Devan Cambridge's time on the Texas Tech basketball team was anything but ordinary.
The 6-foot-8 forward started the Red Raiders' first eight games of the 2023-24 season, using his athleticism and speed to become a key component of their small-ball look. Then, in a nonconference home game against Omaha on December 6, Cambridge suffered what would become a season-ending knee injury, the first major injury of his playing career.
Cambridge told Avalanche Journal in February that he plans to return to the Red Raiders for his sixth year of college basketball. He played three years at Auburn and one at Arizona State before transferring to Texas Tech last offseason.
Those plans appear to have changed after Cambridge told On3 on April 2 that he was heading to the transfer portal. But it didn't take long for Cambridge to change its mind. Without officially entering the portal, Cambridge will finish out his college career in a Red Razor uniform.
The question is, when will Cambridge be able to play again?
“He's been hanging out in the gym, shooting shots,” Grant McCasland said. “As long as he's healthy enough to play next season.”
Cambridge was a starter when healthy last season, but the Red Raiders have managed to build a team that allows Cambridge to come off the bench at some point. Texas Tech returns starters Darrion Williams and Kerwin Walton, who took over as Cambridge's starter, and Chance McMillian, who all excelled before the season.
McCasland and his staff also acquired guards Elijah Hawkins and Kevin Overton and center Federico Federico in three transfers.
McCasland's hope is to work on reinforcing the rest of the roster through the remainder of the summer and have Cambridge back to full strength shortly before Big 12 play begins.
“I don't know exactly when that will happen,” Coach McCasland said of Cambridge's target date, “but I would expect it to be during the first term and then in non-conference games. I'll get him out there. He looks excited. He looks refreshed and looking great. ”
