Men's Basketball Signs Pair To Letters Of Intent

Nov. 8, 2000

NORMAN, Okla. - University of Oklahoma men's basketball head coach Kelvin Sampson announced today that standout players Jabahri Brown and Matt Gipson have signed national letters of intent to attend the University of Oklahoma next year.

"Jabahri and Matt are two young men who give us a great follow-up to last year's outstanding recruiting class," said Sampson. "We really wanted to get better inside and be more athletic. We accomplished both goals by signing these two talented players."

A native of St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, Brown transferred to Rose State College in Midwest City, Okla., following his freshman year at Florida International University last season. The 6-11 center will transfer to OU at the end of the current semester and will be eligible to play for the Sooners following the conclusion of the fall 2001 semester when he will have sophomore status.

Brown averaged 8.6 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.3 blocked shots and 1.6 steals in 24.3 minutes per game last season as a true freshman at Florida International. In his first college game, Brown scored 23 points on 11-of-14 field goal shooting and registered 17 rebounds, three blocks and five steals in a victory over Radford. He recorded double-doubles in two of his next three games, including a 15-point, 17-rebound effort versus Fresno State.

Brown attended Hialeah (Fla.) Champagnat Catholic High School and played two seasons of basketball. He was an All-State selection in 1999 after averaging 15.2 points, 12.6 rebounds and 7.4 blocked shots per game. Brown was also the 1998 state tournament's MVP after leading Champagnat to the state finals.

"Jabahri is a high-level athlete," commented Sampson. "He's a 6-11 shot-blocker and that's something we don't have. He can really run and is a smart kid - he's extremely intelligent with a high basketball IQ. He can score, he can rebound and he's played a year at a Division I school. Jabahri needs to get bigger and stronger, but he's proven he can play at this level and we're excited because he'll bring us something we haven't had."

Gipson is a 6-9 wing player from Burkburnett High School in Burkburnett, Texas, who averaged 21.5 points, 8.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game as a junior last year. He helped his squad to a 24-11 record while earning unanimous all-district and all-region honors. Fastbreak Recruiting rates him as the fifth-best senior in the Midwest.

"Matt gives us great flexibility," said Sampson. "One of the things I love about him is that he's not a guy you can slip into a category. He's not a post man and he's not a guard. Matt can bounce it, he can shoot it and he can pass it. He can defend smaller players, but he can also go inside and rebound. He competes hard and has a lot of Eduardo Najera's characteristics when it comes to effort. I'm sure we'll play him in a lot of places."

Said Burkburnett head coach Danny Nix, "I think Matt is really suited for Division I basketball. For a 6-9 kid, he handles the ball well and is an excellent shooter and passer. A lot of guys his size play the post in high school but he's played outside most of his life. He's also a very good athlete who runs and jumps well. Once he matures a little bit and gets a little stronger, I think he'll be a super Big 12 player.

"He's a super young man off the court and is a very good student," continued Nix. "He's a guy that a lot of people look up to and we're glad he's ours."

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Men's Basketball Signs Pair To Letters Of Intent

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