The Oklahoma men’s basketball program is reportedly set to hire Lucas McKay, currently serving as the general manager for Clemson. This move aims to bolster the Sooners’ roster management capabilities and improve their competitive standing.
McKay’s experience at Clemson includes significant contributions to teams that achieved three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, highlighted by an Elite Eight run in 2024, as reported by sports.yahoo.com.
This appointment comes as Oklahoma has acknowledged challenges in its basketball program’s resource allocation, particularly concerning Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) spending. Athletic director Roger Denny openly stated in March to The Oklahoman that the program was not resourced at the level required.
McKay will join assistant general manager Trae Young, a Washington Wizards star, who was brought on in May to advise on player personnel and strategic roster planning. While Young’s primary commitments lie with his NBA career, McKay is expected to manage the financial aspects of roster construction as the general manager.
Coach Porter Moser expressed appreciation for Denny’s commitment to increasing resources for men’s basketball. Moser noted Denny’s background at Illinois, where significant investment was made in their successful basketball program, indicating a similar vision for Oklahoma.
Last season, Oklahoma faced a difficult start in conference play, losing nine consecutive games for a 1-9 record. However, the team rallied with a 6-2 finish in the regular season and two wins in the SEC Tournament, narrowly missing an NCAA Tournament bid after a loss to Arkansas.
This turnaround was crucial for Coach Moser to retain his position. The hiring of a dedicated general manager like McKay, three days before the transfer portal opens, signals a proactive approach to prevent similar struggles and propel the Sooners back to the NCAA Tournament.
Without a dedicated general manager last offseason, Randall Stephenson, chair of athletics and former AT&T CEO, sought to establish a football-like organizational structure for Moser’s basketball staff. Jake Rosenberg, former Philadelphia Eagles vice president of football administration, was brought in to educate the staff on navigating the current era of college basketball.
Assistant men’s basketball coach Brock Morris primarily managed recruiting efforts, bringing five transfer portal players to campus only after initial deal structures were in place. Four of these players, including Saint Joseph’s guard Xzayvier Brown, Notre Dame forward Tae Davis, Miami guard Nijel Pack, and Alabama forward Derrion Reid, were successfully signed.
The formalization of McKay’s hiring was still pending as of Saturday night, according to the report. Oklahoma is scheduled to compete against West Virginia in the finals of the College Basketball Crown tournament on Sunday.