Porter Moser on Alec Blair's decision to leave team, pursue baseball: 'Not optimal'

NORMAN — Alex Blair made the decision last week to leave the OU men’s basketball team and commit fully to the baseball program.

It was a sudden decision that’s left the basketball program in a tough position early in the season.

Blair initially committed to the Sooners out of high school with the intent on playing both basketball and baseball. The true freshman projected to be a part of OU’s rotation, appearing in both OU’s exhibition against Wisconsin and the season-opening win over St. Francis. Blaire was one of just nine scholarship players available against St. Francis.

On Monday, OU coach Porter Moser made his first comments since Blair’s departure.

“It’s not optimal,” Moser said. “It’s not optimal that it happened after one game. You know, we had committed to each other in the offseason — a year ago, and then talked through the offseason and just committed to the process. So, it’s not optimal for us.

“With that said, he made a decision. He’s a 19-year-old young man. He’s a great young man. He made a decision that was best for himself, and he had to do it. He’s still a Sooner.”

Blair was considered one of the top baseball prospects out of high school, but Moser’s staff saw his potential fit with the program. The 6-foot-6 wing projected to be a depth piece for the Sooners this season, and his appearance against St. Francis made him ineligible for a redshirt, indicating OU had plans for him to be in the rotation. Blair notified the team he was leaving prior to last Saturday’s 83-68 loss to Gonzaga.

But Blair’s teammates and coaches have made it clear they’re supporting his decision.

“I mean, we supported him, as always,” OU guard Nijel Pack said. “We always talked to him about it; we talk about baseball, we talk about the World Series, and he’s always giving us insight on baseball stuff because I have no clue about baseball at all. We all supported him on his journey. He reached out to us, and we were like, ‘Man, you’re a warrior, going from basketball practice to baseball, and then baseball to basketball, working out, working on his swing and then coming in here working on his jumpshot.’ I’m like, ‘Man, you’re a different breed for that. Like, I don’t know how you do it.’

“For him to say, ‘Hey man, I think it’s just time for me to focus on baseball,’ we all supported him. He’s a man. He had to do what he had to do. We all support him. At the end of the day, I know I’m going to be out there to watch him a couple games. He said I could hit him whenever so I can work on my baseball swing as well. So, we’re all still going to be close. I don’t think this breaks us at all. We’re just happy he’s doing what he loves best.”

With Blair committed to baseball, the Sooners will have just 11 scholarship players on the roster the rest of the way. While the timing isn’t ideal, Moser said the program is supporting Blair’s decision.

“I hope people come out and watch him play baseball; I will,” Moser said. “It’s unfortunate for our team and not optimal for our team, because we need him, but he feels that’s best for his baseball career. But he’s a Sooner, and he’s a young man that we’re all going to get behind when he wears that baseball uniform.”

The Sooners (1-1) return to action at 7 p.m. Tuesday against Arkansas-Pine Bluff at McCasland Field House.