TULSA, Okla. –– The University of Tulsa basketball program added four transfers to the roster for the 2023-24 season, head coach Eric Konkol announced today.
Michigan transfer Isaiah Barnes, a 6’7″ wing will have three years of eligibility remaining, while 6’5″ guard Chauncey Gibson transfers from Clemson University with four years of eligibility. A pair of guards from Louisiana Tech, 6’0″ Cobe Williams and 6’3″ Keaston Willis, will rejoin their former head coach, Konkol, for their final seasons of eligibility. Analytics statistician Evan Miyakawa has Tulsa listed as the No. 6 incoming transfer class, while 247Sports ranks the Hurricane 18th in the nation.
“In recruiting, we’re always looking to address several needs and qualities as we bring people into the program. We’re looking for guys who have great attitudes and are totally committed and do things in a first-class manner,” said Konkol.
“In this particular spring, we are looking to address a number of positions. These four we feel address different things in our backcourt. They’re athletic, they’re versatile, they’re skilled and they’re highly competitive.
“We’re thrilled they have chosen to join us at The University of Tulsa. We’re very excited about what’s growing here, and these four are going to be a big part of it alongside the three we signed in the fall and the two we have returning. Their on-court play and off-court intangibles are something we are really excited about. We look to all four of these guys to be leaders on and off the floor,” Konkol added.
The four transfers join Tulsa’s three signees from the November early signing period, including Tennessee’s Mr. Basketball 6’8″ Jarred Hall, one of the top-35 prep centers in the country 6’9″ Matt Reed from Carrollton, Texas, and 6’5″ junior college transfer Carlous Williams from Pearl River Community College.
The LA Tech transfers, Williams and Willis, combined to average 31.2 points and seven rebounds in their final season with the Bulldogs.
A two-time Conference USA all-defensive team selection, Williams averaged 18.8 points, 4.1 assists and 3.5 rebounds in 23 games last season, while shooting 45-percent from the field, 34-percent from three-point range and 80-percent from the charity stripe. Williams had 22 double-digit scoring games in his 23 games played, including 11 games of 20 points or more with a career-high 27 against UAB.
“Cobe comes to us with an incredible amount of experience and production. Of course, he’s someone we know well, having coached him for three years at Louisiana Tech. He’s an all-defensive team member. He’s someone who is one of the best on-ball defenders I’ve ever been around. Cobe has elite speed and quickness and he’s got an attacking mentality to be able to get to the paint to score or create. He’s also, over the course of his career, become a very good jump shooter. We look to Cobe to be a leader on the court for us on both ends of the floor. We’re really excited that he’s decided to join us for his last year of college,” said Konkol.
Willis earned Conference USA honorable mention accolades in 2022-23 after averaging 12.4 points and 3.5 rebounds. He spent the last two seasons at LA Tech and before that played two years at Incarnate Word. Willis has knocked down 295 career three-pointers for a .371 percentage in his four collegiate seasons. In his career, he has scored 20+ points in 20 career games, including 13 at UIW and seven at LA Tech.
“Keaston is an exceptional jump shooter. He’s someone we know well. His ability to stretch the floor is really special. He’s made nearly 300 three-point field goals in his career. But he can also drive it and he can create. He’s physical enough to finish at the rim,” said Konkol. “Keaston is also a guy who, positionally, can guard a number of people. He’s a worker and someone we are going to count on to lead. We are excited he decided to join us for his final year of college as well.”
Barnes spent two seasons at Michigan, redshirting his freshman campaign of 2021-22 and playing in 15 games last year. He averaged 1.1 points and 1.1 rebounds in 6.1 minutes of playing time during the 2022-23 season. A four-star recruit, Barnes was named to the Illinois Class 4A all-state team as a senior at Chicago’s Simeon Career Academy. He averaged 18.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists as a prep senior and was ranked as the No. 113 prospect nationally by Rivals.
“Isaiah is an impressive athlete with size and versatility. He can really bounce off the ground and he’s got really good size. To go along with his athleticism, we feel like he can not only be a three-level scorer, but also guard a number of people. He’s got the ability to score right at the rim. Isaiah has shown the ability to score midrange jump shots and from three, but then also make plays for others with the ball in his hands,” Konkol said.
Tulsa added Gibson after the guard redshirted this past season as a true freshman at Clemson. He played his prep basketball at Dallas Kimball High School, where he averaged 17.6 points, 7.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists his senior campaign. Gibson was rated as the No. 102 prospect in the country by Rivals and No. 110 by 247Sports.
“We’ve known Chauncey for several years. He’s a very versatile guard. He’s an exceptionally good passer who can score on all three levels,” said Konkol. “Chauncey is a guy who is going to continue to grow and develop and someone we think can play all over the floor. He’s gotten a lot stronger in his one year of college and he has an enthusiasm about him that is infectious.”
✍🏾✍🏾
Chauncey Gibson
– 3️⃣⭐️ Recruit (via 247/Rivals)
– Top 20 Player from Texas in 2022 Class
– Top 30 SG in 2022 Class
– 1,743 Career points in HS pic.twitter.com/8v3OIUdcJi
— Tulsa Basketball (@TUMBasketball) April 12, 2023
With two returning roster players, Tulsa will now have nine student-athletes on the roster for the 2023-24 season with five scholarships still available.