The Oklahoma Sooners made a splash for their basketball program on Monday. Trae Young announced on ESPN's Sportscenter that the former Sooners guard will be taking on a new role with the University of Oklahoma athletic department as their assistant general manager for basketball.
It's a significant move for the program as they try to build off their first NCAA Tournament appearance under Porter Moser and a strong finish to the 2024-2025 season.
"Trae is a son of Norman, Oklahoma, and he's given so much to our city and its people," athletic director Joe Castiglione said in a statement released by the University of Oklahoma. "He has a strong affinity for this place, and his commitment to ensuring our community is a thriving one is truly unmatched. He's also an OU legend who, in his time here and since, continues to achieve excellence both on and off the court. With this appointment, we're taking his commitment to Norman and to OU to the next level, dedicating our mutual support together to the success of our men's basketball program. His mind is made for this game, and we're incredibly fortunate he's in our corner, wanting to put his talents and innovative thinking toward strengthening our program. On top of that, his continued financial generosity buoys our efforts in ways few other schools can enjoy. Even as he's thriving in the NBA, he never forgets his roots. We couldn't be more appreciative of him as well as excited to work together in helping our program flourish in this new era of college athletics."
Along with the announcement about Young's new role is that the Atlanta Hawks star is donating $1 million to the basketball program. Young will be charged with high school and transfer portal player evaluations and will assist in contract negotiations under the NCAA's new revenue-sharing guidelines.
"As someone who grew up in Norman and played at the University of Oklahoma, stepping into the role of assistant GM for OU Basketball is a huge honor," said Young. "This program has such a rich history, which I am fortunate to have been and continue to be a part of. In my new role, my focus is on helping contribute to OU's winning culture, working alongside the coaching staff and front office to bring in the right players to help us compete and succeed at the highest level."
Young was a prolific scorer during his time with the Sooners and has continued to star at the NBA level as a multiple-time all-star and an All-NBA third-team selection.
The move helps take the Sooners to the next level. After Oklahoma's loss to the UConn Huskies in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, head basketball coach Porter Moser was forthright about the program's need to win in the offseason to retain high-level players. Both the financial gift and Trae's presence on the recruiting trail will aid Moser and OU Basketball in their retooling efforts each offseason.
Trae Young has accepted a role with Oklahoma as an assistant GM for the men's basketball program, he announced on NBA Today with @malika_andrews.
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) March 31, 2025
Making a difference with his alma mater 馃憦 pic.twitter.com/FeJNFbsKZW
Moser said, "This is a really big day and incredibly ...
