Texas Tech basketball loses first player to transfer portal

The Texas Tech basketball team has its first departure to the transfer portal a week after the Red Raiders' season ended in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament.

Leon Horner announced his intention to enter the portal on social media on Wednesday, marking the first confirmed Red Raider to be headed elsewhere.

"I want to thank Texas Tech for two incredible years that have shaped me into a better player and a better man," Horner said in his post. "I'm thankful for my coaches, teammates, and everyone who supported me along the way. The relationships and lessons I've gained here will stay with me forever.

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"After much prayer, conversations with my family, and careful consideration, I feel led to enter my name into the transfer portal and trust God with my next chapter."

Horner spent his first two years of college at Texas Tech, playing sporadically off the bench in both. He had a few standout performances as a sophomore, including playing 26 minutes in the team's road upset win over Arizona. Horner was also one of the lone bright spots in Tech's loss to Alabama , where he scored 10 points in 21 minutes.

Horner averaged 2.7 points and 8.5 minutes played in 24 appearances as a sophomore after playing in just nine games as a freshman. He will have two years of eligibility remaining.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: First Texas Tech basketball player announces transfer portal entry