elk3730
04-28-2008, 07:43 AM
Girls Basketball (41 thru 50)
Oklahoma's top basketball players of 2007-08
Selected by Coaches Aid | April 18, 2008
41 | Jordan Pyle
Mustang, 6-1 senior, forward
If not for a season-ending injury that cut short her senior campaign, Pyle would have ended up much higher on this list. And despite the short season, she still finished her career as one of the best in Mustang's tradition-rich girls basketball history.
The 6-1 standout utilized a versatile low-post game with strength, shooting touch, rebounding and tremendous footwork. She was a starter on the Lady Broncos' 2006 championship team as a sophomore and then helped spark a state runner-up finish as a junior.
She still averaged a double-double as a senior before suffering an ACL injury. Pyle earned a scholarship from Oral Roberts University.
Stats: 16.1 points, 10.0 rebounds, 1.7 blocks
42 | Paiten Taylor
Hulbert, 6-1 sophomore, center
Taylor was a relative unknown to many going into the season, but quickly proved herself as one of the better interior performers in the northeast part of the state.
During a phenomenal sophomore campaign for the Lady Riders, she led Class 2A in scoring and rebounding as well as blocked shots while becoming an intimidating defensive presence with her long reach in the paint, swapping away shots right and left.
She also displayed her tremendous agility with more than four steals per contest and should have plenty of colleges keeping a close eye on her progress if she can continue to put up those type of incredible numbers over the next two seasons.
Stats: 18.9 pts, 12.2 rebs, 7.0 blocks, 4.2 steals
43 | Shakayla Love
Preston, 6-2 sophomore, center
Love follows in the long line of tremendous athletes at Preston and emerged as a major force inside to help spark an explosive Preston attack that was one of the best in the state in averaging more than 80 points a contest.
The 6-2 post notched several double-doubles and led Class A in field goal percentage by connecting on 138 of her 213 attempts (65 percent). It was that height and length that made her a tremendous defender from any spot on the floor and even more so a rebounding standout that keyed the Lady Pirates' fast-break style with her outlet passes.
The sky may be the limit for the talents of the inside standout as she continues to refine her game over the next two years.
Stats: 14.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, 65-percent FG
44 | Cassadie Holybee
Walters, 5-6 freshman, guard
It would be difficult to find a player that exploded on the scene more in her first high school campaign than Holybee in 2008. The standout freshman quickly became the go-to offensive force for the Lady Devils, making 20- and even some 30-point efforts seem like the norm.
Holybee was the key to Walters' incredible 27-2 finish that included the school's first state tournament victories ever as well as narrowly missing taking home the gold ball in one of the wildest state championship finishes ever.
If her first season was any indication, we could be in store for several incredible performances over the next three years from the 5-6 dynamo.
Stats: 18.1 points, 3.8 steals, 87-percent FT
45 | Emily Davis
Guthrie, 5-10 senior, guard
Davis was easily one of the most improved players in the state throughout her outstanding four-year career with the Lady Jays.
With outstanding size, the 5-10 catalyst steadily became a tremendous scorer and outstanding perimeter shooter, causing defensive nightmares for opponents. If larger defenders came out to guard her, she was able to showcase her quickness and ball-handling with drives to the basket.
In spite of nagging injuries during her final two campaigns, Emily missed very little time in helping her squad to the regional championship and within two points of reaching the state tournament.
Stats: 16.8 points, 3.4 assists, 3.1 steals
46 | Kimber Weant
Oktaha, 5-8 junior, guard
As sophomore, Weant may have actually been known more for her defensive intensity but in her second full varsity campaign blossomed into a sensational scorer for the Lady Tigers.
The guard steadily improved her offensive skills, notching several scoring explosions, including a career high 33 points against state qualifier Crowder. Averaged a team-high 17.5 points and nearly eight rebounds and six steals a game while sparking the drive back to the state tournament for a seventh straight season.
Weant is expected to be one of the top players in Class 2A next year and have plenty of college attention as well.
Stats: 17.5 points, 7.7 rebounds, 5.6 steals
47 | Brett Bates
Hobart, 5-6 senior, guard
Bates was one of the top all-around backcourt standouts in Class 2A as a senior, finishing near the top of the class in most statistical categories.
The 5-6 dynamo is a slick ball-hawking guard with a great knowledge of the game. She can shoot the three with tremendous accuracy or penetrate to the basket and stop on a dime for an open jumper. A very solid defender as well, but her best attribute is as a virtual coach on the floor, directing traffic from her point guard position.
Brett has signed to continue her career with NAIA powerhouse Oklahoma City University.
Stats: 18.6 points, 3.5 assists, 3.3 steals
48 | Tamara Brown
Sentinel, 5-7 senior, guard
Expected to be one of the top performers in Class B, the senior did not disappoint in a sensational season in which she guided her squad to its first state finals appearance since 1973.
Brown was the top scorer of all the teams in the state tournament, pouring in 82 points in three games for an average of more than 27 points per contest. Came up with a huge 33-point effort to get past upstart Mason in the semifinals alone.
Outstanding ability to create her own shot against almost any defender and is deadly from three-point range. She could also ice a game with the best of them with her nearly 90-percent rate from the charity stripe.
Stats: 18.0 points, 5.1 assists, 87-percent FT
49 | Kodi Morrison
Varnum, 5-7 junior, guard
Known for her electric scoring prowess, Morrison developed her game even more as a junior while sparking the Lady Whippets to their first-ever state tournament appearance.
As the catalyst for one of the most explosive offensive attacks in the small school ranks, the cat-quick standout helped push the Varnum up-tempo style that averaged more than 61 points per game. She singlehandedly notched 46 points in a regional playoff win over Sasakwa.
One of the top scorers in the state each of the past three seasons, Morrison is already on the brink of the Top 20 girls scoring list in five-on-five history and will undoubtedly rise well into the Top 10 with another strong senior year.
Stats: 22.6 points, 5.6 assists, 5.2 steals
50 | Courtney Allen
Harrah, 5-6 senior, guard
Playoff success and high state rankings are nothing new at Harrah, and Allen has been a key reason why in helping the Lady Panthers to three consecutive state tournaments.
As an All-Stater, she provided a sensational shooting touch, especially from the perimeter. She was one of the top three-point shooters in Class 5A, connecting on 55 of 139 attempts (40 percent), and was second in free throw shooting while canning charity tosses at an 80 percent clip.
Still, it was the defensive end where Allen helped Harrah excel the most, playing a critical part in a unit that was one of the best in the state in yielding just over 34 points per contest.
Stats: 13.6 points, 3.9 assists, 40-percent 3PT
Oklahoma's top basketball players of 2007-08
Selected by Coaches Aid | April 18, 2008
41 | Jordan Pyle
Mustang, 6-1 senior, forward
If not for a season-ending injury that cut short her senior campaign, Pyle would have ended up much higher on this list. And despite the short season, she still finished her career as one of the best in Mustang's tradition-rich girls basketball history.
The 6-1 standout utilized a versatile low-post game with strength, shooting touch, rebounding and tremendous footwork. She was a starter on the Lady Broncos' 2006 championship team as a sophomore and then helped spark a state runner-up finish as a junior.
She still averaged a double-double as a senior before suffering an ACL injury. Pyle earned a scholarship from Oral Roberts University.
Stats: 16.1 points, 10.0 rebounds, 1.7 blocks
42 | Paiten Taylor
Hulbert, 6-1 sophomore, center
Taylor was a relative unknown to many going into the season, but quickly proved herself as one of the better interior performers in the northeast part of the state.
During a phenomenal sophomore campaign for the Lady Riders, she led Class 2A in scoring and rebounding as well as blocked shots while becoming an intimidating defensive presence with her long reach in the paint, swapping away shots right and left.
She also displayed her tremendous agility with more than four steals per contest and should have plenty of colleges keeping a close eye on her progress if she can continue to put up those type of incredible numbers over the next two seasons.
Stats: 18.9 pts, 12.2 rebs, 7.0 blocks, 4.2 steals
43 | Shakayla Love
Preston, 6-2 sophomore, center
Love follows in the long line of tremendous athletes at Preston and emerged as a major force inside to help spark an explosive Preston attack that was one of the best in the state in averaging more than 80 points a contest.
The 6-2 post notched several double-doubles and led Class A in field goal percentage by connecting on 138 of her 213 attempts (65 percent). It was that height and length that made her a tremendous defender from any spot on the floor and even more so a rebounding standout that keyed the Lady Pirates' fast-break style with her outlet passes.
The sky may be the limit for the talents of the inside standout as she continues to refine her game over the next two years.
Stats: 14.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, 65-percent FG
44 | Cassadie Holybee
Walters, 5-6 freshman, guard
It would be difficult to find a player that exploded on the scene more in her first high school campaign than Holybee in 2008. The standout freshman quickly became the go-to offensive force for the Lady Devils, making 20- and even some 30-point efforts seem like the norm.
Holybee was the key to Walters' incredible 27-2 finish that included the school's first state tournament victories ever as well as narrowly missing taking home the gold ball in one of the wildest state championship finishes ever.
If her first season was any indication, we could be in store for several incredible performances over the next three years from the 5-6 dynamo.
Stats: 18.1 points, 3.8 steals, 87-percent FT
45 | Emily Davis
Guthrie, 5-10 senior, guard
Davis was easily one of the most improved players in the state throughout her outstanding four-year career with the Lady Jays.
With outstanding size, the 5-10 catalyst steadily became a tremendous scorer and outstanding perimeter shooter, causing defensive nightmares for opponents. If larger defenders came out to guard her, she was able to showcase her quickness and ball-handling with drives to the basket.
In spite of nagging injuries during her final two campaigns, Emily missed very little time in helping her squad to the regional championship and within two points of reaching the state tournament.
Stats: 16.8 points, 3.4 assists, 3.1 steals
46 | Kimber Weant
Oktaha, 5-8 junior, guard
As sophomore, Weant may have actually been known more for her defensive intensity but in her second full varsity campaign blossomed into a sensational scorer for the Lady Tigers.
The guard steadily improved her offensive skills, notching several scoring explosions, including a career high 33 points against state qualifier Crowder. Averaged a team-high 17.5 points and nearly eight rebounds and six steals a game while sparking the drive back to the state tournament for a seventh straight season.
Weant is expected to be one of the top players in Class 2A next year and have plenty of college attention as well.
Stats: 17.5 points, 7.7 rebounds, 5.6 steals
47 | Brett Bates
Hobart, 5-6 senior, guard
Bates was one of the top all-around backcourt standouts in Class 2A as a senior, finishing near the top of the class in most statistical categories.
The 5-6 dynamo is a slick ball-hawking guard with a great knowledge of the game. She can shoot the three with tremendous accuracy or penetrate to the basket and stop on a dime for an open jumper. A very solid defender as well, but her best attribute is as a virtual coach on the floor, directing traffic from her point guard position.
Brett has signed to continue her career with NAIA powerhouse Oklahoma City University.
Stats: 18.6 points, 3.5 assists, 3.3 steals
48 | Tamara Brown
Sentinel, 5-7 senior, guard
Expected to be one of the top performers in Class B, the senior did not disappoint in a sensational season in which she guided her squad to its first state finals appearance since 1973.
Brown was the top scorer of all the teams in the state tournament, pouring in 82 points in three games for an average of more than 27 points per contest. Came up with a huge 33-point effort to get past upstart Mason in the semifinals alone.
Outstanding ability to create her own shot against almost any defender and is deadly from three-point range. She could also ice a game with the best of them with her nearly 90-percent rate from the charity stripe.
Stats: 18.0 points, 5.1 assists, 87-percent FT
49 | Kodi Morrison
Varnum, 5-7 junior, guard
Known for her electric scoring prowess, Morrison developed her game even more as a junior while sparking the Lady Whippets to their first-ever state tournament appearance.
As the catalyst for one of the most explosive offensive attacks in the small school ranks, the cat-quick standout helped push the Varnum up-tempo style that averaged more than 61 points per game. She singlehandedly notched 46 points in a regional playoff win over Sasakwa.
One of the top scorers in the state each of the past three seasons, Morrison is already on the brink of the Top 20 girls scoring list in five-on-five history and will undoubtedly rise well into the Top 10 with another strong senior year.
Stats: 22.6 points, 5.6 assists, 5.2 steals
50 | Courtney Allen
Harrah, 5-6 senior, guard
Playoff success and high state rankings are nothing new at Harrah, and Allen has been a key reason why in helping the Lady Panthers to three consecutive state tournaments.
As an All-Stater, she provided a sensational shooting touch, especially from the perimeter. She was one of the top three-point shooters in Class 5A, connecting on 55 of 139 attempts (40 percent), and was second in free throw shooting while canning charity tosses at an 80 percent clip.
Still, it was the defensive end where Allen helped Harrah excel the most, playing a critical part in a unit that was one of the best in the state in yielding just over 34 points per contest.
Stats: 13.6 points, 3.9 assists, 40-percent 3PT