Momentum is a fragile thing in college basketball. One good move can light a spark, while a bad break can send a program spiraling. For the past few years, Oklahoma men’s basketball has teetered somewhere in the middle—a team trying to find its footing in a new conference while reestablishing its identity under Porter Moser.
But over the last 48 hours, it’s become increasingly clear that Oklahoma isn’t just trying anymore—they’re executing.
Just hours after landing Notre Dame transfer Tae Davis, one of the most versatile and promising forwards in the portal, Oklahoma secured a commitment from another big name: Miami guard Nijel Pack. Together, these back-to-back additions send a powerful message—the Sooners are no longer fishing for upside in the mid-major waters. They’re targeting and landing proven high-major talents who can help them win immediately.
That’s a sharp—and welcome—departure from the Moser era to this point.
Let’s talk about what makes Nijel Pack such a transformative addition.
At 6-foot, Pack may not be the flashiest name in the portal, but he brings elite-level production, leadership, and a high basketball IQ. Over 122 career games at Kansas State and Miami, he’s averaged 14.3 points per game while shooting 43.3% from the field and 40.3% from three. He’s a knockdown shooter with deep range, a true floor general who has logged major minutes in high-pressure environments—including a run to the Final Four in 2023, where he was named the Midwest Region’s Most Outstanding Player.
Pack’s résumé speaks for itself. He’s a former Big 12 First Team selection. He’s a career 40% three-point shooter. He’s a seasoned veteran who has faced top-level competition in both the Big 12 and the ACC. And now, if granted a medical hardship waiver following a season-ending foot injury in December, he’ll bring all of that experience to Norman.
This isn’t a developmental project. This is a win-now player, and it reflects a seismic shift in Moser’s approach to roster building.
In previous years, Oklahoma fans have watched the Sooners roll the dice on talented but unproven mid-major players, hoping they could adapt to the rigors of Power Conference basketball. Sometimes it worked. Often, it didn’t. But this year feels different.
The addition of Pack—alongside Davis—is proof that the staff is recalibrating toward players with established success at the highest level. Both were major contributors in Power Six leagues. Both are capable of shouldering scoring loads. Both are mature, tested, and motivated. They aren’t coming to Norman to find their game. They’re coming to lead.
With Pack, Oklahoma gets something else it desperately needed: a solution at point guard.
Jeremiah Fears was a revelation as a freshman, but his decision to declare for the NBA Draft left a glaring hole in the Sooners’ backcourt. Dayton Forsythe showed promise and is set to return, but he’s still developing. With Pack in the mix, Oklahoma gets a true floor general who can initiate offense, stretch the floor, and defend multiple positions. He also adds some scoring punch that will help replace Fears’ 13 points per game.
And let’s not overlook his leadership.
Pack’s presence in the locker room will matter just as much as his production. He’s been through coaching changes, deep tournament runs, and injury rehab. He understands what it takes to win—and how fragile that process can be. For a team with several new faces and a young core, that kind of leadership is invaluable.
With Pack and Davis on board, Moser suddenly has the nucleus of a competitive SEC roster. They join returners Mo Wague, Dayton Forsythe, Kuol Atak, Jadon Jones, and Jeff Nwankwo (the latter two redshirted due to injury last season), plus a trio of intriguing freshmen in Kai Rogers, Alec Blair, and Andreas Holst. That leaves five scholarships to work with—five more opportunities to add depth, size, and scoring.
But even if the roster stopped here, it would already be a marked improvement over last season’s version.
The 2024-25 campaign exposed the growing pains of life in the SEC. The Sooners finished just 6-12 in conference play, often overwhelmed by the league’s athleticism and physicality. They lacked size, struggled with consistency, and missed a true go-to guy in crunch time.
With Davis and Pack, those problems begin to fade.
Davis brings the size and versatility the Sooners sorely lacked. At 6-foot-9, he can stretch the floor, attack the rim, and guard multiple positions. He averaged 15.1 points per game last season in the ACC and will be one of the more difficult matchups in the SEC next year. Pack, meanwhile, solves the spacing issue. His ability to shoot off the dribble and play pick-and-roll basketball gives Moser a legitimate offensive engine.
Together, they offer a balanced, inside-out threat that Oklahoma hasn’t had in years.
And then there’s the Trae Young factor. The former Sooner star recently donated $1 million to the program and accepted a new role as assistant general manager, where he’ll help with scouting and NIL negotiations. His influence is already being felt, not just as a donor but as a recruiter and ambassador for the program.
You think it’s a coincidence that a fellow Indianapolis native like Davis chose Norman? Or that a highly sought-after transfer like Pack trusted Oklahoma to be his final stop?
This is what alignment looks like—from the coaching staff to the boosters to the alumni. And in the high-stakes world of college basketball, where NIL money, playing time, and visibility are all king, alignment is often what separates the good from the great.
There’s still work to be done. The SEC isn’t getting any easier. Alabama, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Auburn all continue to reload. But for the first time in the Moser era, Oklahoma isn’t playing catch-up. They’re making moves that demand respect.
Nijel Pack may only have one year left, but his commitment could be a game-changer. It validates the program’s direction, strengthens the backcourt, and gives Oklahoma a player with the skills—and the swagger—to win big games in March.
Porter Moser said it best: “There’s such opportunity, such a high vision of what we can do being in the SEC.”
With Davis and Pack on board, that vision is starting to look a lot more like reality.
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