Mason-Griffin and Gallon poised to make impact

By John Shinn

Oklahoma has proven freshmen can quickly excel on the basketball court. The last two Big 12 Freshman of the year -- Blake Griffin in 2007-08 and Willie Warren last season -- both played their home games at Lloyd Noble Center.

But the Sooners are trying to get double the impact with the addition of McDonald's All-Americans Tommy Mason-Griffin and Keith "Tiny" Gallon for this season.

One the one hand, signing two players of their caliber displays the leap OU's had in recruiting as Jeff Capel enters his fourth season as Sooner coach. Gallon and Mason-Griffin mark the third and fourth McDonald's All-Americans, which represents the presumed top 24 prep players in the country.

What's more surprising, however, neither is being counted on to carry the Sooners this season.

"They're talented. We expect them to be good players. We expect all of our freshmen to be. Just because you're a McDonald's guy doesn't mean it's set in stone that you're going to be really good," Capel said. "You have to work and earn the right to be a good player. Tommy and Tiny are very talented. They've accepted coaching so far, which is good."

They've also learned they have to make an impact on the team before they can make it on the court. Nothing is handed out.

"I want to do the little things to help the team," Gallon said Thursday afternoon at OU's Media Day.

"I'm just trying to adjust as quickly as possible and contribute in whatever way I can," Mason-Griffin added.

Make no mistake both will play critical roles this season. Mason-Griffin will be OU's point guard. Gallon will be its power forward.

Capel said Tuesday the only starter set in stone was Warren at shooting guard. Everything else was up for grabs.

But he's also made it clear the tandem were not brought in to play complimentary roles.

"We expect them to be really good players from Day One for us," Capel said.

The Sooners need them to be. Mason-Griffin brings something OU has missed the last few years. You have to go all the way back to 2006 and Drew Lavender since the Sooners have had a true point guard on the floor. Austin Johnson played well last season, but he was a converted shooting guard.

The one who's expressed the enthusiasm for Mason-Griffin is the one he'll be in the backcourt with -- Warren.

"We need someone where I don't always have to bring the ball up the court. I can put it on him sometimes to make a play," Warren said. "That's what Tommy gives us, another playmaker."

There's no way to replace the loss of Blake Griffin. No one loses the unanimous national player of the year and doesn't take a dip at the position he vacated. But Gallon, a 6-foot-9, 290-pound forward, is expected to cushion the blow.

"He can pass it, he can score, he moves well for his size, he can guard and he has great hands. He could be a guy that can score for us, but again we need him to fill whatever role we need him to fill," Capel said of Gallon. "He can do a lot for us this year."

For third time in three years, OU has entered a season excited about what's coming. The previous two seasons Griffin and then Warren provided the buzz and lived up to the billing. Now it's Gallon and Mason-Griffin's turn.

Sooners start season at No. 17

The Associated Press preseason Top 25 was released Thursday. The Sooners start the year at No. 17.

They are one of three Big 12 teams that will start the season ranked. Kansas is No. 1 and received 55 of a 61 first-place votes. Texas is at No. 3 and received one first-place vote.

The USA Today/ESPN coaches preseason poll also came out Thursday. OU was 16th in it. Kansas and Texas had the same spots.

Warren on Naismith Award watch list

Warren was one of 50 players included in the preseason watch list for the Naismith Award Thursday. The award is considered the Heisman Trophy of college basketball and was awarded to Blake Griffin last season.

John Shinn 366-3536 jshinn@normantranscript.com