The downside of the coronavirus pandemic’s impact on sports is the end of one’s career before competing for a championship one more time.
That was the case for two of Oklahoma’s prominent winter sport athletes: basketball player Kristian Doolittle and gymnast Maggie Nichols. The NCAA Division I Council voted to give a year of eligibility back to spring sport athletes on Monday, but the same was not done for winter sport athletes.
Doolittle had a tumultuous career for Lon Kruger and the Sooners. He was suspended for the first half of the 2017-18 season, but then bounced back to earn Big 12’s Most Improved Player Award after his junior season in 2018-19. Oklahoma’s lone senior was named an AP All-Big 12 First Team selection after his senior regular season and Doolittle helped the Sooners get back to the now canceled NCAA Tournament.
Nichols had a much more storied career at Oklahoma. She is one of only 11 women’s gymnasts all-time to complete a Gym Slam—scoring a perfect 10 on every event throughout a season. Nichols has won eight NCAA Championships—two team titles with Oklahoma and six individual awards, including two all-around national championships.
Doolittle isn’t a bonafide NBA prospect, but some mock drafts have him going in the second round. Nichols will likely be seen representing the United States in the Olympics.
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