Having already received verbal commitments from junior college center Akolda Manyang and shooting guard Rashard Odomes, Oklahoma head coach Lon Kruger added a third recruit to his 2015 class Thursday afternoon in the from of 6-foot-5 small forward Christian James. As was the case with Odomes, Oklahoma crossed the border into Texas for its latest addition.
James hails from Bellaire, Texas, and he played for the Houston Hoops AAU program this past spring/summer. James averaged 9.0 points and 4.9 rebounds per game in Nike EYBL play. The other two finalists fro James were Houston and Oregon, but Oklahoma was the only school that he officially visited before making his decision.
James has been praised for his athleticism and ability to finish above the rim, and he joins an Oklahoma perimeter rotation that won’t lack for depth in 2015. He and Odomes will join a group that includes Buddy Hield, Isaiah Cousins, Frank Booker and Jordan Woodard. Below are highlights of James’ play during the summer, courtesy of Ball is Life.