October Tip Off: Practice Starts, Rankings Updates and More

Unlike Allen Iverson, let's talk about practice. It started this week for Oklahoma high schools. While the practice days might seem long now, scrimmages are right around the corner. And before we know it, it will be a cold late January morning. With only a handful of regular season games left.   This is a reminder that once we're in the regular season, it will feel like a roller coaster. The players and teams that will be successful this winter will be the ones currently falling in love with the process. Enjoy the grind. Because it will be over sooner than you think.   Good Luck to all the teams grinding in practice right now. And I look forward to covering another exciting year of teams chasing the Gold Ball.     Rankings Update on the Horizon   The prospects rankings are set for a refresh this month. The process of trying to judge production, potential and of course watching players from all over Oklahoma makes the process an inexact science. If it even could be considered a science. Still, it's an effort to highlight and evaluate prospects. It's not meant to diminish a player just because of a number next to a name.   Instead of being definitive and hung up with a player being ranked 16th vs 27th, or even 47th; view it as a snapshot of where prospects currently are. Even if the rankings are only officially updated three times a year, they are very much dynamic and flexible. By mid November, the rankings will likely be outdated. As attending scrimmages will already lead to finding new names. And seeing improvements from prospects.   Especially as the rankings can't account for the preferences of college coaches. Some coaches are more likely to value athletic "project" prospects. Some don't want smaller guards for their systems. Maybe one college is only looking for a shooter and a post in this recruiting class. A tiering system would have its own flaws. But there is some truth that the difference between the 16th and 27th player can be a razor's edge.     Do you have to play in PrepHoops Tournaments or Camps to be ranked?   No, you don't. They are one just piece of the process that involves watching basketball year round. There's examples throughout all rankings sets of ranked players who don't play on the PrepHoops Circuit or attend the camps. But showing up to camps is helpful. Especially at the younger age groups because it's helpful to get on the system and be seen. And it encourages following up viewings during the season.   Even if you don't attend a camp, you can also build or claim a profile for free.<a href="https://prephoops.com/features/player-profiles/"> I would encourage if you haven't, to follow this link, and make sure your profile is updated with correct high school, height, highlights, stats and more.</a>   Being active on social media is one of the most helpful ways to be noticed by the site. That does not mean you have to be on it 24/7. Simply posting top stat lines, highlights, etc throughout the year is a great way to get noticed. Which can help lead to myself following up with in person viewings or watching streams of your games.   Help us, help you by tagging PrepHoopsOK on X/Twitter and PrepHooops_Oklahoma in Instagram.   Here's this month's ranking update schedule   Class of 2028 - October 7th   Class of 2027 - October 14th   Class of 2026 - October 21st   There are plans for a Class of 2029 watchlist in late November/early December.     Prospect Spotlight    The junior year is always pivotal for prospects. It's usually a timeframe when players start to mature physically. Leading to their games changing as they become stronger and more athletic. Which is one one hundred percent the case for Wilson. He's had a rep as a sharpshooter since his freshman year, but he was on the smaller side. Especially compared to his older brothers. But that's where patience is key.   This year, Wilson hit a growth spurt and he's staring to fill out. He's now more of a dynamic player off the dribble. Complete with improved hangtime and acrobatically finishing at the rim. All while retaining top tier shooting abilities.   Owasso's senior class is an highly decorated group. But it could be the development of Wilson that helps put them over the top in Class 6A. Which, staring in his role on a State Championship team would start to open doors at the collegiate level.

Unlike Allen Iverson, let's talk about practice. It started this week for Oklahoma high schools. While the practice days might seem long now, scrimmages are right around the corner. And before we know it, it will be a cold late January morning. With only a handful of regular season games left.