Quotes/Tweets/Stuff on Hield's Return

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OU already had the press release ready:

http://www.soonersports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=31000&ATCLID=210046003

NORMAN — Coming off a year in which he led the Big 12 Conference in scoring and was named the league's player of the year, Oklahoma men's basketball guard Buddy Hield announced Friday morning that he will return to OU for his senior season.

Hield made the announcement at a media conference at Lloyd Noble Center and was joined by his head coach, Lon Kruger.

"It was a tough decision, and I obviously took it near the deadline," said Hield prior to the media conference. "But I just went through the process. I listened to Coach Kruger, I listened to my mentors back home, my high school coach, and my mom and my family. I did a lot of research on players and the history of the NBA Draft. I just did what I felt was best for me and my family. I feel like if I come back I'll be in a better situation next year."

Hield, who was a third-team All-American this season by the Associated Press and National Association of Basketball Coaches, said he is excited for the 2015-16 campaign.

"I'm on a great team and we have a lot of unfinished business," said Hield. "I just can't wait to see what's in store for next year. I want to go to the Final Four. That's always been a dream for me. Playing with these guys, for my coaches and for my university is a lot of fun. I've been with Isaiah (Cousins) and Ryan (Spangler) for three years and Jordan (Woodard) for two. We've got some young pieces. This is a fun group and bonding with them has been a big part of my life. Getting my degree is also really, really important to me."

The 6-4, 212-pounder from Freeport, Bahamas, averaged 17.4 points per game this past season, OU's highest average since Blake Griffin in 2008-09, as well as 5.4 rebounds and 1.9 assists. His rebounding average led Big 12 guards and his 2.7 3-pointers per outing paced the conference. His 93 treys were the fourth most in OU single-season history, and he ranked sixth in the Big 12 in free throw percentage (.823) and ninth in 3-point field goal percentage (.359).

Hield scored in double figures in 32 of 35 games on the year, including in 28 of the final 29, in helping the Sooners to a 24-11 record, a second-place Big 12 tie (12-6 league mark) and their first trip to the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16 in six years.

"Very happy for Buddy," said Kruger, who has directed the Sooners to three straight NCAA Tournaments, this past season as a No. 3 seed. "He's meant so much to the program and obviously he wants to finish some business, get that degree and spend another year with his teammates and Sooner fans. He's a smart guy and understands this gives him a chance to continue to make great progress.

"This is something we've been discussing every day and after getting lots of information he made a decision that he thinks gives him the best chance for long-range success."

In the first game of the 2014-15 season, Hield set a school record and tied the Big 12 standard for most 3-point attempts without a miss by going 7 for 7 against Southeastern Louisiana. He went on to make at least three 3-pointers in a game 19 times on the year and led OU in scoring in 20 games on the season.

One of 15 finalists for the Wooden Award (national player of the year) and one of five finalists for the inaugural Jerry West Award (shooting guard of the year), Hield already ranks fifth in OU history with his 202 career 3-pointers and 15th with his 1,366 points. His 183 treys over the last two seasons represent a two-year school record.

If Hield duplicates his stats from his junior season next year, he will finish first in OU history in 3-pointers, sixth in points, seventh in field goals and ninth in steals. He is 634 points from joining the five-member 2,000-point club at OU. This past year he scored 610 points.

With Hield coming back for his senior season, the Sooners will return 75 percent of their scoring, 74 percent of their rebounding and 83 percent of their assists from 2014-15. Hield and fellow returning starters Isaiah Cousins (senior), Ryan Spangler (senior) and Jordan Woodard (junior) have each started OU's last 68 games (every contest each of the last two seasons).

Also returning are senior Dinjiyl Walker, junior C.J. Cole, sophomore Khadeem Lattin, redshirt freshmen Dante Buford and Jamuni McNeace, and walk-ons Daniel Harper (junior), Austin Mankin (junior), Trey Slate (junior) and Bola Alade (redshirt freshman). Newcomers include junior college transfer Akolda Manyang and high school signees Christian James and Rashard Odomes.
 
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@GuerinEmig: Kruger: "It's fantastic for the program, but I'm most happy for Buddy... maturity with which he approached this was admirable." #Sooners
 
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@CareyWWLS: Hield said he made the final decision to come back this morning after talking and praying with his mother.
 
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@JonRothstein: Buddy Hield will return to Oklahoma next season, he announced. Sooners will be a Top 10 team in 15-16.
 
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@GuerinEmig 5m5 minutes ago
Hield said for a long time he thought he would turn pro. Told friends as if he was joking, but said he was being serious. #Sooners
 
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@GuerinEmig: Kruger says Hield told him "I wanna go, I wanna play in the NBA." Then came the feedback, and the realization he needed to return.
 
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@JonRothstein: Two names to remember for Oklahoma next year: Dante Buford and Akolda Manyang (7-0). Two key additions -- staff loves em. Will add depth.
 
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@GuerinEmig: Hield on decision: "It was tough. Most all of the guys I was at camp with last summer (LeBron, Durant camps) left."

@GoodmanESPN: The top of the Big 12 will be interesting again this season and tough to call: KU, Iowa State, Oklahoma all legit Top 10 Preseason teams.
 
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@buddyhield: "I want to thank God, my family, coaches, teammates and Sooner Nation for ur support and patience. I'll be back for my Senior Year #Sooners💯
 
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