David Punch Stays in Texas as Former TCU Star Transfers to Austin for Final College Years

David Punch is not leaving Texas. The former TCU power forward has committed to transfer to the University of Texas, choosing to remain in the Lone Star State with two years of eligibility still on the board. The 6-foot-7 forward announced his decision after a standout two-season stint in Fort Worth, during which he established himself as one of the Big 12 most relentless presences in the paint.

Punch was a workhorse for the Horned Frogs, starting all 34 games this past season and leading the team in scoring at 14.1 points per game to go along with 6.8 rebounds and 1.9 blocks. Across 66 games over two years, he averaged 10.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.4 blocks, 1.3 assists, and 0.9 steals while starting 61 of those contests.

His best basketball came when the stakes were highest. During the Big 12 Tournament in mid-March, Punch averaged 25 points on a remarkable 58.6 percent shooting, pulling down 8.5 rebounds and blocking three shots per game over two contests. He carried that momentum into the NCAA Tournament, delivering a double-double with 16 points and a team-high 13 rebounds in TCU narrow 66-64 win over Ohio State in the Round of 64. A bloodied Punch then helped the Horned Frogs push Duke to the limit in the second round before TCU eventually fell 81-58, ending their season.

The Dallas native arrives in Austin filling a specific need. Texas must replace Nic Codie, a 6-foot-8 power forward who entered the transfer portal last week after two seasons. Codie averaged 3.0 points and 2.1 rebounds across 43 games as a Longhorn. Punch should immediately slot into that vacated frontcourt role and give new head coach Sean Miller another versatile piece to build around.

Miller is coming off an impressive debut season in Austin that ended with the Longhorns reaching the Sweet Sixteen for the first time since 2023. He has guided teams to the Sweet Sixteen nine times and the Elite Eight four times across his coaching career, though a Final Four appearance remains elusive. Adding a player of Punch caliber gives Texas a chance to take another step forward in year two of the Miller era. Punch signed with TCU as a four-star prospect in the 2024 recruiting cycle, rated as the No. 6 player in Texas, the No. 18 power forward nationally, and the No. 108 overall prospect in his class according to the Rivals Industry Ranking. He becomes the second Texas player to enter the transfer portal this offseason, joining guard Simeon Wilcher.