NORMAN, Okla. — It’s not daily you see this, however a month-plus into the season one group’s loss is Oklahoma’s main achieve. Payton Verhulst, an ACC All-Freshman member throughout Louisville’s 2021-22 Final Four marketing campaign and a former five-star prospect, entered the switch portal following the primary eight video games and dedicated to the Sooners Monday.
“Boomer Sooner,” she stated in a tweet with a graphic of her donning an Oklahoma jersey and the words ‘Welcome Home Payton Verhulst.’
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From De Soto, Kan., Verhulst shot 40% from 3-point vary whereas averaging 3.3 factors and 1.9 rebounds in 11 minutes per sport with the Cardinals final yr. She shot 42.9% general from the sphere and in addition tallied 24 assists to go together with 21 steals.
This yr in eight video games, Verhulst was averaging 6.4 factors, 1.5 rebounds, 1.1 steals and 0.9 assists per sport. She was taking pictures 38.2% from the ground whereas enjoying 15.1 minutes per contest.
The 6-foot-1 sophomore just lately posted a career-high 16-point efficiency in a 100-37 blowout victory over Longwood on Nov. 25. But upon coming into the portal, Verhulst didn’t make the journey to Middle Tennessee over the weekend, and now it’s clear why.
“She was just looking for some more opportunities to play and then just decided to transfer,” stated Louisville head coach Jeff Walz. “I’ve never been one to force some kid or try and force them to stay. I wasn’t going to do it. We wished her absolutely the best and hope she has great success.”
While she’ll have to sit out the rest of the 2022-23 season, Verhulst, who moreover had gives from the likes of UConn, Stanford and Notre Dame popping out of highschool, shall be instantly eligible subsequent yr. And that’s clearly an incredible increase when contemplating Oklahoma is about to lose stars Madi Williams, Taylor Robertson and Ana Llanusa off this yr’s present squad.
Speaking of which, the Sooners have raced out to an 8-1 begin, together with a present five-game profitable streak. That most just lately featured a 94-65 blowout victory over Robert Morris over the weekend. They’ll subsequent tackle Southern at 2 p.m. CT Sunday inside Lloyd Noble Center.
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