Sooners Lose Top Basketball Commit
Posted on: July 7, 2015
Image via insidethehall.com
Late Monday OU Basketball received some incredibly disappointing news with the decision of 2016 point guard Payton Pritchard to decommit from the Sooners.
BREAKING: ESPN 100 Payton Pritchard has decommitted from Oklahoma, he told me and @GoodmanESPN.
— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) July 7, 2015
Pritchard’s father spoke as to the reasoning behind the decision to do so.
Payton Pritchard's father: "He committed early. He just wants to be 100 percent sure. We want him to be 100 percent comfortable."
— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) July 7, 2015
There has been no mention as to whether or not OU will still be considered going forward, though until it is said otherwise I have to assume that will be the case. Largely for the same reasons behind Pritchard’s reasons for originally committed in the first place. Namely that both of this parents attended OU and he still have family in the area.
Admittedly, basketball recruiting information is nowhere near as prevalent as football so if you’re a diehard b-ball recruiting junkie and tell me this had been coming for a while, then I’ll certainly take your word for it. However, from what I can gather the sense seems to be this pretty much came out of left field.
Nevertheless, it’s a obvious, yet significant blow for Lon Kruger and his staff. OU is now left with a lone 2016 commit in the form of 6’6″ OK Preps small forward, Kristian Doolittle.
18 Comments
Yikes!
Teach your child what a commitment means!
Eh. While I understand 100% what you are saying, recruiting is a game. Coaches play it, so I certainly won’t get upset with a kid playing it too.
I’ve always thought of recruiting commitments more like a marriage engagement. There has to be serious interest to say “yes”, but if red flags come up during the engagement period, that’s the time to break things off, not after the wedding. Similarly if during the recruiting process an athlete is not very sure about his choice, it is much better for everyone if he changes his mind before signing a letter of intent and then enrolling in the school. Then at least the school has a chance to use that scholarship on someone else who wants to be there.
fwiw, I’ve seen it said elsewhere that the father has said OU is still under consideration. However I’ve only seen that second hand, yet to see it as a direct quote (or something similar). That said, as I alluded to above I won’t be at all surprised if that is in fact the case.
But only time will tell if OU is still really in this one.
You think it’s pretty much between Oregon and OU? Based on the way he’s talked about family I’d think they would still be the favorites.
I feel like I’ve seen Gonzaga mentioned as well, but you’re probably right. Though at this point who knows. As I’ve said here already, this decommit came completely out of left field, IMO.
Is Doolittle considered a hoops commit? He’s also a baseball guy…
Any chance you’re thinking of someone else? Like the kid (DeShawn Lookout) who is a football/baseball commit?
I don’t recall anything about Doolittle being a dual-sport guy.
Yes, there is a 100% chance that’s who im thinking of. Thanks, Jordan..
no prob
Bummer
Incredibly disappointing.
when PP refused to join the 2015 class , it probably told the OU staff more than us fans realized : other teams were trying to pry him loose from OU—–and they did.
When coach K keeps winning, there will be plenty of point players that are 100% sure and comfortable about OU all year round.
Very disappointed but the young man needs to do what he thinks will be best for himself. Would have loved seeing him as a Sooner and, who knows, he may eventually decide that OU is where he needs to be. Anyway, next man up.
I have read this situation arose because the serious girlfriend, if there is such a person at age 17, is going to Oregon or is a year ahead and is committed to going to Oregon. Hopefully, he gets to Norman, sees the pool of possibilities is full of many fish, and his original intentions reconstitute. However, like the song says, “the power of p….y”
OK, I get that he is a kid and I get the whole I want to get it right thought process.
but kids who commit have already talked it over with daddy, girlfriend etc so that excuse is out the window. I am not attacking a young kid for having a change of heart, what bothers me is that when you commit to something, anything you have an obligation to yourself and the other person who will look else where not so much everyone else. You have to look in the mirror with parents by your side reflecting on a decision that will affect other kids who might have chosen OU but didn’t because he did, on coaches who committed to him and shunned others to me this shows a lack of Honor and reflects poor character.
Lane I agree with you!