Tuesday’s Tape Don’t Lie: Nov 28
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What better way to spend a Wednesday than watching back “tape” from the games the night before? And by tape I of course mean the free streams that are often provided by the schools on Youtube. It’s so nice to…
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Continue ReadingWhat better way to spend a Wednesday than watching back “tape” from the games the night before? And by tape I of course mean the free streams that are often provided by the schools on Youtube. It’s so nice to actually be able to watch a full game and get a better feel of understanding of a prospect. Sure, Johnny Prospect scored 21 points. But were the threes contested? Was it all in transition? How many turnovers? Etc. Highlights and box score can leave a bit to be desired, so a full film review can provide much more context and understanding. And with there only being one me, and Oklahoma being a spread out state, the frequency of games being streamed on YouTube or over platforms will help fill in the gaps on some of the top players and teams I don’t get to see in person this season.
For today’s first edition of Tuesday’s Tape Don’t Lie here are the two games reviewed
Inola 60 Roland 66 OT
Norman North 40 Deer Creek 47
A true perimeter weapon who must always be accounted for. Welch is a shot hunter in the half-court and in transition. Especially as he loves sprints to the corners in transition, where if the defense doesn’t track him, his shot might as well be automatic.
Three point shooting anchored his day, and in the first half he was a huge reason why the visiting Longhorns surged ahead. But if the senior had finished better at the rim, it would’ve turned a good day into a great day. Late in the game he did show that he is capable of finishing his drives at the rim, with a good finish after a closeout ran him off the line. Shooting and size, it’s a great combo and frankly it’s surprising there isn’t more interest in Welch from regional small colleges.
Highlights
Carson Wiggins
Carson Wiggins
The star baseball pitcher is a monstrous athlete and throughout the contest he had some of the best highlight reel quality plays of any player in Oklahoma on Tuesday night. Once when fronted on a post up, he caught a good entry pass and in a fluid moment when up for a two handed, rim rocking slam. Along with the dunk, he high pointed rebounds, erased shots at the rim and was a difference maker. At the 3A level, he’s a dominant force in the paint.
It was good to get an extended look of the promising sophomore in a close game. Let’s start with the good, his vision and passing touch are improving. He keeps his head up and was often looking to keep it moving when he attacking. While also doing a good job of being patient on post ups and correctly making reads when he was swarmed. This development gives Clark another way to be a great threat in pick and roll situations, as he could develop into a great decision maker out of short roll opportunities.
Clark also remains a strong and physical player for his age, he even connected some when given space on mid-range and from beyond the arc. In the overtime, he came from the help side and drew a good charge. There’s a good overall feel to his game but he didn’t always play to size around the basket and could’ve finished or rebounded better. He was also tasked with more ball-handling opportunities and was solid. But there were noticeable times his dribbles came too high. He needs his handles to be tighter and lower as quick guards could give him a lot of trouble if he brought the ball up against top teams from 6A and 5A.
The sophomore has to find the right balance of embracing his improving perimeter skills while developing a killer instinct around the basket. Because versatility could be one of the strengths to his game. He currently profiles closer to a stretch forward type than a true wing, which is still very good for modern basketball and small ball. Hopefully by March, Clark is maturing into a more consistent finisher around the rim with a mix of playmaking for a promising Longhorns squad.
Highlights
From early on in the game, Hall “popped” off the screen with the ease he attacked. It was pretty clear he has so far been overlooked in the Class fo 2026. If it was just seeing how effortlessly he glided around the court it would’ve been enough to be high on his potential. But there were two sequences that stood out.
Hall closed the first quarter by picking the pocket of an opposing ballhandler from behind, leading to a loose ball that a teammate scooped up and fired out to him for an easy layup. Then with 7 seconds left, a teammate secured a defensive rebound, pitched it to Hall, who raced down the court and hit a spinning one legged mid-range jumper at the buzzer to tie it.
The Roland sophomore closed the third quarter with a similar composed scoring flurry. With 90 seconds left he got a defender on his heels and drained a pull up triple. Then the next trip down, he diced up the defense and had an strong “And 1” finish for an old fashion three point play. Hall closed out the quarter by drawing a foul with his tight handles, earning two free throw attempts.
Overall, he’s quick but also composed with the ball. Seemingly every time he wanted to get inside and pressure the defense, he got wherever he wanted. Hall ended up pouring in 27 points in the game, most of it off crafty and explosive finishing at the rim, and that was with his jumper not falling consistently despite good looks. He also lived at the charity stripe. Where he even hit two clutch go ahead free throws late and then tied it on the next trip, leading to the eventually overtime. There were a couple times he might have over dribbled and pounded the rock too much, but given his overall success and youth, a little leeway can be given.
More viewings are needed because the form on his jumper looked good and the ones he did hit were pure. So there could be nights he catches fire in the midrange or three. Or his shooting simply improves as he’s only a sophomore, which leads to the question; Just how good can he be?
The initial impression is that so far he’s been a personal miss in the coverage of the Class of 2026. As he’s a no doubt current top 10 prospect, which for my personal definition means a no brainer future college player if his progression continues. He passes one of the most aspects of translating a small town prospect to prospects against big schools. His movements and handles would easily translate into being an impact player against teams from OKC and Tulsa. Now if he is, or becomes a knock down shooter, he’s likely in the conversation for top 5 in what looks to be a very talented Class of 2026.
Hall has become a priority scout going forward, and should have Roland back in the Class 3A State Tournament. And then with the right platform, could blow up at the 16U level.
Highlights
The shots weren’t following from deep for the senior, but that didn’t stop him from playing a key role in Deer Creek’s second half rally and victory. Linsenmeyer was confident and stronger on drives to the rim, which were much needed points for an Antler offense that was stuck in neutral till the second half. He was also an active and aggressive defender as part of the waves of Deer Creek guards who pressured the ball on defense. There will be games where the tough shotmaker’s three point shot is falling, and he’ll look like one of the more complete scorers in Oklahoma.
Noah Jones
Noah Jones
A quick and defensive minded guard, Jones was tasked with more primary ball handling opportunities for the opening game of his senior season. In the first half as Norman North built their lead, it went well with Jones playing a key part. He even closed out the first quarter with a mixture of quick and tough drives and a big three pointer. At one point a Jones drive put the Timberwolves up 15 points. But in the second half he and his teammates struggled offensively, as the wave of Deer Creek guards and the lack of ballhandling help seemed to tire out Jones, making his play less effective.
John Probey
John Probey
A scrappy, energizer bunny style forward prospect, Probey was often around the action on the basket. Cutting to openings, grabbing rebounds, converting putbacks, he kept hitting “single after single” to keep Deer Creek close and then eventually played a key role in their comeback. He even drilled a top of the key three early in the third quarter. While he had a couple good moves to the rim, his finishing on drives needed improvement on the night. Still after one miss a drive late, the senior stayed with it and got his own putback for a go ahead score that would put Deer Creek up for good.
Monte Hines
Monte Hines
The junior forward was a strong part of Norman North’s stingy defense. He picked up a handful of blocks and showed good verticality in contesting other shots without fouling. Offensively, he often presented strongly for post ups and showed some promise as a passer when the defense did collapse on him. But he did not finish efficiently around the rim on those same post up attempts. Still raw, if Hines sticks with it and becomes a better finisher around the rim, it would be huge boost for a Timberwolf squad that could benefit from the ability to get easy buckets off of post ups.
The sophomore brought some crucial scrappy scores around the rim for Deer Creek in the first half when their offense was struggling. He was even in the right place, right time to take a charge. And during their second half run, he was active on the offensive glass with a putback. With good size and feel, Robinson remains a prospect to keep tabs on as he grows into his large frame.