"When Hield was invited to attend Sunrise Christian Academy, a prep school in Wichita, Kansas, he jumped at the chance. There, he continued to work on his game and his studies. He averaged 22.7 points per game his senior year at Sunrise and drew the attention of college recruiters.

 

Hield signed on to attend the University of Oklahoma, and he's experienced a steady climb toward greatness ever since. He's earned a reputation as one of the hardest workers in college hoops, devoting countless hours in the gym toward improving his skills (but not neglecting his studies—Hield's earned Academic All-Big 12 honors two years running).

Hield's work ethic is legendary, and all that effort has certainly paid off. He's gone from averaging eight points a game his freshman season to more than 25 points per game as a senior. He was recently named the Big 12 Player of the Year for the second season in a row, and he was a unanimous selection for the first-team AP All-American squad.

 

"The way [Hield] plays the game with a smile on his face and the energy if a college basketball fan can’t get excited about that, what can you get excited about?" said Oregon coach Dana Altman after his team fell to the Sooners in the round of eight. "He loves the game. He loves his teammates. He loves his coach."

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While many people might credit Hield's success to his work ethic and the way he was raised, his mother refuses to attribute his success to anything but the faith that guides her life and Hield's. As Swann told newsok.com, “'God did it. I believe it in my heart. You can tell me anything else. You can show me. But I'm going to continue believing.'” (The Most Inspiring Player in the Final Four: Buddy Hield by Brett Leveridge - Posted on Mar 29, 2016 at Guidepost, emphasis add by Hoops Foundation)