Kruger Inks Top-10 Signing Class

NORMAN ? Oklahoma men's basketball head coach Lon Kruger announced the Sooners' highly-anticipated 2019 recruiting class Wednesday.

The Sooners' recruiting class is listed in the top 10 nationally by both ESPN (No. 8) and 247Sports (No. 9) and is ranked No. 11 by Rivals. Both ESPN and 247 also list Oklahoma's incoming class as the best in the Big 12.

The class is comprised of three high school seniors all ranked in the top 100 nationally along with two experienced junior college transfers.

Making up the signing class are guards De'Vion Harmon (Denton, Texas) and Alondes Williams (River Grove, Ill.), forwards Jalen Hill (Las Vegas, Nev.) and Victor Iwuakor (Sulphur Springs, Texas) and center Corbin Merritt (Tallahassee, Fla.).

“This is a terrific group of young men who have all been committed to being Sooners for some time now and are thrilled to join our program,” said Kruger. “The range of skills that they bring to Oklahoma makes this a very exciting class.”

De'Vion Harmon / 6-1 / 190 / G / Denton, TX

A four-star point guard out of John Guyer HS, Harmon is the highest-touted member of the Sooners' incoming class. A top-50 player nationally, Harmon is listed as a top-five point guard by 247Sports and top-eight at his position by Rivals and ESPN. He is a 2018 Max Preps Junior All-America honorable mention and has earned numerous Texas high school basketball honors, including District 6-6A Co-MVP in 2017 and 2018 and being selected to the 2018 Texas 6A All-State Team.

A strong 6-1 point guard, Harmon averaged 15.7 points, 5.2 assists and 1.7 steals last season at John Guyer.

Harmon has been chosen on numerous occasions to represent Team USA on the world stage. He has won gold medals at both the 2017 FIBA Americas U16 Championship and 2018 FIBA U17 World Cup. As a member of the 2018 USA U17 World Cup Team, Harmon started in all seven games and averaged a team second-best 13.1 points to with a team-high 3.4 assists to help the USA go 7-0 record and earn the gold medal in Santa Fe, Argentina.

Kruger on Harmon: “Devion is a big-time competitor. He pushes the ball offensively. He's great at drive-and-kicks, making shots and is an outstanding defender. He brings an attitude of preparing to win. Very unselfish and great team player.”

Jalen Hill / 6-7 / 180 / F / Las Vegas, NV

Ranked in the top 100 nationally on both 247Sports (No. 100) and ESPN (No. 99), Hill is a 6-7 small forward who was runner-up for the Nevada Gatorade Player of the Year in 2018.

A product of Clark High School in Las Vegas, Hill averaged 17 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists during his junior season. Hill was both an all-state and all-conference first-team selection.

Kruger on Hill: “We've known Jalen from our Vegas days. He's really versatile, outstanding feel for the game. At 6-7, he can play three or four different positions. He's an outstanding scorer with a really good feel defensively. We're excited about having him in the program.”

Victor Iwuakor / 6-7 / 230 / F / Sulphur Springs, TX

An explosive and lengthy big man, Iwuakor is ranked in the top 100 on both 247Sports (No. 94) and ESPN (No. 85). Standing at 6-7, Iwuakor is a talented rim protector from Sulphur Springs, Texas.

Last season at Sulphur Springs HS, Iwuakor averaged 16 points, 11 rebounds and 6 blocks. He was named the district's defensive MVP in 2017 and overall district MVP in 2018.

Kruger on Iwuakor: “Victor is just a big-time athlete. Great enthusiasm for playing and for being a Sooner. He's played inside most of his life, but we'll move him out on the floor and make progress every year. His biggest asset is the ability to block shots. He changes shots on the defensive end and is a great rebounder as well.”

Corbin Merritt / 6-9 / 252 / C / Tallahassee, FL

Joining the Sooners from Daytona State College, Merritt is a 6-9 big with a 7-3 wingspan. Merritt played in only five games during his freshman year at Daytona (totaled 17 points on 8-of-12 shooting) before his season ended due to injury. By claiming a medical redshirt, Merritt will have three years of eligibility at Oklahoma.

Before junior college, Merritt attended Godby HS in Tallahassee, Fla., where he averaged 18 points, 11 rebounds and 4 blocks during his senior season. Merritt helped lead Godby to a 25-2 record during his senior year and was named to the All-Big Bend First Team and Florida All-State Third-Team. ESPN, Rivals and 247Sports all list Merritt as a three-start recruit.

Kruger on Merritt: “Corbin comes in as a sophomore. He's long and lengthy, has played inside for the most of his career but we'll move him out on the floor as well. He can shoot the perimeter jumper, can score inside. He has a rangy wingspan and is a shot-blocker and rebounder as well.”

Alondes Williams / 6-5 / 190 / G / River Grove, IL

A junior college national champion, Alondes Williams is a talented shooter and ball handler. The 6-5 wing comes from Triton College, where he averaged 13.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists in 36 games last season while shooting .577 from the field and .376 from 3-point range. Williams helped Triton capture the 2018 NJCAA Division II championship, scoring 22 points with seven rebounds in the title game against Pima.

In high school, Williams averaged 12.3 points per game as a senior at Riverside HS in Milwaukee, Wis., and was named first-team all-conference. An efficient scorer, he shot 22-of-40 (.550) from 3-point range and 99-of-130 (.762) from the field.

Kruger on Williams: “Alondes has a good feel for the game. He's played the 2 through 4 (positions) and has played some point for is junior college team. He comes in as a junior. He can score from the perimeter, but his ability to put the ball on the floor and make plays for others is his biggest asset.

Ticket Special

The 2019 class has signed on to be the next generation of Sooners. Now it's your turn to commit to being there for all of the action. In celebration of signing day, Oklahoma Athletics is offering special pricing on ticket packages for the 2018-19 season. A Sooner Express Pass - which guarentees admission to every home game - is priced at just $140 ($10 a game). OU's eight-game mini plan is discounted to $105.

Order now to take advantage of the savings. You Belong Here!