Kelvin Sampson has a term to describe the heights his Oklahoma program has recently attained -- "rarified air."

In the last two seasons, OU reached a Final Four and an Elite Eight. But the roster has turned over, and it's unclear whether the Sooners will breathe as easily at basketball's elite level.

Gone are Hollis Price, Quannas White and Ebi Ere -- the guards who fueled the rapid rise, accounting for 56 percent of OU's points, 62 percent of its assists, 52 percent of its steals and 76 percent of its 3-pointers.

But Sampson says the Sooners have four starters returning. His reasoning: Sophomore De'Angelo Alexander took Ere's spot late in the season, and senior forward Jason Detrick was a part-time starter in 2001-02 before redshirting last year. Add sophomore forward Kevin Bookout, who along with Alexander led OU in scoring during the NCAA Tournament last season, and center Jabahri Brown, and Sampson reckons the Sooners need only to find a point guard.

Good news for OU: A new point guard is probably lurking on campus as part of one of the nation's top recruiting classes. Could it be the program has reached the point where it reloads rather than rebuilds? Maybe. But Sampson expects significant growing pains from this year's young roster. "There will naturally be some fallout for us," Sampson says. "You're talking about rarified air. We've been at an unbelievable level. Can we maintain that level? I don't know who can."

FRONTCOURT

After several years with a perimeter-oriented attack, OU's inside game appears ready to carry the load. Much of the work will fall to Bookout and Brown. But for a change, the Sooners appear to have plenty of options in a deep frontcourt. "We're as strong up front as we've ever been," Sampson says. "We've got great depth and experience and a little bit of everything."

Start with Bookout, a 6-foot-8 widebody with deft footwork and a super-soft touch around the glass. As a freshman, he averaged 9.4 points and 5.9 rebounds, but he'll be counted on for more. "He has a chance to be a monster," Sampson says.

Brown, a 6-10 senior, has improved immensely in two seasons, but he's still learning a game he began playing as a teenager. An extraordinary athlete, Brown has shown flashes of ability to dominate games. He was also prone to foul trouble.

Johnnie Gilbert, a 6-8 junior, supplies garbage work (3.7 points, 4.7 boards off the bench), but like Brown has been prone to foul trouble.

The Sooners also expect help from Larry Turner, a redshirt freshman who is long-limbed.

BACKCOURT

Price, White and Ere supplied most of the clutch points for the Sooners. But late last season, Alexander began to emerge as a scoring threat on the wing. He became a starter late and averaged 11.8 points during the NCAA Tournament.

At 6-4, 215, Alexander is physical enough to bang inside but has a nice perimeter touch. As a sophomore, he'll be counted on for scoring punch. "He's one of those kids you don't realize what he's done until you pick up the stat sheet," Sampson says. "This year he'll do more."

Detrick averaged 9.2 points as OU reached the Final Four two seasons ago. Now a senior, he'll be one of the Sooners' top scoring options. "He used his redshirt year to his benefit," Sampson says. "He's better. He's a bigger, stronger player than he was."

The veterans be joined by several newcomers, including McDonald's All-American Andrew Lavender. Just 5-7, Lavender will be given every chance to win the point guard slot. Also vying for time at the point will be Lawrence McKenzie, a freshman from Minneapolis.

FINAL ANALYSIS

OU will miss Price's leadership more than his production. And that should be the biggest key to the season -- replacing the leadership void.

Alexander and Bookout are the prime contenders after emerging last season. Detrick should also provide scoring punch, as could Brown. And Sampson believes he'll find a solid point guard.

More important is leadership. "This time last year I knew who our leaders were going to be," Sampson says. "This year, we've got some question marks in that area. This will be as talented a team as we've had, but this will also be the youngest team we've had."

It might take a while, but Sampson believes the Sooners will soon be breathing that rarified air once again. "We're coming off an unbelievable stretch," Sampson says. "There may be a drop. But I think our best days are ahead of us."

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