Team Preview: Tulsa Central (4A)
Last year, the Tulsa Central Braves finished 16-10 against one of the most formidable schedules in 4A. Only one of the Braves’ losses came to an unranked opponent. Aaron Daniels, who was announced as the Braves’ coach in June by way…
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Continue ReadingLast year, the Tulsa Central Braves finished 16-10 against one of the most formidable schedules in 4A.
Only one of the Braves’ losses came to an unranked opponent. Aaron Daniels, who was announced as the Braves’ coach in June by way of Millwood, believes the Braves can give themselves a chance to be successful with four returning starters.
“If we can guard and share that basketball,” Daniels said, “I think the rest will take care of itself.
“These guys, thus far, they really just enjoy one another, just being around one another,” Daniels said.
Junior guard Caylen Goff-Brown Caylen Goff-Brown 6'2" | PG Tulsa Central | 2022 State OK , who claims three Division-I offers, has been a key player for Daniels so far.
“[Goff-Brown] is very skilled, he can handle the ball with either hand going either direction, he can shoot the basketball from the two or the three, he’s a good free-throw shooter,” Daniels said. “He can get anywhere he wants to on the floor from an offensive standpoint.”
Daniels also said Goff-Brown’s leadership has been a pleasant surprise.
“He’s been coachable, too,” Daniels said, “and I don’t mean to sound super shocked about that, but you know how it is when you have some household names, top talents, notoriety.
“A lot of times, they know how good they are, and it can be hard to talk to them, it can be hard to coach them, but he’s been real receptive to information,” Daniels said.
Junior Tyon Cox, junior Sean Edmundson and senior KT Owens — who plays quarterback for the Braves’ football team — round out Daniels’ returning talents.
An additional pair of newcomers round out Central’s top six players.
Junior guard Traveon Stewart, who moved back to Tulsa, where he grew up, by way of Chicago during the summer, has been a tremendous new player, Daniels said.
“Once [Stewart] gets it going out there on the floor and hooking it up, the kid can defend, he can shoot the basketball, he’s a pretty good ball-handler,” Daniels said. “He’s one of those kids, he doesn’t say too much. . . ’yes sir, no sir’ kind of kid.
“He doesn’t get rattled,” Daniels said.
The second player, another junior, is Caylon Williams. The left-hander moved to Central from Owasso.
“[Williams] is arguably the most athletic kid in the program, between he and Tyon Cox,” Daniels said. “He’s very versatile. He can guard multiple different positions, he can bring the ball down and run the show for us at the one spot. . . we can move him to the two.
“Ideally, from an identity standpoint, I’d probably call him a three because he can put the ball on the floor and get to wherever he wants to get to,” Daniels said.
Daniels said leadership fro this core group has been a preseason bonus.
“It’s just been a great atmosphere so far,” Daniels said. “Leadership has been where we wanted where we want it, buy-in has shown to be a little more expedited than what we expected.”
Daniels reiterated that defense and sharing the ball will be keys to Central’s chances at success.
“I think if we can make sure that our defense travels no matter what venue. . . and simply just don’t care who gets the credit on the offensive end,” Daniels said, “
I think that will lead to us having an opportunity.”