Top Available Seniors, December Check in

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"All I want for Christmas is a home at the next level" </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the first third of the high school season wrapping up, who are the still available seniors that have stood out as the season has gotten underway?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These are all prospect either watched in person in the last few weeks, or checked out a full game or two worth on online streams. They are all having quality starts to their senior season and deserve a bigger spotlight and discussion on why they have the potential to succeed at the next level. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1293568"],"_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":"The catalyst for writing the article was watching Benton on Monday, leading his Dutch to a victory. Which capped their pre-holiday break schedule with a 7-1 mark. There's been a steady evolution to his game over the last year, and the win against Victory Christian was further confirmation of that. Benton only scored 13 points, but he was still the best player on the court.  He never looked to force shots and showed trust in his teammates. Which empowered the Dutch's role players to step up, especially from the perimeter. And he left his mark on the defensive end. He was a big help on the defensive glass with how he high pointed rebounds, and recorded a handful of u0022grown manu0022 steals where his tenacity and improved strength allowed him to straight up rip the ball away from opponents.rnrnFrom being a quality shooter with an emerging crafty off the dribble skillset as a junior, to a complete prospect. The Dutch senior has done one of the best jobs of maximizing his skillset and talents for his final year of prep basketball.rnrnBenton feels like a perfect fit for a four year program.  As he has a high floor and is a small miss player.  Watching the clear work he has put in to evolve his game and his body (strength), indicates that he would make a team better at the very least as a competitor in practice as a underclassmen. And will keep adding to his game till he's a bigger contributor as an upperclassmen.  Benton looks the the perfect u0022program prospectu0022 that helps provide a stronger floor for a winning program to be built up.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["1807978"],"_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":"The southern Oklahoma gem has been covered twice in depth already this month, u003ca href=u0022https://prephoops.com/2023/12/friday-filmroom-heroes-dec-1st/u0022u003e with a u0022filmu0022 breakdownu003c/au003e andu003ca href=u0022https://prephoops.com/2023/12/scouting-the-state-mid-december-gems/u0022u003e reactions following an in person viewingu003c/au003e.  The growth of his game from a lanky, gangly sophomore to a more fluid and confident senior was easily evident. He posses the rare combination of next level size and light movement. With his high academic background amplifier, Cason has a chance to be one of the most successful college players among the Class of 2024.  The type of prospect that people are tweeting about u0022don't sleep on Oklahoma kidsu0022 when he becomes a 2-3 year starter for a quality university.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["1367222"],"_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":"Oklahoma prospects that get to cut their cut teeth for a full spring and summer against elite national competition before their senior year, often come back and dominant the state.  Going against that elite competition must make the game feel slow in Oklahoma.  Especially for a prospect with Combs-Pierce's combo of size and athleticism.  He's racking up the dunks, from transition finishes, oops and more with ease. All while impacting the game all over the court as a defender and improved confidence as a scorer.rnrnCombs-Pierce is one of the few, maybe the only one in the state that I would fully put a stamp on that he has the potential to defend 1-5 at the next level. I've seen him cover quicker guards on the national level and he has the height and wingspan to compete around the basket.  It remains baffling that has recruitment has never picked up more steam.  He was recently offered by Southwest Oklahoma State, so it could be picking up as four year programs start to target available high school seniors.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["1367216"],"_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":"One of the top scorers in the class since his freshman year, Valentine is one of the best off the dribble shooters in the class.  He doesn't need a lot of separation to hit tough jumpers and also has some of the best footwork in Oklahoma on fadeaways, turnarounds, spin moves, side hops and more.  What's been new about his game for the 5-1 Yellowjackets, has been his improved passing.  His dynamic ability to get into the lane is now complimented with better vision and accuracy on his passes. He now consistently creates better looks with good kick outs, and the occasional flashy bounce pass or good feed to find to a teammate cutting to the basket.rnrnValentine is another prospect who broke the 1,000 mark for his career, and recently picked up an offer from Highland Community College (Illinois).","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["1367220"],"_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":"The small town forward is closing in on landmark career stats in his final season of high school hoops. Wilkerson is nearing 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds and 300 blocks.  He has Madill off to a 7-0 start, which included a couple quality wins in the Madill Winter Classic against fellow 4A teams, Purcell and Ardmore.  In the Purcell contest, he was a bully on the block, racking up points by getting deep position or crashing the offensive glass. As the game progressed he was able to break out a left handed baby hook to add more variety to his scoring.rnrnIn past viewings, especially in the wider opened nature of AAU basketball vs small town basketball, he's shown more of a face up game. Late when Madill was protecting their lead, Wilkerson showed some of those aspects. As he played a key role as a primary ballhandler to help spread out the defense to open angles to attack. Defensively, he's not an explosive leaper, but he routinely showed a good understanding of positioning and defensive rotations to block or alter shots.rnrnOn the recruiting front, he's a D2 blue chipper for Oklahoma programs with nearby East Central and Southeastern among the schools that have offered. While Southwestern (where his former high school coach is) and Northeastern have also extended offers.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["1343195"],"_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":"There's a lot of good aspects to Mason's game that make him a good upside bet for collegiate programs.  This season he has continued to show outstanding shooting touch around the rim, old school fadeaways and even hitting three pointers.  There's a handful of times each game that the senior shows next level short area quickness and explosiveness with block a shot or powering through for a dunk. There are very few players in Oklahoma that have similar natural gifts. He's been productive for the 5-1 Conquerors, so it's been a good start to his senior year. But not great as there is an area that needs to be addressed before reaching the next level.rnrnMason needs to improve his conditioning. It was evident in a big game against Holland Hall. That even though Mason can be a monster in transition, he wanted the game slowed down. Any college coach he plays for will very likely want a trimer and more active version of Mason than he currently is.  Basketball is now often played faster, while his ability to slow it down in the post and make good reads out of doubles is a great counter punch, it must be paired with the ability to still thrive in fast environments.  Which also includes contesting more shots on the defensive end.  If he's playing through an minor injury, some of it is understandable. But a hot-cold motor has long been the question mark surrounding one of the highest potential prospects in Oklahoma's class of 2024.rnrnA focused and better conditioned Mason could be one of the most unstoppable forces in Oklahoma basketball for the next three months.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["1343197"],"_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":"Fuller grabs attention when he steps in the gym.  In the past it's involved a dunk contest like package of slams in warm ups, to crazy explosiveness in transition, to some head scratching decision making.  It has always been a ride watching the 918 standout.  He's started his senior year with promise, first showing some flashes of better control and unselfishness in a November scrimmage. u003ca href=u0022https://prephoops.com/2023/12/the-stars-edmond-open-and-boomarang-classic-title-game/u0022u003eThen he put together a dominating performance in the championship game of the Edmond Open.u003c/au003ernrnThere is a pathway to success at the next level with a great example of another Oklahoma prospect who had similar athletic gifts along with up and down production. 2019 Broken Arrow Tiger Caleb Huffman had two stellar years at Iowa Western (juco) before having a pair of double digit scoring seasons over three years at Central Michigan and Nichols State, two D1 programs. Huffman is now playing overseas.rnrnThe right junior college and Fuller continuing to grow in maturity and understanding of the game could offer him the opportunity to blaze a similar trail. Or a forward looking four year program could offer him an opportunity, in hopes of developing his potential to be an u0022all conferenceu0022 type player as an upperclassman.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":7,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65834f6a9b889"} /-->