn’t contribute much as a Red Raiser, and most Tech fans have probably forgotten his name.
