Whether the Oklahoma Sooners keep their men's basketball coach or not, they'll still likely experience a mass exodus like college basketball programs around the country, especially with such a veteran lineup.
Even before transfers and an NBA Draft prospect, the Sooners had nine players from their 17-man roster that exhausted their eligibility. That leaves eight players with decisions to make.
The end of college basketball season no longer means just a really good player deciding NBA or not, but every player has options to stay or go.
Here's a look at who the Sooners are losing and who still has a decision to make. Usually, I would put "Leaving" and "Staying," but the latter is pretty unlikely nowadays, so I put "TBD."
Leaving
- Kobe Elvis, G (eligibility)
- Brycen Goodine, G (eligibility)
- Mohamed Wague, F/C (eligibility)
- Sam Godwin, F (eligibility)
- Jadon Jones, G (eligibility)
- Jalon Moore, F (eligibility)
- Duke Miles, G (eligibility)
- Jake Moser, G (eligibility)
- Glenn Taylor Jr., F (eligibility)
- Jeremiah Fears, G (NBA Draft)
- Yaya Keita, F (transfer)
- Luke Northweather, F/C (transfer)
- Jacolb Fredson-Cole, F (transfer)
Almost all of the Sooners' contributors from this season are leaving, including every starter.
For a team that already struggled with being big and physical down low, it's losing its two biggest presences in Sam Godwin and Mohamed Wague. Jalon Moore, OU's second-leading scorer, will also be a huge hole left down low. The Sooners first three losses to the transfer portal were also forwards with size.
There could be an asterisk here next to guard Jeremiah Fears, though. Fears hasn't technically made a public decision yet, but he's a projected lottery pick in the upcoming NBA Draft and Sooner Nation shouldn't get its hopes up. Even if he needs to develop more at just 18 years old, Fears is better off doing that in the G League.
TBD
- Jeff Nwankwo, G
- Dayton Forsythe, G
- Kuol Atak, F
- Reid Lovelace, G
Always expect the unexpected during portal season, but freshman guard Dayton Forsythe, the best player on this list, shouldn't go anywhere, no matter what the coaching situation is. Forsythe is a Dale, Oklahoma, native and grew up wanting to be a Sooner.
Although he gets little playing time, Reid Lovelace should also stay put. And Jeff Nwankwo already stated he's not going anywhere.
That leaves forward Kuol Atak as the last real question mark for returning players.
None of the portal losses so far would be a major blow for next season's squad, at least not until one of them drops a career-high and hits a game-winner in their return to Lloyd Noble Center.