Hunter Gibson said he’s going to Wichita State University on the buddy plan. The Oologah senior catcher committed to play baseball for the Shockers last week.

Gibson is close friends with Collinsville outfielder Blake Burd, who signed with the Shockers in November. They grew up together northeast of Collinsville and competed against one another in several sports.

“Now we get the opportunity to be teammates after all these years,” he said. “That’s exciting.”

Gibson, a 6-foot-3, 210-pounder, bats left and throws right. He’s batting .444 with two homers, four doubles and 18 RBIs, helping lead the Mustangs to an 11-5 record.

He also pitches and has 28 strikeouts in 21? innings, with a 3.23 ERA.

Gibson played running back and linebacker on the football team, helping lead Oologah to three consecutive Class 4A runner-up finishes. He totaled 159 tackles with six sacks, eight pass interceptions and a fumble recovery over three seasons.

“He has a lot of tools,” coach Gary Edwards said. “He’s a big, strong left-handed hitter and he can really run, so he can check a lot of boxes.”

Gibson said he’s looking forward to working with WSU assistant coach Brian Walker, a 2005 Union High graduate who played four seasons in the Anaheim Angels’ farm system and coached three years at the University of Arkansas before joining the Shockers.

“I believe with coach Walker being a catcher and going to the next level past college, he will help me out more than anything because that is where I want to be,” Gibson said.

Verbal commitments are nonbinding, but senior baseball players may sign binding letters of intent starting April 12.