Sooners basketball team lands two in-state players
BY GUERIN EMIG World Sports Writer
Friday, August 24, 2012
8/24/12 at 5:38 AM
NORMAN - Oklahoma picked up two basketball commitments Thursday when Edmond Memorial guard Jordan Woodard and Class of 2014 center/forward Jacob Hammond pledged to the Sooners.
Woodard, the younger brother of Tulsa freshman guard James Woodard, averaged 13 points, four rebounds and nearly five assists as an Edmond junior last year. He and his brother led the Bulldogs to the Class 6A state championship game, where they fell just one point short of a second straight state title in a 37-36 loss to Union.
"Oklahoma is a great program," Woodard said in announcing his decision on a NewsOK.com webcast. "I love Lon Kruger coming in. I love what he's doing with the program. I love the opportunity to come in and play. We have a great relationship, me and Coach Kruger. That led to my decision."
Woodard is a big pickup for OU, considering other 2013 in-state prospects are going elsewhere. Booker T. Washington guard Juwan Parker committed to Georgia earlier this week. Touted guard Stephen Clark, who recently left Oklahoma City Douglass for Quest Preparatory Academy in Las Vegas, has an OU scholarship offer but reportedly favors Oklahoma State, Kentucky, Connecticut and UCLA among others.
Woodard gives Kruger some in-state cachet - he'll be among four Oklahoma players on the Sooners' 2013-14 roster - while providing some needed punch. Kruger loses starting guards Steven Pledger and Sam Grooms after the 2012-13 season, and will count on Woodard along with 12-13 freshmen Buddy Hield and Jelon Hornbeak to step up.
Woodard is rated a three-star prospect by Rivals and Scout recruiting services. He attended the Deron Williams Skills Academy in June before rejoining Edmond Memorial at OU's team camp.
Hammond is a 6-9 prospect whose commitment was reported by OUHoops.com and ESPN.com. A double-digit scorer for the OKC Storm homeschool team last season, he isn't due to sign with a college program until November of '13.
In the meantime, he'll continue to prep for new homeschool program OKC Sky this year.
Original Print Headline: Sooners land two in-state players
Guerin Emig 918-581-8355
guerin.emig@tulsaworld.com
Associated Images:
Edmond Memorial's Jordan Woodard has committed to play basketball at Oklahoma. MATT BARNARD/Tulsa World
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