Sophomore guard Joe Bamisile told reporters Monday that he committed to Oklahoma for the 2022-23 season, according to a tweet by CBS Sports NCAA basketball insider Jon Rothstein.
The decision marks the second transfer for Bamisile, who left Virginia Tech after his freshman year to play for GW, where he led the team in scoring throughout the season. Bamisile’s second transfer during his collegiate career could sideline him for a year in violation of the NCAA’s “transfer exception” that limits athletes to a single transfer during their four years of college.
He requested a transfer waiver to remain eligible to play next season as a two-time transfer, according to article by FanDuel.
Bamisile is the first of three players who have announced transfer plans to finalize his decision since the firing of former head coach Jamison Christian and the announcement of Chris Caputo as the new head coach.
“It’s a good fit and a good situation,” Bamisile told FanDuel Monday. “The location is a little better for me – playing in a college town versus in a big city. Coach Moser is also a proven coach. He’s led a team to the Final Four already when he was at Loyola Chicago.”
Bamisile averaged 16.3 points and five rebounds per game this season while shooting 46 percent from the floor and 35 percent from beyond the 3-point line.
He was named to the All-Conference Atlantic 10 third team after appearing in 30 games and starting in 29. He finished as the third highest scorer in the A-10 with the third most field goal attempts for a total of 306 in the league.
Bamisile recorded 25 points during the Colonials’ A-10 Championship defeat against Massachusetts, hitting 11 of 20 from the field. He was ranked eighth in the league in points per game while placing in the top 10 in field goal percentage.
Prior to committing to Virginia Tech his freshman year, Bamisile was recruited by now Oklahoma assistant coach Emanuel Dildy. Bamisile said he has a close relationship with Dildy, which led him to choose Oklahoma as his new school, according to an article by 247Sports.
“Look, I gotta figure this all out again,” Bamisile told Soonerscoop Monday. “I knew Coach Dildy from Northwestern, so the decision was made a lot quicker than people know. He’s close with my trainer, AAU coach. We have a great relationship that goes beyond basketball. He cares about me as a person.”
Bamisile told Soonerscoop that his mental health was affected during his time at GW because he was not used to the “city life” after growing up in a rural environment in Virginia. Bamisile said his time at GW helped him gain more confidence and become a better player.
“I got to a place where I know what my game is,” Bamisile said in the article. “I know what my spots are, how to get where I need to go. I know what’s a good shot, what’s a bad shot. I became a lot more in tune with myself as a player.”