Meet the Kiwi player about to give Steven Adams company in Oklahoma

[OUHoops]

Good read on Matt Freeman:

https://sports.vice.com/en_au/artic...company-in-oklahoma?utm_source=vicetwitteranz

 

[McJacknife]

Great article. Really rooting for Matty - the kiwis have such a great disposition.


On another note:

"You mentioned there have been a few kids have been dropped from the team for classic teenager mistakes like bar fights or failing a class"

In case there were any lingering questions about our recent dismissals...

AK = Fight
Grandstaff = Class

 

[SoonerTraveler]

That is a good read, and the linked YouTube interview (from May 2015) within the article is also quite interesting. The YouTube interview was made before he knew which college he was going to attend.

 

[AdaSooner]

Great article. Really rooting for Matty - the kiwis have such a great disposition.


On another note:

"You mentioned there have been a few kids have been dropped from the team for classic teenager mistakes like bar fights or failing a class"

In case there were any lingering questions about our recent dismissals...

AK = Fight
Grandstaff = Class

Looks like part of the story about Grandstaff is out now.

As for Matt Freeman, I think he'll be an integral part of our rotation this fall. A 6' 10" kid with his skill set who shoots close to 50% from distance will play and play often. To me, the only question is can he defend at this level?

 

[sperry]

I've got really, really high hopes for Freeman. I think he's probably the best recruit that Kruger has signed to this point.

 

[SoonerTraveler]

I've got really, really high hopes for Freeman. I think he's probably the best recruit that Kruger has signed to this point.

Goodness! That is setting the bar very high for the young man. I do think this 5-man recruiting class is Coach Kruger's best so far at OU. Lots of athleticism and basketball skills in the freshmen, and Strong may be better than some of us know.

 

[NickZepp]

I've got really, really high hopes for Freeman. I think he's probably the best recruit that Kruger has signed to this point.

Buddy Heild is a possible top 5 pick and easily top 10. It'll be hard to top that.

 

[MisterF]

Buddy finished up top five OU (+ or -). But nobody thought Buddy was that high coming into OU.

No idea about Matt. But it would be nice.

 

[AdaSooner]

Buddy Heild is a possible top 5 pick and easily top 10. It'll be hard to top that.

That true, but Sperry said "recruited." Buddy wasn't ranked anywhere close to the level he's at now when he signed with OU. He got there through determination and a work ethic we don't see too often in the college ranks. If you believe what Eric Bossi had to say about Freeman, he would have been ranked in the top 40 if he had played his high school ball in the U.S.

I'm not sure if I agree with Sperry. McGusty, or James if he had been healthy his senior year in high school, may deserve that honor. All I know for sure is that I am extremely high on Freeman, mainly due to his unique size and skill set. He also has the reputation of being a hard worker. The sum total of those three things should mean that he has a chance to be really good someday.

 

[usedtobe1]

Goodness! That is setting the bar very high for the young man. I do think this 5-man recruiting class is Coach Kruger's best so far at OU. Lots of athleticism and basketball skills in the freshmen, and Strong may be better than some of us know.

I agree with you. Strong was a 3rd team AA as a freshman, but had some injuries as a soph. I'm anxious to see McGusty, Freeman, Doolittle, and even Sheperd practice with the team this summer, too.

I also want to see how James and Odomes have matured and developed.

 

[sperry]

Recruit, not player. He's a 6'9" athletic shooter. That type of player is a top 10 recruit if he's from the states.

 

[BCSooners]

Recruit, not player. He's a 6'9" athletic shooter. That type of player is a top 10 recruit if he's from the states.

He wouldn't have been top 10, top 50 probably. I agree him or McGusty is Kruger's best recruit. And honestly Doolittle might be next. His 3 highest recruits all in 1 year.

Now I don't expect any of them to be as good as buddy, but if they work I know Kruger and staff will start producing pros on a regular basis.

 

[furge]

He wouldn't have been top 10, top 50 probably. I agree him or McGusty is Kruger's best recruit. And honestly Doolittle might be next. His 3 highest recruits all in 1 year.

Now I don't expect any of them to be as good as buddy, but if they work I know Kruger and staff will start producing pros on a regular basis.

Buddy's definitely a natural talent like few guys we'll ever see at this level. Yet talent follows talent and the more top-of-class guys you have in the practice gym, the better a shot everyone has at playing top-of-class ball.

It's not a lock. Tiny Gallon and Tommy Mason-Griffin, etc. But with the current squad and our coaching, I'm not real worried.

 

[kbsooner]

Loved that interview, hope the tussles don't get out of hand.

 

[Larry72]

The concerns that I have regarding Freeman's game are:
He has not played against quick athletic defenders and his offensive game may take awile.

He has also not been required to play good man to man defense. His defensive game may be slow in developing. If he had Spangler's ability to move his feet, then he could start during his first year.