LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – After weeks of speculation, Texas Tech men’s basketball coach Grant McCasland has officially announced that fifth-year forward Darrion Williams will return to play for the Red Raiders in 2026-27.
Williams, who is known to the Tech fanbase as “D5″, had a successful run in his first two seasons in Lubbock from 2023-25 where he averaged 13.3 points per game and became a fan favorite before he transferred to North Carolina State last year.
One of his most-iconic moments came in the 2025 Sweet Sixteen versus Arkansas, when his three-point shot made with 9.7 seconds left in regulation sent the game into overtime. From there, Tech went onto win 85-83 after they trailed for most of the contest.
His anticipated return was a topic of great discussion this summer, especially after he was spotted in Oklahoma City cheering on Red Raider softball during the 2026 Women’s College World Series.
His path back to Lubbock was largely cleared last week when Judge Charlotte Sweeney of the U.S. District Court of Colorado ruled that college athletes who began play in 2022 are able to return for a fifth and final season.
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