How Jalen Hill has become the 'glue' guy for Porter Moser, Oklahoma Sooners basketball

NORMAN — When Otega Oweh began to see his role increase with OU in late January, head coach Porter Moser gave him some homework.

"Otega, watch Jalen Hill every day," Moser told his freshman guard.

The Sooners' season has been a roller coaster of emotions.

OU (13-15, 3-12 Big 12) has experienced highs such as a 93-69 win over second-ranked Alabama, but it has also experienced lows such as a seven-game conference skid.

Hill has been a rare source of consistency, though. The senior forward is a two-way threat for OU, which travels to face 23rd-ranked Iowa State at 11 a.m. Saturday.

"Everybody has to follow Jalen's lead," Moser said. "Jalen has been the most consistent guy day in and day out. Offensively and defensively, he's by far our most consistent. We've got to have other guys following his lead."

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Hill's greatest asset is his defense.

The 6-foot-6 forward is a three-level defender, and he has guarded some of the most elite scorers in the nation this season.

Kansas' Jalen Wilson is averaging a conference-high 19.9 points per game, but Hill helped hold him to 17 points on 3-for-12 shooting from the floor in a game on Jan. 10. Wilson salvaged his night by going 10-for-12 from the free throw line.

Alabama's Brandon Miller leads the SEC in points per game (19.5 points). Hill helped hold the projected lottery pick to 11 points on 4-for-14 shooting from the floor in a game on Jan. 28.

"That kid needs to be on the watch list for the National Defensive Player of the Year," Moser said of Hill. "If he is not on the watch list for the National Defensive Player of the Year, people aren’t watching. ... He's resilient."

Hill is also one of OU's most consistent sources of offense.

The Las Vegas native is averaging a career-high 10.4 points per game, and he's scoring efficiently. He boasts a true shooting percentage of 61.3%, which ranks third on the team.

Hill has even made efforts to expand his range. He has made 15 3-pointers this season, which matches his total from the previous two seasons.

After going 1-for-8 from deep (12.5%) in OU's first five games of the season, Hill has shot 35.9% in that department since then.

"To be honest, I'm just glad that all this work that I've put in is finally showing up," Hill said. "It hurt that I was missing shots earlier. But now I'm making them and just contributing in ways that I wasn't earlier in the year."

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An improved 3-point shot isn't the only change to Hill's game on offense.

The fourth-year Sooner has been trusted with handling the ball more as of late. Hill has recorded four assists in each of OU's last two games, which is tied for a career-high total.

"We let him go in practice, to be able to handle it like that," Moser said of Hill. "His confidence and our confidence in him of making decisions, ball handling, is definitely something that has been going up."

Most importantly, Hill provides veteran leadership for an OU team that's starting two freshmen.

Hill is the only scholarship player left from the Lon Kruger era, which ended following the conclusion of the 2020-2021 season.

That was also the last time OU made the NCAA Tournament. The Sooners are in danger of missing the cut once again this season, but they'll lean on Hill as they try to make a late push for a bid.

"He just has such a determination," Moser said of Hill. "Winning is forefront in his mind, and we've got to follow his lead. He's been our glue and our most consistent player. We just need people to follow his lead with consistency."

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OU vs. Iowa State

TIPOFF: 11 a.m. Saturday at Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa (ESPNU)

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma basketball: Jalen Hill has become the Sooners' 'glue' guy