Buddy Hield, the reigning Big 12 Player of the Year, is staying at Oklahoma for one more year.
The junior guard announced his decision to return for his senior season Friday morning. He led the Big 12 in scoring this past season, earning the conference's top individual award and third-team AP All-America honors.
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"It was a tough decision, and I obviously took it near the deadline," Hield said. "But I just went through the process. I listened to Coach (Lon) Kruger, I listened to my mentors back home, my high school coach, and my mom and my family. I did a lot of research on players and the history of the NBA Draft. I just did what I felt was best for me and my family. I feel like if I come back I'll be in a better situation next year."
The 6-4 Hield was projected to be a first-round pick in the upcoming NBA draft. He averaged 17.4 points per game last season, Oklahoma's highest single-season average since Blake Griffin in 2008-09, in addition to 5.4 rebounds and 1.9 assists.
"I'm on a great team and we have a lot of unfinished business," Hield said. "I just can't wait to see what's in store for next year. I want to go to the Final Four. That's always been a dream for me. Playing with these guys, for my coaches and for my university is a lot of fun. I've been with Isaiah (Cousins) and Ryan (Spangler) for three years and Jordan (Woodard) for two. We've got some young pieces. This is a fun group and bonding with them has been a big part of my life. Getting my degree is also really, really important to me."
A Freeport, Bahamas, native, Hield scored in double digits in 32 of 35 games while helping lead the Sooners (24-11, 12-6 in the Big 12) to their first trip to the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16 in six years. After scoring 610 points last season, Hield is 634 points away from becoming the sixth Sooner to reach 2,000 career points.
"Very happy for Buddy," Kruger said. "He's meant so much to the program and obviously he wants to finish some business, get that degree and spend another year with his teammates and Sooner fans. He's a smart guy and understands this gives him a chance to continue to make great progress.
"This is something we've been discussing every day and after getting lots of information he made a decision that he thinks gives him the best chance for long-range success."