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Freshman making early impression
The McDonald's All-American plays bigger than 5-10.

OU freshman Tommy Mason-Griffin "has been as good as anyone in practice for us the first six days," coach Jeff Capel said Thursday. Stephen Pingry/Tulsa World
 
By GUERIN EMIG World Sports Writer
Published: 10/30/2009  2:21 AM
Last Modified: 10/30/2009  6:18 PM

 NORMAN — You hear about Oklahoma freshman Tommy Mason-Griffin being a high school All-American, but then you see him with your own eyes. And you think what OU guard Cade Davis did: "He's too short to play this game."

So you see the 5-foot-10 point-guard-disguised-as-a-fullback play basketball with your own eyes. And the thought process changes again.

"He plays like a giant," Davis said.

Two weeks into practice, no Sooner has made a bigger impression than Mason-Griffin, the McDonald's All-American from Houston Madison. Coach Jeff Capel went to Big 12 media day last week and said Mason-Griffin "has been as good as anyone in practice for us the first six days."

Sounds like he's only gotten better since.

"It's going to be hard trying to stop him," said senior guard Tony Crocker. "His change-of-direction is ridiculous. His ballhandling is really good. He can shoot. He can score. But the thing I've noticed is he loves to pass."

"He thinks, 'Pass, pass, then shoot,' " said Steven Pledger, another OU freshman guard. "You have to keep your hands up, because he'll find you."

"Tommy's been good just about every day," Capel confirmed Thursday from the Sooners' media day.

See, size, or college experience, doesn't matter as much when you've been playing with the big boys as long as you can remember.

"In elementary, I was playing with middle school dudes," Mason-Griffin said. "In high school, playing with NBA dudes. I work out in Houston and play pickup games with guys like T.J. Ford, Daniel Gibson, Mike James, J.R. Smith. And then I started playing AAU with the (Houston) Hoops' 17-and-under team when I was 13."

Tiny Gallon, OU's other incoming McDonald's All-American, guesses he's played AAU ball with Mason-Griffin since the eighth grade. The one word he uses to describe his little buddy is "calm."

"Under pressure, he doesn't crack," Gallon said.

Mason-Griffin admits to a few bumps. He says he fractured his tailbone at the Jordan Brand Classic last April, forcing him off the court for nearly three months. That put him out of shape for a while.

He had dropped 10 pounds, down to his current 205, as OU practice started. Then he realized something.

"This is an elite program," he said. "Guys are big. Guys are much faster. In high school you can get into the lane easily. Now, there's help defense and that kind of thing. But I'm adjusting well."

He sure is.

"Tommy's ready," Crocker said. "He's gonna be big for us."

Guerin Emig 581-8355
guerin.emig@tulsaworld.com
By GUERIN EMIG World Sports Writer

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COMMENTS 
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10 comments have been made for this team so far. Tell us what you think below!
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Some reader comments for this story were copied from "OU's Capel: Sooners young but talented," which was published on 10/29/2009.
Report Comment
mgsooner, (10/29/2009 5:43:29 PM)
Boomer Sooner, we love you coach Capel!
Report Comment
Frank Opinion, Tulsa (10/29/2009 9:38:49 PM)
I somehow get the feeling that Tiny is going to show up really BIGtime...TMG is also the real deal...and so could be the SOONERS...Just my opinion...BOOMER
Report Comment
hornhater2, (10/30/2009 7:09:57 AM)
"Boomer"
Report Comment
Pepito, Norman (10/30/2009 7:40:22 AM)
Wishing the best for TMG. Wonder how he compares with Bogus Dildo, the UT point guard?
Report Comment
AtlantaSooner, Atlanta (10/30/2009 9:23:55 AM)
This is likely our best point guard since Ricky Grace.
Report Comment
tulsandn, out in the woods (10/30/2009 10:16:47 AM)
Jeff Capel is tha MAN!!!!

I wonder what he'll be like when he hits 40....

With Coach Capel in charge the SOONERS are gonna be at the elite level for a long time....
Report Comment
TulsaTulsa, Tulsa (10/30/2009 4:50:10 PM)
Jeff Capel is definitely the man! As an OSU fan, I can only hope Travis Ford is even close to that
Report Comment
TulsaTulsa, Tulsa (10/30/2009 4:53:11 PM)
wow Pepito that is a stretch even for Dogus Balbay.
Report Comment
shaw411, Scottsdale, AZ (10/30/2009 4:54:00 PM)
Travis who?
Report Comment
shaw411, Scottsdale, AZ (10/30/2009 4:54:42 PM)
Seriously, I hope Ford can keep things going at O-Sate
 

 
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