Gray, Bookout Shine in OU Scrimmage

NORMAN, Okla. - With the OU men's basketball team's exhibition opener less than a week away, senior big men Taj Gray and Kevin Bookout dominated an intrasquad scrimmage Sunday evening in the Lloyd Noble Center practice gym. The pair helped the red team to a 41-21 victory in the 20-minute affair.

Gray, the Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year, scored 14 points and grabbed five rebounds, and added two blocked shots and two steals. Bookout registered 12 points and six rebounds while making all four of his free throw attempts.

It was the first live scrimmage for Bookout since Sept. 15 surgery repositioned a displaced ulnar nerve in his right elbow. The 6-8, 270-pounder was cleared to participate in all practice activity on Friday. He had been limited to non-contact drills prior to the weekend.

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"The elbow feels great," said Bookout, a third-team All-Big 12 selection last season after averaging 11.5 points and 6.6 rebounds, and shooting .592 from the field. "I can't remember the last time it felt this good.

"Last year there were periods where it was hard to get my arm up in the air. But now it's easy. My jump hook and other shots are really falling."

Bookout, who wears a sleeve on his right elbow, is the team's foundation, according to head coach Kelvin Sampson.

"Kevin's been around this program longer than any player we've got," said OU's 12th-year mentor. "And watching him in practice the last few days, this is as good as he's played since he was a freshman and the early part of his sophomore year. It's the healthiest he's been, too.

"His hands, his body and his brains - those three things are about as good as it gets. He makes everyone better just with his presence. It's been great having him back."

Joining Gray and Bookout on the red team were guards Terrell Everett, David Godbold and Chris Walker. All three contributed five points. Everett added two assists and three steals, Godbold contributed four rebounds, three assists and two steals, and Walker had three steals and no turnovers.

Representing the white team were sophomores Longar Longar, Michael Ott and Kellen Sampson, and freshmen Taylor Griffin and Austin Johnson.

Griffin and Longar each scored six points. Longar added four boards and two blocks while Griffin pulled down three rebounds. Sampson had four points and four assists, Johnson recorded three points, one rebound and one steal, and Ott finished with two points.

Juniors Nate Carter and Michael Neal, who are expected to see major court time this season, were held out of the scrimmage due to injuries.

The elder Sampson was pleased after the workout.

"I told the guys after tonight after practice, 'Last time I checked, they hand the NCAA Tournament bids out in March. We've got a long way to go to get to March, but on Oct. 30 we're going in the right direction.'"

The Sooners, ranked No. 6 in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Poll, play their first exhibition game of the season on Saturday, Nov. 5, against Northeastern State at 7 p.m. at Lloyd Noble Center. They play another home exhibition game against UNC Pembroke on Saturday, Nov. 12, before beginning the regular season at home against Samford on Saturday, Nov. 19.

A limited number of season tickets are still available here at SoonerSports.com and at the OU Athletics Ticket Office (405-325-2424 or 800-456-4668).

Additionally, the Ticket Office is selling Family Packs to each of the team's seven home non-conference games. For $10, fans get a game ticket, hot dog, soda and a T-shirt. A minimum of four tickets is required for each Family Pack purchase. Call the Ticket Office for details.

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