OU eyes Southern Idaho guard
Clark could return, but coaches checking options
OU eyes Southern Idaho guard

By Scott Wright

Published: February 16, 2008

He averages 8.25 points per game. And he averages 8.25 assists per game.

Here's another number to process: The College of Southern Idaho point guard is 6-foot-6.

Galloway is among a group of players Oklahoma coach Jeff Capel and his staff are currently recruiting to fill the scholarship vacated when Keith Clark became academically ineligible last month.

This doesn't mean that the door is closed on Clark returning to OU after he gets his grades in order at Rose State College, where he is currently enrolled. Clark was hanging around Lloyd Noble Center earlier this week, visiting with some of the coaches and players.

But the Sooner coaches are checking out their options.

Galloway is drawing a lot of attention nationally as a sophomore for 24-0 Southern Idaho. And the Sooners could certainly use a pure point guard.

"He's a pass-first guy,” said Southern Idaho coach Barret Peery. "He runs the offense and distributes the ball extremely well. He's not a great shooter. He's more of a finisher. He gets to the basket well.”

The Sooners also have interest in Galloway's teammate, 6-foot-7 forward Juan Pattillo, who is rated by JucoJunction.com as the No. 10 junior-college player in the nation. Pattillo is averaging 17.3 points per game as the No. 2 scorer for the Golden Eagles, who average 112.2 points per game.

"He's more of a perimeter forward,” Peery said. "He's big and strong. He can shoot and he can defend multiple positions.”

According to JucoJunction.com, the teammates are also being recruited by Oklahoma State.

Both are expected to wait until their season is over to make any decisions. The same goes for Brad Tinsley, a 6-foot-3 guard at Oregon City, Ore., High School.

Tinsley has been gaining attention in the last couple of weeks since he was released from his letter of intent at Pepperdine. Tinsley had signed in November, but was released after coach Vance Walberg resigned Jan. 18.

Now, Tinsley is getting calls from several schools, including OU, North Carolina, Oregon and Marquette.

"Since he got his release, there's been at least one school at every one of his games,” said his father, Carl Tinsley.

OU assistant coach Ben Betts was expected to visit Tinsley Friday night to see him play.

"In basketball terminology, he's a combo guard,” said Tinsley's coach, Mike Doherty. "He plays point guard for us, but he's averaging 24 points a game. He's a really good passer. If a team likes to run up and down, they'd be wise to get it in his hands.”

Among others, the Sooners are also looking at Travis Leslie, a 6-foot-5 wing from Decatur, Ga. Leslie is viewed as a phenomenal athlete whose basketball skills are unpolished. Capel recently was in the Atlanta area watching Leslie play.

The spring signing period for basketball runs from April 16-May 21.

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