This player might be Tournament’s most under-the-radar star. This is what he has done

Perhaps the most under-the-radar talent of the NCAA Tournament set a school scoring record Friday.

Jarrett Culver went for 29, leading Texas Tech past Northern Kentucky 72-57 on Friday in a first-round game at Tulsa, Okla.

The tournament’s first days produced such heroes as Murray State’s Ja Morant, who recorded a triple-double, and Wofford’s Fletcher Magee. He knocked down seven three-pointers against Seton Hall and now owns the NCAA record for career triples.

On Friday, Culver was one of the early stars. His performance, which included eight rebounds and seven assists, wasn’t showy but it was steady, and the production now tops the Tech list of points in a NCAA game, held by Ronald Ross with 28 against UCLA in 2005.

Red Raiders coach Chris Beard said it’s time the country knows about Culver, the smooth 6-5 sophomore who is showing up as a lottery pick on NBA mock draft boards. This from a homegrown product — Culver grew up in Lubbock — who went largely unnoticed in recruiting by major programs.

“The secret is out,” Beard said. “Simply stated I think Jarrett is one of the best players in college basketball. How do you go from being non-top recruit and two years later you’re a lottery pick.”

He’s no secret in the Big 12. Culver was named the league’s player of the year in helping Tech share the conference championship with Kansas State, ending Kansas’ 14-year streak of league titles.

Culver averages 18.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and Beard joked he’ll have a place in the lineup if he doesn’t turn pro.

“If he wants to come back to Tech we’ll have a spot for him,” Beard said.

Tech will play sixth-seeded Buffalo in the second round of the West Region.

This story was originally published March 22, 2019 at 3:51 PM with the headline "This player might be Tournament’s most under-the-radar star. This is what he has done."