25-26 Roster

[Old Titan]

OK, for the sake of discussion let's assume as of April 6, 2025 that all 12 ORU players in the portal from last year's roster (including three walk-ons) either really want to leave, or have been asked to do so by the new staff.

So, who's left?

Frankly, not many right now:

• Carlos Rosario -- 6'7" forward • Santo Domingo, D.R. • played in 23 games last season (starting 6) after transfering from Drake • listed as senior-to-be on ORU website • currently personifies the entirety of ORU's returning points (3.8) and rebounds (1.9) in 14 minutes per game (which translates to a paltry percentage over 200 team minutes per game, if someone else cares to do the exact math).
• Chase Martin -- 6'4" guard • Jenks, OK • redshirted as a preferred walk-on last year after transferring from Wofford • listed as junior-to-be on ORU website
• Cal Furnish -- 5'11" guard • Oklahoma City, OK • Crossings Christian School • signed in Nov. 2024 as a 3-star* high school senior
• Leroy Kelly IV -- 6'3" guard • Dallas, TX • Dynamic Prep School • signed in Nov. 2024 as a 3-star* high school senior • re-opened recruitment following ORU coaching change but technically still in the fold...for now
• Laymen McGrady -- 6'4" guard • Sugar Land, TX • IMG Academy • verbally committed April 2024 as a 3-star* high school senior

That's it, sports fans... 

Curious to see how this list morphs in the coming weeks as current portal-testers possibly return, new high school/juco/transfer faces are added, and Mr. Kelly decides whether he wants to stay or not.

Stay tuned...

* per verbalcommits.com website

[Keenan Henderson]

I hope Coach sticks with his statement about looking for players from various backgrounds: juco, D2, transfers, international guys, high school, etc.  He has 10 spots open if these 5 guys commit, per verbal commits.  

The key for Barnett is to build a solid foundation for the future, with this first year roster.  Easier said than done with the transfer portal but still doable.  

 

[Bogus Smith]

2 hours ago, Keenan Henderson said:

I hope Coach sticks with his statement about looking for players from various backgrounds: juco, D2, transfers, international guys, high school, etc.  He has 10 spots open if these 5 guys commit, per verbal commits.  

The key for Barnett is to build a solid foundation for the future, with this first year roster.  Easier said than done with the transfer portal but still doable.  

 

Does a mid-major team ever build a solid foundation in the era of NIL?  I have to believe that we will be looking for 5-8 players every year regardless of school classification.  It will be hard to maintain any level of continuity in talent each year.  #HelpMeMakeThisMakeSense

[eagle88]

58 minutes ago, Bogus Smith said:

Does a mid-major team ever build a solid foundation in the era of NIL?  I have to believe that we will be looking for 5-8 players every year regardless of school classification.  It will be hard to maintain any level of continuity in talent each year.  #HelpMeMakeThisMakeSense

I liken the current NIL situation to major league baseball. Take a team like the Royals with a low payroll. In 2015 they won the world series with a lot of young players, many of them from their farm system. Not long after many of the key players chased more $ and they went back to being very average. ORU or any other mid major might hit the jackpot once in a blue moon and when we do savor it because it may not happen again for a long time.

[Old Titan]

On 4/6/2025 at 7:01 PM, Old Titan said:

 

• Carlos Rosario -- 6'7" forward • Santo Domingo, D.R. • played in 23 games last season (starting 6) after transfering from Drake • listed as senior-to-be on ORU website • currently personifies the entirety of ORU's returning points (3.8) and rebounds (1.9) in 14 minutes per game (which translates to a paltry percentage over 200 team minutes per game, if someone else cares to do the exact math).
• Chase Martin -- 6'4" guard • Jenks, OK • redshirted as a preferred walk-on last year after transferring from Wofford • listed as junior-to-be on ORU website
• Cal Furnish -- 5'11" guard • Oklahoma City, OK • Crossings Christian School • signed in Nov. 2024 as a 3-star* high school senior
• Leroy Kelly IV -- 6'3" guard • Dallas, TX • Dynamic Prep School • signed in Nov. 2024 as a 3-star* high school senior • re-opened recruitment following ORU coaching change but technically still in the fold...for now
• Laymen McGrady -- 6'4" guard • Sugar Land, TX • IMG Academy • verbally committed April 2024 as a 3-star* high school senior

* per verbalcommits.com website

 

Time to update this bad boy!!

• Connor Dow -- 6'6" wing • Broken Arrow, OK • Broken Arrow High School • transfer from Oklahoma State • 2 years eligibility remaining • verbally committed April 15th 

[MrsSmith]

That is VERY good news.

[Old Titan]

Updated 4/17/25:

• Carlos Rosario* -- 6'7" forward • Santo Domingo, D.R. • played in 23 games last season (starting 6) after transfering from Drake • listed as senior-to-be on ORU website • currently personifies the entirety of ORU's returning points (3.8) and rebounds (1.9) in 14 minutes per game (which translates to a paltry percentage over 200 team minutes per game, if someone else cares to do the exact math).
• Chase Martin* -- 6'4" guard • Jenks, OK • redshirted as a preferred walk-on last year after transferring from Wofford • listed as junior-to-be on ORU website
• Cal Furnish -- 5'11" guard • Oklahoma City, OK • Crossings Christian School • signed in Nov. 2024 as a 3-star* high school senior
• Leroy Kelly IV -- 6'3" guard • Dallas, TX • Dynamic Prep School • signed in Nov. 2024 as a 3-star* high school senior • re-opened recruitment following ORU coaching change but technically still in the fold...for now
• Laymen McGrady -- 6'4" guard • Sugar Land, TX • IMG Academy • verbally committed April 2024 as a 3-star* high school senior
• Connor Dow -- 6'6" wing • Broken Arrow, OK • Broken Arrow High School • transfer from Oklahoma State • 2 years eligibility remaining • verbally committed April 15th
• Martins Kilups -- 6'4" shooting guard • Liepaja, Latvia • BK Liepaja (Latvian U19 league) • 4 years of eligibility • verbally committed April 17th

* Presumed returning since they're not in the transfer portal.

[ORUalum11]

This has to be the most 3-stars we’ve had on the roster in a while (forever?). 

[Bogus Smith]

36 minutes ago, Old Titan said:

Updated 4/17/25:

• Carlos Rosario* -- 6'7" forward • Santo Domingo, D.R. • played in 23 games last season (starting 6) after transfering from Drake • listed as senior-to-be on ORU website • currently personifies the entirety of ORU's returning points (3.8) and rebounds (1.9) in 14 minutes per game (which translates to a paltry percentage over 200 team minutes per game, if someone else cares to do the exact math).
• Chase Martin* -- 6'4" guard • Jenks, OK • redshirted as a preferred walk-on last year after transferring from Wofford • listed as junior-to-be on ORU website
• Cal Furnish -- 5'11" guard • Oklahoma City, OK • Crossings Christian School • signed in Nov. 2024 as a 3-star* high school senior
• Leroy Kelly IV -- 6'3" guard • Dallas, TX • Dynamic Prep School • signed in Nov. 2024 as a 3-star* high school senior • re-opened recruitment following ORU coaching change but technically still in the fold...for now
• Laymen McGrady -- 6'4" guard • Sugar Land, TX • IMG Academy • verbally committed April 2024 as a 3-star* high school senior
• Connor Dow -- 6'6" wing • Broken Arrow, OK • Broken Arrow High School • transfer from Oklahoma State • 2 years eligibility remaining • verbally committed April 15th
• Martins Kilups -- 6'4" shooting guard • Latvia • BK Liepaja (Latvian U19 league) • 4 years of eligibility • verbally committed April 17th

* Presumed returning since they're not in the transfer portal.

We need a couple of legit bigs to complement this haul of players (i.e., Herron, Gray, portal players) and a freshman wing to grow with our Jr/Sr wing players.  Then, we have something to work with.  Our guards (with the exception of Furnish) are tall and will help defensively on the perimeter.  Furnish may be an absolute sleeper as he can run an offense and hit from outside.  That may compensate for his height and defensive liability.  Chase is also a coach's kid and can be a floor leader.

[Old Titan]

In terms of minutes played, Martin has the most experience returning (former starter at Wofford).

Luke Gray and Jojo Moore are still possibilities; would love to hear some recent news on those two, other than "likely" and "maybe", respectively...

[Old Titan]

2 hours ago, ORUalum11 said:

This has to be the most 3-stars we’ve had on the roster in a while (forever?). 

ORU has had several rosters with many more "stars" than on this list - but it's a nice start. 

Need some height!

[MrsSmith]

Anyone hearing anything about Sir Isaac Herron?  He is such a nice young man - I'd sure love to keep him on our team!

[2014Grad]

Really liking the height of our guards so far, fingers crossed that continues (and we sign a 6”10+ big).

[Dave Connor]

1 hour ago, 2014Grad said:

Really liking the height of our guards so far, fingers crossed that continues (and we sign a 6”10+ big).

You might have to trim a few inches off some of our players to arrive at their actual height. That’s just the way it is in the world of basketball.

[Keenan Henderson]

Eagles still need a point guard and at least 2 bigs.  It is still early in roster building process, but ORU is still having trouble finding these same needs that they have the past 2 years.  It is safe to say that point guards and centers go for big money in the portal.

[2014Grad]

1 hour ago, Keenan Henderson said:

Eagles still need a point guard and at least 2 bigs.  It is still early in roster building process, but ORU is still having trouble finding these same needs that they have the past 2 years.  It is safe to say that point guards and centers go for big money in the portal.

Agree on the 2+ bigs needed! I honestly wouldn't be surprised if between Lane, Ty, Chase and even Cal we have our "PG" or primary ball handler already. Neither McBride, Robinson or Miller were true point guards the past few years either. Coached mentioned in his press conference he really wants to play fast, so I wouldn't be surprised if they just threw the two best guards out there and had an up-tempo, push in transition motion + space based offense.

Edited April 24 by 2014Grad

[ORUJason]

Cal Furnish is a combo guard I believe.  I wonder if he could play the point.

[Old Titan]

2 hours ago, ORUJason said:

Cal Furnish is a combo guard I believe.  I wonder if he could play the point.

A guard under 6'2" who considers himself a "combo guard" is typically an undersized shooting guard who doesn't handle the ball that well, too often looks to shoot before passing, and is a liability on defense due to their lack of length (sound familiar?).

In short (literally and figuratively):  if Cal Furnish can't learn to run the offense as a pass-first point guard while sparking the defense as a pest out top, then he should/will eventually end up somewhere like Central Oklahoma or Rogers State where he can more easily get his shots off and sag/relax more on defense (sound even more familiar?).