OU Basketball Gets Houston Transfer

Lon Kruger's Sooner basketball team picked up a big transfer on Sunday with the addition of former Houston forward Tashawn Thomas.

CBS Sports reported the story and spoke to Thomas' father, Kenya, on Sunday, learning that the 6-foot-8 power forward chose the Sooners over Miami.

"He wanted to make a deep run in the [NCAA Tournament], which would be very important for getting to the next level," Kenya Thomas said in an interview. "Plus the family will get a chance to see him. It felt Oklahoma gave the best chance for that to happen."

Thomas averaged 15.4 points and 8.1 rebounds this past season and chose to leave Houston last month after the UH coach James Dickey resigned. Dickey has since joined Travis Ford's staff at Oklahoma State.

Thomas' transfer was heavily restricted and he was not eligible to choose any other school in Texas or in the American Athletic Conference. He was also restricted from transferring to any school on the Cougars' schedule the next two seasons.

He will likely have to sit out this coming season in Norman per NCAA transfer rules but his father said they will attempt to get a waiver for him to play for the Sooners immediately.