Oklahoma guard Buddy Hield returning for senior year

Oklahoma Sooners guard Buddy Hield, the Big 12 Player of the Year, announced Friday that he is returning for his senior season despite being projected as a possible first-round NBA draft pick.

The 6-foot-4 junior, who hails from the Bahamas, averaged 17.4 points and 5.4 rebounds this past season. His return makes Lon Kruger and the Sooners a legitimate preseason top 10 team and a contender for the Big 12 title.