OU Basketball Picks Up Big Time 2016 Commit
Posted on: November 18, 2014
Image via @AndrewNemec
Lon Kruger and his staff picked up a commitment from high four-star 2016 point guard Payton Pritchard (West Linn, OR) who announced his decision Tuesday afternoon during a ceremony at his high school.
Pritchard was also considering Oregon, Wisconsin, and Gonzaga among others, but had been open about Oklahoma ‘feeling like the right fit’ ever since his visit to Norman earlier this month. His father is also an OU alum and he has a sister currently attending the university as well.
He spoke with The Orgeonian about his decision:
“They are going to give me a chance to play early and have a big role as a freshman. They play in a big conference, I love the atmosphere and I have family there, so that’s a big deal. I think I fit their system, because I can push the ball. They really get up and down and they shoot a lot of threes. I feel like that is a strength of mine. Also, the freedom to be able to run the offense is a big thing and Coach Kruger has confidence in me to be able to be the floor general. Definitely the program is going in the right direction. This year’s class was good and my class is going to be big.”
Big time pick up for Kruger and the Oklahoma program who appear set at the point guard position for years to come with Pritchard headed to campus in a couple years and Jordan Woodard just starting his sophomore season.
25 Comments
I know about as much about basketball as I do rocket surgery or brain science but what an outstanding job by Coach Kruger continuing to turn this program around and yet another great hire by Joe C.
I didn’t realize I regurgitated your post. Hoping to at least make the Elite 8 this year
This is a big time get, folks. Just awesome!
Agreed. From the (scrimmage?) video it looks like he has the handles and 3 point shooting to be a good to great floor general.
Loved the fluidity of his left hand, his vision and the way he crates space with his body too. And he’s deceptively quick, or everyone else was really slow!
Love this pickup! Seems like he has a natural feel for the game and really uses his body well in the paint against the big boys.
http://instagram.com/p/vjRWeJpeiF/
https://twitter.com/jeffborzello/status/534767980518051840
Can we get Lon Kruger to head up recruiting for the football team please?!
I think west linn is where chael sonnen is from. I like this kid already.
Coach K. kicks ass. Our FB staff could learn a thing or two from him.
Basketball program is ROLLING as of late. Coach Kruger will be staring across his office desk at some of the “transcendent talent” types in the near future, I’m betting.
Would be nice if he’s staring across his office desk at some BIG XII hardware soon too!
It definitely feels like it’s time for that
this is a good get. OU basketball is rolling, give him a few games and Tashawn Thomas’ presence will really be noticed. Hopefully OU can end KU’s streak in Big 12 basketball dominance.
Also, may I say, we need to get our rears to the LNC and support this team!
I saw some folks questioning the value of OUs AD beyond Stoops. 2 words.. Lon Kruger. Good pickup does not even describe this guy. This is HUGE
Keeping coaches like Patty Gaso and Sherri Coale is no small feat either. Both are good enough to have moved on by now, yet Castiglione has done an excellent job of keeping both happy and at OU.
This kid can flat out shoot the rock. Great pick up
Definitely helps his dad is an alum. Not sure how hard Lon had to recruit him but a good deal nonetheless.
Lon Kruger is awesome. I wish I still lived in OK so I could go to a game!
The “true point guard” is slowly fading from the game (not to the extent the center has), and I think that’s because nowadays a lot of guys want to be the shooter/scorer. Prichard is a ‘true’ point guard. He knows that his most important roll is to distribute the ball, and he does it as well as any high school PG I’ve seen this year. Lon did an outstanding job landing this young man, and I think he’s going to be a big time player and fan favorite for years to come!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fxrTMR5kqY
Good guard play can take a team deep in the tournament. The winner may need more, but has to have it to get there. Lon is doing great!
His dad was funny and cool. Came to OU as TE when it was tough to get on the field. 6-5. Kid could keep growing.