Oklahoma has sat with a need in the backcourt and it was one they squelched some on Monday thanks to one of the best sit-out transfers available. North Texas guard Umoja Gibson committed to the Sooners, giving OU a tough and well-rounded guard in the backcourt.
“The talk I had with Coach (Lon) Kruger, he told me I fit the system perfectly and that I could come in and contribute right away. I had long talks and consideration with all that he said and it all made sense. I just went with the move and chose Oklahoma,” Gibson told Rivals.com. “The up-tempo system that plays fast and multiple people bring up the ball. He talked about my abilities to shoot it and get down hill but also to get others involved.”
Selecting the Sooners over Arkansas, Auburn, Creighton and SMU, Gibson is coming off a season that he started all 31 games and was named C-USA Second Team All-Conference. He is slated to sit out next season with two full years to play beginning with the 2021-2022 season, though he will ask for a waiver to play immediately if the one-time transfer rule is not passed next month.
A 6-foot-1 guard that can play the playmaking and scoring roles in the backcourt, Gibson has never averaged anything less than 10 points in any given season at North Texas. He is a respected scorer that finished in double figures in 15 of his final 17 games this past winter. He completed the season by averaging 14.5 points, 2.2 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.4 steals, while making close to 40-percent of his perimeter attempts.
Someone that will bring plenty of experience and shot making value to OU’s backcourt, Gibson will be slated to play alongside incoming guard Trey Phipps and Rivals150 junior Bijan Cortes. The Sooners will lose Austin Reaves to graduation after next season and are expected to see an offseason of development in rising sophomore De’Vion Harmon.
