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http://kdhnews.com/kdhpressbox/spor...cle_f0f95ed6-3365-11e6-bb18-23bc89aa70ff.html
Rashard Odomes only cares about one thing.
For years, the former Copperas Cove standout was the center of attention practically every time he stepped on a basketball court.
During his tenure with the Bulldawgs, he was named an all-district and all-area most valuable player, landed on the all-state team, became the program’s all-time leading scorer and was considered a four-star recruit, ranking 14th among Texas prospects as a senior.
Then, he embarked on a collegiate career with the Oklahoma Sooners, who advanced to the NCAA Tournament semifinals earlier this year,
making Odomes the only known area player to reach the Final Four.
Odomes only played in two postseason games, however, averaging just 6.1 minutes per game off the bench in 18 total appearances as a freshman — a stark contrast to his time at Copperas Cove.
But Odomes could not be happier.
“I can’t complain about anything last year because we were winning,” he said. “As long as the team is winning, I’m fine. I’m just not a selfish person to look at things that I’m not getting.
“The team was winning, we were getting better as a team, I was getting better individually, and we got to the Final Four, so I can’t complain.”
Now, Odomes is looking to do it again, and while he is not concerned with anything other than the team’s success, his workload is expected to increase.
With the 2016 James A. Naismith Trophy winner Buddy Hield set to transition into the NBA and the loss of other seniors, the Sooners only have five upperclassmen on their roster. The turnover provides an opportunity for Odomes to assume more responsibility on the court.
“It is definitely exciting,” Odomes said, “but I’ve been preparing for this since last year. I never looked too far into the future because I was thinking about what I needed to do right then for my team, even if it was just to go as hard as I could in practice to get them better.
“So, I’ve been preparing for this, and I’m ready for it.”
With capable scorers remaining, including senior guard Jordan Woodard and junior forward Khadeem Lattin, who ranked among the team’s top five in points last season, Odomes envisions himself becoming a defensive threat.
Standing 6-feet-6 and weighing 200 pounds, he has experience dominating on both sides of the court. In addition to averaging 25.2 points and 4.8 assists as a senior at Copperas Cove, Odomes recorded 12.4 rebounds and 2.7 steals per game while regularly guarding the opposing team’s top perimeter player.
“I feel like I can be a real defensive stopper this year,” Odomes said. “I just feel I can guard the best player on every other team.
“I’m going to take a lot of pride in that, and I want to be the guy who brings the defensive intensity. I’m tall with a long wingspan, and I think I can guard anyone from a point guard to a power forward.”
Oklahoma opens its season Nov. 13 at home against Northwestern State, and regardless of how he is utilized, Odomes is anxious to build on his freshman campaign, using the experience to help reach his full potential.
“My coaches always told me to just keep working hard and making myself better,” Odomes said. “Some freshmen might get down because they’re not getting playing time and stop, saying they’ve always got next year.
“But I didn’t want to wait. I wanted to get myself ready now.”
Rashard Odomes only cares about one thing.
For years, the former Copperas Cove standout was the center of attention practically every time he stepped on a basketball court.
During his tenure with the Bulldawgs, he was named an all-district and all-area most valuable player, landed on the all-state team, became the program’s all-time leading scorer and was considered a four-star recruit, ranking 14th among Texas prospects as a senior.
Then, he embarked on a collegiate career with the Oklahoma Sooners, who advanced to the NCAA Tournament semifinals earlier this year,
making Odomes the only known area player to reach the Final Four.
Odomes only played in two postseason games, however, averaging just 6.1 minutes per game off the bench in 18 total appearances as a freshman — a stark contrast to his time at Copperas Cove.
But Odomes could not be happier.
“I can’t complain about anything last year because we were winning,” he said. “As long as the team is winning, I’m fine. I’m just not a selfish person to look at things that I’m not getting.
“The team was winning, we were getting better as a team, I was getting better individually, and we got to the Final Four, so I can’t complain.”
Now, Odomes is looking to do it again, and while he is not concerned with anything other than the team’s success, his workload is expected to increase.
With the 2016 James A. Naismith Trophy winner Buddy Hield set to transition into the NBA and the loss of other seniors, the Sooners only have five upperclassmen on their roster. The turnover provides an opportunity for Odomes to assume more responsibility on the court.
“It is definitely exciting,” Odomes said, “but I’ve been preparing for this since last year. I never looked too far into the future because I was thinking about what I needed to do right then for my team, even if it was just to go as hard as I could in practice to get them better.
“So, I’ve been preparing for this, and I’m ready for it.”
With capable scorers remaining, including senior guard Jordan Woodard and junior forward Khadeem Lattin, who ranked among the team’s top five in points last season, Odomes envisions himself becoming a defensive threat.
Standing 6-feet-6 and weighing 200 pounds, he has experience dominating on both sides of the court. In addition to averaging 25.2 points and 4.8 assists as a senior at Copperas Cove, Odomes recorded 12.4 rebounds and 2.7 steals per game while regularly guarding the opposing team’s top perimeter player.
“I feel like I can be a real defensive stopper this year,” Odomes said. “I just feel I can guard the best player on every other team.
“I’m going to take a lot of pride in that, and I want to be the guy who brings the defensive intensity. I’m tall with a long wingspan, and I think I can guard anyone from a point guard to a power forward.”
Oklahoma opens its season Nov. 13 at home against Northwestern State, and regardless of how he is utilized, Odomes is anxious to build on his freshman campaign, using the experience to help reach his full potential.
“My coaches always told me to just keep working hard and making myself better,” Odomes said. “Some freshmen might get down because they’re not getting playing time and stop, saying they’ve always got next year.
“But I didn’t want to wait. I wanted to get myself ready now.”
