16 & Under: Best Young Cores in Oklahoma
No. 1 — Jenks Trojans | Chase Martin Chase Martin 6'5" | SG Jenks | 2022 State OK , Ben Averitt Ben Averitt 6'5" | SF Jenks | 2022 State OK & Cain Smith 2020 resumé: 6A No.…
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Continue ReadingNo. 1 — Jenks Trojans | Chase Martin Chase Martin 6'5" | SG Jenks | 2022 State OK , Ben Averitt Ben Averitt 6'5" | SF Jenks | 2022 State OK & Cain Smith |
2020 resumé: 6A No. 3 (21-5) |
Martin (2022 CG), whose name stands atop the Prep Hoops Oklahoma 2022 prospect list, had high praise for Averitt (2022 F) and Cain (2022 PG).
“It’s really easy to play off them,” Martin said. “You got Ben, who is one of the most athletic kids in the state who can do a little bit everything.
[player_tooltip player_id="955379" first="Chase" last="Martin"].“Then you have Cain who is a three-level scorer with the ability to pass at a high level.”
“Mine and Chase’s chemistry came naturally because we have been playing with each other since we were kids,” Cain said, “and when Ben came along, his style of play and personality fitted right in with Jenks basketball.”
Martin finished his sophomore campaign with over 13 points-a-game and numerous accolades, including spots on the Oklahoman and Tulsa World all-class lists. Averitt played a pivotal role starting in the paint for the Trojans while Cain is expected by both to acquire an extended role as their point guard next season.
“Chase is a great player to play off of,” Averitt added. “He can pretty much do it all.”
“When you put us three together, we have a chemistry that is really hard to beat,” Martin said.
The Trojans’ young core helped them land a spot in the 6A State Tournament last season after peaking at No. 2 in the coaches’ poll.
“Chemistry helped us win a lot of games this year,” Martin said. “We all just had that click that many teams don’t have.
“Whether it was pushing each other in practice or joking around at someone’s house, we all just had that connection.”
Martin also credited his elder teammates.
“We were fortunate enough to have great senior leaders that helped the younger guys grow and learn from them,” Martin said.
“I’m looking forward to building chemistry with the guys who are going to get some minutes this year,” Averitt added.
No. 2 — Tuttle Tigers | Isaac McDoulett Isaac McDoulett 6'6" | SG Tuttle | 2022 State OK , Kaden Vande Kaden Vande 6'7" | SG Tuttle | 2022 OK & Tylor McCarthey Tylor McCarthey 6'5" | C Tuttle | 2022 OK |
2020 resumé: 4A No. 9 (18-10) |
Vande (2022 SG) and McDoulett (2022 PG) both ended their sophomore seasons with top-ten finishes in individual scoring within class 4A.
Consequently, they also both landed top-ten spots on Prep Hoops Oklahoma’s inaugural 2022 prospect rankings while McCarthy (2022 C) landed the 34th spot.
Combining for over 30 points-a-night, McDoulett (17.1) and Vande (14.9) also both shot north of 50 percent from the field, while McCarthy finished seventh-in-class in rebounds with 109 boards in his sophomore campaign.
The efficiency of the trio, apparent in their numbers, bodes well for the Tigers’ future.
“Isaac’s ability to attack the man and penetrate a zone gets me open around the 3-point line and gives me open lanes to drive,” Vande said. “We both are always looking for each other in transition to try to get dunks.”
“[With] the court vision Kaden has,” McDoulett said, “I can always rely on him to hit the open shot, no matter where he is.”
The back-court tandem also credited McCarthy’s post presence.
“Tylor has some of the best post moves in our class in my opinion,” Vande said. “In the playoffs he got a lot of rebounds and made plays late game.”
“We can depend on Tylor in tough situations,” McDoulett agreed.
No. 3 — Mustang Broncos | Ethan Scott Ethan Scott 5'10" | PG Mustang | 2022 State OK , Keegan Bass Keegan Bass 5'10" | PG Mustang | 2023 OK , Jacobe Johnson Jacobe Johnson 6'3" | SG Mustang | 2023 State OK & Jacob Henderson |
2020 resumé: 6A No. 20 (9-14) |
Scott (2022 PG) and Johnson (2023 PG) both led their respective classes in scoring last year, netting 17.3 and 16.2 points-a-game, respectively.
Henderson (2022 C) and Bass (2023 PG) will have inflated roles for the Broncos next season to complete the quartet.
“Those two are the most notable [underclassmen] that are going to be playing more of the minutes next year,” Scott said, “and as a team, we need for them to step up big.”
Scott continued to credit Henderson.
[player_tooltip player_id="955384" first="Ethan" last="Scott"].“Having a presence like Jacob is big for us,” Scott said. “He helps us guards be able to start the break by grabbing a rebound and hitting the outlet.
“He runs the floor well and we try to reward him for helping us out down low,” he continued. “He does a lot of good things for us and will continue to get better at both ends.”
“Our chemistry is better every time we play,” Bass said.
“As we continue to play together as a group and team,” Johnson said, “our chemistry together will end up being great and. . . as we play that will improve and keep on improving.”
No. 4 — Bixby Spartans | Parker Friedrichsen Parker Friedrichsen 6'4" | SG Bixby | 2023 State #165 Nation OK & Luke Hasz Luke Hasz 6'3" | SF Bixby | 2023 OK |
2020 resumé: 6A NR (6-16) |
Hasz (2023 PG) said Friedrichsen (2023 SG) helps him rack up assists.
“I feel like I always know where Parker is on the floor,” Hasz said, “and with my body I can pull people towards me then get [the ball] to him and he seems to always put it in.”
Hasz (left) and Friedrichsen (right).Friedrichsen racked up over 16 points-a-game in his freshman campaign while Hasz notched 10 points and seven rebounds despite battling nagging injuries at various points in the season.
From their summers spent with Team Griffin to the high school season, Friedrichsen and Hasz are paired together almost year-round. Though they have been teammates on the hardwood since the seventh grade, however, Friedrichsen said their friendship has deeper roots.
“We’ve been friends since we were little,” Friedrichsen said, “we even played baseball together.”
They agreed that their chemistry could improve Bixby’s trajectory in the future.
“We have different strengths, but put together, it’s really good,” Friedrichsen said, “As long as we’re both on the floor, it’s tough.”
“I personally think there aren’t many young players that are like us together,” Hasz said, “with both of us on the floor, [defenders] have to know we both are liable to shoot the ball at any time.”
Friedrichsen also has a pair of twin brothers (Luke & Nick, 2024 PGs) who project to get significant varsity minutes in 2022. He said they should play a pivotal role in the Spartans’ future success.
“If we put both of our skills together, we’re hard to stop,” Hasz said.
No. 5 — Tulsa Memorial Chargers | Tyreece Frierson Tyreece Frierson 5'10" | PG Tulsa Memorial | 2022 State OK , Seth Pratt Seth Pratt 6'3" | SG Memorial | 2023 State OK , Bradyn Hubbard & Killian Spellman |
2020 resumé: 5A No. 2 (22-4) |
Frierson (2022 PG) and Pratt (2023 SG) both finished top-three in 3-point percentage in class 5A, combining to hit an astonishing 50 percent of shots from beyond the arch.
“Seth and Kavon Key Kavon Key 6'4" | SG Tulsa Memorial | 2020 State OK would make close to 500 3s a day between before and after practice,”Memorial coach Bobby Allison said, “and that work ethic translated to practice and game success.
When adding Frierson’s top-ten assist count (74) into the mix, it is apparent that the Chargers’ young core is among the best in the state.
“Ty started coming to Memorial basketball games when he was a fifth grader.” Allison said. “When he was in middle school. . . he used to come to Varsity Christmas Break practices and workout with varsity.
“It’s that fearlessness of playing against anyone and love for the program. . . that make him exciting to coach.”
Allison said that Hubbard (2022 PF) and Spellman (2022 SF) will be important additions for the Chargers.
The Chargers were recently named the top Oklahoma basketball program of the last decade.
“With the collection of talent we have in those classes,” Allison said, “we believe that if this core group continues to love the game, loves playing the Memorial way and becomes together. . . then we could have the ability to compete at a State Tournament level the next three years.”
No. 6 — Booker T. Washington Hornets | Kam Parker Kam Parker 6'2" | PG Booker T Washington | 2022 State OK & Ijai Johnson Ijai Johnson 6'1" | SG Booker T. Washington | 2022 State OK |
2020 resumé: 6A No. 1 (20-5) |
Parker (2022 PG) and Johnson (2022 SG), Booker T. Washington’s lone returning starters from 2020, have big shoes to fill.
“I think we’ll be good leaders next season given the fact that we’ve had the chance to learn from the two best players in the state for the past two years,” Parker said.
The Hornets retired the touted duo of Trey Phipps Trey Phipps 6'1" | PG Booker T. Washington | 2020 State #171 Nation OK and Bryce Thompson Bryce Thompson 6'5" | CG Booker T. Washington | 2020 State #15 Nation OK — headed to Oklahoma and Kansas, respectively — after a pair of All-State nominations, two Gatorade Player of the Year awards, a Gold Ball and three years of fun. In addition to their backcourt losses, post Jalen Breath, who announced in February that he will be transferring to Link Year Prep (MO) for a post-grad year, is out as well.
“We have to play more of a scoring role and a leading role,” Johnson said. “We had the three seniors. . . to play those roles, but with me and Kam returning as the only starters, we have to step up and fill those roles.”
No. 7 — Pawnee Black Bears | Gunnar Gordon Gunnar Gordon 6'3" | PG Pawnee | 2022 OK & Brad Reeves |
2020 resumé: 2A No. 8 (27-2) |
Reeves (2022 SG) and Gordon (2022 PG) each received nods in the Tulsa World All-World honorable mention list in their freshman year.
They followed an impressive debut campaign by each earning spots on the Oklahoman all-class team after pouring in a combined 31.7 points-a-game en route a State Tournament bid.
“With all of the pieces coming back,” Reeves said, “the sky is the limit for our guys.”
“I expect a championship ring next year,” Gordon added, “since we really didn’t lose anyone.”
“We have improved each year as we continue to grow and understand the game more and more,” Reeves said. “We expect this year to be no different.”
The Black Bears cracked the top eight after posting an impressive 27 wins, landing a spot in the State Tournament before its cancelation.
“I feel that the time we spend together in the gym gives us an edge,” Reeves said. “We know where each other will be at on the floor at all times, and we look to dish to each other.
“We trust one another to make big shots and we get excited for each other when one of us makes a big play,” Reeves added.
Gordon said that shared altruism extends beyond the game.
“It also helps that we’re best friends off the floor,” Gordon said, “and we constantly talk about the game and how we can help each other get better opportunities to make plays which leads to our team’s success.
“We constantly feed of each other’s success,” Reeves said.