Tulsa’s Konkol Adds Four Transfers to Basketball Roster

4/12/2023 1:45:00 PM | Men's Basketball


PRESS CONFERENCE

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."
 
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.
 
TULSA 2023-24 BASKETBALL NEWCOMERS
Name                                 Pos.       Ht.        Wt.      CL             Hometown/Previous School
APRIL SIGNEES
Isaiah Barnes                   G/F         6-7       200      So-TR       Chicago, Ill./Michigan
Chauncey Gibson          G             6-5       190      Fr-TR       Dallas, Texas/Clemson
Cobe Williams                 G             6-0       180      Gr-TR       Dallas, Texas/LA Tech
Keaston Willis                 G             6-3       190      Gr-TR       Sulphur Springs, Texas/LA Tech
NOVEMBER SIGNEES
Jarred Hall                        F              6-8       190      Fr-HS       Lebanon, Tenn./Lebanon HS
Matt Reed                        C             6-9       240      Fr-HS       Carrollton, Texas /ISchool Academy
Carlous Williams            F              6-5       230      Jr-TR        Hattiesburg, Miss./Pearl River CC    
 
 
APRIL SIGNEES
Isaiah Barnes                  G/F        6-7       200      So-TR      Chicago, Ill./Michigan
Transfers to Tulsa from Michigan … has three years of eligibility remaining …  AT MICHIGAN – Played in 17 career games … granted redshirt for freshman season (2021-22) after applying with the NCAA … saw action in 15 games off the bench, averaging 1.1 points, 1.1 rebounds in 6.1 minutes per game in the 2022-23 season … tallied career-best six points against Kentucky … played in two games off the bench in 2021-22 … made his collegiate debut in final minutes against Arizona (11/11/21) … HIGH SCHOOL – Transferred to Simeon Career Academy (2020-21) for his final prep year after two seasons at Oak Park's River Forest (2018-20) and one at Romeoville High School (2017-18) … was a four-star recruit, rated No. 102 by Rivals and No. 110 by 247Sports … named to the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association (IBCA) Class 4A all-state team as a senior … averaged 18.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists helping the Wolverines to 9-1 record and first-place finish in Red-South/Central as a senior … as a junior, averaged 21.0 points, 8.0 rebounds. 5.0 assists and 3.0 steals at Oak Park River Forest, making 65 3-pointers while leading the Huskies to a 17-11 record.
 
Chauncey Gibson          G             6-5       190      Fr-TR       Dallas, Texas/Clemson
Transfers to Tulsa from Clemson … redshirted during his freshman season in 2022-23 … AT CLEMSON – Sat out the 2022-23 season … HIGH SCHOOL – Played his prep basketball at Kimball High School … averaged 17.6 points, 7.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game as a senior … was rated as a three-star prospect by 247Sports and Rivals … was listed as the No. 23 player in the state of Texas by Blue Zurtuche and Texas Basketball Review… was rated nationally as the No. 102 prospect in the country by Rivals and No. 110 by 247Sports … high school coach was Nick Smith.
 
Cobe Williams                G             6-0       180      Gr-TR      Dallas, Texas/LA Tech
Transfers to Tulsa from Louisiana Tech … was recruited to LA Tech by Eric Konkol … AT LA TECH – Spent four seasons at LA Tech … was a two-time Conference USA all-defensive team selection … was also awarded with honorable mention C-USA honors his junior season … tallied career averages of 10.3 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 117 career games at LA Tech … totaled 1,209 points, 359 rebounds and 313 assists and 140 steals … also started 81 games  in his four years at LA Tech … had 53 career double-figure scoring games … 2022-23 – Averaged a team-leading 18.8 points and 4.1 assists, while adding 3.5 rebounds and 2.0 steals his senior season … started 21 of 23 games played … shot .456 from the field, .344 from three-point range and .798 from the free throw line … had 22 double-digit scoring games, including 11 games of 20 points or more … had career-highs of 27 points against UAB (1/14) and 11 assists against Stephen F. Austin (12/14) … led LA Tech in scoring 15 times and 12 times for assists … HIGH SCHOOL –  Played his senior year at Kimball High School ... ranked as the No. 34 best player in the state of Texas by 247Sports ... helped the Knights to a 23-win season and a Texas District 12-5A co-championship ... averaged 17 points per game and led the DFW area in assists with an average of eight dimes per contest ... named District MVP, First Team All-District, TABC 5A All-Region II and TABC 5A All-State ... lettered at Dallas Can Academy prior to attending Kimball ... led team to state title in the Texas Charter School Academic & Athletic League ... averaged 27 points, eight rebounds and six assists as a junior

Keaston Willis                G             6-3       190      Gr-TR      Sulphur Springs, Texas/LA Tech
Transfers to Tulsa from Louisiana Tech … was recruited to LA Tech by Eric Konkol … AT LA TECH – Played two years at LA Tech and before that spent two seasons at Incarnate Word … had career averages of 13.6 points (1,601), 3.4 rebounds (395) and 1.4 assists (164) in 117 games between UIW and LA Tech… scored 20+ points in 20 career games, including 13 times at UIW and seven times at LA Tech … made 295 three-pointers for a .371 career percentage … 2022-23 – Played in all 32 games and started 31 contests … earned honorable-mention all-Conference USA honors … averaged 12.4 points and 3.5 rebounds … shot 38% from three-point range and 78% from the free throw line … had 21 double-figure scoring games and had three games with over 20 points … had a season-high of 23 points against UAB (1/14) and FIU (3/8) … also had a career-high 10 rebounds in the C-USA quarterfinal game against FIU (3/8) … converted four or more three-pointers in eight games, with a high of five makes twice …  AT INCARNATE WORD – Earned Second Team All-Southland, First Team NABC All-District 22 and Second Team SLC All-Academic honors as a sophomore ... started 20 games and averaged a team-leading 19.0 points per game ... his scoring average ranked second in the SLC and 47th in the country ... recorded seven 20+ scoring performances, including a season-high 34 points against McMurry ... also averaged 4.5 rebounds and 2.1 assists per contest ... was voted the Southland Conference Freshman of the Year in 2019-20 ... played in 31 games, making 27 starts ... led the Cardinals in scoring with an average of 13.3 points per game ... scored over 20 points five times ... made 81 three-pointers, fourth most in a single season in UIW history and 64th most in the country ... HIGH SCHOOL – Averaged 21.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.2 steals per game during his senior season at Sulphur Springs High School ... helped lead team to a 30-10 overall record and a spot in the Texas Class 5A regional finals ... named all-region and all-state.

NOVEMBER SIGNEES
Jarred Hall                       F              6-8       190      Fr-HS       Lebanon, Tenn./Lebanon HS
Comes to Tulsa following a high school career at Lebanon (Tenn.) High school, where he became the school's career scoring leader … was a November 2022 signee … HIGH SCHOOL – Was named the 2023 Class 4A Mr. Basketball in the state of Tennessee his senior season, the first time a Lebanon player was ever a finalist for the award … was a nominee for the McDonald's All-America Team … named District 9-4A MVP as a senior … No. 1-ranked player in Tennessee and #65 in the country by Prep Hoops … was an ESPN four-star recruit … had an ESPN ranking as the 26th best power forward in the country … ranked as the No. 2 player in the state of Tennessee by 247Sports … became Lebanon's all-time leading scorer in a game against Mt. Juliet on Jan. 20, 2023 … led his team to a 16-6 record as a senior … averaged 27.0 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists his senior campaign … was a first-team all-state selection both his junior and senior seasons … was selected to the Iverson Classic Tennessee Showcase following the 2022-23 season … averaged a double-double his junior season with averages of 21.5 points and 10.5 rebounds … was named to the all-state tournament team his junior campaign … high school coach was Jim McDowell.
 
Matt Reed                        C             6-9       240      Fr-HS       Carrollton, Texas / ISchool Academy
Comes to Tulsa from ISchool Entrepreneurial (Texas) Academy … was a November 2022 signee … HIGH SCHOOL – Was a three-year letterwinner and starter at ISchool Entrepreneurial Academy … had career averages of 12.4 points and 7.1 rebounds in three seasons … averaged 13.2 points and 7.9 rebounds as a senior … totaled season-highs of 34 points and 14 rebounds against Tennessee Preparatory College … had 17 double-figure scoring games his senior campaign … converted 50% from the field, 38% from three-point range and 71% from the free throw line as a senior … ranked as ESPN's 35th best center in the country and the 25th best overall player in the state of Texas … a three-star recruit by MaxPreps, ESPN and Rivals … ranked as the No. 18 player in the state of Texas by 247Sports … was ranked as the No. 23 center in the Nation by Rivals.com … averaged 14.6 points and 8.0 rebounds his junior season … had a high game of 34 vs. the Legacy School his senior campaign … high school coach was Brian Nwelue.
 
Carlous Williams           F              6-5       230      Jr-TR        Hattiesburg, Miss./Pearl River CC  
A transfer from Pearl River (Miss.) CC, the same junior college as former Tulsa standout Brandon Rachal … can guard all areas of the court … was a November 2022 signee … AT PEARL RIVER CC – Was a two-year letterwinner at Pearl River (Miss.) Junior College … earned first-team all-MACCC all-conference honors in 2022-23 … was ranked as the No. 33 JUCO player in the country by JucoRecruiting.com … started 12 of 21 games and played 25.0 minutes per game …  averaged team-highs of 16.5 points and 6.7 rebounds his sophomore season, while helping his team post an 18-8 record … eclipsed the 20-point mark in seven games and had a high-game of 25 points vs. Coahoma … also scored in double digits in all but one game and had three double-doubles … made 48.5% of his field goals, 32% of his 3-pointers and 69% of his free throws in 2022-23 … scored at an 8.0 clip and grabbed 3.2 rebounds his freshman season, while shooting 48% from the field, 41% from three-point range and 77.6% from the free throw line in 16 minutes per game … junior college coach was Chris Oney … HIGH SCHOOL – Played his prep basketball at Harrison Central High School in Hattiesburg, Miss. … averaged 11.3 points and 12.2 rebounds as a prep senior … was ranked as the No. 2 player in the state of Mississippi by 247Sports … scored at a 14.4 clip his junior season, while adding 9.2 rebounds … high school coach was Boo Hardy.
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