Happy Thursday, friends and fans!

ESPN college basketball insider Jeff Borzello reports that Oklahoma Sooners guards Alondes Williams and De’Vion Harmon have each entered the NCAA Transfer Portal.

This news is somewhat surprising in Harmon’s case, as Porter Moser recently speculated that he would return in spite of his declaration for the NBA Draft. In all likelihood, the draft declaration was more about testing the NBA waters and receiving a draft grade, and that could also be the case with this recent development.

With a relatively new rule change in college basketball, Harmon will still be eligible to throw his name in the draft pool this summer, and if he goes undrafted, he can return to school since he has not hire an agent. For now, it would appear that there’s a good chance he stays at least one more year in college, and although he’s currently in the portal, Porter Moser can potentially bring him back to Oklahoma with a concerted recruiting effort.

Sooner Scoop’s Bob Przybylo has a little more insight on Harmon’s latest decision.

Unsurprisingly, Harmon already has plenty of suitors.

For Williams, he arrived to OU after two seasons at Triton College (JUCO). Since his Sooner career began in the fall of 2019, he averaged 6.3 points, 2.3 rebounds and .9 assists per contest. Furthermore, he occasionally made plays that confirmed he was one of the most explosive athletes on the court in any given game.

The number of players who have declared their intention to move on from the Oklahoma program continues to grow and now sits at a total of seven with Harmon and Williams testing the transfer waters, Trey Phipps heading to Oral Roberts, Victor Iwuakor heading to UNLV, Brady Manek and Anyang Garang in the transfer portal, and Austin Reaves entering the NBA Draft.

Now for today’s Hot Links! OU’s QB1 talks QB2, Sooner Hoops pledge makes it official, Luka does it again and more!

OU Links

• The transfer portal giveth too, you know! According to Stadium Sports, OU is a finalist for Eastern Washington big man Tanner Groves. As you may recall, Groves lit up the Kansas Jayhawks in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to the tune of 35 points. Keep an eye out for his brother, as well.

• Spencer Rattler recently spoke about what he’s seen from Caleb Williams through a few weeks of spring practice. Nothing groundbreaking, but this has to be one of the most talented QB rooms in college football right now.

• Rattler also had some tea to spill on Tennessee Volunteers transfer RB Eric Gray. From the QB’s reporting, it sounds like Lincoln Riley has an extremely explosive weapon to incorporate this fall.

• A lot of folks might have forgotten about Jalen Redmond after he opted out last season, but the talented defensive lineman is back in the fold and is apparently making his presence felt in a big way.

• OU Baseball (18-15) swept Texas Southern in a double-header on Wednesday, winning game one, 6-0 and the second contest, 5-1.
• Class of 2021 three-star point guard Alston Mason has officially signed with Oklahoma to become the first signee of the Porter Moser era.

• On Wednesday, newly hired women’s basketball head coach Jennie Baranczyk was formally introduced at OU and later caught up with some of her new co-workers. Different departments. Same goals. Boomer!

Around the Sports World

• On Thursday morning, NBA forward LaMarcus Aldridge formally announced his decision to medically retire from playing professional basketball after discovering he has an irregular heartbeat. The 15-year veteran made a name for himself in nine seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers before teaming up with the San Antonio Spurs for the next six. He also started five games with the Brooklyn Nets this spring before ultimately calling it a career.

• In other news around the association, Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic pulled off one of the most creative buzzer beaters you’ll ever see to defeat the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday, 114-113. Just wow.

• Also on Wednesday, the Cleveland Browns signed DE and former No. 1 overall pick Jadeveon Clowney to a one-year, $8 million deal.
• The Arizona Wildcats have reportedly hired Gonzaga Bulldogs assistant Tommy Lloyd as their next men’s basketball head coach.
• Starting this fall, the NCAA will allow all football and basketball student-athletes to transfer one time without the risk of sitting out a season or losing a year of eligibility. The same rule will be applied for intraconference transfers as well.

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