Alumni Weekend Set for August 24 and 25
NORMAN – The University of Oklahoma men's basketball program will welcome back former OU players and coaches for the eighth annual Sooner Basketball Family Weekend alumni event Aug. 24 and 25 (Friday and Saturday).
The weekend will be highlighted by a dedication of the Griffin Family Performance Center and a dinner honoring the gifts of Blake and Taylor Griffin. The festivities culminate with the free Legends Alumni Game on the Lloyd Noble Center floor.
This year's Friday night Tip In Club Dinner will honor the accomplishments of Blake and Taylor Griffin. One of the most dynamic sets of siblings to don the Crimson and Cream, the Griffin brothers have left a permanent mark on the University of Oklahoma as both student-athletes and alumni, most recently through their major financial contribution to the Griffin Family Performance Center.
The Griffin brothers played two seasons together at Oklahoma, helping lead the Sooners to the 2009 Elite Eight and a 30-6 record for the 2008-09 season. A three-year starter, Taylor played in 129 games for the Sooners and reached the NCAA Tournament on three occasions. After averaging 9.6 points and 5.8 rebounds during his senior season, he was drafted by the Phoenix Suns in the second round of the 2009 NBA Draft.
During his sophomore season, Blake averaged a double-double of 22.7 points and 14.4 boards as he became Oklahoma's first winner of the Naismith Award, Wooden Award and Oscar Robertson Trophy. He produced 30 double-doubles in 35 games during the 2008-09 season and registered the most rebounds in an NCAA season (504) since Larry Bird in 1979. That summer, he was taken as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Clippers. While with the Clippers, Griffin was an NBA All-Star on five occasions and was named the 2011 NBA Rookie of the Year. Now a member of the Detroit Pistons, Griffin is entering his ninth season in the NBA.
The banquet will also include an auction benefiting the Tip In Club and Wayman Tisdale Scholarship Fund. Reservations for Friday night's dinner ($50 per person and $25 per child) can be made by calling the OU men's basketball office at (405) 325-4732.
On Saturday, the Griffin brothers will join OU president James L. Gallogly and director of athletics Joe Castiglione in a dedication ceremony for the Griffin Family Performance Center. The ceremony is open to the public and will begin at 11 a.m. outside of the facility, located just south of the men's and women's practice gyms at Lloyd Noble Center.
The Griffin Family Performance Center is one of the first of its kind among the nation's collegiate basketball programs. Some of the many features include basketball training courts, free weights, indoor and outdoor turfs, spaces for plyometric and cardiovascular training, cardio and strength testing, locker rooms, an exam and recovery area, a fueling station and a multi-purpose room.
Immediately following the dedication is the Legends Alumni Game. The contest will tip off at noon and be open to the public free of charge (fans must enter via the east doors). Former OU players and coaches will be available for autographs on the court after the game, and concession stands will be open throughout the afternoon. Fans in attendance will once again have the opportunity to be photographed with current and former OU basketball players for the annual team schedule poster.
The weekend also features the Tip In Club Golf Tournament, held at the Jimmie Austin OU Golf Club on Friday. To register a team ($250 per individual), or to be a sponsor, call the OU men's basketball office at (405) 325-4732.
Some of the many Sooners scheduled to participate in this year's festivities include: Ernie Abercrombie, Alvan Adams, Mike Anderson, Chucky Barnett, Shawn Clark, Isaiah Cousins, Cade Davis, Ebi Ere, Ted Evans, Taj Gray, Blake Griffin, Taylor Griffin, Garfield Heard, Skeeter Henry, Tim Heskett, Buddy Hield, Joe Holladay, Darryl "Choo" Kennedy, Joe King, David Little, Tim McAlister, Mike McCurdy, Tom McCurdy, Michael Neal, Tyler Neal, Bo Overton, Ryan Spangler, Billy Tubbs, Tommy Tubbs, Ray Whitley and Trae Young.
Additional alumni are attempting to attend and an updated list will be kept on SoonerSports.com.
Friday, Aug. 24
8 a.m. – Tip In Club Golf Tournament (morning session)
12:45 p.m. – Tip In Club Golf Tournament (afternoon session)
6:30 p.m. - Reception at Lloyd Noble Center
7 p.m. - Tip In Club Dinner honoring the Griffin family
Saturday, Aug. 25
11 a.m. – Griffin Family Performance Center dedication
Noon – Legends Alumni Game (LNC east doors open at 11 a.m.)
Postgame – Autographs from current and former Sooners and team poster photo shoot with fans
For more information, contact the OU men's basketball office at (405) 325-4732.
Griffin Honored to Give Back
Griffin's Gifts
Griffin Family Performance Center