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April 20, 2010

NORMAN, Okla. - University of Oklahoma freshman forward Keith "Tiny" Gallon has announced he will declare for the NBA Draft.

The 6-9, 290-pound Gallon averaged 10.3 points and 7.9 rebounds in 24.0 minutes per game for the Sooners this season while shooting a team-high .547 from the field.  His rebounding average ranked eighth in the Big 12 and was the fourth highest in school history among freshmen (only Alvan Adams, Wayman Tisdale and Blake Griffin averaged more).

"I had a long conversation with my mom and then with Coach (Jeff) Capel, and I decided that this is the best thing for me at this time," said Gallon, who is from Vallejo, Calif.  "I've had a great experience at OU, but at the same time I'm excited about my possible future in the NBA.

"I want to thank Coach Capel, the coaching staff and my teammates for helping me get better.  And I want to thank our strength and conditioning coach, Yo-Yo (Jozsef Szendrei) for helping me get my body into much better shape.  I'm anxious to see what the future holds."

Gallon ranked sixth in the Big 12 and first among league freshmen with seven double-doubles.  He recorded a team-high 23 blocked shots and added 24 assists and 21 steals in his 30 games (21 starts).  Gallon scored in double figures 16 times and scored a season-high 23 points while grabbing 15 boards against No. 24 Baylor on Feb. 27.  His season of 18 rebounds came in a Jan. 11 win over Oklahoma State.

Said Capel, "I'm happy for Tiny and wish him nothing but success and luck.  This is something Tiny wants to do and, as I've said before, I'm not one to stand in the way of a career choice that one of my players thinks is in his best interest."

Fellow OU freshman Tommy Mason-Griffin and sophomore Willie Warren have also declared for the draft.