Studying abroad
In early August, the Cowboys will take part in a 10-day tour through Venice, Rome and Athens that includes of a handful of games against international competition.
STILLWATER — Cam McGriff and Lindy Waters have become veterans of the Oklahoma State basketball team, but they might be as fresh-faced as some of their teammates when they get a new experience next month.
McGriff and Waters, both juniors have never gone out of the country before, but they’ll get to do so in early August as part of the Cowboys’ 10-day tour through Venice, Rome and Athens that includes of a handful of games against international competition.
“I just hear it’s really beautiful,” McGriff said. “Speaking to other people who speak different languages, that’s what I’m looking forward to.”
Sunday, after the Cowboys’ first of 10 practices ahead of the trip, Waters said it should benefit an OSU team that returns only three scholarship players who saw time on the court.
“It’s gonna help a lot, just bonding with each other, especially going to a foreign place,” Waters said. “We get to play ball and see how they play ball over there.”
Waters and McGriff pointed to their trips to New York and Hawaii for tournaments the past two seasons as the farthest they’ve been from home. Coach Mike Boynton said he hopes this trip is one that sticks with his players for a long time.
“I just want it to be a great experience for everybody,” Boynton said. “I want all these guys to be able to look back 25 years from now and feel like this was one of the best parts of the experience as a college student-athlete.”
Physical shape an early focus for freshman forwards
With McGriff being OSU’s only returning forward, getting freshmen Yor Anei, Kentrevious Jones, Duncan Demuth and Maurice Calloo into physical shape for Big 12 basketball will be critical.
Anei does not need to add weight as much as get leaner and more toned, Boynton said, while Calloo needs to trim some. Ideally, some of Jones’ 290 pounds could make their way to Demuth’s 195-pound frame.
“(Demuth) could use a few cheeseburgers,” Boynton joked. “We actually have Kent take his plate and give it to Duncan, and then we leave Duncan in the weight room forever. Then Kent gets on a treadmill and watches Duncan lift weights.”
Boynton relaxed regarding newly opened scholarship
Before requesting a transfer, Lucas N’Guessan was OSU’s tallest player at 7 feet, but the larger opening might be in the form of the scholarship his exit makes available.
With N’Guessan on board, the 13 scholarships on OSU’s 2019-20 roster were taken, assuming Tulsa Memorial twins
Kalib and Keylan Boone sign with the Cowboys following their verbal commitments. Now, Boynton has an extra roster spot to work with, and he’s open to adding another player this season or using the scholarship to add to OSU’s 2019 class.
“We recruit every single day, so I would never close the door on a great opportunity presenting itself here before this season starts,” Boynton said. “It’s not something we’re overly concerned about. We feel good about this group as it’s comprised right now, but if the right piece or person becomes available, we certainly will take a hard look at it.”