Buddy Hield

Classroom

Buddy Hield was named to the Big 12 first-team All-Academic squad in 2015. He has been named to the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll three times, named a Sooner Scholar five times and became the first player in Big 12 history (19 years) to earn first-team all-academic honors, be named player of the year and lead the league in scoring.

Character

Hield is the kind of player and person you want as a teammate. His love for the game is reflected by his constant smile and the joy with which he plays. He is solid in the clutch and is always ready to do whatever is needed to win. Understanding the value of what he has in a DI men’s basketball career, he is quick to share that with anyone who will listen. Hield has battled the odds to get to this point in his career, and he understands the need to get better. He turned down the option to go pro after his junior year to return for his senior season, telling everyone he needed to get better and that he wanted to finish the job by going further in the NCAA Tournament. He also wanted to honor the commitment and the faith that Sooner staff had in him when they went after him in recruiting. Hield is solid on the court and even better away from the game. He is at his best when the lights are off and he is working on his game. His commitment to program shown by his being named OU’s Most Inspirational Player as a true freshman.

Community

A true fan favorite regardless of the age of the fan, Hield leads the Sooners in commitment to community service. He will do whatever he is asked to do and is quick to volunteer at elementary schools, to help with community service projects and to make everyone feel better. He leads by his actions and brings his teammates along, and he understands and respects the value of those who support his program. Hield does everything within his ability to keep that bond strong.

Competition

Named preseason Big 12 Player of the Year prior to 2015-16 season, Hield started every game as a sophomore and junior (68 combined). Through three seasons, he ranked 15th at OU with 1,366 points and fifth with 202 3-pointers, needing just 57 3-pointers to tie the school’s all-time record. He holds the No. 4 and No. 7 spots on OU’s single-season 3-pointers list (89 as a sophomore and 93 as a junior) and has the most treys (182) in a two-year span in OU history. He has five career double-doubles, as the 2015 Big 12 Player of the Year, a third-team All-American (AP and NABC) , one of 15 finalists for the John R. Wooden Award, one of five finalists for the Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award and the first player in the 19-year history of the Big 12 to be named player of the year, lead league in scoring and be named to academic all-conference first team. Hield had 13 games of 20 or more points in 2015, OU’s most since Blake Griffin in 2008-09 and registered four double-doubles (the most by an OU guard since John Ontjes in 1994-95). He also was named to the 2014 second-team All-Big 12 list. Throughout his senior season Hield is averaging 25.6 pts., shooting .502 (258-268) from field and .470 (126-268) from 3. He has posted 30+ points 10 times this season, most by a Sooner since 1993-94 and has 16 games this season with at least 25 points. Hield started every game for OU the past three seasons (99) and ranks 4th in OU history with 2,159 career points and 1st in 3FG makes with 328 along with ranking 1st in nation with his 4.06 3FGM per game.