JP Olukemi vs. Cameron Clark.. Did OSU get the right guy?

[DenverSooner]

JP Olukemi (sophomore) averages 11 points and 4 rebounds per game for a 13-2 OSU squad who just beat a top 20 KSU team at home... In that game, he had 22 and 11. I don't know how much you have followed OSU this year, but JP is a very good player. He kinda reminds me of Nolan Johnson, only perhaps a better shooter and definitely a better athlete. This guy can soar, is big, and very strong.

Cameron Clark (freshman) averages 9 points and 4 rebounds for an 8-7 OU team. He plays all 40 minutes sometimes. He is a prospect though, certainly a big time athlete as well. He isnt nearly as ready to play at this level as JP is though... He is probably a better shooter from outside than JP.

When I watch them play, I come away thinking that JP is a better player right now by a wide margin.

He plays with Paige, Penn and Moses. He also has a better coach that makes a difference.

 

[Seymore Cox]

Then how was he at OSU last year, practicing with the team, without losing a year of eligibility?

So he signed on 9/4/09, same day as Cam Clark, out of juco, and enrolled at OSU upon signing day? Now he might have graduated early in December and transfered, but I don't know the NCAA rules behind that. But at the beginning of last year, he was in junior college.

 

[oSuJeff97]

So he signed on 9/4/09, same day as Cam Clark, out of juco, and enrolled at OSU upon signing day? Now he might have graduated early in December and transfered, but I don't know the NCAA rules behind that. But at the beginning of last year, he was in junior college.

Yeah... I'm not saying you're wrong... just don't really understand it myself.

I know that he was at OSU last year, practicing with the team, so I just assumed it was last year at OSU that was considered his redshirt year.

 

[Dem Coltz]

Yeah... I'm not saying you're wrong... just don't really understand it myself.

I know that he was at OSU last year, practicing with the team, so I just assumed it was last year at OSU that was considered his redshirt year.

Seems like a rule violation for someone not enrolled at OSU to be practicing with the basketball team last year. Maybe he played pickup in the offseason with the team, otherwise that is a violation unless he transferred in the spring semester.

 

[WaymanFan]

JP might be three years older. JP didn't redshirt at OSU last year either. Weak post abd, I know you couldn't wait for a loss to start doing this, but this one is below the belt. Both players are good, but it's weaksauce to wait for a bad game to pump your old agenda. Everybody can acknowledge that both are good players. Capel and Ford would have picked Clark over Olukemi. I've personally seen Olukemi play a few times this year and will take nothing from him, but at the same time, I will tend to side with the real basketball experts who liked Clark's upside over Olukemi.

If an objective poster actually pays attention to anything he says, then this becomes the least knowledgeble hoops fan base of any in America. It doesn't take much intelligence to conclude that a guy who has tremendous upside chose to play basketball at Oklahoma University and deserves the full support of our fan base. The original poster is simply trying to do damage control over what may have been the most laughable thread ever started on a message board questioning whether a player 5 games into their college career is a "bust."

Like I said, we have the lowest collective IQ hoops fan base in America if people are taking him seriously.

 

[oSuJeff97]

Seems like a rule violation for someone not enrolled at OSU to be practicing with the basketball team last year. Maybe he played pickup in the offseason with the team, otherwise that is a violation unless he transferred in the spring semester.

That's the exact reason why I assumed that last year was his redshirt year.

To me it looks as if he signed with OSU in September of 2009 and immediatly enrolled... or he enrolled for the spring semester.

(Can you enroll for the fall semester without being signed? I'm not sure.)

 

[Seymore Cox]

My point is OU is struggling and EVERYBODY knows why. The blame can be spread across the board and no one is exempt. But to use the OU struggles to try and pump up old agendas is again weaksauce. Olukemi is not even your typical juco player. OSU recruited him out of Stoneridge Prep with Gillenwater, couldn't get his transcript in then He was close to qualifying, went to Vincennces more for school purposes than playing purposes and got three years eligibility.

He's not this super juco recruit that OU could have signed and passed up on Clark. Olukemi set the guidelines that he wouldn't go to the same school that Clark went to. If you want to compare Olukemi to Clark, wait until Clark is 22 as well and then make your weak comparsison.

And I have seen Olukemi play personally a handful of times and absolutely love the kid. If OU could have gotten both they would have.

 

[Adreid4]

From what I understand, he transferred after first semester last year so was not eligbile to play but could practice with the team.

 

[CarlWeathers]

Let me clear this up.

JP redshirted last year. He was able to graduate from junior college in december. From there he enrolled at OSU while continuing his redshirt year, thus he practiced with the team starting last January. Some player was cut from the team in december to make room for jp. He is a sophomore this year at the age of 22, due to a year of prep school.

"Midwest Scouting Service ranked Olukemi as the nation’s top junior college prospect even though he is sitting out this season. Olukemi is graduating in December and will have three seasons of eligibility at OSU."

Last paragraph.

http://www.tulsaworld.com/sportsextra/OSU/article.aspx?subjectid=93&articleid=20091112_93_0_STILLW732776&rss_lnk=2

 

[Sawyer]

That's the exact reason why I assumed that last year was his redshirt year.

To me it looks as if he signed with OSU in September of 2009 and immediatly enrolled... or he enrolled for the spring semester.

(Can you enroll for the fall semester without being signed? I'm not sure.)

He enrolled at OSU last year for the 2nd semester after graduating from his junior college. He sat out the year as a redshirt. Arguing over whether he redshirted at his juco or at OSU is silly, as he spent half the season with both teams.

You can enroll whenever you want without being signed. "Signing" is really just a formality that most recruits go through, but it has nothing to do with eligibility (unless you sign with one team and try to enroll somewhere else). The LOI binds a player to a specific school. That's all. Players can choose not to sign one and instead sign scholarship agreements with the institution which are not binding at all for the player.

 

[jmizzy4ou]

My point is OU is struggling and EVERYBODY knows why. The blame can be spread across the board and no one is exempt. But to use the OU struggles to try and pump up old agendas is again weaksauce. Olukemi is not even your typical juco player. OSU recruited him out of Stoneridge Prep with Gillenwater, couldn't get his transcript in then He was close to qualifying, went to Vincennces tmore for school purposes than playing purposes and got three years eligibility.

He's not this super juco recruit that OU could have signed and passed up on Clark. Olukemi set the guidelines that he wouldn't go to the same school that Clark went to. If you want to compare Olukemi to Clark, wait until Clark is 22 as well and then make your weak comparsison.

And I have seen Olukemi play personally a handful of times and absolutely love the kid. If OU could have gotten both they would have.

:clap:clap:clap

 

[ByronHoustonsSweatyPalms]

and sometimes players just develope to a different level after they leave highschool. You can't blame a coach because a guy's game improves somewhere down the line.

You can probably name a dozen or so Sooner stars that werent highly recruited out of high school. Anybody could have had the Graham brothers out of high school. Every college coach wanted them as college seniors. Same for Bryant Reaves. Hind sights 20-20.

 

[Sawyer]

and sometimes players just develope to a different level after they leave highschool. You can't blame a coach because a guy's game improves somewhere down the line.

You can probably name a dozen or so Sooner stars that werent highly recruited out of high school. Anybody could have had the Graham brothers out of high school. Every college coach wanted them as college seniors. Same for Bryant Reaves. Hind sights 20-20.

Exactly. It's like criticizing MU, ksu or ku for not offering Alec Burks. He was just not the same player (or person) then that he is now. No coach can see the future.

 

[stoops4pres]

Would like to reiterate the prevailing thought on this board... Given the age difference and experience between the two, this truly is a weak comparison.

 

[cowboysooner]

I have seen OSU play live twice this year and it's my opinion that JP is their best player and it isn't close. I think he will play in the NBA.

I like Clark, but if we had a chance to sign JP we should have. If it was either -or, then I don't know. Hard to know what Clark is going to become unless you can see into the future. However, if it wasn't either -or, then he is way better than any other player we signed.

He is basically Joey Graham "light". However, he can play inside or out, can shoot the three, has good handles and can create his own shot inside or out, which is unusual. He would be our best player by a mile.

 

[bgrch1350]

I have seen OSU play live twice this year and it's my opinion that JP is their best player and it isn't close. I think he will play in the NBA.

I like Clark, but if we had a chance to sign JP we should have. If it was either -or, then I don't know. Hard to know what Clark is going to become unless you can see into the future. However, if it wasn't either -or, then he is way better than any other player we signed.

He is basically Joey Graham "light". However, he can play inside or out, can shoot the three, has good handles and can create his own shot inside or out, which is unusual. He would be our best player by a mile.

There is no way that Olukemi is their best player. Moses is by far their best player. He draws double teams and still manages to get his numbers. He dominates inside and can stroke it from deep(even though Ford won't allow him too).

As for Olukemi and Clark....This is another thread where we assume that Olukemi would have chosen us over OSU. He picked OSU. I don't understand how some of you assume that it was an either or for Capel b/c its not like they both couldn't have played on this team together. Olukemi is their 2nd best player and comes off the bench for OSU. If he was here...both Clark and Olukemi would be starting together.

As for who is better....only time will tell. I personally don't mind the guy we have b/c its not like its everyday you get a recruit who takes alley oops from half court game after game. I also don't mine saying that at the same age...Clark is way better than Olukemi was.

 

[jmizzy4ou]

There is no way that Olukemi is their best player. Moses is by far their best player. He draws double teams and still manages to get his numbers. He dominates inside and can stroke it from deep(even though Ford won't allow him too).

As for Olukemi and Clark....This is another thread where we assume that Olukemi would have chosen us over OSU. He picked OSU. I don't understand how some of you assume that it was an either or for Capel b/c its not like they both couldn't have played on this team together. Olukemi is their 2nd best player and comes off the bench for OSU. If he was here...both Clark and Olukemi would be starting together.

As for who is better....only time will tell. I personally don't mind the guy we have b/c its not like its everyday you get a recruit who takes alley oops from half court game after game. I also don't mine saying that at the same age...Clark is way better than Olukemi was.

Excellence in posting........

 

[BoulderSooner]

to say a guy that averages 2ppg more is "far and away better" is a little crazy

 

[thebigabd]

to say a guy that averages 2ppg more is "far and away better" is a little crazy

Averaging 2 more points per game and getting off to a 22/11 start against a conference opponent for a 13-2 team is A LOT better than averaging 9 ppg for one of the worst BCS conference teams in the nation.

 

[Krugerfan52]

Thanks for this fricking thread. I wish we had Olukemi and Travis Ford. I wish we had Pistol Pete for our mascot.

GO POKES!!!!