Seniors ink letters of intent
Wednesday was signing day for student-athletes across the state. See who is going where in the signing day journal.
Mike Boynton wants Oklahoma State basketball to get bigger and better. Literally.
Maybe better big men are the key for the Cowboys, who have struggled in recent years to acquire quality post players to pair with their premium guard recruits.
Boynton’s first official signings as head coach aim at addressing that need, with the addition of big man Yor Anei on Wednesday – the opening day of the early signing period – and the expected signing of Duncan Demuth Thursday.
A pair of three-star power forward prospects according to 247Sports.com, Anei stands 6-11, while Demuth is 6-8.
Anei was ranked as the No. 1 player in Kansas, before moving to Lee’s Summit West High School in Missouri for his senior season.
“Yor has the ability to change the dynamic of the way we play on the defensive end,” Boynton said. “He’s a unique shot blocker, in that he can challenge shots all over the floor and that he plays with an unbelievable motor.”
Demuth, who plays at Seminole High School in the Tampa area, ranks as the No. 28 player in Florida by 247Sports.com.
Carl Albert’s LaValley signs with OU softball
Carl Albert senior Audrie LaValley committed Patty Gasso and OU’s softball team after a breakout freshman season.
Wednesday, she finally signed her National Letter of Intent with the Sooners.
“I have to represent my school, even if I’m not there yet,” LaValley said. “I like it. It’s more motivation. I feel like I worked my hardest and it paid off.”
A career .528 hitter, LaValley batted .505 with nine home runs and 54 RBIs this fall while leading the Titans to the Class 5A state championship.
LaValley was one of six softball players to sign Wednesday.
Lyric Cabral signed with South Alabama, Jolie Fish signed with Wisconsin, Chenise Delce signed with Tulsa, Sidnie Hurst signed with Missouri Southern and Taliya Talley signed with Butler Community College.
Westmoore’s Murcer signs to play at OU
Jessi Murcer, Westmoore’s star basketball player, signed her National Letter of Intent to play at Oklahoma.
“Today is basically a dream come true,” Murcer said.
Murcer is a 5-foot-7 guard known for her scoring ability. She’s a three-star recruit, according to ESPN.com.
She averaged 22.7 points per game before the injury and was named to The Oklahoman’s Big All-City first team.
PC North guard signs with UTSA
Adokiye Iyaye, a senior guard at PC North, signed his letter of intent to play basketball in college at the University of Texas-San Antonio.
“Thank you to Putnam City North for welcoming me and making me feel part of the family,” said Iyaye, who began his high school career at Piedmont. “I am beyond thrilled and excited to play basketball at UTSA next year.”
In his first year for the Panthers, Iyaye scored an average of 26 points per game in the state tournament.
OU mens’ hoops signs one
Oklahoma men’s basketball added 2018 combo guard Jamal Bieniemy on Wednesday during the first day of the early signing period.
Bieniemy figures to be the only player the Sooners sign in the class, as they have just one senior on this year’s team — forward Khadeem Lattin.
Bieniemy, a 6-foot-4 guard from Katy, Texas, is rated as a four-star recruit by ESPN. com and 247Sports.
“Jamal is a terrific young guy who has the classing team-first attitude,” Sooners coach Lon Kruger said in a statement. “His versatility as a combo guard allows him to be on the floor in a lot of different capacities and he’s a solid defensive player as well.”
Sooner women’s basketball inks five
Sherri Coale reloaded her squad in a big way with a giant recruiting class.
The Sooners signed five players on Wednesday, including wing Madison Williams, who’s No. 77 in ESPNS HoopGurlz 2018 rankings.
Coale’s 2018 class, which also includes forward Nydia Lampkin, guard Tatum Veitenheimer and center Aspen Williston is No. 17 in ESPN’s rankings.
Guard Taylor Robertson ,a three-star recruit according to ESPNW, is also expected to sign.
OSU signs three women’s basketball players
Guard Ja’Mee Asberry, rated No. 53 on the ESPNW HoopGurlz recruit rankings, signed her letter of intent with the Cowgirls. She plans to graduate Tulsa East Central a semester early so she can enroll in Stillwater for the spring semester.
Asberry was one of three signings for the Cowgirls, joining guard Bryn Gerlich of Colleyville, Texas, and forward Kassidy De Lapp of El Dorado Hills, California, who is ranked No. 85 on the HoopGurlz rankings.
Oklahoma Christian signs two players
Derrick (D.J.) Walter of Midwest City High School and Will Graham of Westmoore High School, signed letters of intent Wednesday to play basketball for Oklahoma Christian.