Okoro arrives early for Ducks
Six-foot-nine freshman averaged 15.7 points last year in high school
Oregon added to its highly-touted basketball recruiting class when Francis Okoro decided to join the Ducks one year early.
Okoro, who was ranked as the No. 45 prospect in the Class of 2019, was expected to reclassify to join the Ducks next season. Oregon coach Dana Altman confirmed that news to Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports on Sunday. Okoro will begin summer classes at Oregon on Monday, joining the other four incoming freshman for the Ducks on campus.
The 6-foot-9, 225-pound forward from Normal, Ill., averaged 15.7 points and 12.4 rebounds per game last season while blocking 53 shots. He shot 60 percent from the field.
Okoro gives Oregon 11 players on scholarship for next season and adds to a freshman class ranked in the top four nationally by most recruiting services.
Freshman Bol Bol is likley expected to start at center with sophomore Kenny Wooten likely at power forward. Senior Paul White and freshman Miles Norris will add depth inside along with Okoro.
Freshman Louis King likely starts on the wing with Abu Kigab off the bench.
Payton Pritchard returns at point guard and could be joined in the starting backcourt by Ehab Amin, a senior graduate transfer from Texas A&M Corpus Christi. Sophomore Victor Bailey returns while the Ducks add freshman Will Richardson.