It's Blake Griffin Day in Oklahoma City, so I hope you're all enjoying yourselves!
It's certainly a good year for Sooner athletes. Blake Griffin swept the postseason player awards in college basketball. Sam Bradford took home the most prestigious award in college football - the Heisman Trophy. Add to that all of the records that Courtney Paris set in women's basketball, in addition to carrying them to the Final Four.
Speaking of Blake, it's certain he'll be drafted into the NBA, but for his brother Taylor it's much less certain. The Tulsa World did a nice piece on the pro prospects for Taylor. Interesting that if the whole NBA or European basketball thing doesn't work out, he could always go play ball in Korea. Here's a quote from Taylor:
“I haven’t heard a lot from NBA teams,” Taylor said. “But I’ve heard a lot of positive stuff overseas. I’ve pretty much got an offer from Korea.
"I know there are a lot of teams in Japan that like me. I’ve heard there are a lot of teams in Europe that like me. Korea and Japan traditionally offer better money, but from what I hear it’s not as competitive."
Staying with the men's basketball team, they added their first 2010 commitment today in 6'3" combo guard T.J. Taylor. Taylor is from Denison, Texas and chose OU over Arizona State and Marquette. For what it's worth, he averaged 26 points per game last season in high school. OU still has a scholarship to give for the 2009 class. No word on whether that will be used yet, but if it does it may go to a JUCO transfer.
Quotable
“I see myself playing the role of a playmaker,” [T.J.]Taylor told Rivals. “I can score when I need to, and I also like to pass the basketball.”
In The News
- Rose Hammond and Jenny Vining, both guards, will transfer from the OU women's basketball team. It appears as though they are both looking for more playing time. I don't blame them necessarily given the rise of Danielle Robinson and Whitney Hand this year. Best of luck to them whereever they decide to go.
- OU Freshman Will Claye was named Big 12 athlete of the week (Track & Field). Congratulations to him.
- OU's baseball team looks to rebound from a weekend sweep in Austin when they face the Wichita State Shockers on Wednesday.
- Apparently Phil Loadholt's draft stock is rising. The NFL Draft is this weekend.
- Trent Williams checks in at #14 on Tim Griffin's list of the top 40 best players in the Big 12.
- OU Athletics has a new policy regarding athletes' facebook and myspace pages. Probably not a bad idea.
- Here's a great article from the Oklahoman about how Sooner stars don't necessarily have that success translate to the NFL.
- The Oklahoma State student newspaper has an article up about their defensive prowess in the spring game. Worried yet?
- The Killeen Daily Herald does an interview with Juaquin Iglesias in preparation for the NFL Draft. Also in preparation for the NFL Draft, the Oklahoman catches up with Reggie Smith and Allen Patrick. I knew that Smith was with the 49ers, but I didn't know Patrick had gone to the Browns.
- USC has named sophomore Aaron Corp as the starting quarterback through the summer. Tough luck for Arkansas transfer Mitch Mustain, who appears to be buried at #3 on the depth chart.
- The Mountain West Conference continues its BCS crusade.
Secondhand Reports & Rumors
- Saying this is a popular internet rumor would be an understatement, but apparently a lot of people are saying that Chris Fowler and Lee Corso are going to be replaced on College Gameday. But wait, as with some rumors, this could turn out to be completely false. See this link (includes a mention of an email from ESPN).
- It seems as though Jeff Capel has been trying to fire up Ray Willis by talking about how it would be nice to see him make a good jump next year. Here's to hoping Ray can be a productive guard and help round out some depth behind Warren and Tommy Mason-Griffin.
- The street by Putnam City North High School has been renamed "Sam Bradford Drive".
- Remember Robert Marve? If not, he is the Miami quarterback who decided to transfer after this past season. Apparently he's looking at both Nebraska and Texas Tech, and both schools are in his top 5.