Oklahoma Prep Spotlight: Stephen Keese and Tulsa

[GParker]

This week in Prep Spotlight Stephen Keese of Fort Gibson is the featured player. Along with some other Tulsa and state of Oklahoma unsigned SRs.

Article by Will Jennings

 

[catoosanumber22]

Where is Braeden Beer? He is a great 2011 shooting guard for Catoosa High School

 

[Will_Jennings]

Our lists aren't perfect science and someone is going to be slighted. Recently we slighted a 6'4 guard from Coweta named Zach Norris on our 2013 list. If we were to do the list again, he'd probably fall in the top 10. We can't get them right all the time, but at the same time we're trying to put out as many legit high school players as possible. We also try to factor conduct and academics into the equation. There are some prospects that may be outstanding players, but if they're suspended or huge academic risks, we take that into account.

I do want to thank you about mentioning Braeden Beer. I have seen the name a lot, but I haven't had the chance to see him play. We will monitor him and update as we see needed.

 

[catoosanumber22]

I see what you're saying, I mean there are a lot of good players out there so when you can only pick ten, it's hard for everyone to receive recognition. I am a little biased since I attend Catoosa, but if you get a chance check him out sometime. The Port City Tournament in January is gonna have a lot of great players and teams, it's fun every year.

 

[Sam]

What other teams will be at the tournament?

 

[campbest]

What up Braeden.

 

[Seymore Cox]

What up Braeden.

Cmon Campbest! Do you know where you are? That's not Braeden, that's his dad!

 

[Seymore Cox]

That Heckart kid is a straight up baller. I saw him play a few times and his release is really quick. Matter of fact, that Wooward team has two other guards that are really nice and their quick. There only problem is size. I saw them steamroll PC West in a scrimmage this year and I saw the Heckart kid singlehandedly keep a very small Woodward in the game against Douglass last year. If I were a coach, I'd take him over some of these city area guards who get a lot of press.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQswpfD7ixE[/ame]

 

[Will_Jennings]

There are a couple of note I would like to add. If you're in the OKC area, you can get a chance to see Holland Hall senior and nephew of the late great Wayman Tisdale, William "Ducie" Tisdale at the Chesapeake Challenge at Heritage Hall High School. Also featured at that tournament will be 2015 phenom Allonzo Trier of OKC Storm Home School, 6'8 center Rex Farmer of OKC Home School, OUhoops.com #3 ranked player in 2013, Zach Peters of Holland Hall, pg Jamil Donovan of OKC NWClassen, and Sunrise Prep of Wichita, a program with four division one athletes, including one 6'8 player who has offers from Georgia Tech and Wake Forest.

Also, the Ardmore Classic featured a couple of players being evaluated for Division One scholarships in Kyndall Dudley of PC West and Cortrez Colbert of Midwest City. Dudley has come on the radar screen of some mid major programs in the Texas area and is getting interest from Bradley University of the Missouri Valley Conference. Colbert, who has a twin brother Contreal, are both being evaluated by several mid major programs with Tulsa University flirting with offering the two guards. The matchup was an epic one with PC West winning with the assistance of a 24pt game by Dudley. Cortrez Colbert pitched in 27 for the 3rd ranked Bombers.

At the Tournament of Champions, OUHoops.com was there to witness some great performances. Booker T. Washington with OUhoops.com notables, Korey Billbury and OUhoops.com #1 player for 2013, Juwan Parker, defeated Stratford, with Prep Spotlight standout Dalen Qualls, 75-50. Muskogee standouts, Dante Wartson and Devante Wilson combined for 26 points in a defeat of a scrappy Forgan team 55-52. The upset of the day was clearly 2A Talihina and there all world forward Taggart Lockart defeating State Player of the Year Candidate Drew Wilson and 5A's 3rd ranked team, East Central, 63-56. Lockart and teammate Jordan Eaglerod dominated the game combining for 51 points. Lockart, who's being pursued by OU's thursday opponent, Central Arkansas, had a game high 30.

Basketball fans in North Central Oklahoma will also be treated to good basketball as Morrison High School will host its Super Scrimmage with several great area teams. Traditional small school powerhouse Frontier will be at the scrimmage along with maybe the state's best player, and Gonzaga signee, Ryan Spangler of Bridge Creek. Seth Heckart of Woodward who was featured in this article will also be on display with his exciting Woodward team.

 

[Will_Jennings]

One sad note I forgot to add was that 2011 standout Steve Hamilton of Tulsa Edison, will miss the rest of the season with a knee injury. Hamilton was considered maybe the best unsigned prospect in the Tulsa area by many. Look for Athletic 2012 forward DJ Mahone and 2013 Don Simmons to fill the void. Simmons, who has missed the first semester should be eligible for the second. Simmons, a 6'3 wing, would have been highly ranked in our 2013 list if he didn't have to sit out the first semester for school issues.

 

[brettromar]

The fact that Simmons is getting to play 2nd semester shows how much that coaching staff wants to win. I'm sorry I couldn't play the kid.

 

[Seymore Cox]

The fact that Simmons is getting to play 2nd semester shows how much that coaching staff wants to win. I'm sorry I couldn't play the kid.

i am about giving kids chances and I know a little about his track record. fact is the more time he is on the court, the bettet for him, personally. some say he is the best in that class.

 

[61sooner]

Is William Tisdale the son of Wayman's older brother also named William? Wasn't the older William the Ok POY who played at Ou with Wayman but was a reserve? Possibly had injuries etc, don't recall why he didn't develop at OU.

 

[Will_Jennings]

Yes.

 

[brettromar]

i am about giving kids chances and I know a little about his track record. fact is the more time he is on the court, the bettet for him, personally. some say he is the best in that class.

I am about giving kids second chances too but how about making them earn it a little bit.

When you do what he did, you should at least sit the rest of that year.

 

[bmd23]

That Heckart kid is a straight up baller. I saw him play a few times and his release is really quick. Matter of fact, that Wooward team has two other guards that are really nice and their quick. There only problem is size. I saw them steamroll PC West in a scrimmage this year and I saw the Heckart kid singlehandedly keep a very small Woodward in the game against Douglass last year. If I were a coach, I'd take him over some of these city area guards who get a lot of press.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQswpfD7ixE

What is he though? A 1 OR A 2? He is good but not better than a lot of the city guards.

 

[Seymore Cox]

What is he though? A 1 OR A 2? He is good but not better than a lot of the city guards.

I went to the scrimmage against PC West like I said earlier, the game was 24-5 in the first half due to him and West has one of the better backcourts in the City. PC West beat Sante Fe who has some solid guards with their guard play. Also, the kid gave Douglass all they wanted last year, only losing by Eight and he was the main reason. Also he put up 30 on Star Spencer as Woodward beat them.

Now is he at Dom Raney, Stevie, Devante Smith, or Dorrian's level? Of course not, but he's behind those guys and better than mostly every guard in OKC and Tulsa.

 

[Will_Jennings]

Of this list, and even the Oklahoma City list, the most impressive prospect so far that I have witnessed over the last few weeks has been Devante Wilson. Wilson has by far stood out to me and in my opinion, looks to be a lock as a mid major prospect. The one thing I have come across in the few division one coaches that I've interacted with is they primarily aren't looking for wings. This is why I think you see guys like Wilson, Josh Richardson of Sante Fe and Brandon Lucas get overlooked early. I talked to one high school coach and he said that what kids need to do is wait for new coaches to get hired and other players to transfer in the spring and these type players will get some opportunities as long as they become eligible.

 

[Will_Jennings]

I recently spoke to Taggart Lockart, the 6'5 combo forward from Talihina Oklahoma, and he told me his recruitment has really picked up since the start of the season with ORU, UALR, and UTSA now showing interest. He recently attended the UTSA vs. OSU game in Stillwater, where he was a guest of Brook Thompson's Roadrunner squad.

 

[Sooner23]

Good stuff, Jennings. You really do a bang up job and it is much appreciated from a high school hoops fan like myself. You should try to get on at the Oklahoman, because their high school hoops coverage absolutely sucks.