OU committ Matt freeman

[usedtobe1]

what? could he play this year?

I guess he could if he comes in January. Who is he going to beat out? We have Spangler, Lattin, Manyang, and sometimes Buford and McNeace in the post. I'm guessing Freeman needs time to adjust to the speed and physicality of D1 basketball. It's several notches up from what he has been seeing in New Zealand.

I do like his film better than what I saw from Joey Brunk.... just my personal opinion. He looked more athletic and certainly has more range.

 

[KBaden145]

what? could he play this year?

The article suggested he would come in January and use a redshirt for the 2nd semester. Would be the ideal situation. We have the scholly available and he would get ALOT of extra practice time with the team.


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[SoonerinNC]

Glad to see that he is considered tough on defense. Wondered about that when looking at the highlights.

That stepback trey is going to be a killer. At 6-9, how do you stop that. And hitting almost 50% of treys in high level competition is pretty strong as well.

 

[atlantasooner]

I won't cut and paste the whole comment but Rivals top bball guy Eric Bossi basically says Freeman after his summer competition in the US if he was a US HS player would be ranked in the top 50. Bossi loves this pickup for OU, compares him to NBA player Ryan Anderson.

 

[McJacknife]

Wonder if Steven Adams had anything to do with it. Doubt most kids from New Zealand could tell you Oklahoma from Uzbekistan before Adams got on with the Thunder.

Actually, largely as a result of Steven Adams, Oklahoma is one place a surprising number of people in NZ know a bit about! I've spent a lot of time there over the last few years.

Firstly, his sister is a national celebrity. 2-time Olympic gold medalists from a country of 4.4 million people are celebrated. For reference, Oklahoma has a population of 3.9 million. Think Shannon Miller.**

Now, this celebrity's younger brother becomes the first 1st round draft pick in the country's history... and succeeds in a short time, on one of the most recognisable teams in the NBA. During the season, Thunder highlights are national news every night! There are OKC jerseys all over the place. Powerade billboards with Steven featured every few blocks.

He's greeted with cameras at the airport every time he comes home, and he spends his time trying to assure young Kiwis that they can work hard and make it big. Steven the face of the sport of basketball in the country, and Matt Freeman is going to be portrayed as his protege.

There are currently 4 million OKC Thunder fans down there on the ass end of the earth. There are about to be several million Sooner fans down there too. I expect they'll start showing up here before too long. KIA ORA KIWIS!


**Another analogy:
-New Zealand is an overachieving Rugby capital - they are kings of international Rugby, despite their small population. Think the Oklahoma Sooners, despite the small population, we are kings of the national college football ---- Dammit

 

[jackson_supersooner]

A comment made by a basketball recruiting analyst on rivals

Matthew Freeman can really play. I wrote about him back in June when he came to the States with New Zealand's three x three team and was planning to do a new update on him this week after seeing him again at Adidas Nations.

He is a legit 6'9" has a very solid frame and is a good athlete. He should be able to add 20 pounds in the weight room without it costing him any flexibility or athleticism.

He plays hard, is a very good passer and is a lights out shooter for a guy with his size. He's cut out of the mold of NBA player Ryan Anderson.

The reason that he is a non ranked 4-star is because he does not regularly play competition in the States and we don't put International kids into the Rivals150 unless they are regularly playing the competition that we know and have scouted.

Put it this way, if the kid were playing in the U.S. right now or had been regularly competing against kids on the summer circuit here in the States, he would be at least a top 50 type prospect.

Very nice get for the Sooners.

 

[hoopsaustin]

The article suggested he would come in January and use a redshirt for the 2nd semester. Would be the ideal situation. We have the scholly available and he would get ALOT of extra practice time with the team.


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i love that plan. PLUS freeman would get a natty ring

 

[Darwin]

very nice having a pick and pop that spaces the floor and also a real chance to start a pipeline to New Zealand :chestram2:

 

[OUHoops]

https://basketballrecruiting.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1789810

Because he doesn't regularly play against competition in the States, he won't factor into the 2016 Rivals150. However, it would be fair to look at him as a top 50 type of recruit for the Sooners so he should be able to help out early in his career.

 

[dahldennsull]

This is just awesome news all around. Top 50 talent. Specialty talent as there aren't many true stretch 4's in college. AND he could come early, RS and gain strength and practice time?! Win, win, win. Great job Coach K

 

[hoopsaustin]

Kruger is killing it on the recruiting front

 

[Northbase]

I hope Lon does not think about retiring for another 10 years. or 15

 

[campbest]

Yes please.

 

[dubyac]

He's actively recruiting Pritchard too..

 

[Zimwillett]

very nice having a pick and pop that spaces the floor and also a real chance to start a pipeline to New Zealand :chestram2:

Great point. He looks like an ideal compliment to some of the young athletic bigs. And I'm excited to see OU with a little international flavor. Especially with some of the rule changes, a stretch 4 who is used to playing a more international style of game could be very valuable.

 

[SoonerBounce13]

He's actively recruiting Pritchard too..

If he can pull pritchard back in, zomg what a class

 

[BigTime]

Sounds like a really high upside get.

Nice work :lon!

 

[SoonerBounce13]

I wonder were our class would rank nationally with Freeman, mcgusty, doolittle, and pritchard.

 

[KBaden145]

I wonder were our class would rank nationally with Freeman, mcgusty, doolittle, and pritchard.

I would have think top 10?


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[AdaSooner]

very nice having a pick and pop that spaces the floor and also a real chance to start a pipeline to New Zealand :chestram2:

I like the fact that our coaching staff is going beyond the U.S. borders in their search for talent. Freeman is not the only New Zealander our coaches were recruiting. OU was also in on Tai Wynyard, a 6' 9" post who committed to Kentucky.

IMO, Freeman is a great get who will prove to be a steal down the road a ways.