Sooners have found yet another in-state prospect who’s been drastically under-recruited, and they seem to like him a lot
The Oklahoma Sooners are extremely interested in in-state recruit King Underwood, and he’s interested in OU.
The Oklahoma Sooners have extended a scholarship offer to 2028 recruit King Underwood, a 6’4, 210-pound two-way athlete from Piedmont, Oklahoma, with a family connection to the program that stretches back to the Billy Tubbs era.
Underwood is largely unranked across major recruiting services, but OU is betting on upside, athleticism, and a prospect whose grandfather once starred in Norman.
Underwood’s recruiting profile is still developing. His only ranking comes from 247Sports, which lists him as the 24th-best player at his position and seventh in Oklahoma. Rivals and ESPN have not yet ranked him. Before OU’s offer, only Tennessee and Tulane had extended scholarships to Underwood, making the Sooners’ interest a significant development for the young prospect.
A legacy connection to Norman
Underwood considers himself a legacy player, and for good reason. His grandfather, Chu Kelly, was a standout basketball player at Oklahoma during the mid-1980s under coach Billy Tubbs. Kelly amassed 2,097 career points, ranking fifth in program history. He went on to become a fourth-round draft pick of the Boston Celtics and played professionally in the NBA. That family tie clearly carries weight for Underwood, who spoke openly about the connection.
“My grandpa, Chu Kelly, he was an OU legend. He was always trying to get me to train with him and go to OU. He wants me to go there bad because he went there.”
While Kelly’s legacy is rooted in basketball, OU’s interest in Underwood appears to be driven by what they’ve seen on the football field. Underwood also harbors aspirations to play college basketball, but football is where the Power 4 offers are coming from.
2 Power 4 programs lead the way
Beyond Oklahoma, South Carolina is the other Power 4 program capturing Underwood’s attention. His admiration for the Gamecocks stems from an affinity for a Gamecocks player he models his game after. Underwood likes to compare himself to that player in terms of body type, speed, and athleticism, viewing them as similar prospects.
That said, a family tie to a program like Oklahoma is difficult to replicate. The Sooners’ combination of on-field development reputation and personal connection gives them a built-in advantage that South Carolina simply cannot match.
A transfer that changed everything
Underwood spent his freshman and sophomore years at Cashion before transferring to Piedmont this offseason. That move proved to be a savvy decision. Since enrolling at a bigger school, Underwood has jumped onto the radars of multiple FBS institutions. The increased visibility has validated what Underwood already believed about himself: he can compete with the best and deserves big-time offers like the one Oklahoma just extended.
With deep family roots in Norman and a rapidly rising profile, Underwood is a name to watch as his junior season approaches.
