OSSAA ADM and Rule Changes SHAKE UP High School basketball

A combination of a new rule for private school programs and shifts in school's average daily membership (ADM) numbers will have the Oklahoma high school basketball landscape looking different this upcoming season.   Here's a look at some of the potential changes and the fall out.   (The ADM numbers aren't official, and last year saw the shock mid-season flipping of Holland Hall to 5A and Ardmore to 4A. So this is only meant to be an outline of POTENTIAL changes)   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">8:20 PM UPDATE</h2>   It only took a few hours for ADM numbers and Rule 14 changes to make a good portion of this article out of date. Holland Hall and Crossing Christian are expected to be part of 5A. Both programs will be firmly be in the picture to be State Tournament contenders   An added twist to Crossing Christian and Holland Hall being bumped up, the Rule 14 changes no longer automatically move the smallest ADM schools down. The programs moving down are now based on lack of success   <blockquote class="wp-block-quote"> The program that moves down in each activity will be a public school based off of a lack of success over the same 2-of-3 year period (currently, the program that moves down is based solely off of size and can be a public or non-public school). <cite><a href="https://www.bishopkelley.org/ossaa">OSSAA Rule 14 changes vis Bishop Kelley's website</a></cite></blockquote>   Because of those rule changes, Duncan and Hale will be the programs moving down to Class 4A. Hale of course was expected to be one of the most talented teams in the 5A east side thanks to [player_tooltip player_id='1482830' first='Kabron' last='Lewis'], [player_tooltip player_id='1665873' first='Damario' last='Adams'] and company. Now the Rangers will find themselves in the State Tournament picture as one of the top 4A east side programs next to Catoosa, Inola, McLain, Wagoner and others.   Class 6A Changes   New to Class 6A are Lawton Eisenhower and Piedmont. Eisenhower has spent time in Class 6A in the last decade, often near the cut line for the 32 biggest programs in the state. But have settled in Class 5A over recent years.   While Piedmont has seen a rapid growth as just over a decade ago, they were a 4A program. They've more in doubled in enrollment from 2011 as back the they had 651 ADM count, now it's currently at 1405. Meaning the Wildcats aren't likely leaving 6A anytime soon.   Last year, saw Piedmont make it to a game away from state in Class 5A behind new head coach Brandon Jackson. And he returns a good group of skilled guards that can shoot. The jump from 5A to 6A, especially with Districts could lead to some growing pains, but after his first season at Piedmont he does have positive momentum on his side.   Class 5A Changes   Moving down from Class 6A are Booker T Washington and Midwest City. Both programs have some of the best history in the state and are expected to make Class 5A deeper this season.   Booker T Washington returns the core of a team that made a run to the Class 6A State Tournament. They'll slot in the top tier of 5A east teams with Tulsa Memorial, Tulsa Hale, Collinsville and others. They have an exciting group of junior guards headlined by [player_tooltip player_id='1685526' first='BJ' last='Harris'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1475991' first='Jamarri' last='Simpson']. Promising sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='1783190' first='Issac' last='Sanders'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1552318' first='Rickey' last='Bruner III'] along with whispers of a high upside freshman class indicate that Eli Brown's squad should once again be peaking at the right time.   First year head coach Torey Noel is an alum looking to bring glory back to Midwest City. The one-two scoring punch of [player_tooltip player_id='1807980' first='Roy' last='Henderson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1552391' first='DeShawn' last='Denson II'] should give the Bombers the ability to hang offensively with anyone in their new class. While Coach Noel is surely looking to bring back the pressure defense and up tempo style that had Midwest City among the state's best back when he graduated in 2014.     Class 4A Changes   Class 4A is where the fallout of the change to private school rule starts to be really felt. Under previous rules, any private school that made the State Tournament two out of three years was bumped up a class for the following season. That rule played a role in the loaded Class 4A State Tournament last season.   Now the criteria has changed to private schools as they now need two State Semifinal appearances in the last three years. Basically two top 4 finishes in the past three seasons. Which has thinned out some of the potential contenders in Class 4A.   Among the private school programs that have been bumped up to Class 4A, Crossings will remain as the past three years has seen them win Class 3A and record back to back Class 4A semifinal appearances. With the bulk of their roster back from last season, the Knights will be expected to be in the title picture with the two schools that squared off for last season's title, Douglass and Weatherford.   Determining Holland Hall's classification is once again a murky issue. Last year they were bumped to 5A midseason, which didn't slow down the Dutch as they made a run the 5A semifinals. ADM wise they are a 3A program. And on the boys side despite last seasons semifinals appearance, before that they had two straight exits from the first day of the 4A State Tournament. Which wouldn't qualify them for the bump like Crossings.   However the Holland Hall girl's program played in the 5A State Title game last year and made the 4A semifinals in 2022. Under old rules, boys and girls programs stayed together when moved up. At one point when looking through news articles of the proposed rule changes from June, there was a note about Boys and Girls programs no longer being tied together (unless moving up to class 6A and 5A). But is believed that Holland Hall's boys program will be joining the Lady Dutch in 4A. Which, with [player_tooltip player_id='1295700' first='Carter' last='Benton'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1552349' first='Julius' last='Wilson'] leading the way for the Dutch, they should be in contention for a Class 4A State Tournament spot.   Even though Community Christian has a ADM that is 3A size, they should stay 4A, as they were runner ups in Class 3A in 2022 and made the 3A semifinals in 2021. Bishop McGuinness will be in 4A for another season, as that is where their ADM places them.   With less private schools bumping up, southwest Oklahoma based Marlow is also expected to be a new addition. The Outlaws have been a recent regular team in the Class 3A State Tournament. So it will be interesting to see if they can make some noise in a now more open Class 4A.     Class 3A Changes   And because of the fallout from programs dropping down from Class 4A, Class 3A's landscape has been shaken up. Two private school programs (Victory Christian and Oklahoma Christian School) that would have been among the 4A contenders are expected to be dropping down to 3A.   Victory Christian has been a regular force in 4A for the last decade. In 2022 they played for the 4A State Championship. They have an outstanding senior class headlined by the one-two punch of seniors [player_tooltip player_id='1343195' first='Chris' last='Mason'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1343196' first='Cedric' last='Dixon']. With quality supporting talent around them, including high upside incoming freshman [player_tooltip player_id='2327117' first='Gene' last='Mason'] Jr, the Conquerors should be expected to be a force in 3A.   Oklahoma Christian School is in a similar spot as they also have a great inside-outside combo of seniors [player_tooltip player_id='1367214' first='Luke' last='Gray'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1482836' first='Carson' last='Jones']. They too will be expected to enter the season among the favorites in 3A, especially as they picked up a pair of victories over last year's 3A champions, Millwood.   The addition of the the two previously mentioned programs will give Millwood some potential new challenges as the powerhouse program goes for their third straight state title. The Falcons have a new coach at the helm with Dorrain Williams, and are expected to be the deepest and most talented team in Class 3A. There will be more on the Falcons during a "Too Early 3A preview" next month, but for now let's take a look at a few more private school programs that should be newcomers to 4A.   Expected to add to the depth in 3A are Heritage Hall and Mount Saint Mary. Last season Mount Saint Mary was in 5A after their ADM placed in 4A and previous State Tournament appearances had them bumped up a class. While Heritage Hall has played in 5 State Championship games since 2015. The Chargers have won two of those, 3A (2015) and in 4A (2018). Both programs missed out on the State Tournament last year, but they remain quality programs that make Class 3A deeper.   Another new school to 3A is Casady, another private school in Oklahoma City. Their ADM places in 3A, and they're making the transition from the Southwest Preparatory Conference similar to how Holland Hall became OSSAA members last decade. They have a talented trio of guards, [player_tooltip player_id='1632267' first='Bryson' last='Buckingham'], Peyton Johnson-Mitchell and [player_tooltip player_id='1552384' first='Kaden' last='Leache'], that should make them a tough out come playoff time.     The changes to the classifications and Districts for 6A and 5A will be officially announced in August. Once the changes are official, check back to PrepHoops Oklahoma for more coverage of the quickly approaching Oklahoma high school basketball season.

A combination of a new rule for private school programs and shifts in school's average daily membership (ADM) numbers will have the Oklahoma high school basketball landscape looking different this upcoming season.