Last year, Sam Godwin was a walk-on.
During Oklahoma’s season-opening win over Central Michigan on Monday, he was a starter.
As one of the few players on OU’s roster who stayed after last year’s struggles, the 6-foot-10 forward is experienced under third-year Sooners head coach Porter Moser’s system. Against the Chippewas, Godwin provided a post presence and a sense of leadership that was built over two seasons at Wofford and one season with the Sooners.
“It is like a dream come true,” Godwin said before practice on Thursday. “Coming in last year as a walk-on, I didn’t know if I was going to get to play and now being a starter is really cool.”
Last season, the Ada native, made 32 appearances for the Sooners and averaged 4.9 points, 3.3 rebounds and tallied five 10-point plus games. In his season debut, he played 13 minutes and made five of his six shots from the free throw line.
Godwin’s consistency has opened up a starting spot in the lineup, but it has also given the senior forward the ability to lead on and off the court.
Senior forward Sam Godwin during the game against Central Michigan University on Nov. 6.
“I definitely have more of a leadership role this year because of all the new guys coming in,” Godwin said. “Obviously coach (Moser) is a detailed person, so all of the little things that he is trying to teach all the new guys game in and game has been something that I am trying to help with.”
Despite his new role within the team, Godwin also spent much of the offseason working on different parts of his game.
After gaining 14 pounds in the offseason, he has attempted to eliminate his weight disadvantage in the post and be able to carve out more space. Moser knows this will add to the post-players game this season.
“Sam is tough, and he has always had a weight disadvantage inside,” Moser said. “He’s over 230 now and he is physically stronger. Sam uplifts the game.”
As a forward, he doesn’t find many opportunities to shoot that ball beyond the paint. Last year, he didn’t tally a single three-point attempt and in two seasons at Wofford, he attempted four. However, this season his shooting has been a focus.
Godwin admits that this is not the strongest part of his game, but this year, if an opportunity arises, he will let it fly.
“If I get it and it's wide open, I am going to shoot it,” Godwin said. “But I understand my strengths. If I shoot a shot I want to be 100% sure that it's going in.”
Although he is hesitant, Moser has encouraged his big man to shoot the ball this season — make or miss.
“Offensively, I told him you don’t have to make the three, you just have to shoot it,” Moser said. "I want him to be a threat.”
Junior forward Jalon Moore during the game against Central Michigan University on Nov. 6.
Moore is game-time decision
During the matchup against Central Michigan on Monday, junior forward Jalon Moore suffered a hamstring injury.
Before his exit from the matchup, Moore scored nine points, going 1-for-3 from the floor and 7-for-8 from the free throw line. In 17 minutes, he also grabbed three rebounds for the Sooners.
On Thursday, the starter was announced as a game-time decision.
“He'll be a game-time decision,” Moser said. “With hamstrings this early you just want to make sure that he is 100%. Because of how hard he plays and how athletic he plays, he is going to run. So, right now, he is a game-time decision.”
That decision will need to be made before Oklahoma (1-0) tips off against Mississippi Valley State (0-1) at 7 p.m. Friday in Norman.
