By JAMES MADDEN
Villanova transfer Duke Brennan is headed to Oklahoma, the school officially announced on Thursday.
“Duke brings a combination of size, toughness, skill and a competitive edge that will enable him to make an immediate impact. He’s one of the best rebounders in the country and a proven winner who plays with tremendous passion and physicality,” said head coach Porter Moser. “He is also a skilled passer and a great fit in our five-out offense. Most importantly, Duke’s toughness, competitiveness and energy make him a great fit in our culture here at Oklahoma.”
Brennan averaged 12.4 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game, while shooting 65.8% from the field in his lone season at Villanova. He recorded 14 double-doubles and had 23 double-figure scoring games to help lead the Wildcats to a 2026 NCAA Tournament appearance.
The Chandler, Ariz., native scored a season-high 24 points on 8-of-8 shooting from the field and an 8-of-12 effort from the foul line in a win over Pitt, while also recording a 20-rebound game against NCAA qualifier Queens. Other top performances included double-doubles in wins over Xavier (20 points/13 rebounds), Creighton (21/12), Georgetown (13/13) and Wisconsin (13/13).
A high-level rebounder on both ends of the floor, Brennan ranked 11th nationally in rebounding and was one of just two players to average a double-double while also shooting over 60% from the field, last season. He also ranked seventh in the NCAA with 132 offensive rebounds and became the first Villanova player to average 10 or more rebounds per game in a season since Harold Pressley (10.1 rpg.) accomplished that feat in 1985-86.
Brennan enters the 2026-27 season with 1,040 points and 919 rebounds over 133 career games (98 starts). He is shooting an efficient .622 from the field and has helped his teams to four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances. Brennan began his college career at Arizona State (2022-23) with stops at Grand Canyon (2023-25) and Villanova (2025-26) before joining the Sooners for his fifth and final season of eligibility.
Brennan earned All-WAC and WAC All-Defensive Team honors in 2024-25 after averaging 10.4 points and 9.2 rebounds per game at Grand Canyon as a junior. He has started all 97 games played over the past three seasons. In his lone season at Arizona State, he set a Sun Devils freshman record with 35 games played.
A teammate of Oklahoma City Thunder standout Jalen Williams at Perry High School (Gilbert, Ariz.) in 2018-19, Brennan capped off his high school career at Hillcrest Prep where he earned Pangos All-American and Arizona Premier Region 6A Player of the Year recognition as a senior.
Oklahoma has now added nine newcomers to a roster that includes All-American-caliber guard Xzayvier Brown (15.6 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 3.3 apg, 62 3FGs) and preseason All-SEC candidate Derrion Reid (11.7 ppg, 4.4 rpg, .509 FG pct.).
Brennan is the second fifth-year transfer signed by the Sooners in July, joining two-way standout guard B.J. Edwards. Both players ranked in the top 10 of the On3 fifth-year transfer rankings with Oklahoma currently sitting as the only program to land a pair of signees ranked in the top 10 by the outlet.
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