Raegan Beers seemed impossible for the Oklahoma Sooners to replace at center, but now there's a gift that will be waiting for the taking in the Transfer Portal.
Iowa State star center Audi Crooks announced via social media on Thursday that she plans to enter the Transfer Portal with one year of eligibility remaining once it officially opens on Tuesday. Crooks immediately became the top transfer target in women's college basketball with her stunning decision to leave her homestate program.
Audi Crooks should immediately become Jennie Baranczyk's top transfer target
Beers was also a massive portal get for the Sooners in 2024 when she left Oregon State with two years of eligibility left. She just finished up her career as a two-time All-SEC First-Team selection and three-time All-American honorable mention. Beers, listed at 6-foot-4, posted 67 double-doubles in her career while averaging 15.8 points and 10.4 rebounds this season as a senior.
With Beers headed to the WNBA and Beatrice Culliton graduated, freshman Daffa Cissoko is the only center the Sooners plan to return for next season, which made a starting center head coach Jennie Baranczyk's biggest portal need this offseason.
Crooks, listed at 6-foot-3, will certainly come at a cost with the likes of Texas, UConn and South Carolina already reportedly after her, but she's worth every penny and OU has a lot of NIL funds now free with Beers gone, so the Sooners should be able to get in the mix with everyone else. And should.
While Beers was an honorable mention All-American by Associated Press this year, Crooks was named to the second team. Crooks was second in the country this season in scoring with 25.8 points a game while shooting an outstanding 64.9% from the floor and averaging 7.7 rebounds. Her offensive numbers overshadow how stellar she also is on the defensive end.
Crooks could slide right into the Sooners' system in Beers' old spot and be another nearly unstoppable 1-2 punch with point guard Aaliyah Chavez. Chavez sharing a court with Crooks would not only draw attention away from her to make more plays, but also give her a weapon to dish to from the point. That combo could level up both of their games and give opposing coaches headaches.
The Sooners have a enough talent returning, including Chavez, to once again be national contenders next season, but adding Crooks would elevate the Sooners from another Sweet 16 appearance to having legit Final Four aspirations.