Arguably the hardest playing player in Oklahoma, Deans’ motor has continued to run hot this spring as an unique prospect for Trae Young’s Gold Circuit squad. With a tenacious playing style that combines his long wingspan, and light on his feet movements, the 580 prospect rebounds and finishes like a 6 foot 6 tall player. With his production continuing even against taller players, it’s becoming clear that Deans is an outlier prospect, who has the production credentials to find a collegiate home.  College coaches in Bryan, Texas shouldn’t judge a book by the cover and let the noise that Deans creates on the court do the talking.

Considering that Lawton plays in a difficult Class 6A district, Deans might be the most productive prospect in this class. He’s averaging an eye popping 22 point and 13 rebounds for the season. And while he has expanded his offensive skillset, his non stop motor is the driving factor beyond his productive. The junior is simply an animal around the rim and is a tenacious rebounder with his long arms. On offense, he’s an outstanding finisher who has greatly expanded his offensive skillset. He plays strong and aggressive off two feet on drives. Capable of either powering through contact or getting defenders off balanced with pumpfakes.

As an unorthodox prospect when compared to other guards, Deans might not pass the immediate eye test to college coaches, but he’s a producer and his game is making big strides from a skillset. The drum to beat with college coaches is that he looks to be a bigger and more explosive Chris Braggs, who recently shined at Southwestern Oklahoma State.

Few players are having better starts to the season than Deans. He was in attack mode from jump, living by getting downhill in the halfcourt and getting out in transition with purpose. He closed out the first quarter with a late slam to put a cap on a productive opening quarter for himself and his team.

Late in the third quarter when Putnam City West was making a push, Deans went the length of the court for a chase down block. That play was one of the best examples of his insane motor. The next quarter, he then took a huge charge in transition in a tied game. The junior simply finds ways to make it happen, especially on the defensive end.

While improved the junior’s guard skills aren’t quite to the level of a traditional guard at the next level. Yet. He’s made good strides in that skill development recently and will likely continue to before graduating next year. But there is a blueprint to success at the next level year based on his current skillset. Chris Braggs had a similar build, high motor style and production on the 2018 Putnam City North team that won 6A. He followed up his outstanding high school basketball career with a great career at Southwestern Oklahoma State in Weatherford. Deans has a similar energy, intensity and feel as a junkyard dawg type producer as Braggs.

The high motor wing took home the MVP honors after a 42-35 win over Tulsa Memorial secured his Wolverines the Great Plains Invitational for the second straight year. Deans only had 6 points and 9 rebounds in the low scoring contest, but he recorded double doubles earlier in the tournament. He opened with an eye popping 34 points and 15 rebounds performance over Putnam City. Then helped Lawton secure bragging rights in the semifinals by taking down rivals MacArthur with 19 points and 12 rebounds.

Few players in Oklahoma play harder than Deans and he’s off to a flying start for his junior campaign.

Lawton overcome rivals Lawton MacArthur to reach the finals of the Great Plains Invitational. Junior wing Deans has continued his strong start to his season with a team high 21 points in the win over the Highlanders.  The high motor wing has always been an impactful player, but has started to take his game to the next level over the last few months with an improved perimeter skillset.

The Wolverines will take on Tulsa Memorial tonight. Lawton will be looking to capture the Great Plains title for the second straight season.

Deans has had a productive start to his high school career with two seasons of producing good numbers as basically an “undersized 4”. He’s competitive, a tenacious rebounder, a strong finisher and has consistently impacted winning at the high school level. But to become more attractive to colleges, additions were needed to his game. Last Saturday, he looked much more comfortable handling the ball and shooting it. From spotting up to even a good off the dribble make, the fluidity to Deans’ movement as a guard look to be improving. It’s a very promising sign for the high motor 580 standout.