Oklahoma's Buddy Hield will return for senior season
Oklahoma guard Buddy Hield will forgo the NBA draft and return to school for his senior season, he announced at a media conference on Friday.
Hield was named to Sports Illustrated'ssecond-team All-America after averaging 17.4 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.9 assists this season for the Sooners. He led the Big 12 in scoring and was named the conference's player of the year.
"It was a tough decision, and I obviously took it near the deadline," said Hield prior to the media conference. "But I just went through the process. I listened to coach [Lon] Kruger, I listened to my mentors back home, my high school coach, and my mom and my family. I did a lot of research on players and the history of the NBA draft. I just did what I felt was best for me and my family. I feel like if I come back I'll be in a better situation next year."
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Oklahoma finished 24–11 in 2014-15, earning a No. 3 seed in the NCAA tournament before losing to Michigan State in the Sweet Sixteen.
Hield said the team has "a lot of unfinished business" and named the Final Four as a goal he wants to achieve next season.
The Sooners are bringing in two three-star guards and four-star center Akolda Manyang from the 2015 recruiting class.
- Molly Geary
