Two instead of Trae
Trae Young is gone from Oklahoma and the void will be filled by a couple of graduate transfers, Aaron Calixte from Maine and Miles Reynolds from Pacific.
NORMAN — College basketball’s most dynamic freshman has been replaced by a pair of graduate transfers.
Trae Young is out. Aaron Calixte and Miles Reynolds
are in.
Calixte, a graduate transfer from Maine, played point guard Tuesday afternoon in OU’s first practice of the season. He’s expected to start for the Sooners. Reynolds, a graduate transfer from Pacific, will also add depth at guard.
Both players bring an instant injection of experience to an already veteran team.
“When you have two fifth-year grads, they’re experienced but they’re still new to the program,” Sooners coach Lon Kruger said. “That adds to our age maturity factor very quickly. But it’s great. Anytime you can have six seniors in college basketball that brings hopefully a lot of good decision making and a good understanding of what lies ahead.”
The Sooners’ starting five will likely feature four seniors: Calixte, Christian James, Rashard Odomes and Jamuni McNeace.
Calixte surpassed 1,000 career points in his four seasons at Maine. He comes to Norman for a graduate season after taking a medical redshirt for a foot injury in his junior year.
He scored 11.6 points and averaged three assists per game last season for the Black Bears. Though he’s only been with his new teammates since June, Calixte said he’s already noticed a difference in his move from the America East Conference to the Big 12.
“Completely different in an aspect that they ask for a lot more," he said. "The little things matter much more at this level, I’m starting to see.”
Freshman standout
The senior-laden Sooners feature just one freshman: guard Jamal Bieniemy.
The Katy, Texas native was a 3-star prospect in the 2018 class. He was ranked 146th nationally, according to the 247Sports composite.
Bieniemy is wiry at 6-foot-4 and 175 pounds, and he’s already impressed his teammates.
“Jamal is a walking bucket,” McNeace said. “He’s the only freshman, so I like to pick on him a little bit. He’s a good kid. He’s going to be a star out here.”
Bieniemy held scholarship offers from Oklahoma State, LSU and Creighton.
“He’s going to be great for OU in the future and even this year,” Calixte said. “I stay in his ear. We work out all the time together. He can be a real impact guy for us this year.”
Waiting on Reaves
Austin Reaves will sit out this season after transferring from Wichita State, but even after one practice it was clear OU’s coaches are excited about his future.
The 6-5 guard played two seasons at Wichita State and made 11 starts last season. He shot 42.5 percent from 3-point range.
Reaves, from Newark, Ark., will have two seasons of eligibility after redshirting this year.
Until then he’ll give OU’s starters a run in practice.
“Big-time help,” Kruger said of Reaves. “Big time. Every day in practice challenging the guys. He’s instinctively competitive. He doesn’t care what color shirt he has on. He just plays really hard. Good, talented player.”