Basketball

Oklahoma State Basketball Heads to Puerto Rico for Key Bonding Stretch

Coach Steve Lutz uses a three‑game exhibition tour to forge chemistry among a young roster

Oklahoma State Basketball Heads to Puerto Rico for Key Bonding Stretch

The Cowboys are set to depart for a three‑game exhibition tour of Puerto Rico, where they will test new combinations and deepen chemistry before the regular season.

Coach Steve Lutz has instituted a phone ban during select activities, a move designed to keep the focus on team‑building rather than external distractions.

With only four scholarship players returning from a 20‑15 season, the trip takes on added significance. Senior point guard Kanye Clary, the most experienced of the returnees, is emerging as the de facto floor general.

Clary’s numbers from last year — 4.6 assists per game, 28.2 minutes per game and 10.6 points — highlight his all‑around role, and his leadership is already being felt in practice.

The 2026 recruiting class, ranked eighth nationally, brings a wave of fresh talent. Freshmen Latrell Allmond, a McDonald’s All‑American, Jalen Montonati and Anthony Felesi have impressed coaches during drills, promising added depth.

Kashie Natt, fighting for a fifth year of eligibility, has been cleared to travel and will add front‑court experience. Coach Lutz says he will experiment with lineups throughout the Puerto Rico stretch, using the games as a laboratory.

Beyond the on‑court work, the trip offers a chance for the squad to bond off the hardwood, a factor Lutz believes could prove decisive as the season unfolds.

The upcoming games against local opposition will also serve as a measuring stick for a team that aims to climb higher in the Big 12 standings.

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