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Five Thoughts on Oklahoma State’s Final Game in Puerto Rico

The Cowboys go 3-0 in Puerto Rico.

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[OSU Athletics]

It was a fun four days of following (from afar) this new Oklahoma State basketball team on its preseason journey to Puerto Rico.

Oklahoma State won again on Wednesday night, beating the LBP All Stars 100-92.

I’ll compile some box scores and probably provide some big-picture takes on Thursday, but for now, here are five thoughts from the final game.

GAME 1 | GAME 2

1. Jordan Burks Is Really Good

Jordan Burks was the last player added to this squad, and he might just be this team’s best player.

Burks’ late (relatively) commitment came as he was testing NBA Draft waters, so it’d make sense that he’d be in contention to be the team’s best guy.

He scored a team-high 18 points Wednesday, going 6-for-8 from the field and 3-for-5 from 3-point range.

Burks is smooth yet rangy. He’s a guy you can’t leave open on the perimeter but if your close-out is bad, he’ll float by you, like he did in the second half before a smooth finger-roll.

Any time he felt the need to take over a game this week, he did. He also shot 6-for-9 from 3. I don’t care who the competition is, that’s impressive.

2. Kashie Natt and Anthony Felesi Give Dribblers Hell

OSU freshman Anthony Felesi knocked a ball away from a dribbler near the top of the key.

The ball was rolling toward the halfcourt line when Felesi went penguin style across the floor. After a brief exchange, it looked as if the Puerto Rican player was going to come away with the ball when he turned to a full-sprint Kashie Natt.

Natt ran through the ball, knocking to toward the Puerto Rican goal. He had a breakaway dunk waiting on him, but Natt instead leapt in the air and left the ball just in front of the rim for Felesi, who soared in and dunked it home.

They were like piranhas, which google tells me are unusual in Puerto Rico.

Those two on the perimeter are going to be a nightmare for offenses this year.

Felesi had eight points and seven rebounds Wednesday. That alley-oop from Natt was one of two Felesi was on the end of, with the other coming from Jacob Walker in the second quarter. Not long after that, Felesi stuffed a shot and scored again. He did foul out sort of early, so that’ll be something he’ll have to hone in on. But I leave this week being super impressed with the freshman.

Natt didn’t score Wednesday, but he was still quiet impactful. He had four rebounds, five assists and that steal. OSU fans know tough basketball, and Kashie Natt has OSU fan-favorite written all over him.

3. Jacob Walker Looks Better and Better

Sam Houston transfer Jacob Walker had another stellar day.

Only a sophomore and the reigning Conference-USA Sixth Man of the Year, Walker scored 14 points on Wednesday, going 6-for-11 from the field and 2-for-3 from 3-point range. He also had six assists.

He was scoring at the rim, floating in the mid-range and scoring from 3.

Kanye Clary didn’t play a ton this week. Not sure if he’s dealing with a little injury or if Lutz just knows what he has with Clary, but with him not playing, Walker has looked really good.

4. Andrija Grbovic Has a Flamethrower

Arizona State transfer Andrija Grbovic played well in the first two games, but he put an exclamation point on his week Wednesday.

Listed at 6-foot-11, Grbovic had 12 points, going 2-for-3 from 3-point range.

He moves better than you’d think a 6-foot-11 guy should, as well, so he’s capable of more than just catching and shooting.

But he is certainly capable of catching and shooting. He went 4-for-9 (44%)  from 3 in the three games.

It’s just another weapon that teams will have to be weary of.

5. This Hailifanua Dunk Was Sick

Julius Hailifanua caught a ball in the short corner, turned and didn’t hesitate at all to throw it down over a smaller defender.

There have been quite a few fun dunks this week, but it was up there with them.

I think my favorite was still Kashie Natt jumping over Ben Ahmed in the first game.

But this Latrell Allmond dunk was cool, too. It was better from the broadcast angle, but still.

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