By Scott Hansen
MaxPreps.com
Conundrum.
Four players, all worthy of Oklahoma’s player of the year honor. Pawnee’s Keiton Page, Oklahoma’s all-time leading scorer Rotnei Clarke of Verdigris, Putnam City junior Xavier Henry, and Bishop McGuinness’ glass-shattering monster Daniel Orton.
A lot of time to think. A lot of mind-changing. Page averaged 44.4 points per game, a state record. Clarke averaged 40.4 per game and broke the Oklahoma career scoring record in the area tournament. Henry is regarded as one of the best five players nationally by everybody that covers recruiting. Orton is regarded as the top center in the nation in 2009 by many.
Page, Clarke, and Orton won state titles. Henry’s team lost one game to Oklahoma competition, which happened to be in the first round of the state tournament in a stunning upset to eventual champion Tulsa Memorial.
Page finished second to Clarke on the all-time scoring chart. Henry’s top choices for college include Kansas, Memphis, and North Carolina, all No. 1 seeds in the NCAA Tournament. Orton has over 20 offers from primetime schools, and broke a backboard this season for crying out loud.
After much debate, losing sleep, and comparing statistics, the argument consistently came back to Page. The final answer is Page.
Page had the greatest single season of any player in Oklahoma history. Page started the season behind Clarke on the all-time scoring list, and darn near caught and passed the sharp-shooter from Verdigris. You could also make a valid argument for Clarke.
At the end of the day, it came down to Page having statistically a better season than Clarke. And, Page and Pawnee won the head-to-head battle at the Tournament of Champions in December.
This is not to say Page and Clarke are better than Henry and Orton. Page and Clarke have a chance to be good college players, while Henry and Orton have a chance to be legendary college players and NBA stars. Orton is the only player that was able to slow down Oklahoma’s dandy freshman Blake Griffin in high school, not an easy task. Griffin did manage to get the best of Orton in the second meeting during his senior season, but look what Griffin did for Oklahoma this past season.
There isn’t anything Henry can’t do. Henry struggled with injuries all season long and still averaged 25.8 points per game against large-school competition. Henry has to be in the discussion for national player of the year honors next season. In almost any other year in Oklahoma history other than last season with Griffin, Henry would be a unanimous choice for top honors. The discussion would start and end with Henry.
All four are obvious first team choices. The fifth will be Tahlequah junior Matt Qualls. Qualls once again quietly put up ridiculous numbers against large-school foes. At 6-foot-7, Qualls is being looked at closely by many Big XII schools.
Oklahoma Boys Player of the Year
Keiton Page, Pawnee, 5-10, senior (signed with Oklahoma State)
Season Stats: 44.4 points, 7.3 assists, 5.9 steals, 50.2 3-PT%, 89.6 FT%
2007 MaxPreps Second Team All-State, 2008 MaxPreps First Team Preseason All-State Selection
Page finished second in state history in points with 3,709, just 49 behind Verdigris guard Rotnei Clarke. Page’s numbers as a senior were absolutely amazing. Page finished the season with 1,287 points, an average of 44.4 points per game. Both are state records. Page scored 54 points and dished out 13 assists in Pawnee’s state title win over Oklahoma Christian. Page hit 9 of 11 three-point shots in the victory. Page scored a career-high 61 points in a victory over Frontier, including 11 three-point baskets. Page is taking his game to Oklahoma State next season.
At one point in January, Page was over 200 points behind Clarke before closing the gap. Page also averaged 7.3 assists, 5.9 steals, shot 89.6 percent from the free-throw line, and hit 145 three-point baskets at a 50.2 percent clip. Page set a national record for career three-point percentage at 49.9 percent.
That’s not all Page accomplished in his career. Page set the Oklahoma state tournament career scoring record with 369 points, and holds the Oklahoma single-tournament record with 138 points in three games.
Page was named Oklahoma Player of the Year by The Oklahoman and was named state co-player of the year by the Tulsa World.
First Team All-Oklahoma
Rotnei Clarke, Verdigris, 6-0, senior (signed with Arkansas)
Season Stats: 40.9 points, 9.5 rebounds, 7.0 assists, 3.4 steals, 46.6% 3-PT, 87.2% FT
2007 MaxPreps First Team All-State, 2008 MaxPreps First Team Preseason All-State Selection
Clarke, like Page, had a record-setting season. In the area tournament, Clarke broke the Oklahoma career scoring record with a free throw, an 18-year old record held by Maud’s Ty Harman. Clarke finished with 3,758 points and capped off his career by helping Verdigris to the Class 3A state championship, averaging 40.9 points per game. For the season, Clarke scored 1,224 points.
Clarke was named co-player of the year by the Tulsa World along with Page. Clarke is heading to Arkansas for college.
As a junior, Clarke increased his mythical legend by scoring 60 points in the first round of the Class 3A state tournament in a victory over Vian. Clarke scored 30 points in each half. 60 would not be his career high, however. As a senior, Clarke netted 65 points in a February victory over Berryhill. Clarke also had a triple-double of 56 points, 11 assists, and 10 rebounds in a victory over Pawhuska.
CBS College Sports recruiting analyst Van Coleman has ranked Clarke as the 103rd best prospect nationally for the Class of 2008.
Xavier Henry, Putnam City, 6-6, junior
Season Stats: 25.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.2 steals, 50% FG, 35.9% 3-PT
2007 MaxPreps First Team All-State, 2008 MaxPreps First Team Preseason All-State Selection, 2008 MaxPreps All-American Honorable Mention
Henry was named state player of the year by Gatorade. More than likely it won’t be the only award Henry wins in his career at Putnam City. Henry is a bona fide All-American and National Player of the Year candidate next season. Henry fought injury this season to average 25.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 2.2 steals per game.
Henry would trade any of his personal accolades to equal the Class 6A state championship he helped his team win as a freshman. As a sophomore, Henry’s club missed the state tournament altogether. This past season, Putnam City was shocked in the first round to eventual champion Tulsa Memorial, its only loss to in-state competition.
It would be easier to list the schools not after Henry for his services at the next level. Kansas, Memphis, and North Carolina appear to be the three favorites to land arguably the best prospect in Oklahoma history. Louisville, Texas, UCLA, and Ohio State are also thought to be in the running for Henry, ranked as the fourth top prospect nationally by Van Coleman of CBS College Sports.
Daniel Orton, Bishop McGuinness, 6-10, junior
Season Stats: 13.7 points, 11.2 rebounds, 141 blocks, 78 assists
2007 MaxPreps Third Team All-State, 2008 MaxPreps First Team Preseason All-State Selection
Orton is regarded by many as the top center in the Class of 2009. In January against Class 6A Tulsa Union, McGuinness unveiled its newly remodeled gymnasium as the Fighting Irish picked up a crucial victory. Orton stole the show. In front of Florida head coach Billy Donovan, Orton shattered the backboard in the fourth quarter on a missed dunk.
Orton is not only a forceful dunker. Orton is an outstanding shot blocker. As a freshman and sophomore, Orton averaged over eight blocks per game. Orton also is incredibly athletic and flies up and down the floor. As a sophomore, Orton put the clamps on current Oklahoma freshman Blake Griffin, which is no easy task.
Orton is believed to have narrowed his choices to Florida and Ohio State. Orton averaged 13.7 points and 11.2 rebounds per game for the three-time defending Class 4A state champions. Along with Orton, Bishop McGuinness could be one of the best teams in the region next season with four returning starters.
Matt Qualls, Tahlequah, 6-7, junior
Season Stats: 25.7 points, 14.5 rebounds, 3.6 blocks, 58.7% FG
2007 MaxPreps Third Team All-State, 2008 MaxPreps First Team Preseason All-State Selection
Qualls has quietly put up ridiculous numbers against large-school competition during his time at Tahlequah. His junior season was no exception, averaging 25.7 points, 14.5 rebounds, and 3.6 blocks this past season. Qualls was a solid shooter from the field percentage-wise, hitting 58.7 percent of his shots from the floor.
Qualls, at 6-7, has had some high interest from Big XII programs, Tulsa, Arkansas, Marquette, and Nebraska. With all of the high-level talent in Oklahoma, Qualls tends to get lost in the shuffle due to Tahlequah’s lack of success as a team. Tahlequah finished 12-12 last season.
Qualls has averaged a double-double in all three seasons of his high school career. Qualls averaged 18 points and 14 rebounds per game as a freshman and followed it up with an average of 21 points and 13 boards per contest as a sophomore.
Second Team All-Oklahoma
Ken Holdman, Tulsa East Central, 6-0, senior (signed with Missouri State)
Holdman helped Tulsa East Central become one of the top teams in any class after averaging 16.1 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.2 steals, and 3.7 assists. Holdman dropped over 1,500 points in his career for the Cardinals and will take his game to Missouri State.
Wes May, Seminole, 6-6, senior
May is Oklahoma’s best kept secret. Playing at Class 4A Seminole, May averaged 26.2 points and 12.1 rebounds per game as a senior. May has received some interest from schools such as Lehigh, William and Mary, Princeton, and Columbia thus far.
Robert Crawford, Victory Christian, 6-5, senior (signed with Central Arkansas)
Crawford did nothing to hurt his chances of playing at a high level next season in college, averaging 20 points, 11 rebounds, and 3.5 assists for the Conquerors. Crawford led Victory Christian to the state tournament for the third straight year and is headed to Central Arkansas.
Ryan Keese, Fort Gibson, 6-2, senior
Keese made a splash over last summer at a Florida State basketball camp and never looked back. Joining the team in January, Keese averaged 25.4 points per game as a senior for Fort Gibson, but was unable to lead his team to the state tournament. Keese has a 38” vertical jump and made headlines with a reverse jam earlier this season. Keese is a sleeper at the next level.
James Watson, Stringtown, 6-9, senior (signed with Washington State)
Watson averaged 20.2 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 3.2 blocks per game while leading Stringtown to its second straight Class B state title. Watson was huge in the first round of the state tournament, scoring 38 points and ripping down 13 rebounds. Not many talked about Watson on the national recruiting scene until last summer while he was playing with Athletes First on the AAU circuit. Washington State was quick to snap up this athletic force. Van Coleman has Watson ranked as the 201st prospect nationally.
Third Team All-Oklahoma
Nic Combs, Edmond Santa Fe, 5-11, senior
Combs played his way into a Division I offer after averaging 19 points per game for Santa Fe this past season. Combs shot 84 percent from the free throw line. Combs has received Division I offers from the likes of Evansville, Long Beach State, Centenary, and Liberty to name a few.
Brentrell Friday, Putnam City North, 6-2, Senior
Friday, along with Dennon Mitchell, formed a formidable backcourt for Putnam City North. Friday averaged 16.1 points and 6.8 rebounds per game for the Panthers. Friday shot a steady 51.7 percent from the floor, not bad for a guard. Friday helped Putnam City North to a runner-up season in Class 6A, losing to Tulsa Memorial in the state final.
Blaise Voskul-Staab, Tulsa Memorial, 6-6, senior
His numbers were not amongst the upper echelon in the state, but Voskul-Stabb did his work quietly. Voskul-Stabb helped Memorial shock Putnam City in the first round of the Class 6A state tournament en route to winning its first state title since 2003. Voskul-Stabb averaged 15.8 points and 10.3 rebounds for the Chargers. Voskul-Stabb hit a buzzer beater to oust Putnam City at state.
Robert Pruitt, OKC Grant, 6-0, senior
Pruitt’s average of 30 points per game against some of the toughest competition the state has to offer is nothing to sneeze at. Pruitt scored a career-high in January against Seeworth Academy, netting 52 points. Pruitt eclipsed the 40-point barrier four times in his senior season and also averaged 7.5 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game.
Lane Adams, Red Oak, 6-4, junior
Page and Clarke aren’t the only players in Oklahoma that can score in bunches. Adams led Class B Red Oak by averaging 32 points, eight rebounds, and three assists per game. Despite coming from a small school, Adams is being looked at by all four Division I schools in Oklahoma along with Wichita State and Gonzaga.
Honorable Mention Seniors (Points per game)
Class 6A: Jarrod McDaniel, Midwest City (11.0); Chuck Sanders, Midwest City (17.0); Jamell Cormier, Stillwater (21.0); Shane Carroll, Mustang (19.0); Austin Allen, Norman (15.8); Daniel White, Edmond Memorial (18.0); D’Angelo Harris, Del City (17.2); Ryan Florie, Choctaw (18.9); Chris Gardner, Broken Arrow (15.0).
Class 5A: Mark Rutledge, Tulsa Edison (18.8); Geo Brewer, Lawton MacArthur (20.3); Austin King, Harrah (12.6); Cory Nicholson, Harrah (14.1); Trey James, Ardmore (16.6); Bo White, Durant (16.0); Sidney Hadnott, Tulsa East Central (14.7); Tyler Thalken, Tulsa Bishop Kelley (17.3); LaRon Buggs, Tulsa Central (16.2); Desmond Clark, Tulsa Washington (10.0).
Class 4A: Jeffrey Merritt, Bishop McGuinness (13.9); Ben Smith, OKC Southeast (22.8); Pete Swiatek, Cascia Hall (13.0); Brandon Savage, Harding (19.6); T.J. Hutton, Okmulgee (19.8); Bryce Kemp, Star Spencer (13.0); Trey Lippe, Vinita (14.4); Jermaine Sherman, Wagoner (16.0); Ricky Hill, OKC Douglass (22.0).
Class 3A: Justin Blackmon, Plainview (24.9); Roderick Harper, OKC John Marshall (17.8); Adam Hollon, Verdigris (15.0); Mike Soap, Sequoyah-Tahlequah (13.5); Bucky Ross, Sequoyah-Tahlequah (12.0); Trent Lanie, Alva (19.4); June Carter, Millwood (15.2); Tyler Detring, Metro Christian (15.8).
Class 2A: Prince Shaw, Crescent (23.8); George Overbey, Oklahoma Christian (19.1); T.J. Williams, Apache (21.0); Taylor Antle, Foyil (21.7); Weston Elam, Oktaha (16.5), Chace Green, Pawnee (10.0).
Class A: Cory Bond, Garber (15.1); Kyle Bottger, Agra (17.1); Ryan Hudson, Preston (17.1); Ricky Holba, Morrison (13.2); Zeke Zoschke, Thomas (10.6); Trey Eason, Velma-Alma (20.1); Matt Henderson, Waurika (21.7).
Class B: Ethan Davis, Calumet (18.3); Eric Garza, Chattanooga (17.9); Trey Long, Fargo (14.0).
Who’s Next?
Kyle Hardrick, Norman, 6-7, junior (committed to Oklahoma)
Hardrick has been amongst the Top 50 players for the Class of 2009 since his freshman year. A breakout year is due for the Oklahoma commit.
Terrance Boyd, Norman, 6-5, junior
Boyd was amongst the Top 50 in his class before transferring to Oak Hill as a sophomore. Boyd transferred back to Norman and was ruled ineligible as a junior. Boyd is planning to be back along with Hardrick at Norman, which vaults the Tigers into the state title equation in Class 6A.
Will Reinke, Lawton, 6-10, junior
Reinke has played his way into a major Division I prospect for the Class 6A Wolverines. Reinke is also a hot baseball prospect as a first baseman.
Monty Brown, Liberty, 6-10, junior
Brown is another budding big man in the Sooner State, already picking up an offer from Tulsa. Brown averaged 13 points, 12.1 rebounds and 5.6 blocks this past season for Class 2A Liberty.
Donte’ Foster, Guthrie, 6-4, junior
Foster led Guthrie to the Class 5A state title averaging 17.8 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 2.5 steals per game. Foster is considered to be one of the best guards in the entire region in the Class of 2009. With Foster back next season, Guthrie is the favorite to repeat as champions.
Dalen Qualls, Stratford, 5-11, freshman
The all-time record watch is in full effect, thanks to this fabulous freshman. Qualls averaged 29.3 points per game this past season, scoring 763 total points. Qualls also averaged 9.3 rebounds and 4.7 rebounds in his varsity debut. Watch this space.
Drew Chestnut, Agra, 6-7, junior
Chestnut averaged 16.7 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks for the Class A state champions.
Matt Reynolds, Tulsa Bishop Kelley, 6-0, junior
Reynolds was second for the Comets in scoring with an average of 14.5 per game. Reynolds also hit 52 percent of his three-point attempts for Bishop Kelley.
Nate Jones, Bartlesville, 6-4, junior
Jones quietly averaged 22.1 points per game for the Class 6A Bruins and could be a pleasant surprise in 2009.
Darrius Woods, Coyle, 6-4, junior
Woods averaged 20.1 points per game for Coyle as a junior.
Corbin Cowan, Coleman, junior
Cowan averaged 24.6 points and 11.7 rebounds for Coleman this past season.
Bryson Pope, Jenks, 6-6, junior (committed to Tulsa)
Pope falls into the category of the large shooting guard. At 6-6, Pope led Jenks with 16.1 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. Pope is already committed to stay home to attend Tulsa.
Tyrus McGee, Stringtown, 5-11, junior
With Watson graduating, it will be up to McGee to help Stringtown win its third straight state title. McGee averaged 16 points per game and is deadly from three-point range.
Josh Davis, Star Spencer, 6-4, junior
Davis averaged 13.4 points and 9.7 rebounds for a dangerous Star Spencer team in Class 4A. Davis is one of the best kept secrets in Oklahoma.
Alonzo Fields, Crooked Oak, 6-7, junior
Fields averaged 18.5 points and 10.9 rebounds for Class 3A Crooked Oak as a junior.
Cameron Downing, Tulsa Memorial, 6-8, sophomore
Downing was a major reason why Memorial was able to get hot en route to the Class 6A state title. Downing led the state by shooting 68.4 percent from the field, and averaged 10.1 points and 2.5 blocks for the Chargers.
Scott Hansen: maxprepsok@sbcglobal.net
