EJ to the portal

[NorthCarolinaSooner]

What we have is true freshmen coming in who will be trying to get their legs under them in D-1 ball. Oweh is the 72nd ranked player in his class, according to 247. Uzan is #52. Noland was #88, and though he certainly contributed this year, he hasn't been a difference maker yet and he caught grief from a number of posters on this board.

So expecting even top-100 freshmen to fill a senior's shoes, especially on defense, is asking a lot.

are you just generally a pessimist? or do you just save it for this board?

 

[BCSooners]

Wish he’d stay, but that might change based on who the portal guys are.

 

[oukyle]

Harkless was a below average offensive player, decent rebounder, and plus defender. He was a below average shooter and very poor at taking care of the ball. You could certainly claim that shooting and turnovers are what hindered this team the most and as a Senior, he was awful at both.

Harkless is a decent player and will surely be a contributor elsewhere, but he needs to go somewhere where he is surrounded by good shooters and ballhandlers so that he can hide on offense.

I am looking forward to see how we can add a better fit through the portal or even more minutes to guys like Noland and Cortes.

 

[Stikboy]

What i'm wondering is...Did he want to leave, Moser convinced him to stay, and he changed his mind? Or...

Did Moser invite him to leave?

 

[allday92]

I don't understand our fans. They blame our lack of success largely on lack of talent and lack of athleticism, then want to run it back with the exact same team plus some freshman.

I'm not sure who we're going to end up with, but I'd be pretty willing to bet our three starting guards at the end of next season will be better than the combination of Goldwire, Mo, and Harkless.

You can't run the Moser offense and be successful with a player like Harkless.

Agreed. I can't emphasize this enough.

 

[hoopsaustin]

What i'm wondering is...Did he want to leave, Moser convinced him to stay, and he changed his mind? Or...

Did Moser invite him to leave?

I wonder if harkless was unwilling to take the role that Porter forecasted for him.. no way to know. Lets see where he gets to transfer to. But i think this one is complicated bc i wonder if there could have been bad chemistry if harkless stays and does not accept his role vs. If porter gives him a long leash and the dude turns it over as much as last year..

Prolly just best for both parties to move on. But if harkless is willing to work with his role, then this is likely a big loss bc we arent exactly filling spots with players at the moment

 

[skyvue]

are you just generally a pessimist? or do you just save it for this board?

Actually, I have been one of the most optimistic posters on this board for many years; I've caught grief and ridicule many times for it. Sorry I'm not celebrating the departure of one of our experienced players and just blithely assuming his spot will be filled by a better player.

Does it really have to be said AGAIN...that Moser was late in the game coming in and HAD to fill spots??

He can be a little more picky about what he is getting and bringing in....PLUS he knows what the weaknesses and strengths of the guys here and the guys leaving. So it is likely a little different story this year than last.

How so? Among our starters, Goldwire and Harkless are now gone. There's a good chance Mo will be too, and you can throw in Chargois as a key contributor, too (though not a starter). That would mean our only returning starters will be T-Groves, whom many posters here are hoping to see relegated to a backup role, and Hill.

Moser actually had more returning starters entering last season than this (or just as many, if Mo sticks around). We do have three freshman coming in this season, but they will be freshmen--expecting big contributions from them is asking a lot (no one will be happier than me if one or more of them arrives ready to shine at the D1 level).

As for your point that Coach Moser, who was hired on April 2, had no time to get good players: Moser's challenge was far from uniquely difficult. Beard, who was hired at texas on April 1, lost seven players to the draft and/or the portal; he brought in seven guys from the portal, six of whom were ranked among ESPN's top 31 portal transfers.

Adams--a first-time head coach who was hired four days after Moser--also had more slots to fill. He brought in nine players from the portal.

That said, it's just one season, but I keep seeing texas and Tech cited in these portal announcement tweets as schools who are in the hunt -- I'm rarely seeing Oklahoma mentioned. I'm not panicking. I'll of course let it play out. But we need to make a BIG leap in our portal success this time.

 

[WichitaSooner]

I wonder if harkless was unwilling to take the role that Porter forecasted for him.. no way to know. Lets see where he gets to transfer to. But i think this one is complicated bc i wonder if there could have been bad chemistry if harkless stays and does not accept his role vs. If porter gives him a long leash and the dude turns it over as much as last year..

Prolly just best for both parties to move on. But if harkless is willing to work with his role, then this is likely a big loss bc we arent exactly filling spots with players at the moment

I think we just have to be patient -- and trust me, I am the least patient person around. But I get the sense that most portal players are yet to decide where they are going, and there are still some players who will enter the portal down the road. If we haven't added at least a couple quality players by the time the smoke clears, I will be very worried. But for now, I am trying to stay confident in the staff's ability to find some impact players.

 

[hoopsaustin]

What we have is true freshmen coming in who will be trying to get their legs under them in D-1 ball. Oweh is the 72nd ranked player in his class, according to 247. Uzan is #52. Noland was #88, and though he certainly contributed this year, he hasn't been a difference maker yet and he caught grief from a number of posters on this board.

So expecting even top-100 freshmen to fill a senior's shoes, especially on defense, is asking a lot.

You're right but i can't help but be super excited for oweh/uzan. Hopefully it's the exception.. and I'm basically banking on that

Also, i was never that high on noland coming out of hs bc hes built like a linebacker and sheron collins and byron eat-a-tons are the exception (noland is 3 inches taller tho and less a PG). But im higher on Noland after this first year. What Noland needs more than anything is minutes (and also to get more trim)! I think year 2 is going to be a big year for him and harkless leaving may be a huge positive for noland

 

[TarheelstateSooner]

Actually, I have been one of the most optimistic posters on this board for many years; I've caught grief and ridicule many times for it. Sorry I'm not celebrating the departure of one of our experienced players and just blithely assuming his spot will be filled by a better player.



How so? Among our starters, Goldwire and Harkless are now gone. There's a good chance Mo will be too, and you can throw in Chargois as a key contributor, too (though not a starter). That would mean our only returning starters will be T-Groves, whom many posters here are hoping to see relegated to a backup role, and Hill.

Moser actually had more returning starters entering last season than this (or just as many, if Mo sticks around). We do have three freshman coming in this season, but they will be freshmen--expecting big contributions from them is asking a lot (no one will be happier than me if one or more of them arrives ready to shine at the D1 level).

As for your point that Coach Moser, who was hired on April 2, had no time to get good players: Moser's challenge was far from uniquely difficult. Beard, who was hired at texas on April 1, lost seven players to the draft and/or the portal; he brought in seven guys from the portal, six of whom were ranked among ESPN's top 31 portal transfers.

Adams--a first-time head coach who was hired four days after Moser--also had more slots to fill. He brought in nine players from the portal.

That said, it's just one season, but I keep seeing texas and Tech cited in these portal announcement tweets as schools who are in the hunt -- I'm rarely seeing Oklahoma mentioned. I'm not panicking. I'll of course let it play out. But we need to make a BIG leap in our portal success this time.

I agree with the majority of what you said. Supposedly, Texas and Tech are paying, but who knows. It's just all hearsay without anything concrete.

I hope Moser figures it out, but two years without making the NCAA Tournament would suck massive ass. Kruger never did that, and I wasn't a huge fan of Lon's coaching.

 

[BoulderSooner]

What i'm wondering is...Did he want to leave, Moser convinced him to stay, and he changed his mind? Or...

Did Moser invite him to leave?

very much the former

 

[TheMont]

My main frustration about the Harkless departure is that I heard Fran "Big 12 Expert" Fraschilla mention at least 10 times with certainly that EJ would be returning next year.

Go be first team all-ACC, young man.

 

[BoulderSooner]

My main frustration about the Harkless departure is that I heard Fran "Big 12 Expert" Fraschilla mention at least 10 times with certainly that EJ would be returning next year.

Go be first team all-ACC, young man.

very likely heading to the PAC12

 

[Boom Soon]

Oklahoma played Alabama I believe in January of 2021. Reaves was out with COVID, and I remember one of the announcers saying something to the effect of: "Harkless expects this team to be his after Reaves is gone." And he was supposedly quoting Harkless. I remember being kind of surprised because I didn't think he had the talent to carry the team the way Reaves did. I think that explains some of his play this year, and the transfer if what the announcer said was true. I think he wanted (wants) to be the man on a team. So it would not surprise me if he transfers to a team to fill that role. I also think that explained some of Goldwire's play. I think he was out to prove he could be a scorer. Which I think hurt the team. So in that regard, losing Harkless may not be that bad. As a coach you want guys to buy in and accept their role. And maybe, just maybe Harkless sees either Noland or the incoming freshman OR a potential transfer as a threat to being the go to guy.

With that being said, right now, with everything we know, it is not a good loss. Yes, Sooner fans want more talent. BUT Moser and his crew have to recruit better talent. And that is obviously proving to be a difficult task. Hopefully we get some good news soon. There is no doubt Moser is working his butt off. But, if we lose a guy like Harkless, and Moser can't recruit an impact player to replace him, then it is going to spell bad news for next year. And by "bad news," I mean missing the tournament again. Not necessarily a horrible season.

 

[BoulderSooner]

That would mean our only returning starters will be T-Groves, whom many posters here are hoping to see relegated to a backup role, and Hill.

Moser actually had more returning starters entering last season than this (or just as many, if Mo sticks around). We do have three freshman coming in this season, but they will be freshmen--expecting big contributions from them is asking a lot (no one will be happier than me if one or more of them arrives ready to shine at the D1 level).

J Groves was a started for the last 12 games of the year (he became the starter before harkless got hurt )

 

[hoopsaustin]

Oklahoma played Alabama I believe in January of 2021. Reaves was out with COVID, and I remember one of the announcers saying something to the effect of: "Harkless expects this team to be his after Reaves is gone." And he was supposedly quoting Harkless. I remember being kind of surprised because I didn't think he had the talent to carry the team the way Reaves did. I think that explains some of his play this year, and the transfer if what the announcer said was true. I think he wanted (wants) to be the man on a team. So it would not surprise me if he transfers to a team to fill that role. I also think that explained some of Goldwire's play. I think he was out to prove he could be a scorer. Which I think hurt the team. So in that regard, losing Harkless may not be that bad. As a coach you want guys to buy in and accept their role. And maybe, just maybe Harkless sees either Noland or the incoming freshman OR a potential transfer as a threat to being the go to guy.

With that being said, right now, with everything we know, it is not a good loss. Yes, Sooner fans want more talent. BUT Moser and his crew have to recruit better talent. And that is obviously proving to be a difficult task. Hopefully we get some good news soon. There is no doubt Moser is working his butt off. But, if we lose a guy like Harkless, and Moser can't recruit an impact player to replace him, then it is going to spell bad news for next year. And by "bad news," I mean missing the tournament again. Not necessarily a horrible season.

Yes and no on the recruiting better talent part being difficult.. we have 2 stud highly rated freshman coming in and im not banking much on the german yet.. It is still early-ish in the portal. That said, porter has to hit on these players hard and/or needs to fill these open spots too!

Well see in a couple months likely IMO

 

[skyvue]

J Groves was a started for the last 12 games of the year (he became the starter before harkless got hurt )

I'm not sure that makes many folks feel better, but just in terms of sheer numbers of returning starters, it's a valid point. Thanks.

 

[StoopsBros]

Tracking the coaching/staffer follows for EJ since the portal announcement:

Marty Wilson - Cal asst
Michael Lecak - UC Riverside asst
Grant Billmeier - Maryland asst
Ryan Hamm - Cal St Fullerton DBO
Jaycob Ammerman - UCF Video Coordinator
Zach Payne - Montana asst
Orlando Vandross - Virginia asst
Chris Foss - Portland St asst

 

[pnkranger]

Any chance he lands at sac state with Patrick?

 

[AdaSooner]

EJ was a good player, and I appreciate his contribution to the team the past two years. We’ll definitely miss him as an experienced defender.

But, let’s be honest here. He was a good but by no means, great player. If we can’t replace his 10 points and 4 rebounds averages, we’re in big trouble.

I think we all agree he had too many turnovers (58). So, why are some of you seemingly troubled by the news that EJ entered the transfer portal? I wish him well, but I’m not going to pretend that I’m sorry to see him go.