Frank Booker Update: He's officially committed to OU

[OUHoops]

Update: Booker officially committed to OU at a press conference at his high school today at 1:20 pm.

Booker will be announcing today at 1 pm (CST) at his high school.

Follow @AugBball on twitter for live tweets from the announcement.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a18AbeJXDDo[/ame]

 

[colston15]

Re: Frank Booker announcement update

Since I'm guessing this will turn into a recruiting topics thread, does anyone have any guess as to what we'll do with our final scholarship this season? It seems like we need another guy that can contribute fairly heavily next season.

Assuming we get good news on Booker, of course.

 

[WTSooner]

Re: Frank Booker announcement update

Since I'm guessing this will turn into a recruiting topics thread, does anyone have any guess as to what we'll do with our final scholarship this season? It seems like we need another guy that can contribute fairly heavily next season.

Assuming we get good news on Booker, of course.

Do we really? Guess it depends what we get out of Hamilton and Bennett, but we have the following that will contribute:

Woodard/Cousins
Hornbeak/Booker*
Hield/Cam
M'Baye/Hamilton
Spangler/Bennett

With Neal and Cole on the bench. So long as Hamilton and Bennett are deserving of time (ie, better than Neal), I think we're fine.

 

[colston15]

Re: Frank Booker announcement update

Do we really? Guess it depends what we get out of Hamilton and Bennett, but we have the following that will contribute:

Woodard/Cousins
Hornbeak/Booker*
Hield/Cam
M'Baye/Hamilton
Spangler/Bennett

With Neal and Cole on the bench. So long as Hamilton and Bennett are deserving of time (ie, better than Neal), I think we're fine.

Where does the scoring come from in the back court? I don't see a double-figure scorer.

 

[tycat947]

Re: Frank Booker announcement update

Where does the scoring come from in the back court? I don't see a double-figure scorer.

Barring injury, I'd almost guarantee M'Baye and Hield are double figure scorers. We only have 3 now, barely. Osby increased his scoring almost 3 points a game from junior year to senior year and I'd expect M'Baye to do so as well. I believe all the returning players will be improved, not only in scoring but in their overall play as well. I think Spangler/Bennett will definitely help the rebounding issues we've had at times thus giving us more opportunities to score. This team this year basically had to learn how to win again and I don't think that will be so much of a problem next year although we'll learn how to close out games better IMO. I know we lose quite a bit this year but I believe we have a lot of promise returning next season and will match or even exceed this season.

 

[pnkranger]

Re: Frank Booker announcement update

Where does the scoring come from in the back court? I don't see a double-figure scorer.

Buddy is averaging 8 ppg this year in 25 mpg while shooting 38% from the field and 25% from 3.

I think we can reasonably expect him to improve to a 10 or 11 ppg scorer next year with more time and a better %. Add that to M'Baye, who will probably increase his average to 13 or 14 ppg, and we really only need one more solid contributor.

Can Booker or Hornbeak play that role?

 

[colston15]

Re: Frank Booker announcement update

Barring injury, I'd almost guarantee M'Baye and Hield are double figure scorers. We only have 3 now, barely. Osby increased his scoring almost 3 points a game from junior year to senior year and I'd expect M'Baye to do so as well. I believe all the returning players will be improved, not only in scoring but in their overall play as well. I think Spangler/Bennett will definitely help the rebounding issues we've had at times thus giving us more opportunities to score. This team this year basically had to learn how to win again and I don't think that will be so much of a problem next year although we'll learn how to close out games better IMO. I know we lose quite a bit this year but I believe we have a lot of promise returning next season and will match or even exceed this season.

I agree that we have promise next season. But I don't want to just make the tournament as a 9-10-11 seed, I want to be in and have a legitimate chance to advance a few rounds.

We need another guy who can score 10-15 points on any given night for that to come to fruition.

 

[WTSooner]

Re: Frank Booker announcement update

I agree that we have promise next season. But I don't want to just make the tournament as a 9-10-11 seed, I want to be in and have a legitimate chance to advance a few rounds.

We need another guy who can score 10-15 points on any given night for that to come to fruition.

Why do you think it's that easy?

Do you really think there is a 10-15ppg guy out there right now, that is better than what we have?

You can't build a team/roster like that. We have a good base. Next year may be pretty similar to this year. But after that, we should have some better talent, and a chance to be better. Why the hurry to try and turn this around? Patience.

 

[colston15]

Re: Frank Booker announcement update

Why do you think it's that easy?

Do you really think there is a 10-15ppg guy out there right now, that is better than what we have?

You can't build a team/roster like that. We have a good base. Next year may be pretty similar to this year. But after that, we should have some better talent, and a chance to be better. Why the hurry to try and turn this around? Patience.

I'm not saying I want a guy that averages that or that one is available, I'm saying I want someone capable of scoring that many.

Similar to what Hornbeak gave us this season. I know there's a JUCO/Prep school kid out there capable of that.

 

[OUsky]

Re: Frank Booker announcement update

I wish we had another true point.

 

[DenverSooner]

Re: Frank Booker announcement update

I'm not saying I want a guy that averages that or that one is available, I'm saying I want someone capable of scoring that many.

Similar to what Hornbeak gave us this season. I know there's a JUCO/Prep school kid out there capable of that.

First there is a huge difference between 10 and 15 points per game. 10 is really good and something that around 20 to 35 guys do in the conference (there 130 guys in the conference). 15 points a game is outstanding and something about 10 guys do in the conference.

Second, Hornbeak wasn't anywhere near 10-15 points a game. Hornbeak averaged 5.6 points per game. That is solid production for a freshman. If he adds 3 points a season he will be a 15 ppg guy as a senior. What Hornbeak did really well is shoot threes at .342. If he comes in next season with confidence and can maintain that percentage on more attempts that will be huge for the team. What OU needs is for Cousins, Hield, Hornbeak, Woodard and Booker (assuming he is Sooner) to all shoot above 30% with two or three of them above 35%. We need defenses to have to respect all five guys and for 2 or 3 of them to be guys that can really hurt a defense.

 

[AdaSooner]

Re: Frank Booker announcement update

Booker will be announcing today at 1 pm (CST) at his high school.

Follow @AugBball on twitter for live tweets from the announcement.

I don't do twitter. Can you post the updates?

 

[OUHoops]

Re: Frank Booker announcement update

Pre-decision interview:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLtDPcZdVoU&feature=youtu.be

 

[OUHoops]

Re: Frank Booker announcement update

Should be getting the news any minute now.

 

[garyeb2]

Re: Frank Booker announcement update

I think some people might be under estimating Hornbeaks ability to score. He wasn't given much of an opportunity to score this year. We went inside for our 1st option most all season. And then Pledger was the option. When Buddy was in the game, his number was called more often than Hornbeaks.

Hornbeak has a nice looking shot and he is pretty accurate. If he is needed to be more of a scorer next season, I don't see why he couldn't fill that role.

 

[Sam]

Re: Frank Booker announcement update

Reggie Rankin of ESPN is reporting Booker has committed.

 

[CoachTalk]

Re: Frank Booker announcement update

It's the SOONERS

 

[tycat947]

Re: Frank Booker announcement update

It's the SOONERS

:woot:woot:woot

 

[WTSooner]

Re: Frank Booker announcement update

Excellent news. I have a good feeling about this kid.

 

[jerry]

Re: Frank Booker announcement update

Great news!!