Men's Basketball Signs Booker T. Washington Star Korey Billbury
Courtesy: ORU Media Relations
Release: 04/20/2011
Courtesy: ORU Media Relations
Billbury is just ORU’s second-ever signee from Booker T. Washington, a program which has won 14 Oklahoma boys basketball state championships since 1973. The first was former BTW head coach Nate Harris, who played at ORU from 1969-71.
“We’re really excited to add Korey to our roster for next year,” said Sutton. “It’s great to finally sign a player out of Booker T. Washington. I love his competitiveness on the court and that, combined with his talent level, gives him an opportunity to play right away as a freshman.”
As a senior, Billbury helped lead the Hornets to a 21-0 record and their second straight Class 5A state championship by averaging 16.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.1 steals per game. Billbury earned state tournament MVP honors after scoring 20 points and grabbing nine rebounds in the title game against El Reno on the Mabee Center floor at ORU.
Billbury shot 52 percent from the field as a senior, including 46 percent from 3-point range. He earned third team All-State and second-team All-Metro honors from the Tulsa World, and The Daily Oklahoman named him to their 5A All-State first team.
“Obviously Korey has played for a great high school program,” said Sutton. “He’s been well coached and he’s a winner. He’s going to be an outstanding collegiate player.”
During his junior season Billbury averaged 11.0 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.7 steals in 29 games. He chose ORU after receiving offers from Northern Illinois, UTSA and others.
Booker T. Washington has produced a number of high-profile collegiate and professional athletes over the last 35 years, including Wayman Tisdale, Etan Thomas, Felix Jones, R.W. McQuarters, Robert Meachum and Ryan Humphrey.
Billbury joins D.J. Jackson from Kansas City (Mo.) Archbishop O’Hara, and Kris Obaseki from Manvel (Texas) HS as ORU signees for the 2011-12 season.
--ORU--
Oral Roberts 2011-12 Men’s Basketball Signees
• Korey Billbury, 6-2, 185, G, Tulsa, Okla. (Booker T. Washington HS)
• D.J. Jackson, 5-11, 175, G, Kansas City, Mo. (Archbishop O’Hara)
• Kris Obaseki, 6-9, 180, F, Houston, Texas (Manvel HS)
