2024 Rankings: Versatile Forwards

<!-- 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 Monday, our ranking updates continued with the 2024 class. You can check out the&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/2023/02/updated-2024-oklahoma-rankings-4/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Top 75 juniors in Oklahoma RIGHT HERE</a></strong>. Throughout the week, we're taking more of a look at the 2024 class with breakdowns on various prospects throughout the rankings. In this post, we're taking a look at some of the top forwards in the 2024 class. This group features some very athletic and versatile forwards. From freaky athletes to tall marksmen, this group has a little bit of everything but one thing is for sure and they have been leaving their mark.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1343195"],"_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":"Victory Christian junior standout [player_tooltip player_id='1343195' first='Chris' last='Mason'] has been one of the more improved players this season. Around this time last year, we thought Mason was one of the best forwards in the class when he got the ball in the paint. He was a monster on both sides of the floor when he was close to the basket. And while he still has that element to his game, the thing that has been impressive is to see his improvement in his shooting this season. He has become one of the better shooters on this breakdown. Mason has the Conquerors in contention once again in Class 4A and his recruitment should heat up this spring.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["1367226"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"There is so much to like about Moore standout [player_tooltip player_id='1367226' first='Darian' last='Grant'] and the first thing that sticks out to us is his motor that seems to never slow down. Grant is an absolute machine in the paint, especially on the defensive end of the floor. But in the age of u0022positionless basketballu0022 a player like Grant is very valuable for his size and his ability to switch on to guards and not lose his step. And on offense, Grant is a terrific athlete and he has the potential to throw down some show-stopping dunks but he also has the ability to step outside and knock down shots from the perimeter. Grant is a fun player to watch.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["1367220"],"_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='1367220' first='Ethan' last='Wilkerson'] made the move from Silo to Madill and despite Madill coming up short on Thursday in the regionals to Tuttle, Wilkerson had another successful season. Wilkerson was outstanding last season as a sophomore and he hasn't gotten enough attention from the statewide perspective. Wilkerson is exceptionally talented on the offensive end of the floor. We watched it first hand last season as teams had problems with it on the biggest stage of the state tournament. Most opponents simply don't have to personnel to slow down Wilkerson. As he continues to get stronger, he'll become a big problem.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["1293574"],"_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":"While the first three prospects on this breakdown are your more traditional forwards, Owasso's [player_tooltip player_id='1295706' first='Isaiah' last='McLemore'] might be considered more of a guard than a forward at this point. But we really like the size that he has and the play that he's shown throughout this season. McLemore is one of the more underrated parts of Owasso's team this season. A lot of attention is on their freshman star [player_tooltip player_id='1552319' first='Jalen' last='Montonati'] but McLemore has played his role incredibly well. We like the growth he's shown in the last 12 months and he could be just scratching the surface on what the end product is going to be next year.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["1367223"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Choctaw standout [player_tooltip player_id='1367223' first='Isaiah' last='Taylor'] is another example of the u0022freaky athleteu0022 and it's hard not to start right there with the athleticism and leaping ability that Taylor has. He's put together some really strong plays on offense but his rim protecting on defense is what has us really intrigued moving forward. He also showed several times this season while we were in attendance that he can shoot the ball and step out and become more of a scoring threat, even though that shooting isn't exactly necessary on a backcourt-heavy Choctaw team. We're looking forward to see more of him this offseason.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["1696646"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"Metro Christian big man [player_tooltip player_id='1696646' first='Jackson' last='Sowards'] is one of the more intriguing prospects to follow moving forward in the 2024 class. Sowards is your traditional forward that does almost all of his scoring inside the paint. He has the size to dominate the majority of Metro Christian's opponents in Class 3A this season. He has the potential to be a double double machine but to become a bigger prospect for the next level, he will have to improve the other areas of his offensive game. But you can't argue with the production and more importantly, the efficiency that Sowards plays with. He's impressed every time we've watched him.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["1367218"],"_player_evaluations_6_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"Carl Albert big man [player_tooltip player_id='1367218' first='Jayden' last='Mott'] has transformed into an absolute beast over the last 12 months and he's part of Carl Albert's u0022Big Threeu0022 that has the Titans once again in the state championship conversation. Mott's touch around the basket has improved greatly and there aren't many opponents that have been able to bang with Mott in the paint and win those battles. The one thing we want to see from Mott moving forward is becoming more consistent as a dominant presence for the Titans. He has that ability and we've seen it several times this season. We just want to see him show more of it on a regular basis.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_7_player":["1293601"],"_player_evaluations_7_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"We've mentioned this quite a few times over the last two months. We love Deer Creek moving forward with all the young talent they have on this year's team. One of the u0022olderu0022 players in the lineup is junior standout [player_tooltip player_id='1295734' first='Jeremiah' last='Deering'] and he is definitely in the category of the u0022freaky athleteu0022 forward for the Antlers. We like the bounce that he has in his game on the offensive end of the floor and of course, he uses that athleticism incredibly well on defense. We think that Deering is going to be the cornerstone of the Antlers potentially making a run to a state tournament this year and next.","_player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_8_player":["1367222"],"_player_evaluations_8_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_8_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_8_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"Norman standout [player_tooltip player_id='1367222' first='Trashaun' last='Combs-Pierce'] has jumped into the top ten and become a borderline top five overall prospect in the state's 2024 class. Pierce is a fantastic athlete and that's what first got him on our radar last season. His ability to fly all over the court and his special moments on defense was something that stood out last season. But on the offensive end of the floor, we like the progression he's had over the last six months. Pierce has all of the tools to be a special prospect in this class and as his game continues to improve on offense, his recruitment should explode in a big way.","_player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_9_player":["1295662"],"_player_evaluations_9_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_9_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_9_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_9_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_9_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_9_evaluation":"And our final prospect is a blend of the u0022freaky athleteu0022 and u0022shooting big manu0022 with Catoosa standout [player_tooltip player_id='1295662' first='Titus' last='Miller']. The Catoosa product really impressed us earlier this season, when we watched him in person, with his ability to shoot the ball from the perimeter. And then you turn around and look at his ability to get above the rim and throw down some very impressive dunks. We think that Miller is one of the more underrated offensive players in Class 4A this season. And that's saying something when you consider all of the talent that is in Class 4A this year. Miller has Catoosa playing like a tourney team.","_player_evaluations_9_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":10,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63f8baf710b45"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->