High School Star Kevin Bookout Signs With OU

April 17, 2002

NORMAN, Okla. - Kevin Bookout, one of the nation's most highly touted high school basketball players, has signed a national letter of intent with Oklahoma, OU head coach Kelvin Sampson announced today. Bookout led his Stroud (Okla.) High School team to its first state championship in 40 years this season.

The 6-8, 250-pound power forward averaged 30.6 points, 16.2 rebounds, 4.0 blocked shots, 2.1 steals per game in leading Stroud to a 28-3 record. Bookout also made 380-of-451 field goal attempts for a remarkable .843 season field goal percentage and converted 12-of-17 three-point attempts for a .706 figure. His scoring average led Class 3A and his rebounding average led all Oklahoma classes. Bookout finished his career with 2,802 points, the ninth most in Oklahoma boys high school history.

A consensus top-50 national basketball prospect, Bookout earned second-team Parade All-America honors and was named the state's "Mr. Basketball" by The Oklahoman. The Tulsa World named him co-player of the year along with Victory Christian's Kelenna Azubuike. Also one of the nation's top track and field performers in the shot put and discus, Bookout has won state titles in each event the last three years. He will try for his fourth shot and discus state titles later this spring.

"I've always said that the key to recruiting is filling your needs," said Sampson. "We need a player like Kevin Bookout. Losing seniors Aaron McGhee and Daryan Selvy hurts. And while it's great to have Johnnie Gilbert and Matt Gipson waiting in the wings, we don't have anyone who can do what Kevin can. He has great hands and is a much better athlete on the court than people give him credit for being. He's an inside scorer, he's a rebounder and he's an extremely tough individual. Kevin embodies everything we look for in a Sooner basketball player and he will have every opportunity to make significant contributions as a freshman."

Sampson added, "Kevin's best quality is that he's a great person."

"He meant everything to our program," said Stroud High School coach Danny Morris. "He was a four-year starter who led his team in almost every category all four years. He's received all the individual honors a high school kid could ever ask for, but I've never seen him happier than when we won the state title. He cares for his town and it was a storybook ending.

"Kevin is a world-class athlete who also knows when things will happen before they do. He's such a smart player and never feels pressure. He responds to any situation and is a tough kid. He's got soft hands for a big man, the ability to move and springs that allow him to sky. He can score on anybody in the paint."

Morris added, "Kevin's a spiritual kid, he's humble and his priorities are in line because he comes from a great family. He doesn't think he's better than anyone else. His town and school are proud of him. He's a great player but an even better person."

Bookout's academic credentials are as impressive as his athletic statistics. He sports a perfect 4.0 grade-point average and is one of the valedictorians of his high school class.

"We are thrilled to welcome Kevin Bookout to the Sooner family, continuing the Bookout connection at OU," said Ed Wade, OU assistant track and field coach in charge of throws. "He is such a talented young man who has unlimited potential in track and field. He has already competed at the national level for several years in several sports."

Bookout will become the third member of his family to compete for the Crimson and Cream. Brother Casey was a standout baseball player for the Sooners from 1996-99 and is OU's career home run leader (60). Brother Kyle is a junior on the OU track and field team who competes in the shot put and discus.

Bookout is the second member of Oklahoma's current recruiting class. Midwest City High School star DeAngelo Alexander signed with the Sooners last November.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

High School Star Kevin Bookout Signs With OU

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