Point guard Stevie Clark (Oklahoma City/Douglass) knows this Oklahoma season can't be judged on wins and losses. With first-year coach Lon Kruger trying to resurrect the program and instill a sense of pride, Clark knows it won’t happen overnight.
But for one night, a winning result would go a long way for the Sooners going into the future. OU, on a six-game losing streak and losers of eight of its last nine, has a chance to momentarily end its woes with a win against Bedlam rival Oklahoma State at 7 p.m. CT on Wednesday at the Lloyd Noble Center.
“I’m more looking at the style of play and how I might fit in than anything else at this point,” said Clark, who has more than 15 offers.
Clark, a four-star prospect ranked No. 1 in Oklahoma for 2013 and No. 58 in the ESPNU Super 60, won’t be the only top in-state prospect at OU. With Kruger focusing his efforts on keeping the top talent home, Wednesday could be a showcase night for the Sooners.
The Oklahoma high school basketball playoffs start Friday, giving a lot of the state’s elite prospects the opportunity to take in Bedlam.
“I’m definitely going,” said 2013 power forward Shaquille Morris (Edmond, Okla./Santa Fe). “I like what Coach Kruger is doing, and OU is showing a lot of interest.”
Three-star shooting guard Juwan Parker (Tulsa, Okla./Washington) said he plans on attending. He has an OU offer and has made several unofficial visits to OU the last couple of years.
Getting the visits is nice, but the atmosphere Wednesday will be something to watch. Clark was impressed by the atmosphere at Missouri two weeks ago and said it was one of the best experiences he has had.
2013 four-star point guard Jordan Woodard (Edmond, Okla./Memorial) could also attend Wednesday. Woodard made an unofficial visit to Memphis earlier this month and an unofficial visit to Kansas last weekend. OU was one of his first offers.
The future recruits could get a little sell job from forward C.J. Cole (Sperry, Okla./Sperry). Cole, a 2012 prospect who is going to be a preferred walk-on at OU, said he is very excited about getting to see the game.
The Sooners have also made a good impression on 2014 guard Omega Harris (Oklahoma City/Putnam City West). When asked Monday if he was going to Bedlam, Harris said, “just tell me the time, and I’m there.”
Oklahoma State defeated OU 72-65 on Jan. 9 at Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater.