The college basketball landscape has changed dramatically in recent years, and nowhere is that more evident than in Norman. For Oklahoma head coach Porter Moser, the Transfer Portal has become a double-edged sword - a tool for rebuilding, and a revolving door that’s made continuity a luxury.
Over his five seasons at the helm, Moser has watched an average of four players depart each year through the portal. That’s not just a trend - it’s the new reality of college hoops, where NIL money and opportunity have turned roster stability into a moving target.
This season, the turnover has been especially stark. Of the five starters from last year’s squad, only one - senior center Mohamed Wague - remains in crimson and cream.
The rest? All incoming transfers.
And while Moser has worked to reload the roster each offseason, the results have yet to match the effort. Oklahoma is currently mired in an eight-game losing streak, and with the team struggling to find its footing, it’s hard to ignore the success stories of several former Sooners who are now thriving elsewhere.
Oweh, Uzan, and Miles: Former Sooners Making Noise Elsewhere
Let’s start with Otega Oweh and Milos Uzan, two guards who played key roles for Oklahoma during the 2022-23 season before taking their talents to blue-blood programs. Oweh, a 6-foot-5 guard from New Jersey, has blossomed into a star at Kentucky.
After averaging 11.4 points and 3.8 rebounds in his final season at OU, he’s now leading the Wildcats in scoring with 16.4 points per game, while adding nearly five boards and a couple of assists. He’s been so impactful that he earned a spot on the All-SEC First Team in the 2025-26 preseason poll - a clear sign of the respect he’s earned across the league.
Uzan, meanwhile, found a home in Houston under former Oklahoma head coach Kelvin Sampson. The 6-foot-4 Las Vegas native was a steady contributor in Norman, averaging 8.3 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 3.7 assists across two seasons.
Now in his senior year, he’s upped his production for the 8th-ranked Cougars, putting up 11.4 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game. He’s become a key piece for a team with serious postseason aspirations.
And then there’s Duke Miles, who’s taken a more winding road to success. After stops at Troy, High Point, and Oklahoma, the 6-foot-2 guard has found his stride at Vanderbilt - his fourth college program.
Miles averaged 17.4 points at High Point before joining the Sooners last season, where he posted 9.4 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 2.0 assists in 24 games. Now at Vanderbilt, he’s having his most complete season yet, averaging 16.6 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 4.3 assists for a Commodores team ranked 15th in the nation.
Oweh’s Return to Norman: A Painful Reminder
Oweh’s journey came full circle last season when Kentucky visited Oklahoma. It was a tightly contested game, and Oweh didn’t just show up - he took over.
He dropped a game-high 28 points, but it was his final bucket that stung the most. With OU clinging to an 82-81 lead and less than 30 seconds left, Oweh drove into a crowded lane and delivered the go-ahead bucket with six seconds remaining.
Oklahoma had one last shot, but freshman Jeremiah Fears had his layup blocked at the buzzer, sealing the win for Kentucky.
As if that wasn’t enough, Oweh struck again in the SEC Tournament, hitting another game-winner to knock Oklahoma out of the conference tourney. For Sooner fans, it was a tough pill to swallow - a reminder of what could have been had the roster stayed intact.
Looking Ahead: Another Matchup with a Familiar Face
Oklahoma won’t have to wait long for another shot at Oweh. The Sooners are headed to Lexington this week for an SEC showdown with Kentucky, and you can bet the emotions will be running high. For Moser and his current group, it’s another chance to measure themselves against a former teammate who’s turned into one of the SEC’s premier players.
There’s no question the Transfer Portal has reshaped college basketball. For Oklahoma, it’s been a story of departures and near-misses.
But for players like Oweh, Uzan, and Miles, it’s also been a path to growth, opportunity, and in some cases, stardom. The challenge now for Moser and the Sooners is to turn the page and build a new core that can not only stay together but compete at the highest level.
Because in today’s game, talent is everywhere - the key is keeping it.