Oklahoma Basketball: 2019-20 season preview for the Sooners

Key Reserves

G Alondes Williams (Jr., 6’5, 17.0 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 5.3 apg in JC) — It’s anyone’s guess who Oklahoma’s bench rotation will consist of, as only one player listed here was on the team last year and Kruger is reportedly considering going as much as 10 deep. Williams, though, is one guarantee, in part because he’s the only scholarship guard outside the starting five and in part because he’s good at basketball. He’s a bouncy physical specimen and do-it-all type who should get big minutes alongside both Bieniemy and Harmon and do a lot of dirty work thanks to his athleticism.

F Jalen Hill (Fr., 6’7, 17.5 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 1.2 spg in HS) — Harmon may be snagging most of the headlines as the crown jewel of the Sooners’ recruiting class, which is ranked second in the Big 12. Hill, though, is not to be overlooked. The four-star prospect was Nevada’s Gatorade Player of the Year last season, and should be a solid source of bench scoring in his first season.

F Victor Iwuakor (Fr., 6’7, 16 ppg, 11 rpg, 6 bpg in HS) — Iwuakor’s also a four-star and is about the same size as Hill, but he’s a different type of player. He’s an explosive shot-blocker and rebounder with an enticing offensive skill that includes deep range and athleticism. It shouldn’t be terribly long before he becomes a highlight-reel fixture.

F Anyang Garang (Fr., 6’8) — Garang was born to South Sudanese parents in Uganda, moved to Australia at age 5, and picked up basketball at the ripe old age of 13. He progressed quickly enough to earn a scholarship to the NBA Global Academy, where he blossomed into a prototypical modern NBA forward: fast, rangy and possessing an excellent outside shot with a 7’5 wingspan. Garang’s listed at just 190 pounds, which will probably limit his role as a freshman, but the sky’s the limit once he puts on a bit more muscle.

F Kur Kuath (Rs. Jr., 6’10, 1.0 ppg, 0.7 rpg, 42.9 fg%) — Kuath will definitely play, and has a good chance to be the first big off the bench. He played in Oklahoma’s first six games last year before sitting out due to a back injury, and earned a medical hardship waiver to restore both years of eligibility. Kuath’s an elite rim protector who recorded 3.3 blocks per game at Salt Lake Community College in 2018.

C Corbin Merritt (Rs. So., 6’9) — Merritt was injured throughout his JUCO career in Florida, so it’s hard to know what to expect from him. But at 250 pounds, he’s bigger than all of the Sooners’ other bigs, which seems to give him a preset role if he can take advantage. Kruger has praised his length and outside shooting as well.

C Rick Issanza (Fr., 7’1, 11.0 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 4.8 bpg in HS) — Issanza, as you’d expect, is a tough guy to score inside on. At this point, that’s about all there is to say about the native of the Democratic Republic of Congo, but it might get him on the court this season as Kruger’s backup 5.