By Scott Hansen
MaxPreps.com
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Top Boys Teams in Oklahoma
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Bishop McGuinness (Oklahoma City): Michael Sosanya leads the way for the Fighting Irish, who are seeking a repeat performance of their Class 4A state championship. Sosanya picked up All-State honors after averaging 17 points and eight rebounds a game. 6-9 sophomore Daniel Orton is one of the top players in the Class of 2009, coming off a campaign where he averaged seven blocks per game. Sophomore Gabe Ikard and point guard Andy Wilson also figure to be key players for coach Tondrell Durham and his Fighting Irish.
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Putnam City (Oklahoma City): The defending Class 6A champion returns another sophomore with national hype, 6-6 Xavier Henry. Henry averaged 14 points and five rebounds per game as a freshman, leading the Pirates to a state championship game win over Union (Tulsa). Demeatrice Young, another guard, also contributes significantly for coach A.D. Burtschi.
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Norman: Had sophomore-sensation Terrance Boyd not left for Oak Hill Academy, Norman would likely be the Class 6A favorite. Despite Boyd's absence, the Tigers will be loaded. Football star Ryan Broyles also succeeds on the hardwood, evident by his 17 points and six rebounds a game last season. Lawton Eisenhower transfer Kyle Hardwick, who is also ranked among the Top 25 players nationally in the Class of 2009 comes in to bolster the Tigers after averaging a double-double at Eisenhower.
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Jenks: Nick Sidorakis, an Oklahoma State signee, returns to lead the Trojans after averaging 14 points and four assists in a semifinal run last season. 6-7 junior Vince Boncaldo averaged 10 points and seven rebounds last season, while junior Chris Adkins returns to help solidify the Jenks backcourt.
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Midwest City: 6-4 guard Xavier Alexander committed to George Washington, choosing them over Nebraska. He will return for the Bombers after averaging 16 points and seven rebounds as a junior. Aaron Clanton and Jarrod McDaniel both averaged around 10 points a game last season, and are also back.
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Union (Tulsa): Texas A&M signee Derrek Lewis returns after averaging 17 points and five rebounds for the Redskins, who lost in the Class 6A State Championship game to Putnam City. 6-7 Justin Glenn and 6-8 junior Antonio Ross give Union some good size to make another run at the state final.
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Tulsa Central: D.J. Birmingham and Aaron Daniels will vie for All-Class consideration, as the Braves attempt to repeat as the Class 5A champion. Birmingham, a 5-9 senior, averaged 11 points and five assists, while the 6-5 Daniels averaged 11 points and five rebounds. 6-6 senior Wayne Jackson also averaged 11 points a game and led the team with seven rebounds per contest for the Braves, who are seeking their 13th title in school history.
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Millwood (Oklahoma City): Much like football, everything surrounds guard Gerald Jones. Jones averaged 15 points per game, while Tramain Swindell (a Texas Tech commit in football) averaged 17. Millwood, who won Class 3A last season, is also in the hunt for its 13th title in school history.
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Oklahoma Christian: Oklahoma signee Blake Griffin, arguably the top player in the state, returns for the Saints after a junior season where he averaged 22 points and 12 rebounds a game. Oklahoma Christian won the Class 2A title last season, which was its third-consecutive title. Expect 6-5 senior Tucker Phillips to emerge this season for the Saints.
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Oklahoma Super 16 Players
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Name (Height, Year), School, 2005 Statistics
Blake Griffin (6-8, Sr.), Oklahoma Christian, 22 ppg, 12 rpg, 5 apg
Xavier Henry (6-6, So.), Putnam City, 14 ppg, 5 rpgÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ
Cade Davis (6-5, Sr.), Elk City, 25 ppg, 9 rpgÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ
Rotnei Clark (6-0, Jr.), Verdigris, 34 ppg, 3 apgÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ
Nick Sidorakis (6-4, Sr.), Jenks, 14 ppg, 4 apgÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ
Xavier Alexander (6-4, Sr.), Midwest City, 16 ppg, 7 rpgÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ
Derrek Lewis (6-4, Sr.), Tulsa Union, 17 ppg, 5 rpgÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ
Caleb Patterson (7-0, Sr.), Ringwood, 18 ppg, 12 rpg, 6 bpgÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ
Gerald Jones (6-1, Sr.), Millwood, 15 ppg, 4 rpg
Michael Sosanya (6-5, Sr.), Bishop McGuinness, 17 ppg, 8 rpg
Daniel Orton (6-9, So.), Bishop McGuinness, 7 bpg
Ryan Broyles (6-1, Sr.), Norman, 17 ppg, 6 rpg
Chase Elliott (6-2, Sr.), Bristow, 20 ppg, 6 rpg
Will Creekmore (6-8, Sr.), Tulsa Edison, 22 ppg, 15 rpg, 3 bpg
Matt Qualls (6-7, So.), Tahlequah, 18 ppg, 14 rpg
Justin Glenn (6-7, Sr.), Tulsa Union, Injured in 2005-2006
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Scott Hansen: shansen17@cox.net