2023 Player Rankings: The Top Three

For the first time in their history we have a new number one in the 2023 player rankings. This class has really gotten much better over the past few years and are now set to do really big things as juniors in high school. It should be a great season with a LOT of offers coming in for these talented athletes. <strong>No. 1 - [player_tooltip player_id="197981" first="Laci" last="Steele"] | 5-11 SF | Edmond North | <a href="https://x.com/LaciSteele2023">@LaciSteele2023</a></strong> 4.2 GPA. 20.9 PPG. 42.9% 3FG. 7.5 RPG. 12+ D-I offers. Just take a look at these numbers. Absolutely unreal. It is clear to see why Laci has jumped from No. 7 to No. 1 following a tremendous sophomore season. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a player that seems so likeable and sweet turn into such a complete BEAST when the lights come on. Steele is so tough, so strong and absolutely tenacious in all aspects of her game. She crashes the boards and if you stand in her way, prepare to be moved. She is fast, has good handles and scores A LOT of points in the paint. Oh, by the way, she can shoot the lights out from long range. There aren’t many players in the 2023 rankings - or even in Oklahoma - that have the ability to score in so many different ways. She is a vicious defender with quick hands and great lateral speed to defend anybody one-on-one. Oh, and while we’re counting things, Laci has offers from at least seven different conferences (Big-12, BIG10, SEC, AAC, Ivy League, Mountain West, C-USA), if not more... and plenty more to come. <strong>No. 2 - [player_tooltip player_id="197942" first="Stailee" last="Heard"] | 5-10 SG | Sapulpa | <a href="https://x.com/StaileeH">@StaileeH</a></strong> Stailee can absolutely do it all. She is a great volleyball player, a state champion in cross country and an absolutely amazing basketball player. A few coaches have noticed - at least 12 by my count - including all of the in-state D-I schools. Though she is good at every sport she participates in, there is nothing like her abilities on the court. She is explosively athletic and has the ability to take over a game at will. She can score from all levels. She goes hard to the rim with silky smooth handles and great speed. She defends at a very high level. Basically, Stailee is a baller. Plain and simple. As a freshman she ranked ninth in the state in scoring and has only gotten better. Heading into her junior season, a lot more will be expected of Heard in Sapulpa with [player_tooltip player_id="151306" first="Temira" last="Poindexter"] having moved on to Tulsa to play college ball. It wouldn’t be a surprise at all to see Stailee average 25 or more as she really begins to understand her immense abilities and learn to exploit the opposition offensively. <p style="text-align: left;"><strong>No. 3 - [player_tooltip player_id="150925" first="Landry" last="Allen"] | 6-2 C | Tuttle | <a href="https://x.com/landryallen25">@landryallen25</a></strong></p> As of June 25th, Landry is officially an Oklahoma Sooner and head coach Jennie Baranczyk has to be absolutely jumping for joy. Landry should also be jumping for joy to be coached by a former player who not only scored 1,700 points and pulled down 800 rebounds in her college career, but is known for coaching high-powered offenses that score A LOT of points in the paint. That just so happens to be Allen’s forte, by the way. It helps to be 6’2", but [player_tooltip player_id="150925" first="Landry" last="Allen"] is so much more than just tall. She has great post footwork. She gets turned to the basket with the ball in her hands and does a great job of making space and finishing. She runs the court far better than your typical "big." Allen racks up the rebounds and the blocks and absolutely owns the paint. With two more years to go, Allen is going to go down as one of the best centers to ever play high school ball in Oklahoma. She ranked No. 2 in the state in scoring as a freshman and continues to put up huge numbers. The Sooner faithful should be very excited for Allen to don the crimson and cream and Landry is definitely excited to get into the Lloyd Noble Center and set up shop in the paint.