By Ty Loftis
Edmond North photograph by Carlos Flores
For some teams, high school basketball season is correct round the nook.
For others, observe is already beneath manner and video games have already begun.
In Class 6A, Edmond North is the defending state champions after a 56-50 win towards Moore in the state title recreation final yr. The Huskies are wanting to go back-to-back and with the assist of T.O. Barrett, TJ Strong, Dontrell Yearby Jr. and Dylan Warlick, who all have Division I gives, they’ve an opportunity to just do that.
The Class 6A runner-up in Moore returns in hopes of creating it one step additional than final yr. Cameron Smith returns as the 61st finest participant throughout the state of Oklahoma and Tristan Hankins, solely a sophomore, is already receiving gives from DI packages.
Edmond Santa Fe made it to the semifinals of the 6A state event a yr in the past, however shall be beginning contemporary, as the Wolves introduced Romus Cezar shall be the new head coach heading into this season.
Senior energy ahead Bergin Kysar and guard Jayden Cincotta shall be the key to continued success this yr, as they every led the workforce in a number of particular person classes final yr.
Tulsa Booker T. Washington was the solely workforce from the east aspect of the state to make it to the 6A state semifinals and was one in every of two teams from that aspect of the state to make it to the state event. The Hornets went 24-3, with their losses coming by a mixed 17 factors.
One factor the Hornets delight themselves in is protection, and one in every of their higher defenders is Lathan Boone, who additionally performed on the soccer workforce.
Edmond Memorial additionally made the state event behind the assist of Pittsburg State commit Carter Hjelmstad and junior Cade Youngblood. If the Bulldogs are to replicate that success once more, that duo may have to play a serious position.
Bixby and Broken Arrow fell in need of taking part in for the 6A title, however every have one in every of the finest gamers in the state.
Bixby’s Parker Friedrichsen is the state’s second-best participant and is a guard who has signed with Notre Dame.
Connor Dow goes to Broken Arrow and is the state’s third-best participant as a ahead, and has signed with Oklahoma State University.
There’s additionally Bartlesville junior guard David Castillo, who’s rated as the seventeenth finest participant in the Class of 2024. He has but to make a dedication on the place he’ll go to school.
For Class 5A, Tulsa Memorial won the title final yr and after a collection of current scrimmages, the Chargers have started their quest to repeat. Memorial’s solely lack of the season came against Del City in late December, however the Chargers would get their revenge in the state title recreation.
The Chargers convey again loads of expertise from final yr, together with Seth Pratt, Montae Collins and Jarreth Ingram.
Del City, who went 16-4 and was final yr’s Class 5A runner-up, returns the top-rated participant from throughout the state in publish participant Brandon Garrison. Garrison has signed with Oklahoma State University for subsequent yr and hopes to lead the Eagles again to the state championship this yr.
Midwest City Carl Albert misplaced in the Class 5A state semifinals final yr and with the return of senior guard Jordan England, the Titans have an opportunity to make some noise once more this yr.
England was named MVP of the Suburban Conference and the senior was the workforce’s main scorer from a yr in the past. The workforce is wanting to construct off a 13-4 season after profitable the state championship in 2021.
Midwest City made it to the state event with a 19-9 file and is wanting to get again there as soon as once more this yr. The Bombers shall be counting on youth this yr, although, as sophomores Da’Mareo Jones and Mason McKenzie may have to be liable for a bulk of the scoring.
Collinsville and Claremore had been the solely two teams from the east aspect of the state to make it to the Class 5A state event. The Cardinals are coming off a 22-4 season and have graduated 5 seniors. The Zebras clinched their first state playoff look since 2017.
Lawton MacArthur was unable to make it to the state event final yr, as the Highlanders misplaced in a win-or-go-home recreation in the regional championship. The Highlanders are again in the hunt this yr, although, after a 23-3 season and shall be one in every of the favorites to win all of it this yr.
In Class 4A, the Kingfisher Yellowjackets shall be searching for a three-peat after defeating Victory Christian in the title recreation a yr in the past.
Kingfisher is 163-6 in the previous six years, and has loads of expertise coming again this season with the likes of seniors Drake Friesen, Xavier Ridenour and Caden Kitchens. Kitchens and Ridenour return as all-state event gamers.
The Conquerors had been state runners-up a yr in the past. Do-it-all athlete Michael Doctor may have to lead the Conquerors in the event that they are to make it again to the title recreation. Post participant Chris Mason can even be relied upon.
Crossings Christian misplaced by three to Kingfisher in the state semifinals, and lots of imagine the Knights may very well be proper again in the hunt this yr.
If the Knights are to be in rivalry this yr, a serious purpose shall be due to sophomores Cal Furnish and Cam Parker. Phoenix Woodson, an incoming freshman standing at 6-foot-7, is also a difference-maker if he’s in a position to make the adjustment to varsity motion.
Mount St. Mary’s figures to match into the equation as soon as once more this yr, as the Rockets have now made back-to-back state event appearances. The Rockets graduated 4 seniors from a yr in the past, however return senior ahead Bobby Fabian, the thirty second finest participant in the state. Braeden Lloyd can even be referred to as upon as a junior.
Weatherford had a 23-7 season final yr en route to a berth in the state semifinals. The Eagles convey loads of familiarity again from final yr’s workforce. Many suppose they’ve a probability to make one more run at a state championship with the likes of CJ Nickson, Tate Sage, Ethan Sage and Nate Reherman returning.
Heritage Hall made one other look in the state event after getting out to a 9-2 begin final yr. The Chargers will look to get off to that very same scorching begin this yr behind the play of 6-1 guard Sebastian Perry, who’s being scouted by a number of colleges at the DI degree.
Verdigris failed to make it to the Class 4A state event final yr, however junior guard Cody Lechlider, who’s already drawing curiosity from a number of schools, is wanting to get his workforce again to state this yr.
Milwood returns as the state champions in Class 3A after defeating Community Christian in the finals, 53-50. While the Falcons may have to wait to begin a repeat run due to the soccer workforce’s prolonged playoff run, they are effectively positioned to just do that.
Senior guards William Mays and Rickey Hunt Jr., who additionally excel on the soccer area, are poised to have an amazing senior season, as is energy ahead Carlos Strong. Sophomore Jaden Nickens is predicted to contribute as effectively.
Marlow had a profitable 2021-2022 season by going 21-4, however fell quick in the semifinals after shedding to the eventual champions in Milwood. The Outlaws return Avrey Payne, who averaged 11 factors a recreation final yr and almost seven rebounds a recreation final yr.
Washington, at all times a harmful workforce, graduated seven seniors from final yr’s workforce, however convey again loads of expertise. That aptitude this yr shall be highlighted by senior Hayden Hicks, who’s receiving school gives to play at the subsequent degree.
Community Christian had an amazing run to the finals final yr and Oklahoma Christian School made it to the semifinals, however each teams shall be becoming a member of Class 4A this yr and really effectively may very well be a hazard to a number of teams in that classification.
Alva, Claremore-Sequoyah, Crooked Oak and Prague will all be teams to keep watch over in Class 3A.
The powerhouse that’s Dale basketball returned to glory in 2022 by winning the Class 2A state championship.
The Pirates went 20-2 en route to the championship and really effectively may do it once more with all 5 starters returning, together with one in every of the finest in the state in junior Dayton Forsythe. The 6-3 guard already has gives from the likes of Oral Roberts, Sam Houston State and Portland.
Latta is a workforce that misplaced in the first spherical of the state event final yr. The Panthers graduated six seniors, however Latta is at all times a workforce to be taken significantly. Seniors Cooper Coulson and Lane Priest shall be the key to success for the Panthers transferring ahead.
A workforce that fell in need of the state event a yr in the past was the Preston Pirates, however they already taken Dale to additional time this season. Additionally, Preston has loads of custom and expertise coming back from final yr in Malachi Ligons, Jervais Goree and Kareffren Bagby.
Cashion misplaced to Dale in the state finals, however graduated a number of key gamers. The Wildcats have been good yr in and yr out. Expect the Wildcats to be in rivalry as soon as once more, however it is going to take a while for the youthful gamers to start gelling.
Tushka took the Class A championship final yr with a 25-8 file as an unranked workforce. The Tigers graduated six seniors, however shall be wanting to recreate that magic from final yr.
Caddo returns as one in every of the favorites in Class A after a visit to the semifinals final yr, and if the Bruins are anticipated to make one other run this yr, they are going to be counting on junior DJ Dill. As a guard, Dill is being checked out as one in every of the finest prospects throughout the state.
Allen may very well be a workforce to keep watch over, as they obtained a switch from Latta. Frontier and Texhoma are anticipated to be two different state title contenders in Class A.
Glencoe defeated Roff by a single level in the Class B state title recreation, and the Panthers have loads of expertise coming again to the place they are anticipated to be the favorites once more this yr.
They return senior Jaken Weedn, who led the workforce in factors final yr, and his brother Jaxton, a sophomore, who was additionally a key contributor.
Roff is predicted to be in title rivalry but once more, as the Tigers solely graduated three seniors and produce again key contributors in Kaden Darnell, Colton Hunt and Easton Riddle.
Fort Cobb-Broxton made an look in the semifinals final yr, and the Mustangs are anticipated to do a lot of the identical this yr with the likes of Kray Rogers returning. Rogers will at all times be remembered as a Panther hero, as his 22 factors in the state quarterfinals beat No. 1 seeded Mt. View-Gotebo, 51-45.
Expect the likes of Stringtown, Calumet and Kinta to even be in the dialog for a Class B title.
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