PGH Top 250 Expo in OKC: Top Newcomers
There were a few players who – in the words of Nuke Laloosh in Bull Durham – “announced their presence with authority” during Sunday’s Expo in OKC. Some players we’ve heard of and some seemingly came out of nowhere. Prior to the season starting for high schools in November/December, it was nice to get a look at some of the freshmen to watch this year in Oklahoma.
Addison Mootry | 5-4 PG | Inola | 2024
Seeing a lot of these players play two weekends in a row helped me to really confirm things that I was thinking about them in the first place. Mootry is a bit of a different story. By her own admission, she didn’t play too well in the I-35 Showcase. I mean, you could see a lot of the skills that were there, but she seemed a little overmatched against the talent that was there. Then comes the PGH Top 250 Expo. Again, Addison was one of the youngest players there. But, this time she looked a lot more comfortable. She played very well and showed a very well-rounded game. She has a nice jumper and very, very good handles. Only a freshman, Addison Mootry is one to keep an eye on. The increase in confidence over the course of a week is an indicator that over the course of four years in high school, she could become an absolute beast.
Aubree Davis | 5-4 PG | Shawnee | 2024 | @aubreedavis25
Davis is deceptively quick and very, very strong. She drives hard to the hoop and finishes with authority. Her jumper is improving and her hands are quick enough on defense to give her opponent problems. She is a heady player who can definitely run the point. Over the next few years, she will be a fun one to watch.
Kobei Smith | 5-5 G | Deer Creek | 2024 | @kobei_smith
The hits just keep coming for Deer Creek. Smith is a tall – and getting taller – guard who has shown skills beyond her years thus far. She is talkative and looks to be having a lot of fun when she plays – which believe it or not, is very important. Smith has a quick release on her jumper and is unafraid to let it fly. I look forward to seeing her play for the Antlers over the next several seasons.
Addy Johnson | 5-6 G/F | Edmond Memorial | 2024 | @AddyJoh09023295
Johnson is another player with very good size and was pretty much an unknown commodity coming into this showcase. Her Oklahoma Bearcats squad – coached by former Edmond Memorial head coach Dandy Peeler – won the MAYB summer championship this year for their age group and Johnson was a big part of that. She has a nice jumper from deep and very good post moves. As she grows, she could be a stretch-four or a very good small forward with a sweet dribble-drive based on her constant threat as a three-point shooter.
Alexis Fowler | 5-7 G | Warner | 2024 | @alexisfowlerr22
Fowler is a tall guard already, as a player who is entering her freshman season at tiny Warner High School. She is a straight-up baller if Sunday is any indication. She was “in her bag,” as they say. She showed off a sweet spin and pop jump shot as well as some tremendous ball-handling. She shoots the three at a high percentage and is an absolute scoring machine. Against great competition on Sunday, she did what she always does… she got buckets.
McKenzie Mathurin | 5-9 CG | 2025 | @mathurin2025
For now, every showcase that Mathurin goes to she is the youngest player in the house. She is big and strong and if you didn’t know she was an 8th grader, you would have no idea. On Sunday, she played every position with great success. She handles the ball very well and can play either guard position. She is a tough rebounder and a very good inside defender when called upon. She is a very good off-ball defender and does a good job of denying her opponent the ball. She can be a lockdown defender against players who are much older and more experienced than she is. It’s no wonder that she already holds an offer from head coach Sherri Coales and Oklahoma.