Lon Kruger And His Staff Nab A 2015 JUCO 7-Footer
Posted on: June 15, 2014
Image via ny2lasports.com
According to multiple reports, Oklahoma basketball has picked up their first commitment of the 2015 class in the form of a JUCO 7-footer, Akolda Manyang. The cousin of former Sooner Longar Longer, Manyang was in Norman this weekend for a visit to see the campus and meet with Lon Kruger and his staff. Early(ish) Sunday morning OU assistant Steven Henson tweeted out an indication some good news could be coming.
BOOM!!!!!!
— Steve Henson (@CoachHensonUTSA) June 15, 2014
Shortly after word started to leak out that Manyang had indeed committed. He is currently rated as the top JUCO player in the country according to 247 Sports. And his commitment is yet another positive sign of the considerable work Kruger and his staff have put in to add much needed size to the program and shore up their front court.
With even just a two minute glimpse of his film (below), it is abundantly clear just how well he can get up-and-down the court for a kid his size. He provides a presence not just on the defensive end with his ability to defend the rim, but also on offense show some finesse to his game with the ability to finish. You even see him step out a couple times and knock down that mid-range jumper.
This is a big time get for the basketball program and a player who should be able to come in and immediately contribute.
16 Comments
May be just what that team needs.
Looks like OU has some size with the coming year’s recruits. Was in C’ville yesterday, never seen so many hot rods and hogs in town.
That used to be a huge party every year, haven’t gone to it in two or three years though. I just got home from Skiatook lake.
Are you talking about Collinsville? That’s where I grew up although I probably wouldn’t recognize it now.
Yep. I live in Skiatook and Sooner Ray lives in Collinsville plus I think a lady poster (JJ) went to school in Collinsville. Small world.
I was class of ’62. I expect you guys are much younger.
I’ve lived in Skiatook for the past 35 years or so. Born and raised in Sperry, graduated in ’65. The other posters are much younger but their parents are from around Collinsville-I think.
Thank God for Lon Kruger and staff.
Great news! Maybe Stoops can steal him as a TE!
Lon & staff have done an incredible job of recruiting. It amazes me how well he does picking up transfers….not just at Oklahoma but wherever he’s been. I don’t know how many years he plans to coach but I hope he spends all of them at Oklahoma. There is not a classier man in basketball, nor anyone who runs a cleaner program in the country. The man brings honor and integrity to the OU program. We are fortunate to have him. Oh, yeah…he wins too!
Ditto!
Akolda might not be a real advanced offensive player, but it sure looks like he can play some D
Great Get by Kruger! He is already list at 220lbs but hope he can get up closer to 245-250lbs to really bang around with the big boys!
His JUCO coach said he’s 250lbs FWIW
I’m looking forward to watching him play this season. I’m from the Omaha area, so I’ll be watching when IHCC comes to Iowa Western to play. A friend of mine calls JuCo MBB games & said he was “JuCo’s version of Embiid.” Hopefully he’s right! Big get!
I met a guy who is a coach in Pemberton NJ he told me one of andor the most elite high school bballer
in the USA is coming to his school..claims hes 1st round NBA material now..
As we talked i noticed a plaque on his wall shaped like Oklahoma.
Next thing you know we are in his studio downstairs where he watches game film and I see an OU blanket…
sure as heck hes a huge OU fan…no not 350lbs…1 of those guys who loves and supports the university
but has little if any time..he asked me how to get a recruiting packet or something. ..I guess just general
Information …He mentioned this kid out of the blue talked about Lon Kruger..
change gears…he houses a kid going to Clemson who played for him..and he knows Manyang.
from what i understand .closely.. in conversation OU fans don’t know what they are getting in this guy
I said ok okay comparison. he said Kevin Garnett.. hmm
I’ll get more information later…how do I get this guy some OU material and maybe a twitter handle poc