As important as Transfer Portal additions are to a college basketball roster, keeping players out of the portal to return is just as crucial.
On3's Joe Tipton reported on Monday that OU starting point guard Xzayvier Brown agreed to a deal with the Sooners to return to Norman for his final season in 2026-27.
Despite Brown already being in Norman, that could be the Sooners' biggest recruiting win of the offseason as other programs were surely already after Brown, even though he wasn't in the portal. According to OUInsider's Brody Lusk, that's the highest-scoring guard OU has ever returned under head coach Porter Moser.
Xzayvier Brown reportedly agrees to deal to return in underrated recruiting win for Sooners
Brown, listed at 6-foot-2, was second on the team this past season with 15.4 points a game behind only graduating guard Nijel Pack. He was also behind only Pack with 62 made three-pointers while shooting 34.3% from beyond the arc. Brown also averaged 3.3 assists and 3.2 rebounds while starting all 37 games and averaging 32.4 minutes in his first season at OU as a junior.
The Sooners got Brown to Norman from Saint Joseph's last year as part of a package deal with his stepdad, Justin Scott, who is an assistant coach on Porter Moser's staff. That connection made Brown's return likely, barring another coaching opportunity for Scott, but the reassurance is still always nice for fans in a world of college sports when anything seems likely.
Scott later celebrated the news on social media after OU confirmed Brown's return.
Great Day to be a Sooner!!! @XzayvierBrown pic.twitter.com/ikHGLVpt13
— Justin Scott (@coachscott_OU) April 13, 2026
Brown spent his first two years at Saint Joseph's, where he totalled 34 starts in 57 games. He was Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year in 2023-24 as a freshman and was named to the All-Atlantic 10 First Team in 2024-25.
That makes Brown one of the most experienced point guards in college basketball entering next season. He also already has familiarity with Moser's system and has endured an SEC gauntlet before. That makes Brown a better piece on the Sooners' 2026-27 roster than anyone they could have lured from the Transfer Portal to replace him.
Brown and forward Derrion Reid are the only starters from last season expected to return. The Sooners on Monday also added Louisville transfer Khani Rooths from the portal. Rooths should crack the starting lineup, leaving the Sooners still with two starting roles to fill.