Team Preview: Choctaw (6A)
Bryce McKinnis
<p>Two years ago, the Choctaw Yellowjackets were still searching for their first win after Winter Break. Last season, they improved to 13-11.</p>
<p>Coach Jermaine Simpson expects that number to improve even more in 2021.</p>
<p>"It’s definitely going to be an exciting year for us," Simpson said, "I think we’re definitely changing the curve of Choctaw from what it’s been known."</p>
<p>"I don’t care how good of a coach you are, you’ve gotta have players," Simpson said. "These guys have bought into the extra work, to the unseen hours, doing stuff the right way."</p>
<p>Simpson credited his players.</p>
<p>Production will start for the YellowJackets with their three-headed senior monster, [player_tooltip player_id="1015862" first="LJ" last="Gurley"], [player_tooltip player_id="745371" first="Sean" last="Franklin"] and Oklahoma-City commit [player_tooltip player_id="1015790" first="Raul" last="Nunez"].</p>
<p>"Those three obviously are going to be head-hunting it," Simpson said.</p>
<p>Gurley led the YellowJackets in scoring, steals and assists en route to a first-team All-Big-10 first-team selection.</p>
<p>"And he was probably second in rebounds," Simpson added.</p>
<p>Franklin, who has had an exceptional off-season, has matured offensively after earning second-team honors as a junior.</p>
<p>Perhaps the most improved YellowJacket, however, is Nunez, a crafty combo guard with power and speed.</p>
<p>"Raul’s a bright spot," Simpson said. "He’s worked his tail off this summer."</p>
<p>Also returning is [player_tooltip player_id="938871" first="Jordan" last="Mukes"], a Sooners-commit at defensive back who saw significant minutes during his junior year. Once he returns from the gridiron, Simpson said, his athletic talents will be of heavy utility for Choctaw.</p>
<p>Elijah Wilder, a 6-foot-6-inch wing, is also a standout on the football field, as he recently earned his first Division-I offer from New Mexico State. The senior will see an expanded role on the hard-wood, Simpson said.</p>
<p>"We’ve got a really solid group that’s returning," Simpson said. "They all got playing time last year, and some of those guys are starting to get looks as far as college coaches. . . I have high expectations for them for sure."</p>
<p>With whom locals may not be acquainted, however, is the freshman duo of guard Ja’Mon Valentine and forward Isaiah Taylor.</p>
<p>"Both of those guys are going to get a lot of playing time," Simpson said. "Both are starting to get some Division-I interests."</p>
<p>Simpson said he is confident that opposing teams will be alerted to their presence soon.</p>
<p>Also inflating his role will be [player_tooltip player_id="1036988" first="Robert" last="Gambill"], a multi-talented junior forward.</p>
<p>"Pick-and-pop, finishing at the rim, about 6-6, can shoot it really well," Simpson said, "he’s a kid that’s going to play a lot for us."</p>
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