July 17, 2021 Issue, Page 4 of 8

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4 July 17, 2021 Sports OU Baseball: Hardman taken in fifth Five things to know round by Yankees, Olds, Ruffcorn follow about NBA Draft prospect Clay Horning, The Norman Transcript pect, while Baseball America listed him 226th. Jalen Suggs Hardman has eligibility remaining at OU but getting him to re- Tyler Hardman did not go unnoticed. turn may be a challenge. The Sooner first baseman, whose historic offensive season led He's coming off the best season any Sooner has enjoyed at the Joe Mussatto, The Oklahoman to his being named a first-team All-American by the National Col- plate in a very long time and he's already 22 years old. lege Baseball Writers Association, may soon become a New York —Olds may have a decision to make. Jalen Suggs caught the pass in stride with 3.3 seconds left. Yankee farmhand, with a nice signing bonus to boot. He just finished his redshirt sophomore season and his selec- He turned up court and took three hard dribbles before pulling Hardman was one of three Sooners selected in the Major tion by the Red Sox is estimated by MLB.com's draft tracker to be up from 40 feet. League Baseball draft, which took place over three days, lasting worth about $239,000. Suggs eyed the ball with a kind of knowing look, and sure 20 rounds, concluding on Tuesday. Though draft eligible out of McCloud High School in 2018, enough, his shot banked in hard off the glass. Following a season in which he flirted with batting .400 and Olds was not selected despite the draft going 40 rounds. "There are onions, Jim," Bill Raftery said on the call, "and finished at .397, hitting 12 home runs and driving in 49, to go Olds finished the 2021 season with a 4-6 record and a 5.23 then there are MAJOR ONIONS. With a kiss!" with 19 doubles, an on-base percentage of .481 and a slugging ERA, striking out 101 over 75 2/3 innings. Suggs' buzzer-beating Final Four heave, followed by his cele- percentage of .661, New York selected him with its fifth-round The Red Sox selected Olds well ahead of his projection by Base- bratory leap onto the scorer's table, instantly became an iconic pick, 153rd overall. ball America, which ranked him the nation's 422nd-best prospect moment in NCAA Tournament history. Sooner pitchers Wyatt Olds and Jason Ruffcorn were also se- and Perfect Game USA, which ranked him No. 522. It sent undefeated Gonzaga to the championship game, and lected, Olds in the seventh round, by the Boston Red Sox, 196th —Ruffcorn's draft position is a tribute to his own good judg- sent underdog UCLA home with a heartbreaking 93-90 defeat. overall and Ruffcorn in the eighth round by the Philadelphia Phil- ment after he was taken in the 18th round of the 2019 draft, yet Suggs and the Zags finished 40 minutes short of perfection lies, 235th overall. chose to return to Norman. with an 86-70 loss to Baylor in the title game. Suggs, a 6-foot-4 Hardman was draft eligible following his redshirt sophomore Had the 2020 draft extended to 20 rounds, Ruffcorn would freshman guard, scored a team-high 22 points in the loss. During its Final Four run, Gonzaga took down OU 87-71 in season last year, but not selected in a process that, due to the likely have been taken higher than the 18th, having not allowed the second round. Suggs had 16 points, three rebounds, three coronavirus pandemic and minor league baseball being shut an earned run over seven appearances in the pandemic shortened assists and three steals. down in its wake, was limited to five rounds. college season. Here are four more things to know about Suggs: That left him to come out of nowhere this season after hitting Ruffcorn finished his senior season with a 4-2 record, an ERA Suggs held scholarship offers from Ohio State, Georgia, .270 with three home runs and 12 RBIs during a 2020 campaign of 4.00 and 74 strikeouts in 54 innings. Iowa, Iowa State, Nebraska, Michigan State and Minnesota ... that was shut down by the pandemic after 18 games. Coming back for his senior year, and excelling again as OU's to play football. According to MLB.com's draft tracker, Hardman is due a sign- closer, yet harboring mixed success as a late-season starter, he He was the 18th-ranked dual-threat quarterback in the na- ing bonus around $346,000 given the position he was selected. was selected 10 rounds higher than two years ago, moving up 299 tion, according to the 247Sports composite. The Yankees valued Hardman more than many projected his spots. According to MLB.com's draft tracker, Rufforn's signing Suggs quarterbacked SMB, a co-op program of four Minne- sota schools, to back-to-back state championship games as a value. MLB.com penciled him in as the draft's 194th best pros- bonus should be around $177,000. junior and senior. SMB won the Class 4A Minnesota state title in Suggs' junior season. Suggs passed for 216 yards and three touchdowns, and Berry Tramel: Tramel’s ScissorTales: rushed for 77 yards and another score. He also played defensive back, snagging nine interceptions as a senior and returning two of them for touchdowns. Defense is in his blood. He's a second cousin of Ravens great Terrell Sug- Big 12’s Bob Bowlsby talks transfer gs, a seven-time Pro Bowl linebacker. On the basketball court, Suggs led Minnehaha Academy (Minneapolis) to three Minnesota state championships. A portal, 12-team playoff & NIL fourth was likely if not for his COVID-shortened senior season. Suggs was high school teammates with Chet Holmgren, the consensus No. 1 prospect in the 2021 class. Like Suggs, Hol- mgren is headed to Gonzaga, and he'll likely be a top pick in the Berry Tramel, The Oklaho- tinues to mount that not only 14. Nikola Mirotic (23rd But WVU clearly was moving 2022 NBA Draft. man is the relationship between by the Bulls, via trade): Only ahead with Doege. Suggs averaged 23.5 points, 7.3 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 3.8 eventual career quality and played five NBA seasons but Louisiana Tech, of Confer- steals per game as a senior at Minnehaha. Bob Bowlsby didn't bite. draft selection not linear, it's was quite productive, averag- ence USA, has a solid quarter- In 2019, Suggs was named Mr. Football and Mr. Basketball in In this summer of endless not even close to linear. ing 12.3 points a game. back pedigree. Fifty years ago, Minnesota. He became the first athlete in state history to win major meteors hitting college Here are the best 15 play- 15. Marcus Morris (14th by Terry Bradshaw was the Bull- the awards in the same season. football — the explosion of the ers from the 2011, ranked by the Rockets): Should be higher dogs' QB. In more recent times, Suggs committed to play basketball at Gonzaga, becoming transfer portal, the proposed basketball-reference.com's and maybe much higher. Has Tim Ratty (now OSU's quarter- the highest-ranked recruit in program history. 12-team College Football Play- VORP (value over replacement averaged 12.2 points a game The five-star guard chose the Zags over finalists Minnesota, back coach), Luke McCown and off and the arrival of Name/ player): and shot 38 percent from Iowa State, Florida and Florida State. Jeff Driskel have made the Na- Image/Likeness rights for 1. Kawhi Leonard (15th by 3-point range. Even after committing in January 2020, Suggs said playing tional Football League as Loui- professionally overseas before the NBA was still a "very seri- athletes — how does Bowlsby the Spurs, via trade): Traded Other notable players from rank them? by Indiana on draft night for the draft: siana Tech quarterbacks. ous" option. I asked the conference George Hill. Zoomed quickly ^ Markieff Morris, Marcus' The Bulldogs have been a Suggs kept his commitment to Mark Few and Gonzaga, help- commissioner that question from role player to best player twin, went one pick ahead of solid program. In coach Skip ing lead the Bulldogs to a 31-1 season. Wednesday as he staged a on the storied Spurs to super- his brother and has been a rea- Holtz's nine seasons, Louisi- Suggs, a versatile two-way guard, averaged 14.4 points, 5.3 state-of-the-conference ad- star. sonable facsimile of his identi- ana Tech is 61-41, and the Bull- rebounds and 4.5 assists per game. He shot 50% from the field dress at Big 12 Media Days in 2. Jimmy Butler (30th by the cal facsimile, just not quite as dogs have been to bowl games and 34% from 3-point range. Arlington, Texas. Bulls): Self-made player who good. in seven straight years. He was the WCC Newcomer of the Year and was named a Which will have the most is Kawhi Lite — just don't tell ^ How good was this draft? Louisiana Tech has two mar- second-team AP All-American. impact on college football? Butler that. Bojan Bogdanovic (the Utah quee games this season. The Suggs is close friends with Paige Bueckers, the best player in "It's honestly a question I 3. Kyrie Irving (first by the Bogdanovic) did not make the Bulldogs open September 4 at women's college basketball. haven't given much thought Cavaliers): The first pick was top 15. He probably should Mississippi State and play at Bueckers swept every national award as a freshman at Con- to," Bowlsby said. "I guess I a major hit for Cleveland, but have. He's been a good player. North Carolina State on Octo- necticut. would probably rate all of them still not the best player in the ^ There are top-10 misses ber 2. The 5-foot-11 guard averaged 20 points per game while 100 in terms of in terms of im- draft. and busts galore. Derrick Wil- Tech's 2020 starting quar- shooting 52% from the field, 46% from 3-point range and 87% portance." 4. Kemba Walker (ninth by liams went second overall to terback, Luke Anthony, suf- from the free throw line. The transfer portal and NIL the Bobcats): A franchise cor- Minnesota and never became fered a broken leg against Bueckers grew up near Suggs in the Minneapolis suburb of affect all sports, so the pro- nerstone in Charlotte, now rotation-worthy. The Cavaliers Texas Christian on December Hopkins, and she and Suggs met in elementary school through posed playoff expansion "per- with the Thunder (temporar- picked center Tristan Thomp- basketball. 12 and is not expected to be haps wouldn't have quite the ily?). son fourth; he's been OK but In April, Suggs and Bueckers cheered each other on in their back by the start of the season. breadth of impact." 5. Nikola Vucevic (16th by nothing special. Jan Vesley respective Final Fours. Bowlsby said the lawsuits the 76ers): Excellent center for went sixth to the Wizards and Kendall should contend with Suggs won't be available unless the Thunder trades up from concerning NIL are not "going many years in Orlando, now was a total miss. Bismack Bi- sophomore Aaron Allen, who No. 6 into the two through four range. to go away anytime soon. And with Chicago. yombo went seventh to the started the New Orleans Bowl Suggs is a dynamic guard on both ends of the floor who we don't have the opportunity 6. Tobias Harris (19th by the Bobcats (via trade) and hasn't against Georgia Southern. would fit well next to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Suggs is a point to put a priority on those. We Bucks, via trade): All-around been an impact player. Jim- The new transfer culture in guard, but he has the frame at 6-foot-4 and 205 pounds to play just go to court when the judge good player, in both Orlando mer Fredette went 10th to the college sports has some success off the ball as well. tells us to. and Philadelphia. Kings (via trade) and couldn't stories. It also can lead to more Suggs is an excellent passer, particularly when he's pushing "So, you know, I think they're 7. Isaiah Thomas (60th by play a lick. So half the top 10 disappointments. At Louisiana the pace. He averaged 4.5 assists per game and was always look- all 1-A, 1-B, 1-C, and we're go- the Kings): Mighty mite whose was a bad selection in a loaded Tech, perhaps Kendall can put ing to involve his teammates. ing to be dealing with all of career has petered out but was draft. Chew on that. a positive capper on his college He kept defenders off balance in the pick-and-roll as both a them in the future." a premium scorer (22.2 points ^ Meanwhile, some solid career. scoring and passing threat. Suggs shot 59% from inside the arc. On July 1, players became a game over four seasons) for players went far down the list. My look at the 2009 NBA His biggest weakness is his 3-point shot. He shot 34% from eligible to be paid for commer- awhile. The Knickerbockers got Iman Draft inspired some research deep on 3.5 attempts per game at Gonzaga. cial endeavors or appearances, 8. Klay Thompson (11th by Shumpert at 17. The Spurs got from an OU fan. Suggs' defense raises his floor. and players of all sports imme- the Warriors): Should be high- Cory Joseph at 29. The Spurs, Jon: "Reading your re-rank- He's a shutdown perimeter defender and is an all-around ball diately announced deals. er on this list. Injuries have via trade, got Davis Bertans at ing of the draft and where you hawk, just like he was as a high school defensive back. "There was a common sidelined him for two full sea- 42. had Blake Griffin slotted got Suggs might not be the best positional fit for the Thunder, misperception that the sky was sons but still one of the best Austin Kendall has a new but he's one of the best players in the draft, and best available me thinking about his time gonna fall on July 1, and then shooters in basketball history. home. The former OU quarter- should be OKC's priority during the rebuild. — Scottie Barnes at OU. Blake was so incred- we were going we were going to 9. Jonas Valanciunas (fifth back, who has spent the last — Jonathan Kuminga — Keon Johnson — James Bouknight be in Armageddon," Bowlsby by the Raptors): Waited a year two years at West Virginia, is ible at OU, but I found some — Davion Mitchell — Josh Giddey — Franz Wagner — Evan said. "Obviously, that hasn't to come over from Europe, but transferring to Louisiana Tech. stats that I thought were head Mobley happened. a solid center who has averaged Kendall spent three years scratching about his time at "There have been some 12.9 points and 9.2 rebounds in Norman, first as a redshirt, OU. Here are some other OU things that have occurred that per game. then as a backup to Baker May- players that played a similar raised eyebrows, but generally 10. Chandler Parsons (38th field (2017) and Kyler Mur- amount of games for OU — speaking, schools are manag- by the Rockets): Injuries cur- ray (2018). When OU showed Harvey Grant, 73 games, 19.06 ing it. There isn't the consis- tailed his career, but a good interest in Alabama transfer points per game; Blake Griffin, tency that I might have liked. scorer and shooter in Memphis Jalen Hurts, Kendall decided 68 games, 18.79 ppg; David But it is pressing ahead. And and Houston. Oh, had Sam to transfer. He landed at West Little, 66 games, 18.62 ppg; eventually, I think we'll have a Presti pried Parsons away in Virginia. Mookie Blaylock, 74 games, chance to figure it out." the James Harden trade. At WVU, Kendall was the 18.08 ppg; Brent Price, 65 The 2011 NBA Draft was 11. Reggie Jackson (24th by starting QB in 2019. But he games, 18.05 ppg. Blake just outstanding. Not that anyone the Thunder): Excellent pick by lost the job to Jarrett Doege in seemed otherworldly to me. necessarily knew it before- Presti. The OKC sixth man for 2020. Obviously, Harvey and Mookie hand. awhile, then the Pistons start- As a Mountaineer, Kendall doing that on the same team The eventual five best play- ing point guard, now a Clipper completed 198 of 327 passes, ers in the draft were selected sparkplug. 60.6 percent, for 2,153 yards, is incredible. Loved watch- 10-Suite Elk City Commercial ing David and Brent play, but 15-30-1-9-16. That's right. 12. Kenneth Faried (22nd 14 touchdowns and 10 inter- Open Public Inspections 11-2pm Fri July 23 & Aug 6 they never seemed in the same Just one of the five best play- by the Nuggets): Rebounding ceptions. ers were in the top eight. demon on some good Denver In his final game with West league as the other three. I ELK CITY, OK • 1030 W 7th St 7,876+/- sf former Bed & Breakfast on 0.48+/- ac. Could be repurposed for The next five best players? teams. Virginia, Kendall relieved the guess it shows the incredible medical or treatment center, restaurant/coffee house, professional offices, Picked 19-60-11-5-38. 13. Enes Kanter (third by injured Doege and led the transformation that Blake had boutique assisted living, wedding/event facility and more! Seven all-stars were in this the Jazz): International man Mountaineers to a 24-21 vic- from his freshman to sopho- Auctions 9am Wed August 18 draft. Five were taken outside of goodwill has carved out a tory over Army in the Liberty more year." the top 10 picks. career as a productive backup Bowl last December. Kendall's The truth is, 18 points a As we continue our series of center who can score and re- 20-yard touchdown pass to T.J. game went a lot further in 800.801.8003 • williamsauction.com/ElkCity repicking the NBA Drafts of bound (11.5 points, 7.9 re- Simmons with five minutes Blake's years than with Billy's the 21st century, the data con- bounds, 22 minutes a game). left was the game-winner. years. OK PHIL HEILIGER RE LIC 129912. BUYER’S PREMIUM MAY APPLY.