OK Turnpike TOC – Standouts: Part 1
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I had a lot of fun out at my first tournament back from some time away. It was a great chance to see some of the young talent that Oklahoma has coming up in the 2026 and 2027 classes and,…
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Continue ReadingI had a lot of fun out at my first tournament back from some time away. It was a great chance to see some of the young talent that Oklahoma has coming up in the 2026 and 2027 classes and, I have to say, we’re gonna be just fine. These kids can ball. We’ve got some shooters, some with tremendous size, and some youngsters that are already focused in on their defensive skills. Oklahoma has it all and the number of college coaches in attendance was even more of a sign that there are big things in store for girls’ basketball in the “Sooner State!”
Essence was the shortest player on the court for Team Griffin, but that was definitely not an issue. She is an absolute baller. The first thing that stood out was the “bunnies,” as a good friend of mine likes to say. She isn’t getting blocked because she is gonna bounce up over you and has a beautiful, high release. Curry is fiery, in a good way; the kind of way that doesn’t demean the other team and instead rallies her teammates around her. Try to trap her in the backcourt at your own peril, she has the handles to split the double team, the speed to beat all of you down the court, and the composure to finish strong at the rim… and probably pick up the “and-1” while she’s at it.
Plunkett is a very strong post player who moves incredibly well for a “big.” When she has the ball in her hands, she might as well be a 5-7 guard slashing into the lane. She spins, cuts, whirls, and finishes consistently at the rim, all while using her big frame to keep defenders away from the ball. Audrey showed the ability to shoot it, too. She does a good job defending down low and I absolutely can’t wait to see where she ends up with the guidance of Team Griffin and the Carl Albert coaching staffs! Audrey Plunkett Audrey Plunkett 5’10” | PF Carl Albert | 2026 State OK is a big time prospect!
Speaking of Carl Albert, last year’s State Semifinalists will most likely be right back there again, with the aforementioned Plunkett, and this absolute star of a guard, Skylar Anderson Skylar Anderson 5’10” | CG Carl Albert | 2026 State OK . A smart defender, Skylar stood out most this weekend because she was there on absolutely every play. Defensively, offensively, it didn’t matter, No. 12 was there. She reads the play well and gets in the passing lane for steals. She rebounds with good anticipation and decent size for a guard. Then there’s the fact that she can slash, hit the mid-range, and shoot it from deep. Anderson is a major prospect and I know that more than one college coach in attendance definitely took notice.
Every time Swarm 17U Black took the court, I had to go watch some of their game. Abby made sure that their games were must see. Her defense is darn near “lock down” quality. She could almost eliminate the player she was on most games. When she forced the turnover, which happened a lot, her passes were powerful, and got her team out in transition very quickly. It is clear that even though she is a combo guard, Brown has been running the point for a while now. She is absolutely unafraid and will drive hard to the basket with no fear for her own safety. She is a hard-nosed player that most college coaches would love to have on their team.
Eliana Valentin-Florence
Eliana Valentin-Florence
My main note beside Eliana was “controlled chaos.” She drives to the hoop with reckless abandon. No fear for her own personal safety. But, that’s only because she wants to win. Badly. She has a quick release from deep and keeps defenders off balance with her combination of shooting ability and quickness. All game long she was involved in everything and was no slouch on defense, either. Valentin-Florence is fun to watch and should 100% be on your radars, college coaches. She is a winner, pure and simple. She is somebody who is going to do all of the little things that will help your team win.