Former Sooner Memories: Jameel Heywood

[BigTime]

So I brought up Heywood in an earlier thread regarding CJ Washington. Wanted to start a new thread topic where we post random memories about former Sooners.

So what do you remember about Jameel Heywood (particular game moments, highlight plays, type of game etc)?

#34 POS: F 6-6, 220

Career Stats at OU:

2000: 11.1 min/g, 3.2 ppg, 2.9 rpg, FT: 64%
2001: 18.8 min/g, 3.8 ppg, 4.6 rpg, FT: 66%

 

[BigTime]

Remember this?

Heywood Wins It for No. 16 Oklahoma
COLLEGE BASKETBALL DAILY REPORT / AROUND THE NATIONFebruary 20, 2001Jameel Heywood hit a shot at the buzzer as No. 16 Oklahoma defeated Missouri, 63-61, at Columbia, Mo.

Heywood followed up Nolan Johnson's miss and scored from the lane for Oklahoma, 21-5 overall and 10-4 in the Big 12 Conference.

The Sooners have defeated Missouri (17-8, 8-4) six consecutive times and ended the Tigers' 13-game winning streak at the Hearnes Center.

Suck it Sawyer.

 

[BigTime]

A little exert from Sooner Magazine (spring 2005):

New York native Jameel Heywood has played in Korea, Uruguay, Chile, Puerto Rico, Argentina and Poland since his college days. He averaged 19.1 points per game last season in Puerto Rico and was with a team in Argentina as 2005 began, then played in Poland. He averaged 4.6 rebounds per game for OU in 2000-01.

"The hardest adjustment I have had to make playing in different countries is being away from my family for extended periods of time," he wrote in January. "I have a seven-month old, and leaving him for the first time was the hardest thing I’ve done since I began my overseas career.

"I can’t think of any pleasant surprises besides being paid on time and in full," he added. "Playing overseas is a job; yes, you do get to play the sport you love, meet new people, see a lot of beautiful places and learn about different cultures, but your main reason for being out there is to get paid. Some teams can make that more difficult than others."


So how did playing for the Sooners prepare these young men for living overseas?

"Although you may only play two or three games a week, the (foreign) team can practice up to two times a day at (an intense level) that reminds me of my college days," Heywood wrote. "Also, the way in which we have to conduct ourselves off the court (is important as pros), because the fans are always watching (and that) also reminds me of OU. Word always gets back to the coach about your off-court behavior, good or bad."

 

[Big Old Booger]

Remember this?



Suck it Sawyer.

I referenced this game in that thread where you brought up Haywood. That was awesome, too.

 

[seniorsooner]

Had him in a class and he used to borrow my notes. Cool dude. Still remember that game winner against Mizzou

 

[BigTime]

I referenced this game in that thread where you brought up Haywood. That was awesome, too.

I remember going nuts from my couch. He was johnny on the spot and it was a big time putback.

 

[BigTime]

Had him in a class and he used to borrow my notes. Cool dude. Still remember that game winner against Mizzou

He was freakin huge and from the Bronx. You had no choice but to let him borrow your notes!

 

[Big Old Booger]

I remember going nuts from my couch. He was johnny on the spot and it was a big time putback.

I don't remember who was on the court at that time, probably Price, Newton, Johnson, and somebody else. Heywood is the last person of those 5 I wanted shooting that shot.

 

[BigTime]

I don't remember who was on the court at that time, probably Price, Newton, Johnson, and somebody else. Heywood is the last person of those 5 I wanted shooting that shot.

Johnson drove the baseline from the left and missed a little pullup shot that he normally was money on. I can't remember who else was in the game either.

And I agree, anyone but Heywood would have been my answer to getting to shoot a game winner in that situation. haha

 

[Tony]

Watched that game in the St. Louis airport with a bunch of Mizzou fans. That was fun.

A lot of people didn't like it when we offered him because the conventional wisdom at the time was Sampson was just trying to get Heywood's junior college teammate Reggie Evans to come, but he turned out to be a solid contributor.

 

[seniorsooner]

He was freakin huge and from the Bronx. You had no choice but to let him borrow your notes!

Very, very true lol

 

[BigTime]

Watched that game in the St. Louis airport with a bunch of Mizzou fans. That was fun.

A lot of people didn't like it when we offered him because the conventional wisdom at the time was Sampson was just trying to get Heywood's junior college teammate Reggie Evans to come, but he turned out to be a solid contributor.

Where did Evans end up going, Tony? Interesting. I had never heard that before.

 

[Tony]

Iowa. It came down to us and them. Kelvin wanted him badly.

 

[Big Old Booger]

Where did Evans end up going, Tony? Interesting. I had never heard that before.

Evans went to Iowa with Alford, and took them to 2 or 3 Big 10 tourney titles but maybe 1 NCAA tourney win.

Sampson only signed Heywood after Humphrey transferred out. I don't think we offer Heywood if Humphrey stayed.

 

[Big Old Booger]

I remember Sampson was ripped mercilessly on the various message boards and the radio when he signed Heywood because Jameel didn't score much in JUCO.

Sampson was able to plug him in and get every bit of talent Heywood had to help the sooners.

 

[BigTime]

Looks like Alford and Iowa were trying the same tactic:

Selected Oklahoma over Iowa, Kansas State, South Alabama and Tulsa

 

[Big Old Booger]

Looks like Alford and Iowa were trying the same tactic:

Oklahoma and KSU both used to have more JUCO players in the early 2000's than any of the other big 12 schools. Seemed like they were always going after the same players, even after Wooldridge took over in Manhattan.

I can't answer for what Iowa was doing, but whatever it was it didn't work for Alford. He really struggled there. Other than winning the conference tourney, which is an accomplishment, 3 straight times, they didn't win many meaningful games.

 

[MsProudSooner]

Watched that game in the St. Louis airport with a bunch of Mizzou fans. That was fun.

I was taking a class on the East coast and watched that game from my hotel room. Big Monday starts really late when you are on the East Coast!

 

[usedtobe1]

Heywood was a typical undersized, scrappy post player that Sampson liked to use. I've attached a link that shows the lineup and stats from that Missouri game. There was a lot of talent on that team .... I wish the Sooners had as much now.

http://statsheet.com/mcb/games/2001/02/19/oklahoma-63-missouri-61

J.R. Raymond, Hollis Price, Nolan Johnson, Jameel, Ace McGhee, Daryn Selvy, Johnnie Gilbert, Kelly Newton, and Tim Heskett. That was a pretty solid roster.

 

[BoulderSooner]

Watched that game in the St. Louis airport with a bunch of Mizzou fans. That was fun.

A lot of people didn't like it when we offered him because the conventional wisdom at the time was Sampson was just trying to get Heywood's junior college teammate Reggie Evans to come, but he turned out to be a solid contributor.

if he had evans to go with ACE wow now thats a great front line