Happy Thursday, friends and fans!

Hours after Porter Moser was formally introduced as the head coach of Oklahoma Sooners men’s basketball, OU Hoops picked up a verbal commitment from 2021 three-star point guard Alston Mason out of Overland Park, Kansas.

According to the 247Sports Composite Rankings, the 6’1 Mason is the No. 7 player in the Sunflower State and is rated as the 264th-best prospect nationally. Upon committing to Oklahoma, he also held an offer from the Kansas State Wildcats.

Judging from his highlight tape, Mason looks like a total natural with the ball in his hands. Not only does he possess range from the college three-point arc, he can also drive to the rim with aggression and without fear of absorbing contact.

Now for today’s Hot Links! Lincoln Riley welcomes Porter Moser to the Palace on the Prairie, Sooner Softball picks up a pair of weekend games at the last minute, KD is perfect in his return and more!

OU Links

• After Porter Moser met with the press for the first time as the head coach of men’s basketball at Oklahoma, he caught up with Lincoln Riley while touring his new stomping grounds. Yes, there is a lot of jewelry in that office.

• Here’s Moser and Riley with the obligatory photo op. I have a feeling this image will become iconic around Norman in time.

• It looks like Patty Gasso’s team will play softball this weekend after all. On Saturday, April, 10 in Ruston, Louisiana, Oklahoma will play the Mississippi State Bulldogs at 12:30 p.m. CT, then follow that contest up with a tilt against the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs at 3 p.m. CT.

• On Wednesday, OU Softball was set to play at Wichita State, but due to inclement weather in the area, that game has now been postponed and rescheduled for May 4.

• In other softball news, the Sooners’ series against the Baylor Bears that was originally slated for this weekend has also been postponed due to a recent uptick in COVID-19 cases within the BU program. That future date is TBD.

• Check out the impressive body control from third-year WR Trejan Bridges. After missing most of the 2020 season, many are expecting No. 8 to have a breakout campaign starting this September.

• According to Golfweek and Golfstat, Oklahoma Golf is the No. 1 ranked team in the nation. This group certainly looks capable of claiming the program’s third national title. Boomer!

Around the Sports World

• On Wednesday, the Arizona Wildcats parted ways with men’s basketball head coach Sean Miller after 12 seasons in Tucson. Under Miller, the Wildcats went 302-109 (.735), reached the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet Sixteen five times and the Elite Eight on three occasions. In 2018, an FBI investigation began that revealed severe recruiting violations. That investigative process is still underway.
• In other college b-ball news, UCLA Bruins men’s basketball head coach Mick Cronin has signed a two-year contract extension after leading his team on an improbable run to the Final Four.

• In his first on-court appearance since suffering a hamstring injury in mid-February, the Brooklyn Nets’ Kevin Durant went five-for-five from the field and from the stripe to score 17 points in a 139-111 rout over the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday night.
• On Wednesday, former Florida State Seminoles head coach Bobby Bowden received the Sunshine State’s inaugural Medal of Freedom Award. The 91-year-old coaching legend celebrated this monumental event with his family, friends and a number of former players in attendance.

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