DEAL DONE: Oklahoma State confirm a commitment from Alabama transfer portal
As Steve Lutz works to finalize his first roster at Oklahoma State for the 2024-25 men’s basketball season, he continues to recruit through the transfer portal.
Kris Parker, a forward transferring from Alabama, is scheduled to visit both Oklahoma and Oklahoma State next week. He plans to be in Norman on July 22 and then travel to Stillwater on July 24.
Parker, a former four-star recruit who transferred after redshirting his freshman year at Alabama, entered the transfer portal on April 10. He has an 87 rating as a transfer prospect, ranking No. 402 nationally and No. 84 among small forwards. At 6-foot-9, he will have four years of eligibility.
Parker missed the start of the season due to an eye injury and chose to redshirt. Alabama coach Nate Oats noted on February 23 that Parker has made significant progress, adding weight, improving defensively, and becoming a better shooter, though he still needs to work on his shooting in the offseason.
Before his time with Alabama, Parker played at Crossroad Academy during the 2022-23 season, where he averaged 24.8 points, 14.2 rebounds, 7.1 assists, and 2.4 blocks per game as a senior. He led his team to a 2A District 1 title and was named the 2023 Florida Class 2A Player of the Year. Alongside Alabama, he received offers from Missouri, Villanova, and UCF, among others.
Oklahoma State has added eight transfers this offseason, including three forwards: Robert Jennings from Texas Tech, Marchelus Avery from UCF, and Patrick Suemnick from West Virginia. With a complete roster overhaul, Lutz and the Cowboys have two scholarships left for the 2024-25 season.
Lutz expressed his intention to add two more big men, whether forwards or centers, to ensure the team has the necessary size and physicality for the Big 12. He also mentioned that the use of the final scholarship would depend on the NIL budget and available prospects. Currently, the Cowboys return only three scholarship players: guards Connor Dow and Jamyron Keller, and forward Bryce Thompson.