2023 Rankings: Top Newcomers

After every ranking update we do, we get immediate feedback and the majority of that feedback is that we missed on a player. Hand up, we missed on Kejuan Payne II Kejuan Payne II 6’4″ | SG Putnam City North | 2023 State OK from Putnam City North in the last several updates and he definitely belongs in the conversation for breakout player this season. He’s been as critical to their success as fellow senior stars CJ Smith CJ Smith 6’7″ | SF Putnam City North | 2023 State OK and Zander Baker Zander Baker 5’10” | PG Putnam City North | 2023 State OK . Payne has been outstanding this season and his recruitment has benefitted because of it. He has earned not only interest but offers over the last several months as he’s helped the Panthers stay in the conversation as one of the best teams in Class 6A. Payne is an athletic guard that can do a lot of things at a very high level. We’re looking forward to seeing what’s next for him when it comes to the next level.

Metro Christian is one of the favorites to capture the Class 3A state championship and while their headliners might be in the 2024 class, don’t overlook senior guard Mario Darrington Mario Darrington 6’1″ | PG Metro Christian | 2023 State OK when it comes to shining bright in March. Darrington has been outstanding every time we’ve seen him in person, which has been a handful of times this season. Even in a loss on the road to Holland Hall, Darrington could not be stopped and was their leading scorer. He is so explosive on the floor and is lightning quick with the basketball in his hands. He’s definitely a late bloomer in terms of being a basketball prospect but he can help a program at the next level. He’s an absolute athlete and has a jumper that is incredibly smooth. The defense continues to improve and he’s becoming an interesting guard prospect to watch.

The Anadarko duo of Breylon Owens Breylon Owens 6’4″ | SG Anadarko | 2023 State OK and Rayden Churchill Rayden Churchill 6’2″ | CG Anadarko | 2023 State OK is one of the more underrated duos in the state and a lot of that is because of how absolutely loaded Class 4A has been this season. But despite that, Owens and Churchill have both jumped up the recent ranking update with spectacular play this season. While Owens has been the star for the Warriors this season, we really like what Churchill has brought to the court and that’s all the physicality you could want. We know that he’s a pretty good football player and we could have guessed that by just watching him play on the basketball court. He’s a strong and physical player that still has bounce and moves quick laterally. What is he as a prospect? We have no idea. But you’ll take a guy like this because he helps your team win games.

Catoosa has a bright future with a strong 2024 class but senior guard Greyson Lewallen Greyson Lewallen 6’2″ Catoosa | 2023 OK has established himself as one of the better shooters in the state’s 2023 class. In fact, Lewallen was a no-brainer pick to be on this update and be relatively high because of his ability to absolutely fill it up from beyond the arc. He’s had plenty of games this season where he did the majority of his damage from three-point range but he’s actually more of a complete player than just a shooter. Lewallen has filled up the stat line and has chipped in with assists and rebounds in addition to his lights out shooting. Lewallen is a very impressive player to watch in person because he’s added his name to the list of elite shooters in this class and in the Tulsa area in particular. He’s going to be a steal for somebody.

Norman has been one of the more confusing teams this season across Oklahoma. On paper, they have the talent to contend not only for a state tournament appearance but potentially much more. They have a really strong senior class this season and the cornerstone of that group is Marquis Combs-Pierce Marquis Combs-Pierce 6’8″ | C Norman | 2023 State OK at the center position. There aren’t many teams that have been able to handle Pierce when he gets the ball on the low block. He has a strong upper body that makes it hard to break him down and despite that strength, he still has a soft touch around the rim. Pierce is one of the more intriguing prospects within the state’s 2023 class. He has played at very high levels at many times throughout this season but what is his ceiling as a prospect? We’re still not sure on that part.