Booker T Washington Team Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On October 1st, basketball practices opened up all across the state of Oklahoma. We're getting closer and closer to scrimmages starting and games tipping off in November and early December. Over the next several weeks, we'll be taking an in-depth look at the upcoming season with plenty of team previews, players to watch features, scrimmage breakdowns and much more! Keep it locked into Prep Hoops Oklahoma as we'll have new preview content dropping on the site every single day!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In this preview, we take a look at the Booker T Washington Hornets.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2021-2022 RESULTS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After a year to forget, Booker T Washington opened last year as a sleeper team that quickly emerged as one of the top contenders in the state with a 10-0 start. They ended up the top seed in 6A on the east side of the state with a 20-2 mark headed into the playoffs. In the playoffs they breezed through Regionals and Area, and made a run to the Semifinals of the State Tournament before falling to the eventually champions, Edmond North. High pressure, high tempo and skilled guard play is what defined the Hornets' return last season to the elite of Class 6A.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2022-2023 OUTLOOK</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's the third year at the helm of Booker T Washington for Eli Brown. Brown was no stranger to the tradition of the powerhouse program. He attended Booker T Washington as a student, coached against them for a decade as the head coach at Tulsa Central and his uncle Levi Brown was a long time assistant for the Hornets. This squad has similarities to the team from his first year due to the loss of a core that saw them among the state's elite. The 2022-23 edition does have a pair of seniors that have good experience that should bridge some of the growing pains from a talented sophomore group. There's also the addition of a talented senior transfer, that should help the Hornets avoid too slow of a start. With year three of Brown's culture now in place, even if there's a slower start look for the Hornets, their contrasting style of play make them a team no one looks forward to facing come playoff time. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>P<strong>LAYERS TO WATCH</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_6352c84a00eac","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1495345"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"While Boone's longterm future likely lies on the Gridiron, he was a big component as the steady glue guy for last year's successful Booker T Washington team. He'll still be an emotional anchor and defensive stalwart for the team but will be expected to carry more of the scoring load. Which last year, he already was a 14 points per game scorer. There were times he really shined as a shooting specialist last season, but now as a main focus of the defense the senior is unlikely to get as many clean looks. Some of his efficiency and percentages may take a dip, but his production should rise.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"Jayden Oates","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2023","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"6'3u0022","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"77245","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"Booker T Washington","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Oates is another football first standout who has picked up extensive experience the last two years with the Hornets. He's a traditional football athlete undersized forward who makes good use of his strength and explosiveness to play bigger in the paint as a finisher and as a rebounder. He averaged 8 points a game last year and will have the opportunity to be a regular double double threat.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["1372127"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"A newcomer to the team, Holdman is a powerful guard with the quickness and strength to be among the best finishers in the state this upcoming season. He should thrive in the up tempo style that the Hornets aim to play. The jump to the Frontier Conference and Class 6A will be an adjustment period, but the upside Holdman represents makes him a must watch prospect as scrimmages start next month and the season in December.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["1475991"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"After an impressive spring and summer, Simpson looks poised to earn a notable role among the upperclassmen for Booker T. He's growing into a long lanky frame, making him a bigger guard by Oklahoma standards. Combined with that height is good athleticism, shiftiness and body control, which allows him to excel as a finisher.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":4,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"edit"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>MORE NAMES TO KNOW</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Laron English - 2024 Guard</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Marques Smith - 2024 Guard</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tre Crosslin - 2024 Forward</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>BJ Harris - 2025 Guard</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kalli Johnson - 2025 Guard</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->