2025 Signees

[Bogus Smith]

.....and the signings begin!!

 

Class 4A girls basketball: Bethany tops Lincoln Christian for second straight title

Bethany’s Donley commits to Oral Roberts

[Bogus Smith]

https://www.hudl.com/profile/17023534/AMaya-holton

https://www.maxpreps.com/tx/san-antonio/east-central-hornets/athletes/amaya-holton/?careerid=7qpu54htoofo8

 

Amarillo High’s Bella Edwards & Brianna Cloud sign letters of intent for women’s basketball & softball

https://www.maxpreps.com/tx/amarillo/amarillo-sandies/athletes/bella-edwards/?careerid=3ocuogb01dj77

[Bogus Smith]

A spot has just opened up for another star to fill........

I guess Tyla won't be playing in the WNIT or WBIT - whichever invite we decide to take.

 

[Dave Connor]

In recent years, a number of ORU players have entered the Transfer Portal, but after testing the waters, they have stayed with ORU. I don't know all the rules, but it appears to me that entering the TP does not automatically take you off your current team until you commit to another school. However, if the ORU coach tells you that you will not be on the team any more, that's final. Those of you are more knowledgeable about this process, please correct my  misperceptions. 

[2014Grad]

I’m a little confused, I thought the portal opens up on the 24th+25th? Is this just announcing intent to enter it?

 

https://www.si.com/college/purdue/basketball/2025-transfer-portal-dates-for-mens-womens-college-basketball-ncaa

[Bogus Smith]

1 hour ago, 2014Grad said:

I’m a little confused, I thought the portal opens up on the 24th+25th? Is this just announcing intent to enter it?

 

https://www.si.com/college/purdue/basketball/2025-transfer-portal-dates-for-mens-womens-college-basketball-ncaa

Yes, this is their intent to enter the Portal.  It does not open for another ten days. 

Although some players may be "testing the waters", unless there is a coaching change, the team the player is leaving will be looking to fill the spot the leaving player had on the team.  Therefore, there won't be a position for the player to return to if they have told your coach and teammates that "I'm outta here!". 

[TrueBlue82]

10 hours ago, Bogus Smith said:

Yes, this is their intent to enter the Portal.  It does not open for another ten days. 

Although some players may be "testing the waters", unless there is a coaching change, the team the player is leaving will be looking to fill the spot the leaving player had on the team.  Therefore, there won't be a position for the player to return to if they have told your coach and teammates that "I'm outta here!". 

The timing is VERY odd, especially with ORU in the post-season mix and the transfer portal not yet open. This would indicate to me that Tyla has “had enough” of ORU basketball and is not just “testing the waters”.  This is too bad, as Tyla received significant playing time as a freshman and appeared to have a “high ceiling” going forward. 

[Bogus Smith]

8 minutes ago, TrueBlue82 said:

The timing is VERY odd, especially with ORU in the post-season mix and the transfer portal not yet open. This would indicate to me that Tyla has “had enough” of ORU basketball and is not just “testing the waters”.  This is too bad, as Tyla received significant playing time as a freshman and appeared to have a “high ceiling” going forward. 

I think that Tyla may be seeing her sister's success at OSU and she (and her family) feel that she is at that level.  Tyla's stat line for hitting "the three" (24%) and from the floor (32%) is nothing like her sister, but her family probably feels that Tyla has not been used as well as she should/could. This is why Tyla was recruited to low- and mid-major programs, although she was very good at the high school level because you can't coach height. 

We should wish Tyla only the best, but I do believe that she could excel in Kelsi's environment if she would have some introspection and realize that she is growing as a player and a person.

[Bogus Smith]

I wonder if this Kiefer girl wants to come back home???  

[Dave Connor]

14 hours ago, Bogus Smith said:

I wonder if this Kiefer girl wants to come back home???

I tried finding stats for Hanna Coons on South Dakota's website and on ESPN. I could not find any stats on her, so I think she did not play in any games during her season at South Dakota. I also could not find anything about her redshirting or being injured. 

Edited March 20 by Dave Connor
typo

[Bogus Smith]

4 hours ago, Dave Connor said:

I tried finding stats for Hanna Coons on South Dakota's website and on ESPN. I could not find any stats on her, so I think she did not play in any games during her season at South Dakota. I also could not find anything about her redshirting or being injured. 

I checked her social media and it looked like she had a major injury of some sort (ACL??) late in her senior year.  This probably caused her to redshirt her freshman year at USD.

[Bogus Smith]

On 3/16/2025 at 9:59 AM, TrueBlue82 said:

The timing is VERY odd, especially with ORU in the post-season mix and the transfer portal not yet open. This would indicate to me that Tyla has “had enough” of ORU basketball and is not just “testing the waters”.  This is too bad, as Tyla received significant playing time as a freshman and appeared to have a “high ceiling” going forward. 

Well it didn't take long for this to take place.  Not surprising as was probably a way to keep sister at OSU rather than test the NIL waters.

 

[MrsSmith]

I hope it works out well for Tyla. 

Her family won't have to choose which team to watch. 

[TrueBlue82]

11 hours ago, Bogus Smith said:

Well it didn't take long for this to take place.  Not surprising as was probably a way to keep sister at OSU rather than test the NIL waters.

 

It makes perfect sense for Tyla to join her sister at OSU, and to have the opportunity to play at a P4 school.  I wish her nothing but the best.

That said, I still question the TIMING of her decision to announce her intention to join the transfer portal while her current team was preparing for the post-season.  Other than the risk of a career-ending injury (which players face every time they take the court), I see no reason why she couldn't have finished the ORU season and then made her transfer portal announcement, and still be in the same position she is today. From my perspective, the timing of the decision showed great disrespect for her current school and especially her current teammates. But, then again, maybe I'm just old school...

 

[Bogus Smith]

Keifer girl who was in Vermillion last season as a redshirt.  Coming home to play at ORU.

 

[Bogus Smith]

Kiefer graduate Hannah Coons signs with ORU basketball.pdf

[2014Grad]

Add Preslee Hartsock to the list! Some pretty solid accolades including McDonalds All American Nominee and 3A POY.

https://x.com/EJayArrow/status/1912867746796229086

 

 

Edited April 17 by 2014Grad

[Bogus Smith]

Some of these private Christian schools - Community Christian (Norman) with Preslee Hartsock and Crossings Christian (Oklahoma City) with Cal Furnish are putting out some outstanding players that align well with our mission.  Hope that the trend continues.