Too Early Previews: Class 6A District 2

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Continuing the coverage of last week's announced Class 6A districts, here's a look at the second 405 based district. This one is headlined by Putnam City West, features a pair of schools for the 580 (Lawton and Eisenhower), and a mixture of teams from all over the OKC metro with Edmond Santa Fe, Northwest Classen and more. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prephoops.com/2023/08/too-early-previews-class-6a-district-1/">For Class 6A District 1, click here.</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>District 2 (Alphabetical Order)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Edmond Santa Fe</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lawton</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lawton Eisenhower</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Norman</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Northwest Classen</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Putnam City West</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Westmoore</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Yukon</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>District MVP?</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kaiden Rayfield - Junior - Putnam City West</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fresh off an impressive spring and summer, the junior wing-forward prospect looks ready to be one of the best players in the state this winter. At 6 foot 8, Rayfield has an unique, almost unicorn like skillsets. He's improved his motor around the rim, turning into a terror in the paint on both ends of the court. But can also put it on the floor for drives, while shooting it well from three in spurts last summer. As he continues to fill out psychically, the sky is the limit for the high upside prospect. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Other Contenders</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1367222' first='Trashaun' last='Combs-Pierce'] - Senior - Norman</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1367224' first='Madden' last='Padilla'] - Senior - Lawton</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1293621' first='Dylan' last='Snow'] - Senior - Yukon</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Breakout Players?</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Loper Twins</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After a successful regular season, Westmoore was tripped up by the gauntlet that was 6A playoffs. While they lost big time senior pieces, a pair of junior guards might turn what could be a rebuilding year into a reloading year for the Jaguars. Both Garrett and [player_tooltip player_id='1536304' first='Grant' last='Loper'] were key role players for last season's 18 win team. Now they'll have bigger roles, and both look ready to fulfill them. [player_tooltip player_id='1536285' first='Garrett' last='Loper'] proved to be one of the better shooters in the 405 last season, often hitting clutch shots for Westmoore. While [player_tooltip player_id='1536304' first='Grant' last='Loper'] has been a creative floor general and finisher this spring and summer. If the Jaguars maintain a similar level of high quality play to last year's team, it will likely come from increased production from the Loper twins. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>5 Second Count</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Both Lawton programs are breaking in new coaches, with Lawton Eisenhower hiring Brandon Kephart, who most recently was the head coach for the Duncan Lady Demons. Lawton chose to go with Millwood assistant, Chevis Smith. Kephat inherits a program that struggled last year with only 5 wins, and now they're making the move up to Class 6A. Smith inherits a team that hosted a 6A regional last season. The Wolverines have a great one-two punch in the backcourt with senior leader [player_tooltip player_id='1367224' first='Madden' last='Padilla'] and explosive junior scorer [player_tooltip player_id='1796289' first='Pene' last='Vaisagote'].</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>A few years ago, a shuffling of enrollment in schools in OKCPS moved Northwest Classen up from 5A to 6A. The Knights had an established themselves as a consistent State Tournament in Class 5A before the move up. Since then they have been on the smaller attendance schools in 6A. They also played a schedule that heavily consisted of fellow OKCPS programs, which is a collection of programs from 6A, 5A and 4A. That means this year will be the first since the Knights up to 6A that will play predominately Class 6A foes in the regular season. Quality guard play matters so much in high school basketball, seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2047072' first='Keymar' last='Cyrus'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1807983' first='Lesley' last='Rose'] along with junior [player_tooltip player_id='2273093' first='Brandon' last='Butler'] will bring the experience and scoring punch to make Northwest Classen a tough battle for any district foe. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Snow Days for Yukon? Yukon struggled last year against 6A competition. But they will have one of the better players in the district, with senior point guard [player_tooltip player_id='1293621' first='Dylan' last='Snow'] coming off a huge spring and summer. The floor general showed he has a full scoring package, while also being a quality playmaker. A big load will be on the smaller lead guard's shoulder to make the Millers competitive. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Bounce back year for the Wolves? A a pair of successful January tournament runs were bookend by a slow start and tough finish for Edmond Santa Fe. This summer the Wolves were a tough out, winning a bracket at OSU team camp and making the finals of another bracket at UCO team camp. While they might be smaller than some Santa Fe teams of recent memory, a good sophomore class with prospects like [player_tooltip player_id='1987385' first='Kai' last='Ellis'] [player_tooltip player_id='1552330' first='Jarmile' last='“Money” Robinson'] and more will have a chance to leave their mark on this district and the state. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Norman completed quite a turnaround in head coach Cory Cole's second year at the school. Only two years removed from a two win season, the Tigers racked up 18 wins and a Class 6A State Tournament appearance. They were a senior heavy team, but do return a key piece from last season's squad, versatile 6'7 wing-forward [player_tooltip player_id='1367222' first='Trashaun' last='Combs-Pierce']. Combs-Pierce is one of the best defenders in the state, and after a spring and summer against nationally competition will likely be ready to carry the scoring load for the Tigers. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list -->