Too Early Class 5A Preview

Basketball practice has officially begun for high schools in Oklahoma. Which means scrimmages and even games for some teams are only a month away, it's time to take a look forward and start breaking down what looks to be a very competitive season of hoops this winter. In this post, we're taking a look at Class 5A. We take a look at some of the top teams heading into the season and the players that will be leading them. Look for more team and player previews in the upcoming weeks as we ramp up our High School Basketball Season coverage.   While there was good depth in Class 5A last year, the playoffs were still a march to wait felt like it was inevitable in the preseason. Tulsa Memorial and Del City met for the second time in the last four years for the 5A crown. Just like it in 2019, it was the Chargers behind a special senior group claiming their 6th title in the last 10 years, and 10th overall.   Will Class 5A be a two horse race again? Or will the younger teams that made noise last year, fully break through?   The Defending Champ   TULSA MEMORIAL   If you read above, you need no intro to run the Chargers are currently on. They'll be replacing a very successful senior group, but do have a similarly strong senior core to rely upon. [player_tooltip player_id='967378' first='Seth' last='Pratt'] is one of the top shooters in the state and has been a weapon for the Chargers since his freshman year. Joining him in the backcourt is fellow senior Montae Collins, a traditional point guard who contributes to winning every night. Ty Jamerson and Ben Ranford are another pair of seniors who showed promised as every night contributors during May and June summer leagues and team camps.   Potentially the key to Memorial successfully defending their crown is senior [player_tooltip player_id='1068565' first='Jarreth' last='Ingram']. Last year was his first at Memorial and he settled into a high energy, highly efficient role as the best 6th man in the state of Oklahoma. Now, he'll have a bigger target on his back from the opposition, so the development of Ingram as a primary scorer is one of the bigger storylines in the state this year.   Preseason Favorite    DEL CITY   In the 2019-20 season, the Eagles entered the season as the favorite and looked poised to create a wire to wire type run till the unfortunate cancelation of the State Tournament. That Del City squad was senior heavy and coming off a difficult loss in the Class 5A State Championship game to Tulsa Memorial. This year, the Eagles enter the season as the favorite, have a deep group of talented seniors and are coming off a difficult loss in the Class 5A State Championship game to Tulsa Memorial. Notice any similarities?   Anchored by Oklahoma State commit post [player_tooltip player_id='1068562' first='Brandon' last='Garrison'] and athletic wing [player_tooltip player_id='981287' first='Terry' last='McMorris'], the duo alone would be enough to put Del City in the title conversation. Garrison is the best rim protcetor and rebounder in the state, while the athletic McMorris is no slouch when it comes to protecting the rim and is steadily developing more perimeter skills. The emergence of fellow seniors [player_tooltip player_id='1357063' first='Percy' last='Green'] (a talented shooter last season who is now becoming a complete scorer) and [player_tooltip player_id='1372136' first='Jamouri' last='McAlister'] (a mega athlete, defensive minded guard) positions the Eagles as not only the deepest team in Class 5A, but possibly of any class in Oklahoma. The list of impact players doesn't stop there, as future Oklahoma State football player [player_tooltip player_id='1356632' first='Jaedon' last='Foreman'] and lead guard [player_tooltip player_id='1372134' first='Damarious' last='Vealy'] are two more very experienced returnees.   Top Contenders   CARL ALBERT   Despite heavy roster turnover from the Titans' 2021 5A State Championship team, Carl Albert made a run to the Class 5A semifinals. This speaks to the talent, depth and overall culture of the program. Another fact that speaks to the prestige of the Titans' program since 2013 every year the state title has been played has featured Carl Albert or Tulsa Memorial in the 5A State Championship game. Will this become the 10th straight year that one of the two or both (like 2016) compete for the 5A crown on the second Saturday in March?   Last season saw the emergence of [player_tooltip player_id='1211255' first='Jordan' last='England'] as one of the best scoring guards in the 405. Now as a senior, he'll be the ringleader of a talented group, including athletic fellow senior guard Trashawn James, a future Iowa State defensive back. The senior core of the Titans is crucial for their success, but perhaps what could propel them past other talented contenders is a dynamic junior duo. Last year [player_tooltip player_id='1367218' first='Jayden' last='Mott'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1367219' first='Quincy' last='Hopkins'] broke out on the scene as strong contributors but had sophomore growing pains. If they take the traditional sophomore to junior leap, that could position the Titans to be able to fully challenge intra-school district rivals Del City.   OKC SOUTHEAST   Backcourt play is often a separator in single elimination games and the Spartans backcourt led by junior duo [player_tooltip player_id='1482825' first='Ladainian' last='Fields'] and Michael Graham could be home to the best guard duo in the classification. Fields is a blur with the ball in transition, along with the short area explosiveness to be dangerous as a driver or stopping on a dime to create separation for pull up jumpers. Graham, while an impressive athlete in his own right, is the floor general for the Spartans. Along with creating for others, the competitive guard is a shifty downhill driver, who can play through contact. The graduation of Marcell Perry, an athletic 6'5 wing, will be felt early on especially around the rim. But incoming freshman Devon Chaffin had a strong summer and looks poised to contribute early on.   EL RENO   Relative to the metropolitan powers in 5A, the Indians have consistently made noise over recent years when they've been State Tournament teams. In 2017, Callen Hayden put on a scoring exhibition in two games and even pushed eventual champions Tulsa Memorial in the semifinals. In 2019, El Reno had Tulsa Memorial on the ropes for much of the game and only last second heroics kept them from a title game appearance. This year they return much of their roster from a team that bowed out in Area, and have a real chance to push and make it to the Lloyd Noble Center in March.   Anchoring the attack for the Indians is senior James Reveles, one of the more interesting players in Oklahoma. He's only 6'3 but has possibly the best offensive low post game in the state, thanks to his strength, touch, patience and foot work in the post. The senior group for the Indians has good depth with versatile and athletic guards Evan Roman Nose and [player_tooltip player_id='1295708' first='Matthew' last='Tofpi']. Transfer senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='981285' first='Diante' last='Palmer'] should bring immediate impact as a shot creator and scorer.     Darkhorse   NATHAN HALE   Right now the east Tulsa high school is home to possibly the best kept secret state wide in Oklahoma. [player_tooltip player_id='1482830' first='Kabron' last='Lewis']. He averaged 18 a game as a sophomore, and after an impressive summer looks ready to fully follow in the footsteps of previous explosive scoring Ranger guards Rayquan Elliott (2018) and DaVaunta Thomas (2013). Joining Lewis as a returning double digit scorer is Jacarri Barnes, a senior. With an experienced one-two scoring punch, the Rangers will likely be able to keep up with anyone in the state. The wild card for Hale's ceiling this year is the impact that 6'7 2025 Damario Adams makes.

Basketball practice has officially begun for high schools in Oklahoma. Which means scrimmages and even games for some teams are only a month away, it's time to take a look forward and start breaking down what looks to be a very competitive season of hoops this winter. In this post, we're taking a look at Class 5A. We take a look at some of the top teams heading into the season and the players that will be leading them. Look for more team and player previews in the upcoming weeks as we ramp up our High School Basketball Season coverage.