PF -- AARON MCGHEE (6-8, 16.0 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 28.1 mpg, .458 FG, .323 3PT, .822 FT). McGhee, a transfer from Vincennes (Ind.) Junior College two years ago, started all 69 games in his two-year career and had perhaps his best season as a senior. He was chosen to the All-Big 12 first team last season by the league’s coaches.

Last season, he posted 13 double-doubles and averaged 21.8 points and 7.2 rebounds in the NCAA tournament. He finished his two-year career with 1,001 points.

Sampson said McGhee went through a rapid maturing process, on and off the court, in his two years with Oklahoma’s basketball team. "Aaron McGhee matured and became a man right before my eyes," Sampson said. "I don’t know if there’s a better reward in coaching than that."

After an inconsistent junior year, McGhee was steady last season, picking up his offensive game. He averaged 12.9 points as a junior and was often plagued by foul troubles.

Sampson isn’t expecting to replace McGhee’s numbers with one player. He plans to do it by committee.

"Instead of bringing in a guy to replace Aaron, I think it will be a collective team effort," Sampson said. "We’ll pick up his 18 to 20 points a game by spreading it over several guys."

SF -- DARYAN SELVY (6-6, 6.7 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 23.4 mpg, .458 FG, .321 3PT, .720 FT). Selvy was one of the best players off the bench in the Big 12 and was chosen to the league’s All-Reserve team.

A versatile player, Selvy was slotted as a small forward but could actually play a number of positions. He wasn’t a great perimeter shooter, but could create problems with his basketball smarts, and he was a tenacious defender.

"The thing we will miss about Daryan Selvy is his defense and rebounding," Sampson said. "I thought he was one of the toughest match-ups in the Big 12, especially when the ball hit the rim because he was so difficult to block out. Selvy could be just cruising along going school-zone speed, but as soon as the ball hit the rim he was in the Indy 500.

"He is the best one I’ve had in pursuing rebounds. You can’t be a great offensive rebounder unless you’re tough. That’s a want-to area of the game. I’m concerned about some of that toughness. We’ve got some kids who can be good offensive rebounders, but they’ve got to prove they can be as relentless as Selvy."

G -- RICHARD AINOOSON (6-3, 0.8 ppg, 0.6 rpg, 2.4 mpg, .250 FG, .667 FT). Ainooson played in only 13 games with one start. He was a walk-on from Oklahoma City.

G -- MICHAEL CANO (6-1, 180, 0.9 ppg, 0.5 rpg, 4.2 mpg, .250 FG, .333 3PT, .500 FT). Cano, one of three team captains, played in 14 games and started one game. A former walk-on, Cano earned a scholarship for his senior season, but spent his career as a practice player.

PG -- QUANNAS WHITE (6-1, 190, SR, #4, 7.6 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 4.7 apg, 1.9 tpg, 1.3 spg, 29.9 mpg, .442 FG, .408 3PT, .684 FT, St. Augustine HS/New Orleans, La. and Midland Junior College). Sampson had high hopes that White could come in and run the team, and that's exactly what happened. White ran the point so well he was chosen to the Big 12 All-Newcomer team. Often, it takes a junior college player a while to figure out the system in Division I. Not so with White.

In addition to running the show, White could score when he had to. He reached double figures in 15 games and saved his best game for when it counted, in the West Regional final against Missouri. White scored 12 points, and piled up a career-high seven rebounds, seven assists, two steals and one turnover.

His size makes him tough to stop for a point guard, particularly in the lane. He’s also the team’s best on-ball defender and one of the team’s best competitors.

"Quannas’ greatest strength as a point guard is that he doesn’t think anyone can beat him," Sampson said. "He has unbelievable personal pride. He doesn’t back down. He’ll tell you his record against all the great point guards. And he’ll say, ‘Coach, the only stat that matters to me is the scoreboard.’ And that’s music to my ears.’"

SG -- HOLLIS PRICE (6-1, 170, SR, #10, 16.5 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 30.9 mpg, 1.7 spg, .455 FG, .383 3PT, .826 FT, St. Augustine HS/New Orleans, La.). Price was limited in the summer after having surgery on his right ankle to repair a torn tendon and remove a calcium deposit. He returned to action in late August.

Those problems didn’t slow him from having a standout junior season. Price was chosen to the All-Big 12 first team by the league’s coaches and media, and he was a third-team All-American by The Sporting News. He was the Big 12 Tournament’s MVP and was MVP of the Big 12 by Collegeinsider.com.

One of 12 finalists for the John R. Wooden Award, Price led the team in scoring last season and hit double figures 29 times. He had 20 or more points in 11 games. He hit at least three 3-pointers in 15 games and made six in a game three times. He led the team in steals with 1.7 per game.

In the Big 12 Tournament championship game, Price scored 23 points against No. 1 Kansas, and in an NCAA West Regional semifinal, he had 26 points and six 3-pointers against Arizona.

As a sophomore, Price was on the All-Big 12 Underrated team, averaging 11.8 points and 2.6 rebounds. He was on the All-Freshman team in 1999-2000 when he averaged 7.2 points and 2.2 rebounds.

Price is a great defender, chosen to the Big 12 All-Defensive team a year ago. Offensively, Price has great range -- he made 84 3-point shots last season -- and can score in a variety of ways.

"To me, he’s our heart and soul," Sampson said. "Hollis embodies what we want in a Sooner basketball player. The way he practices, the way he carries himself off the court, the way he performs in the classroom, his effort and his pride are impressive.

"There are very few things in the future that I dread, but I can honestly tell you that I’m really, really dreading senior night. I’m going to really enjoy every minute I’m with Hollis this year because I don’t know when I’ll get another one like him."

SF -- EBI ERE (6-5, 215, SR, #2, 14.6 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 29.4 mpg, 1.0 spg, .427 FG, .323 3PT, .802 FT, McLain HS/Tulsa, Okla. and Barton County [Kansas] CC). Ere, of Tulsa, Okla., had a huge impact for the Sooners last season. Chosen as the Big 12’s Newcomer of the Year by the league’s coaches and media, Ere plays on the wing and can score from the perimeter or inside. The former junior college All-American is one of the best rebounding guards in the country. He had at least seven rebounds in 16 different games. He earned honorable-mention All-Big 12 honors.

Collegeinsider.com chose Ere to its national junior-college transfer team. He started the first 23 games and the last nine games last season and made 40 of his first 45 free throws. He scored in double figures and hit for 20 or more on nine occasions, coming up with a double-double (20-points, 11 rebounds against Kansas State).

"Ebi’s a joy to coach," Sampson said. "He’s a great kid, an outstanding offensive player. I think he can take a step up and be a first-team all-conference player this year. I think he can be one of the better wings in the country because he can score in so many ways."

PF -- JOHNNIE GILBERT (6-8, 230, SO, #32, 23.8 mpg, 4.2 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 1.8 bpg, .611 FG, .750 FT, Patrick Henry HS/Minneapolis, Minn.) After starting five of the first six games last season, Gilbert fell victim to hip and shoulder injuries and missed the rest of the season. He received a medical hardship season.

A left-hander, Gilbert is a tough, hard-nosed player whose greatest attributes are his defense, shot blocking skills and rebounding abilities. Eight of his 11 blocks last season came in the first three games. He has improved his offensive skills while with the Sooners, but that’s not his forte.

As a freshman in 2000-01, Gilbert played in 26 games and started six, averaging 2.3 points and 4.3 rebounds.

In the offseason, Gilbert hit the weight room, and it should also help him emerge as a valuable frontcourt player.

"He’s not a great offensive player, but that’s not his deal," Sampson said. "Kids who aren’t good offensive players don’t ever become great offensive players. But they can improve. Johnnie’s improving his offensive game. Johnnie has worked hard on his baseline jumper and on his shot out to about 12 feet around the basket. But his primary role for us will always be defending, rebounding and kind of being an enforcer."

C -- JABAHRI BROWN (6-10, 210 JR, #21, 4.8 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 21.9 mpg, 1.3 bpg, 1.2 spg, .504 FG, .500 FT, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands and Florida International University). When he came to the Sooners’ program, Brown was considered a raw talent with loads of potential. He spent the summer fine-tuning his skills. One of the best athletes on the team, the long, athletic Brown, who started 24-of-30 games last season, plans to have a breakout year.

Sampson certainly believes the potential is there for that kind of season. "I think he’s one of our keys," Sampson said. "Not every kid in your program has the same ceiling. Some kids aren’t going to get a lot better whereas some kids will. Jabahri is a kid who can do more things. Our message to Jabahri this year is, ‘We expect more of you.’ I want him to force the action. I want him to get the ball in the paint and get it to the rim."

A native of the Virgin Islands, Brown sat out the first six games of last season under NCAA transfer rules. He played the 1999-00 season at Florida International, where he averaged 8.6 points and 6.3 rebounds. He attended Rose State (Okla.) Junior College in 2000-01 before transferring to Oklahoma for the spring semester. He didn’t play basketball in junior college.

Brown had one of his biggest games in the Big 12 Tournament victory over No. 1 Kansas when he had seven points, eight rebounds, four blocks and four steals. His only double-double of the season was against Texas Southern on Dec. 29 when he had 10 points and 12 rebounds. He scored a season-high 16 points against No. 2 Maryland.

PG -- BLAKE JOHNSTON (6-1, 185, SO, #12, 8.0 mpg, 1.7 ppg, 0.7 rpg, .438 FG, .417 3PT, .706 FT, Midland HS/Midland, Texas). Johnston’s minutes are limited because he’s playing behind White, but that doesn’t mean this guy can’t play. As last season progressed, Johnston became more confident with his abilities, and he provides a spark when he does get in the game.

"Down the stretch last year, Blake started turning the corner when he realized he was a good player," Sampson said. "Sometimes Blake’s biggest enemy is Blake. But when he started playing with confidence and sort of an abandonment, I thought he made great strides. It’s unfortunate he didn’t get to play more, but at the same time I think it built a toughness in him that allowed him to grow up."

G/F -- JASON DETRICK (6-5, 215 SR, #5, 20.9 mpg, 9.2 ppg, 3.5 rpg, .399 FG, .272 3PT, .820 FT, Woodside HS/Newport News, Va. and Southwest Missouri State-West Plains). Detrick was chosen to the Big 12’s All-Reserve team last season, but started six games. He spent most of the season battling ankle injuries.

He scored in double figures in 17 games and hit double figures in eight of nine games in December and early January. He was one of the top free-throw shooters in the league.

"The thing that pleased me most about Jason is the maturity he’s shown in the weight room," Sampson said. "The difference between most good players and average players with talent is strength. Jason wasn’t strong enough to be as good a player as his talent indicated. He had to get stronger. He had to get tougher, and he’s doing that."

C -- JOZSEF SZENDREI (6-9, 240, SR, #42, 1.4 ppg, 2.4 rpg, .500 FG, .462 FT, Budapest, Hungary and Northeastern [Colo.] JC). Szendrei started the season opener against Central Connecticut, but didn’t start again until the Feb. 16 game against Kansas State. He started four in all.

His production could increase this season as his health improves. Szendrei had major surgeries on both his knees. In June of 2000 he tore the ACL in his right knee, then tore the ACL in his left knee in April of 2001.

"I think his adversity has really toughened him and given him a great resolve," Sampson said. " ... Now that he’s getting healthy his confidence level is going up. I think we’ll see a more productive Jozsef."

G/F -- DEANGELO ALEXANDER (6-4, 215, FR, #15, 25.3 ppg, 6.5 rpg, Midwest City HS/Midwest City, Okla.) Rated as one of the top 50 high school recruits by many analysts, Alexander led Midwest City to a 26-2 record and Class 6A state title as a junior. Recruiting analyst Bob Gibbons rated Alexander as the 19th-best high school senior in the fall of 2001.

Sampson says Alexander should contribute immediately. "DeAngelo’s coming in pretty mature physically," Sampson said. "Those kids tend to play quicker and make a bigger impact early. He plays a position where he can do different things. He can play either wing and can also help bring it up. The thing he probably does best is play inside as a guard. He can score on the block and can really rebound. He’ll help us in a myriad of ways."

F -- MATT GIPSON (6-9, 225, FR, #24, 23.4 ppg, 9.2 rpg, 2.7 bpg, two years ago at Burkburnett HS/Burkburnett, Texas). Gipson, who was redshirted last season, has bulked up by about 25 pounds since he arrived on campus in the fall of 2001.

Now, finding a role with the Sooners will be his next task -- and that of Sampson’s.

"This is a big year for Matt," Sampson said. "Matt’s one of the few kids in our program that I’m not sure of their identity. I don’t know what he does. He’s almost 6-9 and he’s skilled, but what does he do? What’s his strength? I think Matt has to figure out what it takes to play at the college level and attack it with fervor. I’ve got to find an area where Matt can play, but that will come down to his attitude, his toughness and his work ethic."

F -- KEVIN BOOKOUT (6-8, 260, FR, #40, 30.6 ppg, 16.2 rpg, 4.0 bpg, 2.1 spg, .843 FG, .706 3PT at Stroud HS/Stroud, Okla.). Bookout shot an amazing percentage as a high school senior, making 380-of-451 shots. He led Oklahoma’s Class 3A schools in scoring and led the state in rebounding.

The Tulsa World chose Bookout as the state’s co-player of the year and The Oklahoman chose him as its Mr. Basketball Award winner. He was a second-team Parade All-American. Bookout was rated as the No. 10 high school senior by one recruiting service. He’s the third Bookout brother to play sports at Oklahoma.

Sampson believes he’ll play as a freshman. "I’m probably more anxious to coach Kevin than any kid I can remember in a long time because I’m not sure he knows exactly how good he is," Sampson said. "I really don’t. Kevin can be a big weapon for us. … After losing a guy like Aaaron McGhee up front, we needed a guy we can throw the ball to on the block, a big, strong inside guy, and we got one in Kevin Bookout."

C -- LARRY TURNER (6-11, 235, FR, #44, 16.0 ppg, 12.0 rpg, 5.0 bpg at Bridgton [Maine] Academy and Baldwin High School/Milledgeville, Ga.). Georgia's loss was Oklahoma's gain in the case of Turner, who twice signed with the Bulldogs but couldn't get in school.

Turner was originally signed in Georgia's 2001-2002 class, but was academically eligible, so he headed for Bridgton. Turner wanted to return to Georgia and would have been a key contributor this season, but when a standardized test score was red-flagged, school administrators made the decision not to allow Turner into school.

Sampson can thank his days in the Pac-10 conference for giving him the chance to get Turner. Georgia coach Jim Harrick, who formerly coached at UCLA became good friends with Sampson when the latter was at Washington State.

A native of Milledgeville, Ga., Turner averaged 14 points and eight rebounds as a high school senior at Baldwin High. Turner has skills that can't be coached, and if he gets bigger and stronger, could well become a real player in the Big 12.

"Larry is not only long at 6-11, but he’s extremely athletic and can really, really run," Sampson said.

The Sooners are loaded in the backcourt. Price should emerge as an All-American, especially if he’s full speed after having surgery on his right ankle in the summer. White is one of the best point guards in the Big 12 and will be a year better with a season of Division I experience behind him.

Sampson’s biggest question is in the frontcourt after the departures of McGhee and Selvy. He needs to find some frontcourt scoring for the team to be successful.

After mowing through the Big 12 Tournament and into the NCAA Final Four, the Sooners want to win it all.

"I think the thing that I’m most proud of is that it’s hard to show improvement after eight years," Sampson said. "Usually there’s a leveling-off period, usually there’s a cycle. And that’s what’s a little bit scary about our situation. Here we are going into our ninth year and the future is as bright as ever.

"I’m excited about our veterans, but I’m also excited about the youth in our program. With our future, there’s a lot of excitement because of freshmen like Bookout, Alexander and Gipson. And we have an outstanding young offensive player sitting out in Carruth. Gilbert and Johnston are just sophomores. This is the youngest and deepest our program has been. That, in itself, creates excitement and anticipation."