Out in eastern Oklahoma, Westville senior forward Buddy Hammer Buddy Hammer 6'7" | SF Westville | 2023 State OK has flown under the radar around the state but he can make plenty of noise this week if he helps lead them to three wins in three days and punch their ticket to the state tournament. Hammer is a prospect that I wrote about back in October following a very impressive showing at our Top 250 Expo in Edmond. He was very clearly one of the best athletes in attendance and his ability to jump out of the gym was on full display. Hammer hasn’t stopped that throughout the high school season as he’s put together a pretty impressive highlight package and racking up double-doubles throughout the year. And this has nothing to do with being a prospect or basketball at all but he has to be on the short list for best name in basketball this season.

Our first top performer from Friday night should have been included earlier in the week as well following his performance on Tuesday night. First, Hammer would drop 25 points as Westville beat Kansas 56-40. But Hammer’s Tuesday night performance in the season opener against Sallisaw deserves a shoutout as well. Hammer would fill up the stat sheet on opening night with 14 points, 17 rebounds, 6 assists and 5 blocks. Westville has opened the season with back to back wins and they look to continue that momentum into this week, when they participate in the Colcord Hoopfest in eastern Oklahoma.

Hammer will regularly be dropping the hammer with slams this season for Westville. He’s an explosive and strong athlete, who regularly plays around the rim. But he’s more than just an athlete, he has a great passing touch and feel. From outlet passes to touch passes in the halfcourt he’s a skilled creator. The eastern Oklahoma small town product has been one of the hidden gems in the state but he should be no secret now as he attempts to help Westville to the Big House in March.

Buddy Hammer Buddy Hammer 6'7" | SF Westville | 2023 State OK was a fun player to watch. He was able to utilize his length, size (listed at 6’6), and athleticism to impact the game on both ends of the court. He racked up several offensive and defensive rebounds, to where he was able to get a few second chance points. What I liked about it is that there was one possession to where he had two offensive rebounds in a row, then got an assist. This showed me that he is someone that will not force things. On the defensive end, there were times that he grabbed the rebound and fired a nice outlet pass. Someone of them were to half-court, but there was a full-court outlet pass too. In one game that I watched him, I recorded three blocks for him, with one of them being swatted off of the backboard. His length helped him force on-ball turnovers a couple of different possessions, as well. If you are wanting an athletic, two-way big, this is someone to look at.

Before the event began, we wrote about the players to watch on Sunday and several of the prospects listed here were on that same list. But near the top of the list for me personally was Westville standout Buddy Hammer Buddy Hammer 6'7" | SF Westville | 2023 State OK . I haven’t seen Hammer in person and he absolutely lived up to the hype of being a small school standout that has a deep bag of tricks on the offensive side of the ball. Hammer was teamed up with fellow top performer Chiante Tramble Chiante Tramble 6'2" | PG Edmond North | 2024 State OK from Putnam City West and the two made up the best duo in attendance on Sunday. Hammer is going to be a fun player to watch throughout the school season out in eastern Oklahoma. Westville is going to be a team to watch in Class 3A. Even though Millwood is the heavy favorite, having a player like Hammer will give Westville a real chance at making it to OKC and contending for the gold ball.

One of Oklahoma’s best kept secrets is the explosive forward in Class 3A from Westville, which sits near the Arkansas border in Northeastern Oklahoma. He’s a high motor and explosive player who’s quick off the floor when it comes to rebounds, defending the rim and of course finishing with authority with slams. With modern basketball becoming somewhat smaller, his size and athleticism alone would make him an interesting small ball 4/5 type at the next level. But he’s more than just a physical force around the basket. In one camp setting viewing, he displayed great outlet passing ability and the ability to put the ball on the floor and start the break himself. Along with outstanding quick thinking and vision with “touch passes” in the half court. He’s capable as a driver and with skill development combined with his overall athleticism hint at the potential to become more of a perimeter player.

While Westville is a hike from Tulsa or Oklahoma City, more viewings are needed because he showed the current traits to be among the very best players in Class 3A this year, along with the talent to a be a target for small colleges of all levels in Oklahoma and the surrounding region.