Baranczyk Signs Two Top Prospects in Williams and Allen

NORMAN – University of Oklahoma head women's basketball coach Jennie Baranczyk announced the signing of two of the nation's top 2023 prospects on Wednesday as the early signing period opened.

The Sooners received signed National Letters of Intent from Sahara Williams and Landry Allen, who are now officially set to join Oklahoma next summer.

"We're incredibly excited to welcome Sahara and Landry to our basketball family," Baranczyk said. "They're both amazing and will fit in perfectly with what we're building here in Norman."

SAHARA WILLIAMS | GUARD | WATERLOO, IOWA

Williams, a five-star prospect out of Iowa, is ranked as the No. 18 player in the class by Collegiate Girls Basketball Report and No. 23 by ESPN. The Waterloo, Iowa, 5-foot-10-inch prospect is the No. 5 guard in the country per ESPN and averaged 19.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.0 assists as a junior for Waterloo West HS. A 2022 USA Basketball 3x3 18U gold medalist, Williams is a three-time All-State honoree, including first-team selections in each of the past two seasons. At the 2022 3x3 U18 world championship, Williams dominated on both sides of the ball to guide Team USA to a perfect 7-0 record and a 21-11 win over Germany in the gold-medal match. A three-time first-team All-Metro selection and first-team All-Mississippi Valley honoree, Williams was the MVC Player of the Year in 2022. She chose Oklahoma over several Power Five schools, including Iowa, Iowa State and USC.

"Sahara may be one of the best two-way players in the country," Baranczyk added. "She has an incredible desire to compete on every possession. That intangible has allowed her to lead her team to the Iowa state tournament three times. It has led her to compete for championships with the All Iowa Attack Nike EYBL program, and to a 3x3 USA Basketball Gold medal. She is an incredible and passionate leader that simply brings out the best in those around her. We're so excited to have Sahara as an Oklahoma Sooner!"

LANDRY ALLEN | CENTER | TUTTLE, OKLA.

Allen continues a long line of Oklahoma players that have chosen to don the Crimson and Cream. A product of Tuttle, Okla., the 6'3" center is the No. 2 prospect in the state of Oklahoma per Prep Girls Hoops and grades out as a four-star prospect and the No. 10 center in the 2023 class by ESPN. A consensus top-100 recruit, Allen averaged 13.4 points, 7.9 rebounds and 3.7 blocks as a junior at Tuttle HS. As a sophomore, she averaged 13.9 points and 8.2 rebounds and elevated her game in the Class 4A state tournament, pouring in 20.6 points, 10.3 rebounds and 4.3 blocks to lead Tuttle to its first girls' basketball state championship. In addition, Allen guided Southwest Elite AAU to a national title at the Run for the Roses National Championship, one of the top tournaments on the summer circuit. A member of the Oklahoma Super 5 All-State basketball team, she was the Super 5 MVP in addition to racking up All-Conference honors. Allen chose Oklahoma over Oklahoma State, Iowa State, Kansas, TCU, Texas Tech and others.

"Landry is 'Sooner Born, Sooner Bred'," Baranczyk said of her newest student-athlete. "It will always be a goal of ours to keep the best players in the Sooner State here at home. Landry has won a state championship here in Oklahoma and has won many championships including a national championship with Southwest Elite. She has great length and athleticism with incredible hands and great footwork. We love the way she can run the floor and her passing ability. We are so excited that Landry is now officially a Sooner!"

Williams and Allen will join Oklahoma for the 2023-24 season. The 2022-23 Sooners, ranked No. 15 in the AP Poll, return to the court on Nov. 11 at 10:30 a.m. vs. SMU.

QUOTABLES

Dickson Jensen, All Iowa Attack HC on Sahara Williams…

"Sahara Williams is going to be a great addition to the Oklahoma Family, and Sooner Nation is going to love her. She is a winner that loves to compete, and this summer she was arguably one of the best players in the country. Oklahoma is getting a girl that loves to rebound, guard and offensively can get to the rim and step back and knock down an outside shot. Sahara will have a great career in a Sooner uniform, and I look forward to watching her."

Brian Lester, former girls' basketball coach at Tuttle HS on Landry Allen…

"Landry's skillset is second to none as a big, and her shot blocking ability without fouling is out of this world. In the three years I spent as her coach, she had over 400 blocked shots but never fouled out of a game. As a person, she is one of the best kids I have ever coached and I'm excited to see how she develops in Norman."

Continue to check SoonerSports.com and the team's social media accounts (@OU_WBBall) for the most up-to-date information on the women's basketball season.

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