What you need to know about the Class 4A Playoffs
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The playoffs are here! Districts are this weekend and the march to OKC and the State Fairgrounds is on for programs all over Oklahoma. Here’s five questions to dive deep into a fun class. Will we see a rematch of…
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Continue ReadingThe playoffs are here! Districts are this weekend and the march to OKC and the State Fairgrounds is on for programs all over Oklahoma. Here’s five questions to dive deep into a fun class.
Will we see a rematch of last year’s title game, Douglass vs Weatherford?
Last year’s title participants look to be on a collision course for a potential rematch on Saturday, March 9th at the Big House. The talent on the rosters and the results seem to indicate that these two are a cut above the rest of Class 4A. It’s called March Madness for a reason and upsets are liable to happen, but there is a strong expectation we could see an intense grudge match between great teams.
It’s no shock to see the Eagles looking like a clear cut favorite. They didn’t have a single senior on last year’s roster that came up just short, with the 48-44 loss to Douglass. Other than a roadbump against now 5A Crossings Christian in December at the Tournament of Champions, the Eagles have soared over competition with dominating victories. For most Oklahoma teams, their size is simply overwhelming as they start four players who are 6’6 or taller. With all those players being much more that traditional post prospects, they’re skilled and versatile. Place any of their top four of senior Nate Reherman Nate Reherman 6'6" | PF Weatherford | 2024 State OK and juniors CJ Nickson CJ Nickson 6'6" | SF Weatherford | 2025 State #309 Nation OK , Ethan and Tage Sage onto another team, and they would 20+ point scorers, featured players. That’s what makes the Eagles successful, they have four stars pulling together as one. With sophomore Jackson Smith Jackson Smith 6'3" | SG Weatherford | 2026 State OK stepping in to do the dirty work, the Eagles have a top 5 that is the envy of many teams in 4A and even bigger classes.
The Trojans did lose a couple key pieces from last year’s title team, but returned a loaded Class of 2025 group that still had them among the preseason favorites. The mid-season addition of Jaden Nickens Jaden Nickens 6'3" | CG Douglass | 2025 State OK has supercharged an already strong team. Which gives them an argument that they could be considered the favorite over top ranked Weatherford. Nicken alongside juniors Davon Scott Davon Scott 6'2" | CG Douglass | 2025 State OK and Landry Ballard Landry Ballard 6'1" | CG Douglass | 2025 State OK are a super talented backcourt, that provide athleticism, shooting, defense and playmaking. Junior forwards Dashawn Ransome Dashawn Ransome 6'5" | PF Douglass | 2025 State OK and Cory Holman provide size and power around the rim, while Douglass also runs even deeper with big time “3 and D” player junior Jaden Williams Jaden Williams 6'2" | SG Douglass | 2025 State OK . Guards Andre Morales and Nkem House JR also fit perfectly into the aggressive and skilled backcourt as Douglass goes 8 or more deep. It’s an embarrassment of riches that the Trojans have amassed and they look talented enough to overwhelm many teams in 4A.
Who are the best players in 4A?
If you couldn’t tell from above, any Class 4A All State team would be deep with Eagles and Trojans. So for purposes of this exercise, let’s limit this to only ONE PLAYER PER TEAM. Any final All State Teams in March won’t be hamstrung by this qualification. But to better shine a spotlight on the depth of this class, let’s roll with that concept.
Regular Season First Team Class 4A All State
Kabron Lewis Kabron Lewis 6'2" | CG Hale | 2024 State OK , Senior, Nathan Hale – one of the very best scorers in the state, Lewis can catch fire from deep or knife through any defense. Hale has had some struggles this season, but the senior’s scoring ability has them capable of making
Jaden Nickens Jaden Nickens 6'3" | CG Douglass | 2025 State OK , Junior, Douglass – One of the most electric players in Oklahoma . His shooting has been streaky in the past, but when he’s on a shooter, the junior can look impossible to stop.
CJ Nickson CJ Nickson 6'6" | SF Weatherford | 2025 State #309 Nation OK , Junior, Weatherford – A must watch player, Nickson is built like a bully ball football player (which he also is), but has the game of a guard with his handle, passing and shooting ability. While still looking capable of breaking backboards with powerful slams.
Tucker Shepherd Tucker Shepherd 6'4" | SG Perkins-Tryon | 2024 State OK , Senior, Perkins-Tryon – At first glance, Shepherd could be pigeonholed as a tall sharpshooting specialist. But the senior has some bounce to him, and will punch it home if given an open lane in the halfcourt or gets out in transition.
Ethan Wilkerson Ethan Wilkerson 6'7" | PF Madill | 2024 State OK , Senior, Madill – Wilkerson simply gets the job done, rather it’s on the block with a deep aray of post movies and finishing ability. Or as a face up and jump shooting threat. A recent Southeastern Oklahoma State commit, he’ll be looking to carry his Wildcats to OKC before heading off to nearby Durant.
Regular Season Second Team Class 4A All State
Greydon Howell Greydon Howell 5'10" | PG Broken Bow | 2027 State OK , Freshman, Broken Bow – Yes, a freshman. Howell is a blue with the ball in his hands and is already one of the most dynamic scorers in Class 4A.
Devon MacCollister Devon MacCollister 6'2" | PG Ada | 2024 State OK , Senior, Ada – A smooth and crafty scorer, McCollister has the profile of a senior who could rip off 30+ games during a clutch playoff run.
KJ Nichols KJ Nichols 6'3" | SG McLain | 2024 State OK , Senior, McLain – McLain’s only losses this year have come to a 6A team and two out of state programs, a big reason behind that is the complete scoring game of the underrated Nichols.
Aiden Todd Aiden Todd 5'11" | CG Bethany | 2025 State OK , Junior, Bethany – One of the most skilled lead guards in the state, Bethany got off to an amazing start this year thanks to Todd’s ability to light it up from three and crafty scoring off the bounce.
Jackson Welch Jackson Welch 6'7" | SG Inola | 2024 State OK , Senior, Inola – The senior sharpshooter with great size recently broke the 1,000 point mark and has Inola in position to make a Big House run.
HONORABLE MENTION
Bobby Burrell Bobby Burrell 6'2" | SG Newcastle | 2024 State OK , Senior, Newcastle
Jase Edwards Jase Edwards 6'3" | SG Tecumseh | 2024 State OK , Senior, Tecumseh
Judah Gibson Judah Gibson 6'2" | CG Claremore Sequoyah | 2025 State OK , Junior, Claremore Sequoyah
Kobe Freeman Kobe Freeman 5'11" | PG Purcell | 2025 State OK , Junior, Purcell
Devon Haney Devon Haney 5'10" | SG North Rock Creek | 2024 State OK , Senior, North Rock Creek
Titus Miller Titus Miller 6'6" | SF Catoosa | 2024 State OK , Senior, Catoosa
Jacob Ojeda, Senior, Bridge Creek
Malachi Schilreff Malachi Schilreff 6'1" | CG Byng | 2024 State OK , Senior, Byng
Jakobi Tallent Jakobi Tallent 6'1" | CG Anadarko | 2025 State OK , Junior, Anadarko
Boxy Wallace Boxy Wallace 6'3" | PG Community Christian | 2024 State OK , Senior, Community Christian
Who can play spoiler to Douglass and Weatherford?
North Rock Creek and Perkins-Tryon have racked up the wins all season long. North Rock Creek is more of a balanced team where the sum of their parts is greater than the whole. And importantly have experience of making the State Tournament last year. While the previously mentioned Shepard powers the Demons and gives them a fighting chance. Perkins-Tryon has won 22 games this year, with their only loss coming to one of the top teams in 5A, Guthrie. Along with a balanced Anadarko squad, those three teams make up the top 5 ranked Class 4A teams in the last rankings posted on OSSAARankings.com.
Digging a little deeper. McLain seems undervalued with a ranking of 10th. They have beat Class 4A TPS rival Nathan Hale twice this year. And have won 10 straight after ending the regular season with a quality win over Class 3A power Metro Christian. With Nichols and fellow senior Tre Crosslen Tre Crosslen 6'3" | SF McLain | 2024 State OK leading their athletic backcourt, the Titans have the recipe to be one of the toughest outs in Class 4A.
What’s the toughest Area?
Area II is likely the most diverse with teams from far Eastern Oklahoma (Poteau and Stillwell), a healthy amount of central Oklahoma teams, a Tulsa squad (Hale) and western Oklahoma (Clinton and Elk City). It’s also arguably the toughest, with a trio of squads who made State last year and three more top 20 ranked teams. Including talented teams that are outside the top 20 in 4A.
#3 North Rock Creek – Fresh off the first State Tournament in the school’s brief history, the Cougars are undefeated against Class 4A competition this year. They had a fantastic start to the year before a couple slips up to end the regular season. They’re a balanced squad with a top tier shooter in Davon Haney, a do it all forward in junior Caleb Hawkins Caleb Hawkins 6'2" | SF North Rock Creek | 2025 State OK and some promising sophomores who could be crucial in stepping up at the right time in the playoffs.
#7 Bethany – The previously mentioned Todd combines with Wyatt Geissler Wyatt Geissler 5'10" | CG Bethany | 2025 State OK to form a sharpshooting junior duo that will give the Bronchos the chance to outscore anybody in this Area. Bethany started this year 10-0 before having an up and down end to the year. But those battle scars could prove crucial as they try to navigate the loaded Area.
#13 Bridge Creek – Bridge Creek hasn’t been to the State Tournament since 2011, when future Sooner star Ryan Spangler manned the middle for the Bobcats. While senior Jacob Ojeda isn’t the same physical presence as Spangler, Ojedea’s production have been off the charts this year. He’s a quality shooter, but has expanded his overall game into a do-it-all guard for a Bridge Creek team firmly in the mix for a State Tournament berth.
#14 Stillwell – The Indians from eastern Oklahoma also have State Tournament experience from last year. They won 12 straight to close out the season with quality wins over Inola and top 3A programs Roland and Idabel. Known for their physical brand of basketball, physical scoring senior forward Tyrus Teehee Tyrus Teehee 6'5" | C Stilwell | 2024 OK will lead the charge for Stillwell.
#20 Newcastle – After losing key players off last year’s State Tournament team, and a slower start to the season the Racers have been making up lost time down the stretch. If the ranking and playoff seeding had occurred later in the season, Newcastle would likely be a bit higher up after closing the year with wins over top 10 programs Bethany and Blanchard. Junior Antonio “Tone” Brown is a sharpshooter familiar with the Big House after hitting big threes last year. He’ll combine with fast rising senior Bobby Burrell Bobby Burrell 6'2" | SG Newcastle | 2024 State OK to power the Racers’ hopes to make it back to back trips to the State Fairgrounds.
Unranked Contenders
Bishop McGuinness – The Irish are under .500 but last week nearly took down North Rock Creek. With a team full of quality shooters, they’re always going to be capable of pulling off an upset.
Purcell – Junior Kobe Freeman Kobe Freeman 5'11" | PG Purcell | 2025 State OK is one of the most productive players in Oklahoma, who can hurt opponents in a multitude of ways. More than just a scorer, he’s a smart playmaker who will be looking to elevate his teammates for a playoff run.
Nathan Hale – It’s been a bumpy season for the Rangers, but everybody’s record might as well reset to 0-0 with it being playoff time. With Lewis and junior forward Damario Adams Damario Adams 6'7" | PF Nathan Hale | 2025 State OK , Hale has the top tier talent to compete with any team in this Area.
Wagoner – Junior guard Jashawn Davison Jashawn Davison 5'11" | PG Wagoner | 2025 State OK is a shifty and quick guard, who can also catch fire from three. With guard play being paramount for a deep playoff run, he could be a player to keep an eye on that elevates his game these next few weeks.
What underclassmen is ready to breakout on the playoff stage?
One of the most exciting players in the state is freshman Greydon Howell Greydon Howell 5'10" | PG Broken Bow | 2027 State OK and he was covered up top. But there’s a pair of productive sophomores who have had strong starts to their careers, Community Christian’s Destin Edwards Destin Edwards 5'9" | PG Community Christian | 2026 State OK and Inola’s Aidan Clark Aidan Clark 6'6" | SF Inola | 2026 State OK . Edwards is one of the best passers in the state, with a developing game as a scorer. While the physically gifted Clark, has an advanced skillset for a sophomore wing-forward. Both were crucial to their team’s earning top 20 rankings in the regular season, and now will have the chance to shine in the playoffs.
With the playoffs often bringing out the best in players, it’s going to be exciting to see which other freshmen and sophomores put their best feet forward. And become the next faces of basketball in Class 4A.