RDK Wire: Capel’s Youth Movement

NORMAN, Okla. — Even though Jeff Capel has deployed as many as four freshmen on the floor at times this season, the Oklahoma head basketball coach is about to take the youth movement to another level.

The fourth-year OU skipper has offered immediate scholarships to two players from Norman’s Eisenhower and McKinley elementary schools. Jason DeRotta, 10, is expected to receive significant minutes as a two-guard in Capel’s master plan to build for the future. At the post opposite freshman Tiny Gallon, Capel will rely on Jeremiah Restov, a wiry sixth grader, to platoon with senior Ryan Wright and freshman Andrew Fitzgerald.

“I don’t ever like to say a season is lost, but it’s time to be realistic about building for the future,” said Capel, a former star point guard at Duke. “If these youngsters can come in and compete, giving us a chance to win in the Big 12, I’m all for it. I’ll do whatever is neccessary to give us a chance to win today, but more importantly to build a championship-caliber team for the future.”

Offering student-atheletes scholarships has been done as early as their freshmen year of high school, but Capel’s new tactic has garnered both praise and criticism from the athletic department and the Norman community.

“Regardless of age or sport, it’s time to change how we evaluate talent,” said Oklahoma football coach Bob Stoops, who plans to start a pair of junior-high twins from Cashion, Okla., at his offensive tackle positions in 2010.

Local families, however, haven’t embraced Capel’s innovative plan.

“That’s far too young to be playing at the Division I level — I don’t care how good they are,” said Sally Usedtoblow, 39, of Norman. “My precious children are far better wasting away playing Halo 2, texting and updating their Facebook status. The real world is much too dangerous for humans.”

Look for Capel’s youth movement to begin Wednesday when the Sooners host Iowa State at 8 p.m. at the Lloyd Noble Center.