University of Oklahoma Athletics
Photo by: Ty Russell
Introducing OU's Incoming Class
September 16, 2019 | Men's Basketball
The highest-ranked recruiting class of the Lon Kruger era is weeks away from making its Oklahoma debut.
The incoming group is comprised of guards De'Vion Harmon (Denton, Texas) and Alondes Williams (River Grove, Ill.), forwards Anyang Garang (Adelaide, Australia), Jalen Hill (Las Vegas, Nev.) and Victor Iwuakor (Sulphur Springs, Texas) and centers Rick Issanza (Kinshasha, Congo) and Corbin Merritt (Tallahassee, Fla.).
Kruger's class was listed in the top 20 nationally by Rivals (No. 14) and ESPN (No. 20). Both sites list Oklahoma's incoming class as the second best in the Big 12.
Oklahoma fans will also see two redshirt Sooners contribute this upcoming season in guard Austin Reaves and forward Kur Kuath, both in their second year in Norman. Reaves sat out last season after transferring from Wichita State while Kuath, originally a JUCO transfer, was granted a medical hardship for last season.
Throughout the offseason and preseason, Oklahoma has been introducing the newest Sooners to the Crimson and Cream faithful through a series of videos. SoonerSports.com has compiled these introductory pieces and paired them with short player bios to serve as a one-stop shop for fans looking to learn more about the OU newcomers.
BEFORE OKLAHOMA: Joins the Sooners from the NBA Global Academy in Canberra, Australia...Had been with the NBA Global Academy since 2017 and is the fifth graduate from the academy to play for an NCAA Division I school...Competed alongside top prospects from the NBA's global academies in a series of exhibition games at the NBA G-League Winter Showcase in Las Vegas in December 2018...Played in the NBA Global Camp in Treviso, Italy and the 2018 NBA Academy Games in Australia...Participated in Basketball Without Borders Global Camp in Los Angeles during NBA All-Star Weekend in 2018...Was a part of the NCAA's first Next Generation Sunday event at the 2018 Final Four, where he participated in life-skills sessions and competed in exhibition games against his peers.
BEFORE OKLAHOMA: Named a four-star recruit by ESPN, Rivals and 247Sports...One of the top 50 players nationally in the class of 2019, according to Rivals and 247Sports...Listed as a top-five point guard in his class by 247Sports and top-10 at his position by Rivals...One of 12 top-ranked high school seniors to represent Team USA in the 2019 NIKE Hoops Summit...Won gold medals at both the 2017 FIBA Americas U16 Championship and 2018 FIBA U17 World Cup as a member of Team USA...Started in all seven games of the 2018 FIBA U17 World Cup, averaging 13.1 points (second on Team USA) with 3.4 assists...As a high school senior at Guyer High School, averaged 20.3 points, 5.0 assists and 4.4 rebounds...Named the Texas District 6A Co-MVP in 2019, 2018 and 2017...Selected to the All-USA Texas Boys Basketball Team for 2018-19...Voted to the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches All-Region and All-State Teams...A Texas 6A All-State selection in 2019 and 2018.
BEFORE OKLAHOMA: Named a four-star recruit by ESPN and Rivals and 247Sports...Ranked among the top-30 forwards in his class by ESPN and Rivals...Named the 2018-19 Gatorade Nevada Boys Basketball Player of the Year...Led Clark High School to a 25-6 record and the Class 4A state final during his senior season, averaging 17.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game while shooting 56.5 percent from the field...First Team All-State selection and a three-time First Team All-League performer...Named Nevada's Southwest League Most Valuable Player...Runner-up for Gatorade Nevada Player of the Year in 2017-18.
BEFORE OKLAHOMA: A three-star recruit according to Rivals...Ranked as a top-40 center in the 2019 class by Rivals...Comes to Oklahoma from Bella Vista Prep in Scottsdale, Ariz...As a high school senior, averaged 11.0 points, 8.1 rebounds and 4.8 blocks while shooting 64 percent from the field...Born in Kinshasa, Congo.
BEFORE OKLAHOMA: Named a four-star recruit by ESPN, Rivals and 247Sports...One of the top 90 players nationally in the class of 2019, according to ESPN...Listed as a top-20 forward in his class by ESPN...Played his last year of high school basketball at Sulphur Springs High School in 2017-18, averaging 16 points, 11 rebounds and 6 blocks...Was homeschooled as a senior after his family moved...Named his district's defensive MVP in 2017 and overall district MVP in 2018...Born in Abuja, Nigeria…Grew up in Sulphur Springs, Texas
BEFORE OKLAHOMA: Joined the Sooner roster last season and saw action in six games before being sidelined due to injury...Came to Oklahoma from Salt Lake Community College in Utah...During his sophomore season, averaged 10.8 points and 7.2 rebounds and 3.3 blocks in 33 games...Helped guide SLCC to a 30-4 record along with Scenic West, Region 18 and District I titles...Led SLCC to the NJCAA national tournament...Totaled 117 blocks and deflected at least four shots in 15 of SLCC's 32 games and he ranked third nationally in blocks among junior college players...Named an NJCAA third-team All-American...Selected to the Scenic West Athletic Conference's All-Region 18 First Team.
BEFORE OKLAHOMA: Joining the Sooners from Daytona State College as a redshirt-sophomore with three years of eligibility remaining...Played in only five games during his freshman year at Daytona before his season ended due to injury.
BEFORE OKLAHOMA: Sat out from competition as a redshirt after transferring from Wichita State...Came to Oklahoma with career averages of 6.1 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.6 assists...Shot 82-of-182 (.451) from 3-point range while with the Shockers...In 33 games (11 starts) durning his sophomore season at Wichita State, averaged 8.1 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 21.5 minutes…Shot 54-of-127 (.425) from 3-point range…During conference play averaged 9.4 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 23.6 minutes…Led the American Athletic Conference in 3-point percentage during conference play in 2017-18 by shooting at a .451 clip (37-for-82)…Hit a school-record seven first-half threes en route to a career-high 23 points against Tulsa on Jan. 28...Followed up his 23-point performance against Tulsa with two more 20-point performances, scoring 20 at Temple on Feb. 1 and 22 at Memphis on Feb. 6.
BEFORE OKLAHOMA: Comes to Oklahoma from Triton College in River Grove, Ill...Totaled 1,059 points (15.4 per game) in his two years at Triton...As a sophomore, led the Trojans to a 30-4 record with averages of 17.0 points, 7.7 rebounds and 5.3 assists while shooting 50.4 percent from the floor and 40.4 percent from 3-point range...Named North Central Community College Conference (N4C) Player of the Year and was a First Team All-Region IV selection...During his freshman year, averaged 13.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists in 36 games last season while shooting 57.7 percent from the field and 37.6 percent from 3-point range...Helped Triton capture the 2018 NJCAA Division II championship, scoring 22 points with seven rebounds in the title game.
The incoming group is comprised of guards De'Vion Harmon (Denton, Texas) and Alondes Williams (River Grove, Ill.), forwards Anyang Garang (Adelaide, Australia), Jalen Hill (Las Vegas, Nev.) and Victor Iwuakor (Sulphur Springs, Texas) and centers Rick Issanza (Kinshasha, Congo) and Corbin Merritt (Tallahassee, Fla.).
Kruger's class was listed in the top 20 nationally by Rivals (No. 14) and ESPN (No. 20). Both sites list Oklahoma's incoming class as the second best in the Big 12.
Oklahoma fans will also see two redshirt Sooners contribute this upcoming season in guard Austin Reaves and forward Kur Kuath, both in their second year in Norman. Reaves sat out last season after transferring from Wichita State while Kuath, originally a JUCO transfer, was granted a medical hardship for last season.
Throughout the offseason and preseason, Oklahoma has been introducing the newest Sooners to the Crimson and Cream faithful through a series of videos. SoonerSports.com has compiled these introductory pieces and paired them with short player bios to serve as a one-stop shop for fans looking to learn more about the OU newcomers.
ANYANG GARANG | FRESHMAN FORWARD
BEFORE OKLAHOMA: Joins the Sooners from the NBA Global Academy in Canberra, Australia...Had been with the NBA Global Academy since 2017 and is the fifth graduate from the academy to play for an NCAA Division I school...Competed alongside top prospects from the NBA's global academies in a series of exhibition games at the NBA G-League Winter Showcase in Las Vegas in December 2018...Played in the NBA Global Camp in Treviso, Italy and the 2018 NBA Academy Games in Australia...Participated in Basketball Without Borders Global Camp in Los Angeles during NBA All-Star Weekend in 2018...Was a part of the NCAA's first Next Generation Sunday event at the 2018 Final Four, where he participated in life-skills sessions and competed in exhibition games against his peers.
DE'VION HARMON | FRESHMAN GUARD
BEFORE OKLAHOMA: Named a four-star recruit by ESPN, Rivals and 247Sports...One of the top 50 players nationally in the class of 2019, according to Rivals and 247Sports...Listed as a top-five point guard in his class by 247Sports and top-10 at his position by Rivals...One of 12 top-ranked high school seniors to represent Team USA in the 2019 NIKE Hoops Summit...Won gold medals at both the 2017 FIBA Americas U16 Championship and 2018 FIBA U17 World Cup as a member of Team USA...Started in all seven games of the 2018 FIBA U17 World Cup, averaging 13.1 points (second on Team USA) with 3.4 assists...As a high school senior at Guyer High School, averaged 20.3 points, 5.0 assists and 4.4 rebounds...Named the Texas District 6A Co-MVP in 2019, 2018 and 2017...Selected to the All-USA Texas Boys Basketball Team for 2018-19...Voted to the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches All-Region and All-State Teams...A Texas 6A All-State selection in 2019 and 2018.
"My style of play is whatever the team needs me to do."
— Oklahoma Basketball (@OU_MBBall) August 12, 2019
After winning two ??s with @USABasketball, @TheDH11 has his eyes on bringing a ?? to Norman.#YouBelongHere pic.twitter.com/XpV0sKl185
JALEN HILL | FRESHMAN FORWARD
BEFORE OKLAHOMA: Named a four-star recruit by ESPN and Rivals and 247Sports...Ranked among the top-30 forwards in his class by ESPN and Rivals...Named the 2018-19 Gatorade Nevada Boys Basketball Player of the Year...Led Clark High School to a 25-6 record and the Class 4A state final during his senior season, averaging 17.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game while shooting 56.5 percent from the field...First Team All-State selection and a three-time First Team All-League performer...Named Nevada's Southwest League Most Valuable Player...Runner-up for Gatorade Nevada Player of the Year in 2017-18.
Lock up.
— Oklahoma Basketball (@OU_MBBall) August 5, 2019
Shoot 3s.
Get better.
Get to know reigning Nevada HS Player of the Year and OU freshman @Kbj_vi. #YouBelongHere pic.twitter.com/D5mZSJhJ9p
RICK ISSANAZA | FRESHMAN CENTER
BEFORE OKLAHOMA: A three-star recruit according to Rivals...Ranked as a top-40 center in the 2019 class by Rivals...Comes to Oklahoma from Bella Vista Prep in Scottsdale, Ariz...As a high school senior, averaged 11.0 points, 8.1 rebounds and 4.8 blocks while shooting 64 percent from the field...Born in Kinshasa, Congo.
VICTOR IWUAKOR | FRESHMAN FORWARD
BEFORE OKLAHOMA: Named a four-star recruit by ESPN, Rivals and 247Sports...One of the top 90 players nationally in the class of 2019, according to ESPN...Listed as a top-20 forward in his class by ESPN...Played his last year of high school basketball at Sulphur Springs High School in 2017-18, averaging 16 points, 11 rebounds and 6 blocks...Was homeschooled as a senior after his family moved...Named his district's defensive MVP in 2017 and overall district MVP in 2018...Born in Abuja, Nigeria…Grew up in Sulphur Springs, Texas
"I do whatever it takes for my team to win."@solid_2500 is ready to compete. Catch him at the LNC ??.#YouBelongHere pic.twitter.com/Pa8aUJSpYD
— Oklahoma Basketball (@OU_MBBall) August 19, 2019
KUR KUATH | RS-JUNIOR FORWARD
BEFORE OKLAHOMA: Joined the Sooner roster last season and saw action in six games before being sidelined due to injury...Came to Oklahoma from Salt Lake Community College in Utah...During his sophomore season, averaged 10.8 points and 7.2 rebounds and 3.3 blocks in 33 games...Helped guide SLCC to a 30-4 record along with Scenic West, Region 18 and District I titles...Led SLCC to the NJCAA national tournament...Totaled 117 blocks and deflected at least four shots in 15 of SLCC's 32 games and he ranked third nationally in blocks among junior college players...Named an NJCAA third-team All-American...Selected to the Scenic West Athletic Conference's All-Region 18 First Team.
NEWS | Forward Kur Kuath has been granted a medical redshirt for last season and will have two years of eligibility remaining with the #Sooners.
— Oklahoma Basketball (@OU_MBBall) September 9, 2019
Let's reintroduce Kur to Sooner Nation - we think you'll want to get to know him. pic.twitter.com/6dyPczLDb8
CORBIN MERRITT | RS-SOPHOMORE CENTER
BEFORE OKLAHOMA: Joining the Sooners from Daytona State College as a redshirt-sophomore with three years of eligibility remaining...Played in only five games during his freshman year at Daytona before his season ended due to injury.
"Be the best person I can be to make my team better. I want my team to be great."
— Oklahoma Basketball (@OU_MBBall) August 27, 2019
Get to know big man @easymoneymerrit, a JUCO transfer with three years of eligibility remaining.#YouBelongHere pic.twitter.com/0tSrYqvG2k
AUSTIN REAVES | RS-JUNIOR GUARD
BEFORE OKLAHOMA: Sat out from competition as a redshirt after transferring from Wichita State...Came to Oklahoma with career averages of 6.1 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.6 assists...Shot 82-of-182 (.451) from 3-point range while with the Shockers...In 33 games (11 starts) durning his sophomore season at Wichita State, averaged 8.1 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 21.5 minutes…Shot 54-of-127 (.425) from 3-point range…During conference play averaged 9.4 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 23.6 minutes…Led the American Athletic Conference in 3-point percentage during conference play in 2017-18 by shooting at a .451 clip (37-for-82)…Hit a school-record seven first-half threes en route to a career-high 23 points against Tulsa on Jan. 28...Followed up his 23-point performance against Tulsa with two more 20-point performances, scoring 20 at Temple on Feb. 1 and 22 at Memphis on Feb. 6.
"I'm going to bring it every night - leave everything out on the line."
— Oklahoma Basketball (@OU_MBBall) September 17, 2019
After leading the AAC in 3-point shooting during 2018 conference play, transfer Austin Reaves is ready to light up the LNC. #YouBelongHere pic.twitter.com/YLJDTg3CNJ
ALONDES WILLIAMS | JUNIOR GUARD
BEFORE OKLAHOMA: Comes to Oklahoma from Triton College in River Grove, Ill...Totaled 1,059 points (15.4 per game) in his two years at Triton...As a sophomore, led the Trojans to a 30-4 record with averages of 17.0 points, 7.7 rebounds and 5.3 assists while shooting 50.4 percent from the floor and 40.4 percent from 3-point range...Named North Central Community College Conference (N4C) Player of the Year and was a First Team All-Region IV selection...During his freshman year, averaged 13.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists in 36 games last season while shooting 57.7 percent from the field and 37.6 percent from 3-point range...Helped Triton capture the 2018 NJCAA Division II championship, scoring 22 points with seven rebounds in the title game.
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