STILLWATER – Oklahoma State fans now have the opportunity to represent their favorite Cowboy Football student-athlete with a t-shirt created in the general template of the new uniforms that will be worn by the team in 2023.
STILLWATER – Oklahoma State fans now have the opportunity to represent their favorite Cowboy Football student-athlete with a t-shirt created in the general template of the new uniforms that will be worn by the team in 2023.
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At 19 years old, Eric Dailey Jr. is a world traveler. With USA Basketball at the FIBA U19 World Cup, Dailey is in Hungary for the third time. He spent last summer in Tijuana, Mexico as part of the FIBA U18 Basketball Americas tournament. Later this summer, he’ll join Oklahoma State for a tour of Spain. But even through all his travels, Dailey picked to play his college basketball in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Dailey took a postgrad year at IMG Academy in Florida, meaning he actually graduated high school in 2022. Not having to wait for a graduation, that gave him the ability to make the journey to Stillwater earlier than the rest of OSU’s 2023 recruiting class. So, knowing he could be gone for the U19 World Cup, Dailey spent May on campus. The world traveler came just in time for a good chunk of Stillwater’s population to leave town. “It wasn’t that bad because my city [Bradenton, Florida, a city of about 56,000] is a small city, too,” Dailey said. “It’s a small town. Slow motion, there’s not a lot going on. The only thing I didn’t get used to is not having the beach 15 minutes from my house. Stillwater, it’s a good place to be when you’re trying to focus. There’s not many distractions there. I feel like that’s what you need for a year if you’re trying to get to the bigger goal, which is the next level. I feel like that was just the perfect place to be and just really lock in and stay in the gym, study, do homework. I’ve been on top of my stuff just because there’s no distractions. “It’s kinda hard not to get better there just because there’s nothing to do there, really. But I feel like when school comes back around, there will be people and I’ll make friends. My teammates are there now, which will be better when I go back, so I’ll have people to talk to. But I enjoy Stillwater so far. I like the peace and the calmness of it. It’s really still water, for real.” Safe to assume Dailey hasn’t tested out the beaches of Lake Carl Blackwell, but that will come with time. Dailey has scored in double figures in both of the United States’ games to this point, dropping 12 against Madagascar and 11 against Slovenia. He has been able to show off some versatility, as well. At 6-foot-8, 220 pounds, Dailey is capable on and off the ball. He can create for others or himself. On a stacked team like Team USA brought, it can be easy to skim past some numbers because of everyone dividing minutes, but on a per-40 basis thus far in Hungary, Dailey is averaging 28.8 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 3.8 steals. “He is a really good, complete basketball player,” OSU coach Mike Boynton said. “We’ve had conversations about this several times, he’s probably as dynamic in terms of versatility, like effective versatility. We’ve talked about having versatile guys before but not necessarily with his true skill set. At 6-8, 220, he’s athletic enough that he can come onto the perimeter and go by guys. He’s got a really efficient jump shot. He can shoot 3s, so he can play off the ball and help the spacing on the floor. You can play him as a pick-and-roll ball-handler because he’s a willing passer and he’s got good size to see over the defense. “But the thing I’ve challenged him with, and I’m not afraid to say this publicly, is we’ve got to get him better in the mid to low post because he’s big and strong, and he’s gonna be guarded by smaller guys. And one of the ways you become a really efficient scorer is you get yourself to the free-throw line. Then if you get to the free-throw line, you don’t have to have as much wear and tear to get the points you need. But he’s gonna be a guy that we have some offense that we run through him. But we will also run him as the set-up man to allow guys like Bryce Thompson to get some open looks. Having Javon Small as another primary ball-handler, we’ll have some pretty dynamic play-making ability amongst the three of them and then have the other pieces around those guys, I’m really, really excited about them all.” USA Basketball and Oklahoma State is just a continuation of Boynton’s relationship with Dailey. Dailey’s mother, Shell Dailey, was an assistant with the South Carolina women’s team when Boynton was a player in Columbia. Eric was born while Boynton was in school. Boynton said it was with USA Basketball that Eric started turning from a kid Boynton knew into a prospect. Boynton was in Colorado Springs for a training camp that included the likes of Cade Cunningham and Bryce Thompson, but Dailey was a younger player invited to that camp. From there Dailey blossomed into becoming the No. 33 player in the 2023 class with offers to play at myriad elite college programs as well as pro routes. But because of his strong relationship with Boynton, the world traveler gave up his Florida beaches for a stay in Stillwater. “I think the coach was important — that was always my thing,” Dailey said. “It didn’t matter what school or where you’re at. I’ve always been taught if you’re good, they’re gonna find you. I had offers from other schools as well, but I just felt like Coach Boynton could really take my game to the next level and pour into me and I could really learn from his mind and teach me how to be a leader. “Like he said, he’s known me before I knew myself. He knows the abilities I have and he probably knows a lot more things that I didn’t know I had. I’m just trusting him with myself. I’m just going to put in the work, and I’ll just listen. That’s the main thing.” Read this original article at Pistols Firing Blog. The Cowboys made the cut for a touted in-state DB. Devon Jordan, a 2024 Tulsa cornerback, dropped his list of schools via Twitter, and the Cowboys were included. The other teams in Jordan’s Top 10 are Alabama, Kansas State, Iowa State, Miami, Missouri, Oklahoma, TCU, Texas A&M and Vanderbilt. The 6-foot, 170-pound cornerback hails from Union High School in Tulsa where he helped lead the Redhawks to an 11-1 record in 2022. He logged 43 tackles, two tackles for loss, two interceptions and a forced fumble last season. OSU was the third Power Five school to offer Jordan, back in February, and he made it down to Stillwater a couple of weeks later. He then took his official visit to Oklahoma State on June 10. The Cowboys don’t currently have a cornerback committed for 2024, but they do have three safeties led by top-ranked pledge Landyn Cleveland. OSU’s class has 10 commits and is ranked 50th in the nation and seventh in the Big 12. If Jordan were to commit today, he’d push the Cowboys to No. 45 nationally. Read this original article at Pistols Firing Blog. Thanks for stopping by – here’s your daily dose of Oklahoma State sports news. OSU Bullets• OSU claims U.S. Open winner Wyndham Clark even after he transferred out – Berry Tramel has the story on the warmth/significance of his relationship with OSU’s staff (NewsOK) • PFF has the Pokes finishing ninth in the Big 12 this fall – this is a straight analytics take (Twitter) • OSU signee Eric Dailey, Jr. had a great game and helped the US sneak by Slovenia (PFB) • The Cowboys had a talented linebacker prospect from Utah on campus – a couple of points: his major point of interest was Rob Glass and he’s making his decision later this week (247 Sports) • Fun note from the NBA Draft – former Cowboy Terrell Harris saw his cousin Cason Wallace go in the first round to the OKC Thunder (Twitter) • Ranking OSU’s games against the four new Big 12 teams this fall (TulsaWorld) Non-OSU Bullets• Terrible time trying to find the snow leopard in this picture – hint: it blends with the rock, not snow Tough to remember this – living in the present Read this original article at Pistols Firing Blog. The United States U19 team scored 59 fewer points against Slovenia than the Americans did against Madagascar, but the win was all that mattered. The USA beat Slovenia 77-72 on Sunday in Hungary as part of the FIBA U19 World Cup. Incoming Oklahoma State freshman Eric Dailey Jr. poured in 11 points to go with five rebounds. He was one of four Americans in double figures. The Americans trailed for much of the game as Slovenia was able to slow to pace. The Slovenians packed the paint and forced the Americans to shoot 3s, where the US was just 4-for-23 (17%) on the day after going 9-for-24 (38%) against Madagascar. Slovenia led for 29:24 whereas the United State led for only 6:29, but the US was able to outscore Slovenia 25-11 in the fourth quarter to win. Dailey played 18 minutes and went 5-for-9 from the field with two of his misses coming from 3-point range. Through two games at the U19 World Cup, Dailey averages 11.5 points and 3.5 rebounds a game while shooting 55% from the field. Dailey comes to OSU as a four-star prospect ranked as highly as the No. 33 player in the 2023 class. OSU coach Mike Boynton is an assistant with the Americans. The United State advance to 2-0 in group play in Hungary and will finish group play against 0-2 Lebanon on Tuesday. Read this original article at Pistols Firing Blog. Thanks for stopping by – here’s your daily dose of Oklahoma State sports news. It was a huge day for the Cowboys on the crootin’ trail. OSU Bullets• The Cowboys earned a pair of commitments on Saturday, starting with three-star offensive line prospect Chauncey Johnson. [PFB] • A couple of hours later, the Pokes got some help on defense with three-star LB Gunnar Wilson making his pledge public. [PFB] • Wilson caught up with our own Marshall Scott about why he chose OSU. [PFB] • Incoming freshman Eric Dailey Jr. put on a show in Madagascar. [PFB] • Rickie obviously is not feeling a hangover from his Sunday at the US Open. • For real though, he’s been on a tear this year. Rick shot his lowest-ever pro round with a 60 at the Travelers Cup. • The Big 12 is leading in the ? game. The man, the myth, the namesake. Non-OSU Bullets• Whoa. • Why slack is underrated. [Seth’s Blog] Read this original article at Pistols Firing Blog. OSU Freshman Eric Dailey Jr. Scores 12 Windmill Dunks in USA Basketballs Win against Madagascar6/24/2023 Incoming Oklahoma State freshman Eric Dailey Jr. was efficient in USA Basketball’s FIBA U19 World Cup opener. The United States beat Madagascar 136-69 to start group play at the tournament in Hungary. It’s the most points the USA has ever scored at the U19 World Cup. Dailey poured in a dozen, going 6-for-11 from the field. In just 13 minutes on the floor, Dailey also had two rebounds, an assist, a steal and a block. He also had a trio of dunks, including this windmill. Dailey was one of seven Americans to score in double figures. Tre Johnson, a top player in the Class of 2024, led the way for the USA with 21 points, seven rebounds, five assists and three steals. He was 3-for-4 from 3. Don’t worry, OSU has offered Johnson (as has about every other school in the country). Dailey joins the Cowboys as the No. 55 player in the 2023 class, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings. A 6-foot-7 do-it-all player, Dailey chose OSU over offers from Florida, Alabama, Michigan, TCU, Texas and others. OSU coach Mike Boynton is in Hungary with Dailey. Boynton is an assistant coach on the Americans’ staff. The United States continues group play on Sunday with a game against Slovenia at 1 p.m. central time. The game can be streamed on FIBA’s YouTube Channel. Slovenia started the tournament with a 74-58 win against Lebanon. The USA vs. MadagascarRead this original article at Pistols Firing Blog. It’s been a good Saturday on the recruiting trail for the Cowboys. Melissa, Texas linebacker Gunnar Wilson announced his commitment to Oklahoma State on Saturday along with Arkansas offensive lineman Chauncey Johnson. Listed at 6-foot-2, 210 pounds, Wilson chose OSU over offers from UTSA, Arkansas State, Louisiana Tech and others. Wilson spoke with PFB this week about his commitment and what it means to be a Cowboy. PFB: Why Oklahoma State? Wilson: “I’ve been watching Oklahoma State since I was about in seventh grade or eighth grade. I mean, I just like the culture there. I like Coach Gundy. I like what they do there. They have a winning program. They’re always consistent, and they have people drafted.” PFB: Why have you been watching OSU since middle school? Wilson: “Well, my family is basically all A&M fans. So, they were playing Texas A&M in the bowl game [the 2019 Texas Bowl]. So, that was the first time I watched them. They lost the game, but I kind of liked their jersey colors. Then I went and I started watching them more. They’re actually good, and they’re ranked stuff like that. It was just consistent since then.” PFB: Was there a moment you thought to yourself, ‘this is it’? Wilson: “We went to Coach Gundy’s house, it was a real family atmosphere there. That’s what I really liked about it. All the coaches had their wives there and their kids and all that stuff. Everyone was talking, having a good time.” The rest of this interview can be seen on our forum with a PFB+ subscription here. Read this original article at Pistols Firing Blog. The Cowboys’ defensive staff just keeps rolling on the recruiting trail. Class of 2024 linebacker Gunnar Wilson on Saturday announced his commitment to Oklahoma State. Out of Melissa, Texas (a city of about 17,000 northeast of the DFW metroplex), Wilson chose Oklahoma State over offers from UTSA, Louisiana Tech, Texas State, Arkansas State and others. “I just like the culture there,” Wilson told PFB. “I like Coach Gundy. I like what they do there. They have a winning program. They’re always consistent, and they have people drafted.” Listed at 6-foot-2, 210 pounds, Wilson played all over the place for Melissa as a junior. The Cardinals went 11-3 in Wilson’s junior season, making it to the Texas 5A-D2 quarterfinals before falling to eventual state champ South Oak Cliff. Wilson’s highlights show him not only playing at linebacker but as a tight end, on special teams and at safety. “[OSU is] getting a football player that’s played a lot of positions over the years that can see the field and know what to read and what to do and when to do it,” Wilson told PFB. “A really versatile and lengthy defender. They’re gonna play me at the Sam position in the 3-3-5, which is outside linebacker to the field. It’s basically a mix of a safety and a linebacker in between. Got to be able to cover and gotta be able to fill in the run game, blitz off the edge. I feel like I’ll really exceeded in that position and be able to be really successful.” 247Sports lists Wilson as a three-star prospect and the No. 182 player from the state of Texas. He received his OSU offer in mid-May before taking an official visit to Stillwater last weekend, which put a bow on his recruitment. Wilson becomes the second player to commit to Oklahoma State on Saturday, joining Arkansas offensive lineman Chauncey Johnson. Wilson is the 10th overall commit in the Cowboys’ class. He is the second linebacker in the class, joining Jaylen Boardley. Read this original article at Pistols Firing Blog. After announcing an Oklahoma State offer on Monday, Chauncey Johnson didn’t take long in deciding he wanted to be a Cowboy. Johnson, a three-star offensive lineman from Lonoke, Arkansas, announced his commitment to Oklahoma State on Saturday. He picks the Pokes over offers from Missouri, Arkansas State and others. Listed at 6-foot-4, 295 pounds, Johnson played at left tackle and left guard for Lonoke in his junior season, as the Jackrabbits averaged 32.8 points, 154.5 passing yards and 182.4 rushing yards a game. He is also a regional champion wrestler. OSU’s staff was able to get its hands on Johnson at a camp this summer, which led to his offer. On3 is the only major recruiting service that has evaluated him at this point. The service lists him as a three-star prospect, the No. 83 offensive tackle in the class and the No. 12 player from the state of Arkansas. Johnson becomes the Cowboys’ ninth commitment in the 2024 class and joins Caleb Hackleman as offensive linemen in the class. As of writing, OSU’s class ranks 51st nationally and seventh in the Big 12. Read this original article at Pistols Firing Blog. |
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