Bixby Invitational: Sensational Sophs

Be warned, the holidays are slowing down the pace that these articles typically come out. Sorry that my articles are becoming more and more spaced out, but as the in-laws begin to flood the house, the writing time begins to dwindle. My goal is to still give exposure to as many great prospects as possible. Today we will take a look at some of the best 2024’s on display at the Bixby Invitational, a tournament that was absolutely loaded with talent. Edmond North were the eventual champions and they have one player on the list, but every team at the tournament could have had numerous players in every grade grouping. There was talent all over the floor of all ages and of high skill. Here we go! <strong><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/12/DSC_0013-1-scaled-crop-2403x1578-1640107142.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-367185 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/12/DSC_0013-1-scaled-crop-2403x1578-1640107142-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a>[player_tooltip player_id="241018" first="Kiara" last="Smith"] | 5-8 CG | Harding Charter | 2024 | <a href="https://x.com/Kiarasmith2024">@Kiarasmith2024</a></strong> My intentions after the first day were to write a piece about the most athletic/bouncy players at the tournament, but I didn’t want to gloss over the other abilities that the player may have had. I scrapped that idea, but I mention it to say that Kiara definitely would have been on that list. She can jump out of the gym. She is powerful and strong; one of the toughest guards that I saw all weekend in Bixby. She has a tremendous scoring touch and does a great job of not only forcing her way to the rim with very good speed and handles, but she finishes through contact - and hits her free throws. In July, Smith took an unofficial visit to the University of North Texas. The Division-I interest is coming in for good reason. [player_tooltip player_id="241018" first="Kiara" last="Smith"] is a baller! <strong><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/12/DSC_0017-1-scaled-crop-2049x1345-1640107559.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-367192 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/12/DSC_0017-1-scaled-crop-2049x1345-1640107559-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a>[player_tooltip player_id="249267" first="Allison" last="Heathcock"] | 5-11 CG | Edmond North | 2024 | <a href="https://x.com/Aheathcock2024">@Aheathcock2024</a></strong> I wrote one note next to Allison’s name during the first game. It’s the same note I wrote next to several players last weekend. It simply says "D-I." She is a Division-I player. There is no doubt in my mind. Heathcock is long and tall and the improvement over the last few years has been dramatic. She is a confident shooter who can absolutely fill it up from long range. Her height and length allow her to basically never get blocked. I also wrote one word next to Edmond North after seeing them play a few games, but I’ll let you guys guess what that word was - maybe sometime around mid-March. The Huskies are a tremendous team led by players like Allison who don’t take defense for granted. They work hard on both ends and just flat out do whatever it takes to win. Heathcock is a great all-around player and being on such a great team is really paying dividends for this future Division-I star. <strong><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/12/DSC_0200-scaled-crop-2049x1345-1640107860.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-367195 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/12/DSC_0200-scaled-crop-2049x1345-1640107860-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a>[player_tooltip player_id="318184" first="Hallie" last="Kitchen"] | 5-7 CG | Broken Arrow | 2024 | <a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/athlete/hallie-kitchen/xOD36B6aEeuAzqREozo6lw/default.htm">MaxPreps</a></strong> Hallie was a huge part of some of Broken Arrow’s now patented comebacks. The first, against Edmond Memorial, was a double-digit comeback where her defense was a huge part of the effort to force some very important turnovers late in the game. In the later games in the tournament - especially against a very good Bixby squad - Kitchen hit some huge three-pointers. She has a great all-around game and on a team as well-coached as Broken Arrow, Hallie is going to become a genuine prospect by the time 2024 rolls around. Currently, she is No. 59-ranked and as time goes on and she moves into a bigger role, I fully expect her to rise up the rankings. She has good size and clearly a lot of skill on both ends of the floor. <strong><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/12/DSC_0883-scaled-crop-2049x1345-1640108194.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-367203 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/12/DSC_0883-scaled-crop-2049x1345-1640108194-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a>[player_tooltip player_id="249260" first="Tyla" last="Heard"] | 5-10 F | Sapulpa | 2024 | <a href="https://x.com/HeardTyla">@HeardTyla</a></strong> Tyla was not just one of the best sophomores at the Bixby Invitational, she is one of the best sophomores in the state. In fact, she is one of the best players in the state, period. I am more and more impressed every time I see her play and it is becoming more and more clear that she is not just a supporting piece to the [player_tooltip player_id="197942" first="Stailee" last="Heard"] show at Sapulpa, but instead an integral piece of what the defending state champions are doing there both offensively and defensively. She ended the weekend with 35 total points, good for an average of 12 which tied her for the team lead with her all-tournament winning sister. She is a willing passer who does all of the little things both defensively and offensively to help her team win. She has a great attitude and as I have said before it is great to see a player have fun on the floor. I hope it never ends for her. Tyla is a tremendous athlete and a great basketball player!