Multiple outlets reported earlier this week that former Texas men’s basketball standout Jason Klatz has died. Klotz was 44 years old.
Klotz was a memorable player on former head coach Rick Barnes teams. In his five seasons in a burnt orange jersey from 2000 to 2005, Klotz played at center for the Longhorns. Texas men’s basketball also qualified for the NCAA Tournament in each of those five seasons under Barnes: three consecutive Sweet 16 appearances and a Final Four appearance (back in 2003). Over that span, Klotz saw playing time in 12 NCAA Tournament matchups, which is tied for the most in Longhorns men’s basketball history.
Klotz logged seven minutes and scored one point in Texas’ Final Four loss to Syracuse.
He saw playing time or started in 131 games during that span, including 27 starts.
He averaged 6.2 points and 3.8 rebounds in 17 minutes per game, according to the Houston Chronicle.
Prior to his college career, Klotz was a star at Klein High School in Houston.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING ABOUT THE LONGHORNS
Austin American-Statesman: Texas women’s basketball signs on to play Ohio State, TCU in Fort Worth
Austin American-Statesman: Not country enough? New UT football players react to living in Austin.
Houston Chronicle: Former Klein Forest, Texas basketball player Jason Klotz dead at 44
247Sports: The Insider: Projecting Texas’ offensive depth chart heading into the 2026 season
247Sports: The Insider: Projecting Texas’ depth chart on defense and special teams heading into the 2026 season
247Sports: Stock Report: Five Texas football players on the rise in preseason
Inside Texas: Texas Practice Intel: Longhorns already preparing for Ohio State
Inside Texas: Why it’s easy for Texas to have ‘all of the chips’ on the table and ‘go after it’ in 2026
Inside Texas: What the vision for Jayda Clark is at Texas and why she was cleared by the NCAA
Inside Texas: Where is Texas three deep heading into 2026?
ICYMI IN BURNT ORANGE NATION
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Texas moves Jordon Johnson-Rubell to LB
RECRUITING ROUNDUP
247Sports: College football’s top recruiting games of 2026—Lane Kiffin’s return to Ole Miss headlines must-see matchups
247Sports: Texas squarely in the mix for elite WR Peyton Smith
247Sports: Team Talent Composite for college football’s 2026 season: From Oregon’s rise to Alabama’s regression
247Sports: The secret weapon behind Texas’ late push for Landen Williams-Callis
247Sports: 2028 four-star WR Bubba Brown to see one school four times as loaded fall schedule takes shape
SEC SHOWDOWN
Inside Texas: Texas built the heaviest defensive line in the FBS, and it shows in the SEC
And The Valley Shook: Double The Honor: Trey’Dez Green and Whit Weeks honored by sharing No. 7
Red Cup Rebellion: Ole Miss football 2026: Kewan Lacy leads Rebel RB attack
Rocky Top Talk: Tennessee guards Tyler Lundblade, Troy Henderson close to returning to full strength
Roll ‘Bama Roll: 2026 Alabama Fall Football Preview: Quarterbacks
A Sea Of Blue: Ousmane N’Diaye has hopefully cleared a hurdle that caused Utah a major eligibility blow
WHAT WE’RE READING
SB Nation: Packers RB Josh Jacobs chargedc with battery and criminal damage to property
SB Nation: Five USWNT young stars to watch ahead of 2027 Women’s World Cup
SB Nation: Lane Kiffin knows that LSU has all sorts of aura
NEWS ACROSS LONGHORN NATION AND BEYOND
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Can’t wait to see more of this.
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