Memorial Team Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>Get 25% off your subscription by entering Knight25 in the coupon code area. Enjoy!</strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- 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 defending Class 5A state champion Memorial Chargers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>2021-2022 RESULTS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Memorial captured their sixth state championship in the last decade and their tenth gold ball in school history with a win over Del City in the Class 5A title game. Last year, it was all about the Chargers and the Eagles as they were on a crash course for one another. Memorial came into this season with a senior-led team that appeared to be the absolute favorite to capture the state championship. And they nearly did it with a perfect season. You can make the argument that the 2021-2022 Memorial Chargers are one of the best teams in school history and one of the best since head coach Bobby Allison took over nearly a decade ago.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The one and only blemish on the schedule during a 27-1 season came in the Tournament Of Champions title game, against 5A rival Del City. Memorial jumped out to a 15-0 lead, then led 20-5 after the first quarter. But the Eagles would put together a memorable rally and knocked off the Chargers on the BOK Center court in Tulsa with a 59-49 win. From that point on, the countdown clock was ticking away the days, hours and minutes until those two 5A titans would inevitably meet again.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Memorial played their usual front-loaded schedule where 14 of their 22 regular season games took place before New Years Day. After the loss to Del City, the Chargers would rattle off 14 straight wins, including winning all of their games in the playoffs by double digits. And when they finally got that rematch with Del City, they took down the Eagles 59-47. We mentioned the Chargers were senior-led last season and you have to start the conversation with Ty Frierson, who was arguably the best player in the state last season. They also had forward Bradyn Hubbard, who averaged a double-double. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Memorial will have to replace three starters from last year's team, but as we've learned with the Chargers over the last decade, this team reloads, they don't rebuild. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>2022-2023 OUTLOOK</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It might be a new season but the goal remains the same and that's for Memorial to contend for a state championship. Despite having plenty of new faces after graduating a special senior class, the Chargers also bring back some names that have some real talent. And despite it being a new season, all eyes are on Memorial and Del City as the two favorites this year in Class 5A. But unlike like last season, it's Del City that has the senior-heavy team and it's the Eagles that are a favorite to capture the gold ball in March.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we mentioned above, Memorial reloads, they don't rebuild. This is a team and more importantly a program that expects to not only make it back to the state tournament, but to contend for a gold ball every single year. Under Bobby Allison, the Chargers have reached new heights as a program and even though Del City might be the big favorite coming into the season, the Chargers won't be backing down from anyone. Two starters return from last season's team and arguably one of the best players that came off the bench last season. The Chargers have two 2023 prospects within our latest top ten rankings so they don't have a lack of talent. This year's team will have a little different identity from last year's, but anyone writing off the Chargers would be making a big mistake.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>PLAYERS TO WATCH</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_6352d6ad064b5","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1068565"],"_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":"We mentioned that the Chargers were bringing back one of the best players to come off the bench last season and that's forward [player_tooltip player_id='1068565' first='Jarreth' last='Ingram']. In our latest ranking update, Ingram came in as the #5 overall prospect in the state's 2023 class and the fact that he came off the bench for the Chargers last season is just absurd. Ingram is one of the funnest players to watch in Oklahoma as he typically puts on a show every time he hits the floor. He had some of the best show-stopping dunks last season as a junior. But what we're looking forward to seeing this winter is the evolution of his game as more of a playmaker and offensive weapon as he steps into a new role this season.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"edit"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_6352d6c2064b6","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1372131"],"_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":"Memorial senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1372131' first='Montae' last='Collins'] is one of the more intriguing players that we want to check out this season in Class 5A and in Oklahoma overall. Collins got plenty of playing time last season, and as a sophomore as well. But this year, Collins will be stepping into a new role and into some pretty big shoes as he looks to replace Ty Frierson as Memorial's point guard this winter. Collins doesn't have to be what Frierson was for the Chargers last year but it will be interesting to see how he looks in the new role and there's no doubt that he has some talented players around him. Collins could end up being a breakout player for the Chargers this winter but we want to see it first.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"edit"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_6352d6d3064b7","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["967378"],"_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":"The other top ten prospect in the 2023 class is guard [player_tooltip player_id='967378' first='Seth' last='Pratt'], who will be a three-year starter for the Chargers this season, which is pretty rare when you talk about Memorial basketball. Pratt is known as one of the best shooters in the state and it's pretty easy to see why when you look at the numbers. Pratt is a career 53% shooter from beyond the arc and he has averaged double figures in each of the last two seasons. But Pratt has also been on a team with Frierson and big man Bradyn Hubbard, so his role will be significantly different this season. It wouldn't be surprising to see Pratt leading the team in scoring and average north of 20 points per game this season.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"edit"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>MORE NAMES TO KNOW</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1634188' first='Ben' last='Radford']<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1579600' first='Jalil' last='Cotton']<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1634189' first='Keshaun' last='Thompson']<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1634187' first='Ty' last='Jamerson']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->