Oklahoma sophomore guard Calvin Newell has decided to transfer.

The 6-foot-1 Newell, from Philadelphia, was OU’s second-leading scorer this season at 13.0 points per game.

“I met with Coach [Lon] Kruger this morning and told him I’ve been dealing with issues regarding my family the past few months and that I’ve felt distracted lately,” said Newell. “I feel I need to get back closer to home and that’s why I’ve made this decision.”

Newell added, “I like this team a lot and I know they’ll do well. I’ll be cheering them on.” (more…)

HOUSTON — Former Miami coach Frank Haith is the new coach at Missouri, according to multiple reports.

Haith, 45, replaces Mike Anderson, who departed last month to take the Arkansas job.

As of late Sunday night, Haith had not informed his staff of his decision to move to the Big 12 from the ACC.

Haith went 129-101 in seven seasons at Miami, 43-69 in the ACC. (more…)

HOUSTON — Former UNLV coach Lon Kruger, a Kansas native and former Knicks assistant, is the new head coach at Oklahoma.

“I have lived in a lot of places, but I was raised in middle America and that has always been home for me,” Kruger, who also was head coach of the Atlanta Hawks for three seasons, said in a statement. “We never knew if the opportunity would present itself to get back there, but it did in this case, and it came at a great university.” (more…)

Jeff Capel is the latest casualty of the coaching carousel.

Oklahoma fired Capel Monday.

“After careful consideration, it has been determined that our men’s basketball program would be best served by a change of direction,” Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castiglione said.  “Therefore, we are making a change in the head coaching position.  Jeff Capel has worked diligently on our behalf, and for that we are appreciative.  He has many outstanding qualities and we wish him success as he moves forward.

“As we look to the future, we do so with a great university, a proud tradition in basketball, continued commitment to excellence in all areas and some of the country’s finest facilities.  We expect that those qualities will play an important role in our search for a new coach.  We’re ready to embark on that process.” (more…)

Perry Ellis, the No. 6 power forward in the Class of 2012 and the two-time Gatorade Kansas Player of the Year, has cut his list to six, according to his mother, Fonda Ellis.

The 6-foot-8, 224-pound Ellis is considering Kansas, Kansas State, Kentucky, Memphis, Wichita State and Oklahoma.

Numerous other schools have also offered, including Texas A&M, Wake Forest, Iowa, Stanford, Wichita State, Georgetown and UCLA.

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Perry Ellis, the No. 6 power forward in the Class of 2012, is looking to cut his list to five or six, according to his mother, Fonda Ellis.

“He is looking to trim his list for Christmas,” she said by text.

The 6-foot-8, 224-pound Perry is currently considering Memphis, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Texas A&M, North Carolina, Wake Forest, Iowa, Stanford and Wichita State.

“Georgetown and UCLA are just getting involved,” Fonda said.

UCLA came to watch him practice Monday night in advance of Thursday’s game at Kansas.

Kansas (Friday), Kansas State (Tuesday) and Oklahoma (Tuesday) are also expected in soon.

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Perry Ellis, the No. 6 power forward in the Class of 2012, is looking to cut his list before his season starts in early December, according to his mother, Fonda Ellis.

“He’s trying to narrow it down to 5 or 7 by the time the season starts,” she said Saturday by phone.

The 6-foot-8, 224-pound Perry said his list currently includes Memphis, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Texas A&M, North Carolina and Wichita State.

Iowa and Wake Forest have also offered and his mother said Georgetown, UCLA, Miami and Stanford are also interested. (more…)

Quincy Miller and Deuce Bello are back from their weekend trip to Baylor and have more visits planned.

The 6-foot-9 1/2, 190-pound Miller, the No. 1 power forward in the Class of 2011, now has a top four schools.

“I narrowed it down to four — Baylor, Duke, Louisville and Oklahoma,” Miller said Wednesday by phone.

Asked if he had any favorites, Miller replied: “Baylor and Louisville are slightly in the lead and Duke is right behind and then Oklahoma.” (more…)

There is no shortage of visitors to Brewster (N.H.) Academy to watch senior point guard Naadir Tharpe.

“Oklahoma has offered,” Brewster coach Jason Smith said. “Coach [Jeff] Capel will be here today [Monday]. Kansas is involved and Coach [Bill] Self] will be here on Thursday. UCLA and Villanova have been in contact, too. St. John’s is still a school Naadir is interested in.”

N.C. State has also offered. (more…)

Josiah Turner of the Drew Gooden Soldiers is in high demand as the No. 3 point guard in the nation.

The 6-foot-3, 175-pound Turner is currently considering seven schools as options for 2011.

“I’m at seven schools,” he said by phone from the Nike Global Challenge in Portland, Ore., where Team USA lost to France Friday night.

“Kansas, UConn, Louisville, Oregon, Oklahoma, UCLA and Arizona.”

Turner has just one official visit set.

“I’m going to Louisville on Sept. 4,” he said. “I don’t have any others planned.” (more…)