Devion Harmon to the Portal

[MsProudSooner]

"He’s a point guard, that’s the other thing. We need him to be seen as a point guard. He was playing the two-guard, combo guard style and it was hard to get assists when he’s not the point guard."

How do you find players that are willing to play the position that is best for the team? The TEAM was better with him at the 2 and Reaves at the point. But that's immaterial to players and their parents these days.

 

[NYC-Fool]

Yeah I’m not really getting a team-first vibe from the Harmon’s.

 

[jmizzy4ou]

Dad seems desperate. Looks like he's placed all his future chips on his son getting to the NBA. Not sure how much the kid can even enjoy the college experience with dad's pressure obviously on him.....

 

[skyvue]

Yeah I’m not really getting a team-first vibe from the Harmon’s.

Me either, but I suspected this is exactly what was going on -- that they were just trying to keep all their options open. I hope they decide OU is the place for him.

Sadly, the major sports, even at the collegiate level, are viewed as a business now. Who wouldn't want their son to get to the NBA, and if they legitimately feel he has a shot, they're going to do what they can to help him get there. The coach he committed to is gone, and the new coach has never coached at the Power 5 level.

I don't quite buy their concern about Harmon playing the point next season. Who do they think he's going to lose those minutes to? He's almost guaranteed to be the starting PG.

I too long for team-first players who love OU, care about their degree and wouldn't think of transferring. But sad as it is to say, at this level of college basketball, if we end up with a team full of those players, we will not be a top 25 program, because with few exceptions, those kind of guys are not blue-chippers.

I cited recruiting as a concern when Coach Moser was just a hypothetical candidate to be our head coach, a name being tossed out there. I still have that concern. He's never gone swimming in the big pond before. I dearly hope we're not on the 3 or 4-year plan some are predicting. I'm no kid -- I don't have two or three seasons to waste.

 

[Matthew G]

Me either, but I suspected this is exactly what was going on -- that they were just trying to keep all their options open. I hope they decide OU is the place for him.

Sadly, the major sports, even at the collegiate level, are viewed as a business now. Who wouldn't want their son to get to the NBA, and if they legitimately feel he has a shot, they're going to do what they can to help him get there. The coach he committed to is gone, and the new coach has never coached at the Power 5 level.

I don't quite buy their concern about Harmon playing the point next season. Who do they think he's going to lose those minutes to? He's almost guaranteed to be the starting PG.

I too long for team-first players who love OU, care about their degree and wouldn't think of transferring. But sad as it is to say, at this level of college basketball, if we end up with a team full of those players, we will not be a top 25 program, because with few exceptions, those kind of guys are not blue-chippers.

I cited recruiting as a concern when Coach Moser was just a hypothetical candidate to be our head coach, a name being tossed out there. I still have that concern. He's never gone swimming in the big pond before. I dearly hope we're not on the 3 or 4-year plan some are predicting. I'm no kid -- I don't have two or three seasons to waste.

I'd say Moser's style isn't for big time recruits either though. It's a motion offense and relentless defense. It's not meant for someone to iso and go. So I'd argue the style isn't set up for a major recruit, it's set for a lot of good players, including a big guy inside to do work.

Does Moser's offense sometimes spread the floor and allow drives, definitely, but it isn't meant for 1 player to go off. Everyone is expected to contribute.

 

[Soonerinkc]

lots of "we" in that....:ez-roll:

 

[skyvue]

I'd say Moser's style isn't for big time recruits either though. It's a motion offense and relentless defense. It's not meant for someone to iso and go. So I'd argue the style isn't set up for a major recruit, it's set for a lot of good players, including a big guy inside to do work.

Does Moser's offense sometimes spread the floor and allow drives, definitely, but it isn't meant for 1 player to go off. Everyone is expected to contribute.

I fear you're correct, and that was my expressed concern before he got hired. I fear we've hired the equivalent of Army's head football coach, who has a specific style that works at the level at which his team competes and confuses P5 teams when they face him enough to keep those games close, but put him in a P5 conference playing that style with scrappy but less talented players, and before long, that style of play won't get it done.

Are we really ready to be the Loyola of the Big 12, the team that can jump up and surprise more talented teams now and then but mostly rack up moral victories along the way? Do we not think the coaches of the Big 12 will be able to solve Moser's offensive schemes, especially when they're being run by lesser players?

If he recruits better than I fear he will, I will happily eat many helpings of crow, but this board got excited when he signed a player ranked in the mid-200s, and I couldn't help but see the irony in that.

 

[Soonerinkc]

I fear you're correct, and that was my expressed concern before he got hired. I fear we've hired the equivalent of Army's head football coach, who has a specific style that works at the level at which his team competes and confuses P5 teams when they face him enough to keep those games close, but put him in a P5 conference playing that style with scrappy but less talented players, and before long, that style of play won't get it done.

Are we really ready to be the Loyola of the Big 12, the team that can jump up and surprise more talented teams now and then but mostly rack up moral victories along the way? Do we not think the coaches of the Big 12 will be able to solve Moser's offensive schemes, especially when they're being run by lesser players?

If he recruits better than I fear he will, I will happily eat many helpings of crow, but this board got excited when he signed a player ranked in the mid-200s, and I couldn't help but see the irony in that.

I was ready for a change. Maybe this will work, maybe not. We'll see in a few years.

 

[mict085]

I'd say Moser's style isn't for big time recruits either though. It's a motion offense and relentless defense. It's not meant for someone to iso and go. So I'd argue the style isn't set up for a major recruit, it's set for a lot of good players, including a big guy inside to do work.

Does Moser's offense sometimes spread the floor and allow drives, definitely, but it isn't meant for 1 player to go off. Everyone is expected to contribute.

OU has had, what 2 elite players in the last 20 years. Those teams weren’t all that good either. OU would have more success with a great team vs 1 great player that “goes off”. That hasn’t worked very well for us.

If Moser can build a solid team, we will have more success than we’ve had in the last 20 years. If he can add some Blake griffins to the mix of a great team, then look out.

 

[TINY]

I fear you're correct, and that was my expressed concern before he got hired. I fear we've hired the equivalent of Army's head football coach, who has a specific style that works at the level at which his team competes and confuses P5 teams when they face him enough to keep those games close, but put him in a P5 conference playing that style with scrappy but less talented players, and before long, that style of play won't get it done.

Are we really ready to be the Loyola of the Big 12, the team that can jump up and surprise more talented teams now and then but mostly rack up moral victories along the way? Do we not think the coaches of the Big 12 will be able to solve Moser's offensive schemes, especially when they're being run by lesser players?

If he recruits better than I fear he will, I will happily eat many helpings of crow, but this board got excited when he signed a player ranked in the mid-200s, and I couldn't help but see the irony in that.

Way too early to know what kind of recruiter he can be. He was hired later in the year and landed a recruit on his first day on the job afterall. I like what I see from alston, he looks like a better version of Jordan Woodard. Also rankings are especially off this year due to lack of exposure from covid.

Having said all that I am very frustrated that we don’t seem to be getting that “new coach” recruiting boost that sorry ass Longhorns and others seem to get. We need to land the bros from the pacific north desperately.

 

[CMSOONER]

I don't quite buy their concern about Harmon playing the point next season. Who do they think he's going to lose those minutes to? He's almost guaranteed to be the starting PG.

This! This isn't about being the PG. He's going to buy what Calipari is selling and end up a backup PG at UK when Cal brings in someone better.

 

[Matthew G]

Way too early to know what kind of recruiter he can be. He was hired later in the year and landed a recruit on his first day on the job afterall. I like what I see from alston, he looks like a better version of Jordan Woodard. Also rankings are especially off this year due to lack of exposure from covid.

Having said all that I am very frustrated that we don’t seem to be getting that “new coach” recruiting boost that sorry ass Longhorns and others seem to get. We need to land the bros from the pacific north desperately.

Once again, Texas has hired assistants that are caught up in the FBI scandal. They understand what Baylor did the last few years and have said they'll play that game as well.

They hired Beard who would tell you that you could make the NBA as a 1st round pick.

I expect Texas to sell recruits very well. And after 1 year, expect several players to go to the portal. That's exactly what happened at Tech with Beard. Players bought in, realized he told everyone that and they didn't get playing time, and then they left and he recruited someone new with the same pitch.

 

[Sooner04]

The signs were there as the season wore on. Bad body language on the bench (specifically the Iowa State game in Norman). The debacle at the end of the KU game in Kansas City was probably the final dagger. There was smoke, and there was plenty of discussion on this very board about Harmon's future in Norman. Sad deal. He's a good player. Would be a 1,500-1,800 point scorer here should he stay. That's some heady company.

Alas.

 

[TINY]

Please don’t be the KD of ou hoops. Anyone but ku or ut.

 

[hoopsaustin]

Not gonna post the whole article, but it explains the portal decision and what the Harmon's are looking for.








https://kentuckysportsradio.com/mai...-steps/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Meh. Harmon is good and improved a lot from the prior year.. but hes just not a nba guy and his 5 star ranking was wayyy overrated. Hes a solid college player and id like to have him. But if hes a big diva then bc he thinks hes an all American, hes prolly not worth it

 

[colston15]

Meh. Harmon is good and improved a lot from the prior year.. but hes just not a nba guy and his 5 star ranking was wayyy overrated. Hes a solid college player and id like to have him. But if hes a big diva then bc he thinks hes an all American, hes prolly not worth it

I agree completely. He's not worth all the fuss. Reaves played point last season for a reason...

 

[Stikboy]

I agree with these last two posters and as a matter of fact after the last few days i'm definitely leaning more towards don't let the door hit you... Not just on principle but also if he did stay, buy in and potential chemistry issues. It's not all about you dude.

 

[soonerbms]

Man, it was one thing when we were all making fun of him for prematurely declaring for the draft. Now, he’s flirting with every school in the country including our rivals. Who knew this kid was such a ****er?

 

[WTSooner]

Meh. Harmon is good and improved a lot from the prior year.. but hes just not a nba guy and his 5 star ranking was wayyy overrated. Hes a solid college player and id like to have him. But if hes a big diva then bc he thinks hes an all American, hes prolly not worth it

Who had him ranked as a 5*?

I see 4* on 247, 247 composite, Rivals, and ESPN.

https://247sports.com/Player/DeVion-Harmon-86619/high-school-158798/

https://n.rivals.com/content/prospects/2019/de-vion-harmon-1883

http://www.espn.com/college-sports/basketball/recruiting/player/_/id/230185/devion-harmon

 

[thebigabd]

Sounds like his dad is the biggest cause of the delusion