The reigning Big 12 Player of the Year will have a chance to win it again as a senior in 2015-2016, as Oklahoma’s Buddy Hield turned down the NBA Draft in favor of a senior season in Norman.
Hield averaged 17.4 points and 5.4 rebounds per game as a junior, while helping the Sooners to a 24-11 record and a spot in the Sweet 16.
The return of Hield puts Oklahoma squarely in the conversation with Iowa State and Kansas when talking about favorites to win the Big 12 Conference next season. Both the Cyclones and Jayhawks return vital, experienced pieces, but perhaps none as explosive as Hield. His presence likely makes OU a preseason Top 10 team, and will make the Sooners a hot commodity from NCAA Tournament bracket time.
"I want to thank God, my family, coaches, teammates and Sooner Nation for ur support and patience. I'll be back for my Senior Year #Sooners💯
— Buddy Love !!!! (@buddyhield) April 24, 2015
While his return should be celebrated, Hield is not without room for improvement.
In Oklahoma’s final ten games, Hield shot better than 40-percent from the field just twice. Over the same span, Hield averaged 8.2 three-point attempts game, making just 29-percent of those shots. With Hield’s explosive abilities, there’s no reason that he should be settling for shots from beyond that arc at the rate he does. That tendency is a large reason for all of his shooting percentages, from the field, dropping from his sophomore year averages.
He’s an 83-percent free throw shooter with the body and athleticism to get where he wants on the court, so he’ll want to average more than just 3.7 free throws per game, especially if the Sooners are to make a run towards a Final Four in 2016.
