Capel Adds Three More Players to Next Season's Roster

The Sooners added two transfers and a verbal commitment to their 2010 recruiting class, including two point guards.

Thursday, May 26th 2011, 11:41 am

By: News On 6

Capel Adds Three More Players to Next Season's Roster

Originally Published: Apr 26, 2010 6:35 PM CDT

Gerald Goodridge
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

NORMAN, Oklahoma -- The University of Oklahoma added three players Monday when University of New Orleans transfer Carl Blair and junior college All-American C.J. Washington signed paperwork to join the team,and receiveda verbal commitment from Calvin Newell.

Blair averaged 9.2 points per game, 4.4 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game in his freshman season with New Orleans. Because of UNO’s move from Division I to Division III the 6-foot-2-inch 205-pound guard will not lose a year of eligibility.

"Carl had a good freshman year," said Oklahoma head coach Jeff Capel in a press release. "He's a kid we looked at out of high school, where he was a big-time winner. He led his team to a state title his senior year and then went and won at prep school. He brings good size to the point guard position."

Washington earned first-team junior college All-American honors in his sophomore year at Connors State, after averaging 19.3 points, a school record 13.0 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game in 2009. The 6-foot-7-inch 210-pound forward helped lead his squad to an appearance at the national junior college tournament in his sophomore year and NJCAA Final Four appearance in his freshman campaign.

"C.J. comes from a winning program at Connors State," said Capel. "He's been very well coached and will provide needed frontcourt depth for us. He rebounded at a very high level last year and he's also a guy who can shoot the basketball out to 15 feet. C.J. should help us down low. We're happy he signed with us."

Newell is a consensus three-star point guard recruit out of Evelyn Mack high school in North Carolina. The 6-foot 180-pound prep player is expected to compete with Blair for the starting point guard position.

Blair, Washington and Newell join a group of four players already committed to Oklahoma to replace the five players that have left the program since the end of the season.