Potential 2025 Stars; 2024 Small Town Impact
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With a busy July coming to a close, it’s time to go back through the notes app and film library to highlight some individual performances that need a bigger spotlight. Here’s a focus on three 2025s with big time upside.…
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Continue ReadingWith a busy July coming to a close, it’s time to go back through the notes app and film library to highlight some individual performances that need a bigger spotlight. Here’s a focus on three 2025s with big time upside. And a look at thier small town players that should him bring victories to their towns this winter.
The number one thing to watch for this high upside forward prospect after a busy spring and summer is him stacking good games. When he’s locked in and willing to embrace the full range of his talents, there is D1 upside to him. A productive first half to close out the Stage was the latest example of that. He has good form when shooting from distance which he shot well from, but he also got inside and battled. On both ends of the court.
The issue is the momentum didn’t carry over to the second half. But it was still an important building block for Kerr. One good half need to become a full game. Then the game needs to become games. It will be an up and down road, but the upside is there. And playing a competitive schedule for Class 6A contender Owasso could be a catalyst to him harnessing his potential.
If you know what you’re looking at, Terrell is one of the better watches in the state. He’s starting to grow more into his size, and runs the floor so hard for a big. The energy is starting to leak over onto the defensive end with empathic and better timing on shot blocking. He plays his role so well and has brought great energy in seemingly every viewing.
Along with those traits, there was an impressive performance late last month against Crossings Christian at UCO’s team camp. It was bracket play on the third day of the camp, when a player’s legs should’ve been tired. But he still played with that same youthful passion and energy that makes him stand out. The best part, it came with an edge. Crossings has good size in Terrell’s AAU teammate Parker and 2026 standout Woodson, and Terrell went right at both of them. From battling for rebounds, blocking shots and impressively scoring through them. One particular post up score, led to Terrell giving a locked in stare down while he got back on defense. It was the right type of confident swagger. The, finish, the look, that fire, that’s what it looks for D1 level prospects.
Here’s the challenge. Some of the graceful finishes need to be turned into powerful slams. Layups don’t cut it up at the next level for 6 foot 8 players, hopefully within 6 months Terrell is threatening to tear the rim down on a regular basis. The upside has been evident for the small town star since first catching a glimpse of him at Oral Roberts’ team camp in 2022, and now he’ll have a winter where he should make another leap as he tries to help Pocloa back to the Class 2A State Tournament.
Highlights
Small guards are some of the toughest evaluations. Every guard under 6 foot has backers claiming “they have the dog in them” “they’re just different” and a 1000 other cliches. But more-so than any other positions, it’s about being an outlier to be a D1 level guard if the prospect is under 6 foot. Outliers by definition are hard to find. After an impressive spring and summer with Team Griffin , Furnish might just be one of those sub 6 foot outliers.
What was impressive about Furnish is how he grew and adapted throughout the spring and summer against some of the best in nation at his age group. For the first few EYBL sessions, he seemed content as the perfect set up man. He’s an outstanding passer, from making the right reads off ball screen, to keeping his dribble alive just long enough to find an open teammate. Furnish is a fun watch for any basketball purest. But the scoring and shooting wasn’t there. Which did bring some concerns about how his game would succeed at the next level giving the level of scouting and game planing that could neutralize an one dimensional guard. At some point Memorial Day weekend, the scoring light went off for Furnish. And he started bombing from distance like he was back in Oklahoma.
With clutch shooting mixed with his cerebral playmaking, Furnish guided an undersized Team Griffin squad to the final four of the Peach Jam at Nike’s E16 level. The fact that his shooting extends beyond the college three point line is so crucial to create gravity and more space for him to navigate as a playmaker. To earn D1 offers, Furnish will have to be nearly perfect as a shooter and playmaker. Which the last few months has proved he has that in his range of outcomes.
A bully guard for the Oklahoma small school ranks, Dodson has a good blend of euro style takes and playing off two feet on drives. He understands when he needs pull up or hit a floater over outstretched arms, or when he has a step on defenders to get all the way to the rim. Look for the physical guard to have loud scoring nights this winter in southern Oklahoma as Dickson attempts to make noise in Class 4A.
Cade Ellison Cade Ellison 6'3" | SG Coweta | 2024 State OK
Cade Ellison Cade Ellison 6'3" | SG Coweta | 2024 State OK
With a smooth and confident jumper, Ellison is ready to step into a bigger role for Coweta this winter. He looked best this summer when he got his feet set and clean looks as a catch and shoot threat. Which he is starting to extend his range even deeper. There is some promise when putting the ball on the floor, with good one-two dribble pull ups. And the potential to develop a bit of “juice” when going down hill as a driver. He’ll need to get stronger to finish consistently, but he looks to have enough touch to be a sneaky good finisher at the high school level.
An athletic and acrobatic finisher at the rim, Edwards has great end to end speed and thrives in transition. Where he can finish with either hand, along with the ability to occasionally punch it when he gets a clear lane in the halfcourt. His instincts to push off defensive rebounds and playing passing lanes are a great example of how hard work can create easy points for a team. When defenders do sag off, he can make them pay from distance as well.