Oklahoma Welcomes Transfer Big Man

Sooners coach Porter Moser called John Hugley "an extremely physical post player" who can make an instant impact in the OU paint.

John E. Hoover | May 16, 2023

Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

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Oklahoma Sooners

Oklahoma head men's basketball coach Porter Moser announced the addition of transfer John Hugley IV to the 2023-24 roster on Tuesday.

Hugley IV spent the previous three seasons at Pittsburgh, appearing in 47 games and making 38 starts. He averaged 12.2 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.0 assists per outing.

"John is an extremely physical post player and uses his 6-9 frame aggressively around the basket," said Moser. "When he is healthy, he has proven to be one of the best five man scorers in the country and showed his ability in the ACC. He has a great feel on offensive and is a willing facilitator. His physical toughness and size make it extremely hard for opposing teams to switch. I am excited for him to join the OU family."

As a sophomore, the Cleveland, Ohio, product appeared in 32 games, making 31 starts in 2021-22. Hugley IV averaged 14.8 points, 7.9 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game. He ranked fourth in the ACC in rebounds per contest, sixth in total rebounds (253) and tied for 15th in points per outing.

Hugley IV concluded his sophomore campaign with seven-straight outings in double figures, averaging 17.7 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.5 assists per contest in that span.

He earned All-ACC honorable mention honors and tallied 23 double-digit point games. Hugley IV shot 47.8 percent (154-327) from the field and 71.0 percent (157-221) from the line.

In a shortened 2022-23 season due to injury, he appeared in eight games and made six starts. He averaged 8.0 points, 3.6 rebounds and 0.8 assists per contest.

Hugley IV played in seven games as a freshman and made one start. He averaged 5.1 points and 4.3 rebounds per outing.

Prior to his time with the Panthers, he prepped at Brush High School and recorded 1,660 points and 1,170 rebounds in his career. HugleyIV was a two-time all-state and three-time all-district selection.

He was named All-Northeast Lakes District Division I Player of the Year and Western Reserve Conference Player of the Year as senior, averaging 24 points, 13.3 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.6 blocks per contest. Hugley IV was a 2020 top-100 prospect by ESPN and Rivals.

Published May 16, 2023

JOHN E. HOOVER

John is an award-winning journalist whose work spans five decades in Oklahoma, with multiple state, regional and national awards as a sportswriter at various newspapers. During his newspaper career, John covered the Dallas Cowboys, the Kansas City Chiefs, the Oklahoma Sooners, the Oklahoma State Cowboys, the Arkansas Razorbacks and much more. In 2016, John changed careers, migrating into radio and launching a YouTube channel, and has built a successful independent media company, DanCam Media. From there, John has written under the banners of Sporting News, Sports Illustrated, Fan Nation and a handful of local and national magazines while hosting daily sports talk radio shows in Oklahoma City, Tulsa and statewide. John has also spoken on Capitol Hill in Oklahoma City in a successful effort to put more certified athletic trainers in Oklahoma public high schools. Among the dozens of awards he has won, John most cherishes his national "Beat Writer of the Year" from the Associated Press Sports Editors, Oklahoma's "Best Sports Column" from the Society of Professional Journalists, and Two "Excellence in Sports Medicine Reporting" Awards from the National Athletic Trainers Association. John holds a bachelor's degree in Mass Communications from East Central University in Ada, OK. Born and raised in North Pole, Alaska, John played football and wrote for the school paper at Ada High School in Ada, OK. He enjoys books, movies and travel, and lives in Broken Arrow, OK, with his wife and two kids.