Introducing: Darrion Strong

Darrion Strong has taken the long road to the University of Oklahoma. Originally from Chicago, the 6-1, 180-pound guard has spent the past half decade in small towns throughout the Midwest working toward this moment.

“It's been a long journey,” said Strong. “I've been everywhere. I've been to Iowa from Chicago and back. I've been to New Providence in the middle of the nowhere. It's been a long journey and I'm blessed to be here.”

Coming from Tartan High School in the suburbs of St. Paul, Minnesota, Strong transferred to Quakerdale Prep in New Providence, Iowa before his junior year. Living in a town with a population of 228, Strong was able to utilize his two seasons at Quakerdale to develop his game and prepare him for the next stop – Coffeyville Community College in Coffeyville, Kansas.

In his freshman season, Strong was named both Freshman of the Year and MVP of the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference by averaging 21.3 points and 2.2 assists while shooting .471 from the field and .420 from 3-point range. The guard followed up his debut season with averages of 17.7 points, 3.3 assists and 2.8 rebounds his sophomore year.

Now, Strong's road leads him to his next destination – Norman, Oklahoma.

Watching last season's run to the Final Four from afar, Strong was both encouraged and motivated by the success of his future school.

“It's big time,” said Strong. “Especially when I committed here and seeing on TV that they're in the Final Four – it's big time. It just made me work 10 times harder.”

Now his work has the chance to pay off. As a guard who can both score and distribute, Strong brings experience at multiple positions. After the graduation of Isaiah Cousins and Buddy Hield, head coach Lon Kruger will be looking for players to make an impact in the backcourt alongside senior guard Jordan Woodard.

“Darrion comes from junior college with the ability to play point guard and off guard,” said Kruger. “He shoots the ball very well but played a lot of point for Coffeyville last year. He's very good at pushing the ball in transition and making plays that look out for teammates.”

OU enters the 2015-16 campaign with nine players in their first two years of school and will rely on older players such as Strong to bring necessary leadership.

“Being a leader is part of a big time thing for me,” said Strong. “I'm kind of laid back and quiet at this stage but, like I said, I'm blessed to be here. I'll do anything to be out here and become a leader…I can help a lot. Coach Kruger is telling me to do specific things and I think I can do it. I just got to put my mind to it and stay out here and put in the work.”

And now, his long journey continues. This time as an Oklahoma Sooner.