Tulsa Basketball’s Summer Job

Originally Published: Jul 31, 2010 6:1 PM CDT

Kyle Dierking
Oklahoma Sports Mobile Journalist

TULSA, Oklahoma – The gym is quiet and the seats at the Reynolds Center are practically empty.

As fans begin to focus on football, TU basketball, like just about every other team in the country, is spending their summer in the weight room and on the basketball court.

“We try to push each other as far as we can go and hard as we can so we can get ready for the season,” said sophomore guard Scottie Haralson.

Pick-up basketball is especially important this summer. The Golden Hurricane rotation will be deeper this year, but the roster a couple of transfers and newcomers will be in the mix with TU’s returning core of guards Justin Hurtt and Glenn Andrews as well as forwards Steven Idlet and Joe Richard.

Hurtt has emerged as the team’s leader and captain after the departure of seniors Jerome Jordan and Ben Uzoh.

Jordan and Uzoh both played on NBA Summer League teams and Hurtt expects to do the same a year from now. He’s projected as a 2nd round draft pick by NBADraft.net next year, but right now he’s helping the newcomers ease their transition to college life.

“I just let them know the experiences I had as a freshman and let them know it’s not going to be easy coming in but it’s going to be a fun experience,” Hurtt said. “They’re going to have to learn a lot in a short amount of time.”

Incoming freshman Tim Peete admits the transition to college “hasn’t been too hard or too easy.” Hurtt has taken the guard under his wing and Peete is already feeling a good vibe about his first season of college basketball.

“I’ve been on some good teams at a young age – I’ve been blessed to do that but this is one of the funnest teams I’ve been on and I haven’t been here but seven weeks,” Peete said.

While Peete is eager to start the season, Haralson had to sit out last season after transferring from UConn.

“The year went by fast – I’m kind of glad it went by fast,” Haralson said. “I’m just anxious to get out there and do my thing.”

Tulsa got a chance to play against other competition a few weeks ago when the players drove to Norman to play Oklahoma. TU won five out of nine pick-up games against the Sooners, according to Haralson.

"We want to play against good competition so we can make a run in the NCAA Tournament,” Haralson said.

It will be three months before the stands are filled, but the preparation for the season is already well underway.

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