OU has offered Indian Hills Juco center D.J. Bennett

[OUHoops]

After reading up on some juco national tournament coverage today it appears that OU has offered D.J. Bennett from Indian Hills Community College in Iowa.

Bennett is listed on Indian Hills' site as a 6-9, 215-pound center originally from Chicago. Click here for a pic.

Anyway, my searching led me to the article linked below where Bennett is quoted about his OU offer ,and that his top two are the Sooners and Arkansas.

Now, his stat line isn't impressive. According to this, he's averaging just over 7 points, 4.5 points and 1.8 blocks per game. I'm not sure what the story is there, but he appears to have picked up it lately. I'll have to do some more research on this. New info on this a couple posts below.

He's playing in the National Juco Tournament this week in Hutch, where he scored 16 points and nine rebounds in Indian Hills' win over Eastern Mississippi. He also scored 16 in the region title game that helped advance Indian Hills to Hutch, and had 18 and 12 in the semifinals.

Here's the article:

http://hoopsjuco.hoops247.com/index...icks-up-oklahoma-offer&catid=34:national-news

 

[Seymore Cox]

:dance005:

 

[WTSooner]

So many offers out there, or kids visiting. Guess with the bigs it's probably first one to accept gets the scholly?

 

[OUHoops]

So many offers out there, or kids visiting.

Yeah, there's probably several more offers out there that just haven't been uncovered yet.

 

[OUHoops]

On the stats, it seems like he's a guy who has simply turned it on as of late averaging 15 points, 10 boards and 3 blocks during one seven-game stretch late in the year. For the season, he's shooting 72 percent from the field.

Here's a quote I found from him on his game:

“I think my best aspect is finishing around the basket,” Bennett said. “I like to flash to the goal and I like to throw it down with as much authority as I can. I have been working on my jump shot and it is coming around.”

He's also getting interest from Tennessee, Charlotte and Wichita State per a Scout article.

 

[Sawyer]

Anderson's history with jucos suggests he'd be a solid addition. I'd bet this guy is a hell of an athlete and a hard worker, especially on defense. I doubt he'll be a guy you could count on to carry a team or anything like that, but as a big off the bench to give your starters a break, I'm sure he's a guy that'll be an upgrade over OU's recent jucos.

 

[AdaSooner]

So many offers out there, or kids visiting. Guess with the bigs it's probably first one to accept gets the scholly?

There is also another possibility. Kruger knows we'll have more than one scholarship available.

That's pure conjecture on my part. But vbdad has said for weeks that we shouldn't be surprised if certain players on our current roster are not around this fall. Maybe he's right. Just sayin'...

 

[OUHoops]

Swinging for the fences here, but I wouldn't be surprised to see OU's name pop up on Seward County CC big man Daveon Boardingham (sweet name).

Boardingham is a 6-7, 225 pound workman-like power forward (originally from NYC) who has stepped his game up in the playoffs and had 23 in Sewards' opening round win Tuesday.

I also recall a Kansas reporter on twitter mentioning Boardingham when asked on twitter who he thought Kruger might be scouting in Wichita last week. We do know that Kruger was also there watching Devon Branch from Cloud CC. Cloud and Seward played may have played in that tournament, or played on the same night.

Anyway, haven't seen OU linked to Boardingham yet, but he is getting interest from Arkansas so it wouldn't shock me if his name comes up at some point.

Some tweets:

Rivals' Eric Bossi: Good first day at juco nationals. Enjoyed watching Daveon Boardingham of Seward in final game. Grinder who is physical around the rim.

Hawgs Illustrated guy: Really like this Daveon Boardingham - attacks the basket - just dunked and got and one

 

[WTSooner]

There is also another possibility. Kruger knows we'll have more than one scholarship available.

That's pure conjecture on my part. But vbdad has said for weeks that we shouldn't be surprised if certain players on our current roster are not around this fall. Maybe he's right. Just sayin'...

Definitely a possibility, but there are really only two options. Arent and Blair. And I don't think he'd run either off, but especially Arent (b/c he recruited him, and talked him out of redshirting). Not to say either of those hasn't decided to leave for more playing time though. Especially Arent in that case.

When will we know about any possible transfers? After the semester ends?

 

[AdaSooner]

Definitely a possibility, but there are really only two options. Arent and Blair. And I don't think he'd run either off, but especially Arent (b/c he recruited him, and talked him out of redshirting). Not to say either of those hasn't decided to leave for more playing time though. Especially Arent in that case.

When will we know about any possible transfers? After the semester ends?

I believe after the semester is over is a safe bet. Vbdad seems to be quite certain that somebody will be gone "in the next two months," is what I remember him saying.

The more I think about the number of offers we've seen lately, and the push to bring in immediate help out of the JUCO ranks, the more I believe he may know something we don't.

 

[WTSooner]

the more I believe he may know something we don't.

Than he needs to tell us.

If I had to break the news that Hump was transferring, on April Fools Day no less, then he should give up any info he has.

 

[CMSOONER]

I wonder if someone isn't making their grades.

 

[Ham]

There are already two scholarships open as we speak.
The second opening being the scholarship that was supposed to go to Henry.

There is no real need to boot anybody with two open.

So having 5 or 6 offers out there seems about right.
We're certainly not gonna get 'em all.
Hopefully we don't whiff on them all.

 

[campbest]

Always wary of giving a schollie to a kid who plays well at the national JUCO tournament. You get hot for a couple games, so what?

 

[WTSooner]

Always wary of giving a schollie to a kid who plays well at the national JUCO tournament. You get hot for a couple games, so what?

Agreed.

 

[vbdad]

We shall see what happens. I doubt anything is set in stone.

 

[Smash Williams]

Always wary of giving a schollie to a kid who plays well at the national JUCO tournament. You get hot for a couple games, so what?

It's the college basketball equivalent of a contract year.

 

[61sooner]

Possible Neal will not return? Does he have much of a future as far as playing time is concerned?

 

[DenverSooner]

Possible Neal will not return? Does he have much of a future as far as playing time is concerned?

He averaged 13.1 minutes a game as a sophomore and over 12 a game as a freshman. Why would you suggest he is leaving? Blair is more likely to lose minutes than Neal. Tyler Neal is a good basketball player. The kid is very ahtletic and has a nice shot. I think he has a chance to make a nice contribution next season. He needs to be a bit more consistent from 3 point range and hopefully will be a bit more agressive inside the arc. But I am not remotely hoping he leaves. I would much rather see Blair or Arent leave than Neal and I don't want those guys to leave either.

 

[seniorsooner]

He averaged 13.1 minutes a game as a sophomore and over 12 a game as a freshman. Why would you suggest he is leaving? Blair is more likely to lose minutes than Neal. Tyler Neal is a good basketball player. The kid is very ahtletic and has a nice shot. I think he has a chance to make a nice contribution next season. He needs to be a bit more consistent from 3 point range and hopefully will be a bit more agressive inside the arc. But I am not remotely hoping he leaves. I would much rather see Blair or Arent leave than Neal and I don't want those guys to leave either.

To say Neal needs to be a "bit" more consistent from 3 point range is the understatement of the year so far.