Chase McCarty learns all about OU basketball on visit

The first thing that comes to everybody’s mind when thinking about OU is Oklahoma football. That’s not a knock on any other sport. It’s just the way it is.

Other sports have rich traditions as well. It’s about opening yourself up to exploring that opportunity. Sooners basketball is hoping they were able to turn the corner with top 2024 target Chase McCarty a couple of weeks ago.

Originally from Alabama, McCarty announced Sunday he is transferring to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., for his senior season.

McCarty had already made official visits to Houston, Ole Miss and Kansas and a bunch of unofficial visits to Tennessee. Now he can cross off Norman to see OU as well, visiting late last month.

“I absolutely loved the visit,” McCarty said. “The coaching staff was amazing and did a great job with everything. The players were also very welcoming and kind.”

Despite the lack of major success on the court in his first two years, recruiting hasn’t been too big of a problem for head coach Porter Moser. He is still selling his vision for what he wants OU to be, and his high school classes speak to that process slowly becoming a success.

McCarty would be another sign of Moser’s ability to connect on the trail.

“My favorite part of the visit was being able to spend quality time with Coach Moser,” McCarty said. “What stood out to me is the way the whole coaching staff pays attention to little details.”

McCarty is ranked No. 70 overall by On3 and a very respectable No. 75 by the industry composite rankings. At 6-foot-5 and 200 pounds, he is a consensus top-30 small forward in the country.

The OU visit gave him a chance to learn about the program. Turns out, that definitely might help the Sooners going forward.

“They have an amazing coaching staff and check most of the boxes when it comes to recruiting,” McCarty said. “I did not know OU was that good of a school.”

McCarty’s goal remains to attempt to commit before his senior season. He said his next trip will be to Tennessee in August.

Breaking it down

McCarty spoke with On3’s Jamie Shaw earlier in the spring about what he’s looking for.

“I’m looking for a family environment, a home feel. This decision for me is bigger than basketball, I want to play for someone that I can talk to about anything, no matter what. I’m a big education guy, so they have to offer what I want to major in – biochemistry.

“I want to play in a system, a style that fits me. A coach who plays fast-paced pushes the ball up the floor, gives their guards freedom, and shoots a lot of threes. I also want to go somewhere that preaches defense.”