Oklahoma’s Porter Moser Had to Recruit the Same Player Twice This Offseason
Oklahoma men’s basketball coach Porter Moser faced an unusual challenge this offseason—securing a key player’s commitment not once, but twice.
Forward Tae Davis, who transferred to Oklahoma from Notre Dame earlier this offseason, has officially withdrawn from the 2025 NBA Draft after testing the waters, according to CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein. Though Davis has yet to play a game for the Sooners, his return is a major boost for OU.
Davis was Moser’s first portal addition of the cycle and a crucial one. The 6-foot-9 junior averaged 15.1 points and 5.3 rebounds while starting every game for Notre Dame last season. His size and production filled a pressing need for Oklahoma, which struggled with frontcourt depth in its first year in the SEC.
The Sooners weren’t just battling the transfer portal—they were up against the NBA Draft calendar. Losing Davis this late in the offseason would have made replacing him nearly impossible with a player of similar caliber. Retaining him gives OU both depth and a potential starter in the frontcourt.
Davis wasn’t the only notable addition. Moser and new assistant general manager Trae Young—yes, the four-time NBA All-Star—have been busy. The Sooners brought in three other transfers: Alabama forward Derrion Reid (a former five-star recruit), Miami point guard Nigel Pack, and St. Joe’s point guard Xzayvier Brown.
They also signed three incoming freshmen: 6-foot-10 Kai Rogers, 6-foot-11 Andreas Holst, and 6-foot-6 Alec Blair. Combined with returning bigs Jeff Nwankwo, Mo Wague, and Kuol Atak, the Sooners have reloaded their frontcourt with size and potential.
While Davis opted to stay in college, the same can’t be said for Oklahoma freshman point guard Jeremiah Fears. After a standout debut season, Fears has declared for the NBA Draft and is now projected as a top-10 pick.
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