Weekly Wrap

Welcome to the Weekly Wrap where we dissect recent happenings across the local sports scene and generally whatever is on our minds. Look for the Weekly Wrap published every Friday.

• Thunder vs Heat. Prime time television. The return of Russell Westbrook. A potential finals preview. This one wrote the story for itself, until it wasn't much of a game at all. LeBron heard all the chatter about Durant. He wasn't letting KD show him up this time. Taking the first 53 shots to start the game and making all of them (ok, that may be a bit of a stretch, but that's what it seemed like), King James set the tone early. He wasn't messing around, this was all business. Durant seemed a bit out of place at times. Maybe he was having a hard time re-adjusting to Westbrook's presence on the court. Maybe it was just an off night. Whatever it was, it wasn't pretty for the Thunder. While I'm still not sure why Brooks insists on starting Perkins vs the Heat, this one is far from Perk's fault. I'm going to write this game off as an anomaly and choose not to believe this is how a finals rematch would unfold.

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• Three Sooner football players were penalized for eating too much pasta during a graduation banquet last year. I don't even know where to start with this one. My initial reaction is to laugh, but how ridiculous is the NCAA? There is a limit on how much food players can eat at banquets? Who is making up these rules? At least Gabe Ikard and Austin Woods are taking it all in stride. Just proves how big of a joke the NCAA has become these days.

• So the NBA trade deadline came and went with barely a whimper. The Thunder did right by holding their cards and not trying to get cute by changing up what has been working great. Westbrook is back and that's all the Thunder need to make a push to the finals. Amnesty Perk? Get another shooter? Those things sound great in theory, but in reality they already have shooters and amnestying Perk obviously isn't going to happen. On the bright side? Perkins will have an expiring contract next season and likely be prime trade-bait.

• Bill Simmons ranks Kendrick Perkins as the 12th worst contract in the NBA. Hard to argue with him. One of Sam Presti's few missteps was giving Perkins a huge contract upon acquiring him from Boston. To Presti's credit, everyone thought it was a major coup for OKC at the time finally getting the allusive "big man" that had so desperately been missing. Count me among the bunch who were thrilled when the blockbuster trade went down, but there's no question I'd rather have Jeff Green back in the blue and orange instead of the broken down big man. And that $8.7 million Perkins is making this year? It makes me sick thinking of the players that could be had with that money.

• Confession: I root for the US in the Winter Olympics about as much as I root for OU women's softball. I'm definitely happy if they do well, but I don't much care to watch. Now the Summer Olympics? That's a different story.

• I always thought it was pretty hokey during a college football game when a player would be flagged for "targeting" and then instantly ejected with a 15-yard penalty tacked on. But wait, if the officials review the play and determine there was no foul then the player is not ejected, but the 15-yard penalty still stands? Looks like the NCAA realized how silly that was and is changing the rule. While I still think a first time offender being ejected is a bit harsh, at least they are amending the rule to where if it is reviewed and determined not to be a foul then the 15-yard penalty no longer stands.

• Haven't quite figured out if the OU men's basketball squad is worthwhile or not yet. College basketball has been stale for so long outside of March Madness, but a legit Sooners run in the tournament could grab my attention again. They're probably just messing with me though.

• Russell Westbrook is back and that's a good thing. Can we please stop with the ridiculous speculation about the Thunder being better off without Westbrook? Please, pretty please. Last night he looked rusty, but still explosive. There may be some growing pains in the next couple of weeks with everyone adjusting to their new places on the court, but this team is better off with #0 in the lineup.

Biggest Competition in the West for OKC

With the return of Russell Westbrook looming and the Thunder currently sitting atop the NBA standings with a record of 43-12, let's rank their biggest roadblocks in the Western Conference en route back to the NBA finals.

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memphisDark Horse: Memphis Grizzlies

The Grizzlies notoriously bounced the Thunder from the 2013 playoffs not long after Westbrook went down with his original injured knee. Despite every game being close, the Grizz "easily" knocked out OKC in five games. The Thunder are currently 2-1 in the season series vs Memphis, with the sole loss coming in an ugly 90-87 defeat in mid-January. Of course, if the playoffs were to start today then the Grizzlies would be on the outside looking in as they are currently a couple games back from the eight seed. It's not inconceivable to imagine the Grizzlies finding their way into the eight seed and taking on the Thunder in the first round of the playoffs. While the Thunder would still be the heavy favorites, the Grizzlies would be anything but an easy out in the first round.

 

houston  #5: Houston Rockets

While the Rockets currently occupy the third seed in the West, I don't anticipate them finishing that high. Despite the off-season acquisition of Dwight Howard and all the hoopla surrounding Harden and Howard supposedly dominating the league for years to come, the results thus far have been under-whelming. At 36-17, the Rockets are obviously not a team to take for granted, but count me amongst the bunch who think of Howard as more of a team cancer than savior. The Thunder have handled the Rockets in each of their two regular season match-ups thus far and I don't see them poising much of a threat to Oklahoma City this year.

 

golden-state#4: Golden State Warriors

Golden State just might be the most dangerous team on this list. While they are a wildly streaky team, when they are on, they are on. The lethal sharp-shooting combination of Steph Curry and Klay Thompson is likely one of the best pure shooting duo's in the league. Not to mention the issues the Thunder have had trying to slow down the Warriors in their three meetings this season. Despite ranking as one of the top defensive teams in the league, the Thunder have given up 116, 112, and 121 points to the Warriors in their three contests. Somehow OKC managed to win two of those games anyway, but none of them came easy. The Warriors will likely enter the playoffs as one of the finals seeds, but will be a dangerous squad to any team they face.

 

portland#3: Portland Trailblazers

Portland has been a bit of a surprise team in the West this season. They are the only team in the league to hold multiple victories over the Thunder. Early on in the season it appeared as though the Blazers simply had OKC's number after consecutive victories. The Thunder bounced back to even up the regular series 2-2 winning their last two encounters to put a wrench in that theory. Portland currently occupies the fifth seed in the West and have cooled off a bit since their hot start, but still remain a talented bunch with lots of depth. Look for the Trailblazers to finish as one of the top four seeds in the West by the end of the regular season.

 

la-clippers#2: Los Angeles Clippers

The Lakers are no longer the premiere club in LA. Boy does that feel awkward to say. While the Lakers sit tied for last place in the conference, the Clippers currently sit in fourth place with a record of 37-18. The Thunder and Clippers have faced off only twice thus far with each team holding court at home. The Clippers are one of the few teams who posses a superior player at the point guard position in all-star Chris Paul. With Blake Griffin improving each year and the franchise committed to bringing in endless amounts of role players, they pose a serious threat in the Western Conference.

 

sa-spurs#1: San Antonio Spurs

Despite being declared "old" years ago, the core of the Spurs have kept this franchise at the top for over a decade. A day will come when Duncan, Parker, and Ginobili will fade off into the sunset of Spurs lore, but they don't seem quite ready yet. The sting of blowing the NBA finals in game six last season likely still remains at the forefront of their minds and they are no doubt set out for redemption. The Spurs and Thunder have faced off three times thus far with the Thunder taking all three contests. Make no mistake about it though, the seasoned Spurs remain the Thunder's biggest roadblock back to the finals.

Weekly Wrap

Welcome to the Weekly Wrap where we dissect recent happenings across the local sports scene. Look for the Weekly Wrap published every Friday.

• So Blake Bell is apparently in the process of transitioning to tight end. Granted he has a natural frame to be a great tight end, I just wonder how effective he will really be at the new position. Not that there are really any premier players ahead of him on the TE depth chart that concern me, but I'd personally like to see him continue to push Knight at the QB position. We all know that Knight's heavy dose of QB scrambles put him at a high risk for injury and I'm not sure how great I'd feel having to turn the reigns over to another freshman if he were to go down again. I'll give Bell this though, he is one heck of a teammate sucking it up and moving to a position of need as opposed to just taking his ball and going home (transferring).

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• The Thunder have the best record in the NBA headed into the all-star break and are currently the favorite to win it all this year, at least according to a few ESPN writers. Westbrook's injury may have turned out to be a blessing in disguise, granting that precious extra playing time and responsibility to the likes of Jackson and Lamb that they likely never would have gotten with a healthy Westbrook. The Thunder were ill-prepared for life without Westbrook last season, but they are a better bunch this time around. Plug a healthy Westbrook back into the lineup and you've got the favorites to win it all this year.

• Tip of the hat to my partner in crime on his fantastic breakdown of the recent Sooner signings this week. While doing my best to keep up with signing day, I still learned quite a bit from the recaps on the offensive side of the ball. If you have any interest at all in the future of the Oklahoma football program, I encourage you to go check it out. You will not be disappointed. Keep an eye out for the defensive players breakdown coming in the near future.

• Is it too soon to crown Kevin Durant the MVP? Nope. While LeBron has won four of the past five, Durant has been vocal about being tired of playing second fiddle. Being the second best player in the world isn't good enough for KD. He's on a mission to be the best and is putting on a pretty good display of those talents lately. Barring King James leading the Heat on another 30-game win streak, this race is as good as over.

• So Mark Schlabach has Oklahoma listed at #5 in his Post Signing Day "Way Too Early Top 25" rankings. This was no doubt based on the Sooners stellar recruiting class off the heels of their Sugar Bowl win over the vaunted Crimson Tide, but there is still a lot of work left to be done in Norman. Trevor Knight is the key to the Sooners success in 2014. If he builds off his fantastic Sugar Bowl performance? OU should earn a bid to the first ever college football playoffs. If he reverts back to the Knight from the 2013 season opener? Well, let's not talk like that.

• Russell Westbrook is still scheduled to return sometime after the all-star break, but the Thunder aren't ready to commit on a specific date just yet. February 20th is still the target date, but it's far from set in stone. Fingers crossed for no further setbacks. I've enjoyed watching this team persevere without their all-star point guard, but I enjoy watching them more with him on the court. And let's be honest, any attempt at making a serious push towards an NBA championship has to include a healthy #0.

• Remember when everyone was so sure that Bob Stoops was going to be the next head coach of the Cleveland Browns? I believed it about as much as the "Saban to Texas is a done deal" rumors. Stoops is going to finish out his career in Norman, mark it down. There are plenty of reasons to list why, but they are too many to go over in this small space.

• Disagreed with my opinion piece on why the Thunder shouldn't trade Westbrook? Want some substance backing up my take? Sign up for an Insider account and let the big boys do the heavy lifting. The Thunder are "great without Westbrook; better with him."

• Former five-star Oklahoma recruit Trey Metoyer was dismissed from the team last October after being charged with indecent exposure. So what's Metoyer been up to lately? Oh nothing special, just kicking back and enjoying another round of indecent exposure charges. Seems like a lifetime ago that we were drooling over him during spring training and couldn't wait for #17 to explode into the next great WR in Norman. Yet another tale of a sad waste of talents. Metoyer finished his stint with the Sooners with a mere 19 catches for 166 yards and two touchdowns.

• Oh wait, the Westbrook trade rumors were all just made up by some random blogger? Never mind then, move along, nothing to see here. Per Royce Young: "The Thunder aren’t trading Russell Westbrook. Under any circumstance. It’s not happening. Therefore, any subsequent thing that involves his name and the word 'trade' in it should be ignored entirely, unless you just enjoy wild, pointless speculation."

2014 Oklahoma Sooners Football Signing Class – Part 1 – Offense

The Sugar Bowl win just kept getting sweeter and sweeter for the OU football program. Not only did they take down mighty Alabama, but in the process landed one of their best recruiting classes in years. In this article, I'm going to introduce you to the newest Sooners, what we expect from them, and a former OU player comparison to the player. Feedback always welcome. These names will be in no particular order.

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orlando-brown

Orlando Brown – OT – 6'8" 340 –  Duluth, Ga – Peachtree Ridge High School 

Orlando Brown is one of the most intriguing players Oklahoma signed in 2014. Brown was originally committed to Tennessee, but flipped on National Signing Day to join forces with the Sooners. Orlando's name might sound familiar. His dad played in the NFL for many seasons. Orlando Brown, Sr. played for the Ravens and Browns and was part of the Art Modell move from Cleveland to Baltimore. He was found dead in 2011 due to diabetic complications. His son, Orlando Jr, may end up being an NFL prospect as well. He's a fierce, intimidating presence (similar to Phil Loadholt). If looks could win championships, Orlando would have OU covered on the offensive line.

What we expect: We expect Brown to contribute to Oklahoma sooner than later. I can see a redshirt year, followed by a start in his redshirt freshman season. He's got a lot of work to do. He must work on his lateral footwork. He's too big and has too good of a pedigree not to figure in as a starter in his OU career.

OU Football Comparison: Phil Loadholt

 

michiah-quick

Michiah Quick – ATH – 6'0" 170 – Fresno, Ca – Central East High School

This was one of the crown jewels of the 2014 class, and I believe, this is in direct relation with the Sugar Bowl win. Quick was recruited by everyone OU had, including another recruit that we'll get to in a little bit. Quick is one of those guys you need on your side. He's fast, shifty, elusive and has a knack for scoring. He comes from the same area as current Sooners Hatari Byrd and L.J. Moore. That played a major role in getting Michiah as well. If you watch his highlights, it'll make you want September to be here even faster.

What we expect: We expect Michiah to play in his freshman year. This could be a special teams role or a WR role. I wouldn't be a bit surprised to see him quickly take over for the absence of Jalen Saunders. He'll have to adjust to the speed of the defenders, but OU fans will remember Michiah Quick for a long time.

OU Football Comparison: Jalen Saunders

 

joseph-paul

Joseph Paul – OL – 6'4" 325 – New Orleans, LA – St. Augustine High School

Again, another BIG body for Coach Bill Bedenbaugh to work with. Joseph is a tough, hard nosed, grind it out player, who is not afraid to take on a bull rush. Paul wasn't given but 2 stars on the heralded Rivals.com, but he was recruited by a lot of top programs in the country, including Florida State and Texas. Paul is known for his physicality, and not so much for his shiftiness. He's a power blocker and is good at what he does. He will be asked to do much more in OU's scheme, and we think he'll get it at some point.

What we expect: We expect Joseph to redshirt. He will need to learn a lot of things. He may be moved inside to guard at some point. I think the main thing is figuring out whether he can protect the QB, or keep the pocket pushed forward. Once his position is figured out, everyone will know more.

OU Football Comparison: Akim Millington

 

natrell-curtis

Natrell Curtis – OL – 6'3" 325 – Phoenix, AZ – Mountain Pointe High School

Bill Benenbaugh continues to load up on massive offensive lineman. Natrell Curtis was another product of the Sugar Bowl win, in my opinion. Curtis is a load. He's just about everything you'd want in an offensive lineman. He's quick for his size. He gets off the ball and initiates contact with the defender. He is a great seal blocker and rarely allows a defender to get past him. He gets low during contact and has great fundamentals already. Really the only thing that could possibly keep off the field is the learning curve from high school to college.

What we expect: We expect Natrell to have a long playing career with Oklahoma. I can see him playing some this year. I can see him moving around the offensive line to plug in where needed. I expect Natrell to be a guard at Oklahoma, but he has the size to move to tackle if needed. If he's redshirted, it means the offensive is a lot better than we thought.

OU Football Comparison: Bronson Irwin

 

dallis-todd

Dallis Todd – WR – 6'5" 210 – La Mirada, CA – La Mirada High School

Dallis Todd is a huge receiver. He's got one thing that's hard to find in a receiver. Soft hands and always bigger than the opponent he's up against. He runs a 4.5 40 yard dash. Combine that with his size and we have ourselves a man child if he develops. The major focus that Jay Norvell will keep his eye on is his development. Oklahoma runs a complex route running scheme, and quite frankly, some receivers never truly understand it. One that comes to mind is Jameel Owens. Owens had all the tools, but never truly broke through at Oklahoma before he quit football. Dallis will come in and work hard and hopefully see the field before his tenure at OU is over.

What we expect: Dallis Todd will have a chance to fit into the rotation early. We can see him in the red zone creating mismatches on the outside for the quick fade in the back of the end zone. I can't see Dallis a primary weapon, but we are open to being proven wrong. I can see a redshirt season for sure, followed by situational downs. I honesty think he can become that nightmare in the endzone for opponents.

OU Football Comparison: Quentin Chaney

 

kenyon-frison

Kenyon Frison – OL – 6'6" 285 – Salt Lake City, UT – Granger High School

This was a big deal for OU fans on signing day. OU fans were hoping Kenyon would choose Oklahoma over UCLA, among a few others. Frison is a freak, point blank. He blocks until the whistle blows every down. He will often times block defenders 15-20 yards off the ball. I read on a blog somewhere where Kenyon hasn't allowed a sack in 2 years at his high school. That's impressive. High expectations for Kenyon immediately at OU, which I don't think he will shy away from. He's got some filling out to do, but it won't take long. One thing OU is getting with Kenyon is his love for the game. Sooner Nation is excited to have Mr. Frison on campus.

What we expect: We expect Kenyon to compete for playing time right away in an OU uniform. He may not start, but I can't see him redshirting. He will have a chance to play every down. A lot of that has to do with the development of Derek Farniok, who is already on campus with playing time. There will be a big battle between Frison and whoever he's trying to unseat/replace. Frison will find his way on the field in 2014 for Oklahoma.

OU Football Comparison: Trent Williams

 

mark-andrews

Mark Andrews – WR – 6'6" 220 – Scottsdale, AZ – Desert Mountain High School

Again, another huge wide receiver for Jay Norvell. Some think Mark will wind up at tight end at OU, which is very possible. He's got a nice frame already, but if he wants to, could bulk up and be a huge target in the middle of the field for Trevor Knight. I don't see a losing situation for Mark. The biggest question is whether he wants to line up at wide receiver, or if he wants to move to tight end. I think the coaches will figure it out pretty quick and put him where he wants to be. Mark possesses great hands and a great work ethic. He was rated the 25th overall prospect at wide receiver in the 2014 class.

What we expect: We expect a redshirt season for Mark. This is mainly due to where he'll end up playing. In my gut, I think he'll stay at WR, but you never really know. Either way, he could be exactly what we talked about with Dallis Todd; a nightmare in the red zone. There's not a corner in the country who could cover him 1 on 1 in the red zone. 

OU Football Comparison: Dejuan Miller (thicker version)

 

jeffery-mead

Jeffrey Mead – WR – 6'6" 190 – Tulsa, OK – Union High School

Jeffrey is tall and lanky. He had a very productive career at one of the most premiere high schools in all of the country, Union High School. Jeffrey is capable of going up for the ball at any given moment. Jeffrey has had games where he looks like Calvin Johnson, then games where he looks like a D2 player. Consistency is where he'll need to improve the most. Also, he needs to put on a little weight to go along with his tall frame. Potential is through the roof, but it'll take a lot of work and coaching. Mead is just another example of the huge receivers Jay Norvell coveted in this recruiting class.

What we expect: I can't see a reason in the world Jeffrey doesn't redshirt. He's the classic example of what a redshirt year can do. He can bulk up, he can work on his routes, and he can learn from an already established receiver core. I can see him playing in his career, but it won't be in 2014.

OU Football Comparison: Adron Tennell

 

carson-meier

Carson Meier – TE – 6'6" 235 – Tulsa, OK – Union High School

Carson Meier is a tall target, with great hands. He took some shots during his senior season and is not afraid of contact. He's a hair on the light side for a starting Tight End at a major D1 University at only 235 pounds. With the correct eating habits and workout regime, he'll bulk up in a hurry. Carson will have to adjust to the physical style of high level football. Often times, Carson would line up in the slot and be a pass catcher only. At OU he'll have to learn how to play with his hands in the dirt more. He's a very smart kid and will learn whatever he needs to. Carson is a great all around kid.

What we expect: Carson will red shirt. It's almost a guarantee on our end. Blake Bell has said he will move to Tight End, and for him to do that, you almost have to assume with his experience on the field, he'll start. Carson will have a veteran to watch and learn from. He could see some significant playing time, but not in 2014.

OU Player Comparison: Brody Eldridge

 

samaje-perine

Samaje Perine – RB – 5'11" 238 – Pflugerville, TX – Hendrickson High School

The one word to describe Samaje: physical. Samaje is the classic example of north/south runner. There will never be a wasted step in Samaje's carrying of the ball. He will initiate contact and will win the extra yard battle. Samaje is one of the more physical backs I can ever remember OU recruiting. He's not shifty, he's not nimble. He runs with a purpose and will make sure you know who just carried the ball. He possesses the physical side of Adrian Peterson, without the blazing speed or sick spin moves. He hits the hole and he will run hard. He could wind up a fan favorite in Norman based on his style of play alone.

What we expect: Perine will play. I'm not sure when. He could be used for a short yardage situation in 2014, but with Keith Ford and Alex Ross already on campus, and another recruit we'll talk about in a few minutes, it may be in Samaje's and the coaching staff's best interest to red shirt in 2014. He's got the physical tools. Now it's just about learning how not to take a beating every time he touches the ball.

OU Player Comparison: Donta Hickson

 

jonathan-alvarez

Jonathan Alvarez – OL – 6'3" 301 – Mesquite, TX – Horn High School

No one was happier than Jonathan's family after the Sooners made their offer official to him. Jonathan is said to be a great kid and was beyond excited to receive his offer from the Sooners. Where he'll play, when he'll play, and how he'll play is yet to be determined. I can easily see Jonathan being an inside guy at guard. He's got a long road to go become elite, but his willingness to come in and work should work in his favor. He's not one of the heralded signings the Sooners inked, but he's one that truly wants to be wearing the Crimson and Cream. 

What we expect: Learning curve is going to be key for Jonathan. Will the game come to him, will it be too fast, or will he simply be depth that every major D1 school needs? That's all yet to be determined. I think a red shirt season is a must, where he can get reps on the practice squad and figure out what position he'll be the best fit at. Jonathan is one of those guys every school needs. A willingness to do whatever.

OU Player Comparison: John Flynn

 

alex-dalton

Alex Dalton – OL – 6'4" 280 – Troy, OH – Troy High School

Alex was a guy Bill Bedenbaugh chased throughout the recruiting process. Alex possesses excellent athleticism. He moves like a running back on the offensive line. He's not constricted like a lot of lineman. He possesses quickness and a knack for getting off the ball in a hurry. I think Alex will have to fill out a little bit before he hits the line full force, but he's a guy we think can eventually get there and make a serious impact. What Alex brings is a quick, elusive style lineman, compared to big, constricted at times, lineman OU has added to this class. It'll be interesting to see where he fits. Center isn't out of the question in my opinion.

What we expect: I may be way off my rocker, but I think Dalton could actually see playing time in 2014. With a little added strength and muscle to his already impressive frame, I can see him taking meaningful snaps in 2014. Where and when is totally unknown, but I just have a hunch he could be a pretty good player for OU.

OU Player Comparison: Vince Carter

 

dimitri-flowers

Dimitri Flowers – FB – 6'3" 219 – San Antonio, TX – Churchill High School

In comes Dimitri Flowers. All he's hearing is how he's the next Trey Millard. If the people saying this are correct, we have ourselves a steal in the 2014 class. Dimitri will be a fullback, but I can see him even being an H-Back and Tight End. He possesses all the traits you'd want in a "football player". Good speed, good hands, good football IQ and a good high school coach. Flowers wasn't highly recruited out of high school, but the OU coaches saw something they really liked, and most of the people in Sooner Land would agree. He's one of, if not the, most intriguing prospect Stoops and company brought in.

What we expect: I fully expect Flowers to play right away. If nothing else, I can see him playing special teams and figuring out where he'll spend most of his snaps during his career at OU. I see him being an every down fullback in time, but maybe not in week 1 this season. That being said, I have a hunch people will remember Dimitri Flowers' name for a long, long time. 

OU Player Comparison: JD Runnels

 

isaac-ijalana

Isaac Ijalana – TE – 6'5" 250 – Mount Holly, NJ – Pierce College

Isaac is a hard working football player. He's got a brother that plays for the New York Jets. He's got a good pedigree. Isaac has a long road ahead. He's got a chance to develop into a solid player, but won't have as much time as others as he only has 2 years of eligibility left. He could contribute right away on special teams, but with Blake Bell set to play TE, as it would seem, Isaac will have to really work hard to see the field. He provides great size and a great work ethic, so only time will tell.

What we expect: I think Isaac will be a special teams player at OU with some snaps in the future. I don't see him being an all Big 12 type player, but I can see him being fairly solid when his name is called. If he can master blocking schemes, he could see the field a lot more than we all think.

OU Player Comparison: Lance Donley

 

justice-hansen

Justice Hansen – QB – 6'4" 215 – Edmond, OK – Santa Fe High School

Justice Hansen is a guy that every fan in Sooner Nation has their eyes on. He's a local product, good size, good accuracy and a quiet kid. Sound familiar? I'm not comparing Justice to Sam or Jason just yet, but he possesses all the tools they had coming out of high school. Tremendous athlete, quicker than the eye makes it seem, and a gamer. Justice was involved in the state playoffs every year he played at Santa Fe. His senior season was cut short due to an ankle injury suffered midway through the season. He won't play right away, especially with the way Trevor Knight played in the Sugar Bowl, but I think it's a matter of time before we see Justice take the field by storm in Norman.

What we expect: Redshirt in 2014. He will learn and practice and be right where he needs to be when his name is called. Justice has a lot of room to fill out in his frame, but is already pretty good size for a college quarterback. I will predict Justice will start for Oklahoma in 2016.

OU Player Comparison: Sam Bradford

 

joe-mixon

Joe Mixon – RB – 6'2" 210 – Oakley, CA – Freedom High School

And we arrive at the prized possession for the 2014 OU signing class. Joe Mixon. Some say Adrian Peterson, some say Demarco Murray, some say a complete bust. Only time will tell for Joe, but you can't deny his skills. He was the MVP of the Army All American game, as was AD. He's fast. He's shifty. He's elusive. He has great hands. He has everything you want in a running back and then some. He will make you miss, make you fall down and run you over. There's not much Joe can't do. He's the number 1 rated running back in the class of 2014 as said by Rivals.com. Most of Sooner Nation is on the edge of their seats awaiting his debut.

What we expect: He'll play right away. I don't see him being the 90% carry guy, but I can see him splitting the carries with Keith Ford. By the end of his freshman year, he will be getting the bulk of the carries. He'll also split out wide and play some receiver, I'd imagine. This is truly one of the best players OU has recruited since, well, Demarco Murray, I'd say.

OU Player Comparison: Demarco Murray

Should the Thunder Trade Westbrook?

This is a question I've seen floating around the rumor mill lately, so let me go ahead and get it out of the way right off the bat.

No.

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No, no, no, and no.

Not only should the Thunder not trade Russell Westbrook, but there's no chance Sam Presti is even considering it.

"But look how good they are doing without him! Imagine the return they could get for him! A big man? Draft picks galore? The possibilities are endless!"

Oh how soon some forget the 2013 playoffs. Remember that time when the Thunder went from virtual locks for a return to the finals to being bounced in the second round after a mere five games to the Grizzlies? The same Memphis team who was then immediately swept by the Spurs in the Western Conference finals.

There's also that little tidbit about KD having one of the best months in NBA history. Let's not kid ourselves here. Durant is one of the two best players currently in the league, but he's not going to be able to keep up that torrid pace forever.

Here's the simple facts. Westbrook is a top five NBA player. The Thunder were 21-4 to start the season before he underwent the knife yet again.

Oklahoma City is a better team every day of the week with Russell Westbrook on the floor. Let that sink in for a moment.

No amount of imaginary fairy-tale haul in return for Westbrook is going to be better than what the Thunder already have in place.

Ibaka has stepped up his game and playing the best ball of his career. Jeremy Lamb has finally got his first amount of legit playing time and is starting to blossom into the role player they hoped for when acquiring him from Houston last season. Reggie Jackson has filled in for Westbrook better than anyone could have hoped for, but he is no long-term replacement.

So please, let's put this terrible rumor to bed already. The Thunder are not trading Westbrook.

No doubt the Thunder have gone on a tremendous run despite the loss of their all-star point guard, but this should not ignite demands for a Westbrook trade. Instead, think of how much better this team will be with him.

Won't be too much longer now. I can't wait.