Oklahoma basketball: Former Sooners making headlines in ACC

It’s fairly common among the Sooner faithful to follow and wish the best for former Oklahoma basketball players as they extend their careers away from Lloyd Noble Center in Norman.

We all want Oklahoma players to do well in their careers, whether that comes at the college or, for the select few, at the pro level. When that well-to-do occurs in another college uniform, however, it flips the emotional switch from cheer to something bordering on condemnation.

In the category of what could have been, three former Sooners are enjoying career years at three different schools in the Atlantic Coast Conference this season.

All three players — Brady Manek, Alondes Williams and Kameron McGusty — are completing their fifth and final season of NCAA eligibility, the result of the extra year granted because of the pandemic-shortened 2019-20 season. And all three could be playing at Oklahoma this season.

McGusty averaged 12.3 points per game in two seasons at OU (2016-18) before transferring to Miami (Florida), where he has played the last three season.

Both Manek and Williams elected to leave Oklahoma following the retirement of head coach Lon Kruger after last season. Manek landed at North Carolina and Williams is starring this season for Wake Forest.

All three players are All-ACC honorees this season, with Williams taking center stage as ACC Player of the Year and First-Team All-ACC. The 6-foot, 5-inch guard from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, averaged 6.3 points as an Oklahoma Sooner. This season, however, Williams has exploded for a 19.2 scoring average in 32 games for the Demon Deacons. That leads the ACC in scoring.

McGusty is enjoying the best season in his college career. His 17.2 scoring average is fourth best in the ACC. His best season at OU was his freshman year when he averaged 10.9 points in 31 games for the Sooners, mostly as a starter. McGusty joined Williams on the All-ACC First Team.

Manek, an All-ACC honorable mention this season, averaged 12 points per game in four seasons at Oklahoma but has upped his game to 14.4 points this season at North Carolina. And he’s playing the best basketball of his college career as the Tar Heels get ready to head into the postseason.

The 6-foot, 9-inch Manek, who grew up just outside of Oklahoma City, has averaged 19.2 points in his last five games.

There’s no question that any or all three of these former Sooners could have made Oklahoma a legitimate Big 12 title contender this season and perhaps a top-four seed in the NCAA Tournament.

That’s the luck of the draw in college basketball nowadays with the transfer portal out there and available for players looking for greener pastures.