BREAKING: OU player commits to McNeese men’s basketball team

Published 1:25 pm Friday, March 28, 2025

It didn’t take long for Bill Armstrong to put his stamp on McNeese State.

Two days after being introduced as the new head coach, Armstrong may have landed the biggest fish in Cowboy history.

On Friday, Jacolb Fredson-Cole announced on social media that he was committed to McNeese and would be here after the semester. Fredson-Cole is an Oklahoma freshman who played for Armstrong three seasons ago at Link Acadamy in Branson, Missouri.

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Fredson-Cole is believed to be the first former four-star recruit ever to commit to the Cowboys.

Fredson-Cole is a 6-foot-7 wingman who has played for Oklahoma for two seasons. He was injured during his senior year in high school, leading him to take a medical redshirt during his first season as a Sooner.

While getting early playing time last year at Oklahoma, that tapered off as the season moved forward. The 220-pounder averaged just under a point and rebound in 15 games for the SEC program.

If he signs, Fredson-Cole will fill a need for the Cowboys, who are expected to lose their top four big men from this season’s 28-7 club that won the first NCAA Tournament game in program history.

Christian Shumate, a four-year starter who posted a school-best 40 double-doubles in his career, will move on to professional basketball. Joe Charles, a starter from last year’s team and a consistent performer, won’t know until later if he will get a fifth year by the NCAA or is out of eligibility.

Bryant Selebangue could return but may head to Europe to play next season professionally. Meanwhile, Jerome Brewer entered the transfer portal Thursday, though he could return.

The 6-9 Brewer redshirted last season at McNeese.

That leaves McNeese needing big bodies as Armstrong builds his first roster with the Cowboys. So far, Brewer is the only McNeese player to enter the portal, but a few others are expected to join in the coming days.

Garcia, DJ Richards, and T’Johnn Brown could become the first players in SLC history to win three straight conference championships.