Men's Basketball Signs Junior College Big Man Arent

April 28, 2011

NORMAN, Okla. -- Lon Kruger announced the Oklahoma men's basketball team's third player addition since his hiring as head coach with the signing of junior college big man Casey Arent (pronounced ARNT) to a national letter of intent Thursday.

Arent, a 6-10, 240-pounder from Penryn, Calif., averaged 19.1 points and 11.4 rebounds per game as a sophomore this past season at Sierra College in Rocklin, Calif. He shot .516 from the field, .375 from 3-point range (12-for-32) and .621 from the free throw line (82-for-132) while also averaging 2.3 blocks per contest. He recorded 17 double-doubles.

"Casey will be a very nice addition for us," said Kruger. "He brings good size and athletic ability, as well as a team-first attitude. He adds length for us on the inside and plays with a great deal of intensity on both ends of the floor.

"He's worked extremely hard the last two years at Sierra College to position himself to play in the Big 12. One of the things we really like about him is that he wants to do whatever he can to help his teammates get better and to help his team win."

Sierra head coach John Fusano raved about Arent's character.

"The number one thing with Casey is that he's a great kid. As stereotypes go, he's more of a Midwestern type guy. So I knew he would just love Norman and would love Oklahoma. His teammates are going to like him, he's as humble as heck and he's fun to root for. He's one of those kind of guys.

"As far as him as a player, he's skilled. He's 6-10 but can really, really pass it, dribble it, shoot it. Really can pass it, though. It's not just that he's unselfish, but he has the ability to just whip a left-handed pass, a bounce pass, an overhand pass, you name it. And he can shoot it, too. Defenses wouldn't be too wise to back away from him."

Fusano said Arent averaged 24 points a game in non-conference play, most in the state. Once conference play began, opponents began devoting a lot more attention to him.

"He wound up averaging 19 points a game, but that's not a surprise because the second half of the year he was double-, triple- and quadruple-teamed."

Arent will be a junior in 2010-11 and have two years of eligibility remaining. He joins junior college point guard Sam Grooms and forward Amath M'Baye, a transfer from Wyoming, as Kruger signees.

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THOMPSON, GOFF RELEASED
Kruger also announced Thursday that Nick Thompson, a junior on last year's team, and Robert Goff, a sophomore at Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College who signed with OU in November, have been released from their scholarships.

"Nick has expressed an interest to be closer to home," said Kruger. "We're understanding of that and wish him the best at his next stop.

"And with the coaching change here, Robert has also asked to be released from his letter of intent. We are granting that request, and likewise wish him well."

Thompson played in 17 of OU's 32 games this past season, averaging 4.4 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 17.1 minutes per outing.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Men's Basketball Signs Junior College Big Man Arent

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