Standouts: Pride of East Side Day 1

It's year two of the Douglass Trojans' tip off showcase event, meaning basketball is in full swing in Oklahoma. Douglass and Choctaw were the two Oklahoma programs to start their season on Thursday night, as they played talented out of state teams. Also among the Oklahoma teams were 405 based non OSSAA programs GRIND Prep and Terra Verde, who played each other.      Dominating performance from the high upside wing prospect. Consistently killed off the dribble, either getting to the rim or draining mid-range jumpers. His spin move was particularly effective on drives. Flashed his next level athleticism with a big time putback dunk. Payne has been enjoying an impressive start with his new school against out of state competition. Seeing it in person makes it clear that he has made a further jump as his production is matching his potential. Type of prospect who even if his initial path out of high school is with a JuCo, he very well could find his way onto a D1 roster.     The Missouri bound sharpshooter took over in the second half. Outstanding movement shooter, coming off screens and quickly heating up. His shooting helped his The New School program pulled away from Choctaw. Shooting was his primary weapon, but also impressed with his vision as a passer. Including great full court outlets. Competitive shooter, with size that gives him versatility on the defensive end.     A battling bigger guard/wing. Had a stretch in the third quarter where he took over the game. Great finishing around the rim, using pumpfakes and understanding how to adjust to finish against bigger foes. Brought the same mentality on the defensive end, with one block leading to instant offense. Then other moments of verticality to help protect the rim. His second half performance was cut short, when he got caught up in the physical nature of the game and was called for what looked to be a double tech. Leading to his fourth foul and spending a large portion of the fourth on the bench.   The fiery nature Morris plays with is what helps him standout, but Thursday brought a learning experience to better walk the line without crossing it. As Douglass will need him on the court and at his best to challenge for another State Title.     A long armed, bowling ball of a forward. Was very tough to keep off the glass. And routinely got deep position around the rim for post ups. Even stepped outside and hit from distance. His wingspan and good lift off the floor allowed him to finish with powerful dunks and block shots at the rim. Very productive player, who was consistent throughout the contest.     Gituma is a lanky forward prospect and is quick off his feet for his size. Very active on the glass, especially on the offensive end. Capable of stepping out and hitting from the perimeter as well. While a fairly explosive leaper around the rim, he's still a bit gangly in his movements when running the floor. Hinting that he could be growing, potentially turning him from a tweener forward to a legit stretch power forward. Exciting late blooming prospect in the 405.     Explosive finishing at the rim from Kpogba helped Douglass seal the game in the second half. On drives, it looks like he plays off a trampoline with the quickness he gets off the floor. And the hangtime he has to produce a variety of acrobatic finishes. The speed and aggressiveness he plays with, makes him a natural fit for his new high school. Quite the 1-2 senior punch for the Trojans.

It's year two of the Douglass Trojans' tip off showcase event, meaning basketball is in full swing in Oklahoma. Douglass and Choctaw were the two Oklahoma programs to start their season on Thursday night, as they played talented out of state teams. Also among the Oklahoma teams were 405 based non OSSAA programs GRIND Prep and Terra Verde, who played each other.