Porter Moser restructuring recruiting strategy for Oklahoma basketball

The times are a changin’, and so is Oklahoma men’s basketball coach Porter Moser.

As the last of 32 basketball coaches to take the podium at SEC Media Days on Wednesday, Moser jokingly gave an opening statement, but within the short stand-up act was truth that Moser later detailed on how he "leaned into the portal."

“I know you want me to say an opening statement, but I know you've probably heard a million of the same things," Moser said. "‘I’m super excited with my team. I leaned into the portal with grace and confidence and optimism. And we've had a great start of the season. I'm looking forward to get going.’ So with that, I'll open up to questions.”

Porter Moser 'leaning into' Transfer Portal

With the help of new assistant general manager Trae Young, Moser assembled over the offseason what, at least on paper, is the best Transfer Portal class he's had since taking over the Sooners in 2021 after 11 seasons at Loyola Chicago.

Oklahoma had the No. 4 transfer class in the SEC, according to 247Sports, and the 11th-best in the country in 2025.

The Sooners' portal additions included Notre Dame forward Tae Davis, Miami guard Nijel Pack, Saint Joseph's guard Xzayvier Brown and Alabama forward Derrion Reid. Three of the four were ranked as top-50 transfer prospects, according to 247Sports. All were also four-star recruits as transfers.

The four new portal additions joined five players from last season's NCAA Tournament team and four incoming freshmen.

“I think it's an interesting dynamic, because people are in the portal because they want something different, right," Moser said. "They want maybe a lot of different things. But you also have guys that tasted winning that, they want that again, too. And you know, this year there's been so much talk about the last four years in the portal, and I'm just all about leaning into it. 

“You know, everyone came to me, they said, ‘Porter, you were a program at Loyola where you developed guys. This has got to be driving you crazy.’ And I went through probably went through that time period. But now I'm completely leaning into it. You get a freshness about getting new guys. You get an enthusiasm of guys coming on your campus for the first time, getting ready of a new situation. So I've leaned into these four guys."