College basketball season doesn't officially start until November, but teams around the country have already started preparing for the 2026-27 campaign. A number of programs are already practicing, and some have already started playing scrimmages against international and other opponents.
Oklahoma recently got in on the action, as Porter Moser's squad competed in Puerto Rico, finishing with a 2-0 record.
The Sooners met two separate Puerto Rican all-star teams assembled by former NBA player Carlos Arroyo. Rising senior Xzayvier Brown was the star of OU's first contest in Puerto Rico on Monday, while freshman Gage Mayfield stole the show in the second game on Wednesday.
Both games were played at Roberto Clemente Coliseum.
Mayfield logged 25 points in the Sooners' second win of their trip to San Juan, knocking down three triples and showcasing his athleticism with multiple highlight-reel dunks.
Get used to seeing him 👀
— Oklahoma Basketball (@OU_MBBall) August 5, 2026
2️⃣5️⃣ points and 3️⃣ triples for @Gagemayfield4 pic.twitter.com/TJPZ1OqP4W
Sooners need unexpected contributors like Gage Mayfield to succeed in the SEC
Listed at 6-foot-7 and 200 pounds, Mayfield joins the Sooners after being ranked the No. 88 overall player and No. 13 power forward in the 2026 recruiting class by 247Sports. Even though Oklahoma hasn't found much team success under Moser's tutelage, the OU head coach has helped produce a standout freshman in Jeremiah Fears, who was the No. 6 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
While Mayfield may not be a top-10 pick in the NBA Draft after one year at Oklahoma, Moser has shown the ability to get solid production from his freshmen, which could provide a significant boost for the Sooners in 2026-27.
In what will likely be a tough conference slate, OU will need a handful of players on the roster to be solid contributors to compete in the SEC.
Incoming veterans like Pop Isaacs, Tyler Hendricks, Yaak Yaak, Akoldah Gak and Khani Rooths, as well as returnees like Brown, Derrion Reid and Dayton Forsythe, should be solid rotation pieces for the Sooners, but getting notable production from a freshman like Mayfield would raise the group's ceiling.
While Mayfield's early performances are encouraging, the SEC will likely be a different level of competition. The league features a handful of squads that are expected to be among the best in the NCAA this season, including Arkansas, Florida and Texas. Each of those teams includes multiple players who could be first-round draft picks in the 2027 class.
A solid performance from Mayfield during Oklahoma's non-conference slate, though, could be an indicator that the talented freshman is ready to make an early impact for the Sooners.
Add us as a preferred source on Google