What do Jeff Capel and MTV have in common?
Being the hip-hop fan that he is, I’m sure Oklahoma basketball coach Jeff Capel watches MTV from time to time when he’s not working.
On Friday night, he wasn’t watching MTV. He was watching basketball. And so was MTV.
Capel and an MTV camera crew — not together — were at the Putnam City West gym. Capel was there watching PC West’s Tyler Neal, the yet uncommitted 6-foot-6 swingman, who scored 22 points despite some rust on his usually smooth jumper after missing the last three games with an ankle injury.
The 6-foot-9 Amric Fields flashed some of the astounding athleticism that earned him a scholarship to TCU, where he signed before the season. He had 22 points as well, including a few high-flying, two-handed slams and a couple 3-pointers. PC West rolled into the second round of the playoffs with an 82-56 win over Moore.
More on Neal in a moment, but Capel missed the more entertaining game of the night, Mustang’s 49-43 win over Choctaw. Of course, there wasn’t much reason for him to be there, unless he’s helping Bob Stoops wtih his scouting of recent OSU football commit David Glidden of Mustang.
MTV was on hand for the Broncos and Yellowjackets, though they weren’t shooting much game action. Their crew has been at PC West much of the week for a show detailing the lives of high school students at several locations across the country. The network had to get special permission from the OSSAA shoot during the game, it had to have all the players sign waivers, and it put up a big sign outside the entrance to the gym warning fans that they could end up on camera.
The game itself was a wild one, featuring two of the more athletic point guards around, Glidden and Choctaw’s Mark Florie. It was a fun battle to watch all night.
Mustang seemed to be ready to dominate the game, but saw a 12-point, third-quarter lead slip away as Choctaw went up by five with about three minutes left.
But Jacinto Biorato hit a clutch 3-pointer from the corner, Jacob Strassle and Glidden converted some key free throws and Ben Berry came through with a couple big baskets as Mustang closed the game on a 12-1 run.
Now Mustang will try to pull off the same upset from two weeks ago against PC West. Mustang knows what it needs to do, but the Patriots are extremely motivated because of the 91-88 double-OT loss to the Broncos on Feb. 12.
Back to Neal, he held off from committing or signing anywhere in November for this very reason — to try to improve his stock and land an offer from a big program. There’s no offer yet from OU, but there’s interest.
Before the season, Neal was being recruited by programs like Oral Roberts and TCU. Since then, he says he’s picked up a couple more offers, but declined to name the schools. He told me in November that he wanted to wait until the season ended to really get deep into his recruitment, and that’s why he didn’t want to discuss his offers publicly — it’s the playoffs and he wants to win a state title. He wants to keep the focus on his team and its goals.
Qualities like that would make him a good fit at OU — his team-first attitude, his work ethic and his good behavior. He’s the kind of kid that pulls a team together rather than driving it apart. Besides that, he’s got decent size, he rebounds well and his shooting range is limitless.
At 6-foot-6, Neal might not be the ideal size to play the four in the Big 12, but Capel has made it work with guys like Nate Carter and Taylor Griffin. And Neal has a better outside shot than either of them did, which is a weapon Capel really likes to have in a big guy to stretch defenses.
There’s no doubt Neal has plenty to offer, but wherever he goes, he hopes he’s taking a state championship ring with him. And that’s his only focus right now.
– Scott Wright, swright@opubco.com
Former Jones QB Garman heading to Southlake Carroll
By Ryan Aber
raber@opubco.com
To the surprise of no one, former Jones quarterback Daxx Garman has left the state and transferred to Texas power Southlake Carroll.
In this blog from the Dallas Morning News’ Rainer Sabin, Southlake coach Hal Wasson talks about Garman’s place in the program. The whole story isn’t there, though, as it was a little more than a paperwork error that led to the now-Arizona commit being declared ineligible and the Longhorns having to forfeit six wins.
Garman, who lived in the Choctaw district before transferring to Carl Albert, left the Titans for Jones before last season. Although the family moved to the Jones district (although there was some question about that) because Garman had transferred once he had to apply for a hardship waiver to be eligible immediately at Jones. And although that hardship wasn’t filed in a timely manner, a waiver was applied for retroactively near the end of the regular season. That waiver was initially denied by the staff and was withdrawn before an appeal was to be made in front of the board of directors. Since leaving Jones almost immediately after that decision, Garman has attended Choctaw High School, though it was very doubtful he’d ever be able to play there.
That said, though, there’s no question Garman has the talent to be a big-time quarterback. Had he stayed at Carl Albert, he likely would be starting there at quarterback next year. At Jones, Garman threw for 2,107 yards and 23 touchdowns last season. He’s got all the tools to be one of the top quarterbacks around. And despite the baggage that comes along with how last year ended, everyone I’ve talked to about Garman has had nothing but positive things to say about Garman both on and off the field.
6A Girls Playoffs
The OSSAA has just released the Class 6A girls playoff pairings.
The first-round will be played Thursday, Feb. 25
WEST
At Midwest City
Mustang vs. Yukon
Midwest City vs. U.S. Grant
At Putnam City
Norman vs. Moore
Putnam City vs. Lawton Eisenhower
At Edmond Santa Fe
Lawton vs. Southmoore
Edmond Santa Fe vs. Putnam West
At Edmond North
Choctaw vs. Del City
Edmond North vs. Westmoore
EAST
At Norman North
Sand Springs vs. Putnam North
Norman North vs. Bixby
At Jenks
Ponca City vs. Broken Arrow
Jenks vs. Muskogee
At Shawnee
Owasso vs. Enid
Shawnee vs. Stillwater
At Tulsa Union
Edmond Memorial vs. Sapulpa
Tulsa Union vs. Bartlesville
6A Boys Playoffs
The 6A boys playoff brackets have just been posted. Here’s the pairings:
First-round games will be played Friday, Feb. 26
WEST
At Edmond Santa Fe
Del City vs. Lawton
Edmond Santa Fe vs. U.S. Grant
At Midwest City
Southmoore vs. Norman
Midwest City vs. Westmoore
At Putnam City
Lawton Eisenhower vs. Edmond North
Putnam City vs. Yukon
At Putnam West
Choctaw vs. Mustang
Putnam West vs. Moore
EAST
At Broken Arrow
Enid vs. Bixby
Broken Arrow vs. Shawnee
At Norman North
Putnam North vs. Sapulpa
Norman North vs. Sand Springs
At Edmond Memorial
Jenks vs. Stillwater
Edmond Memorial vs. Owasso
At Muskogee
Tulsa Union vs. Ponca City
Bartlesville vs. Muskogee
Turner No. 38 on Scout 150
By Ryan Aber
raber@opubco.com
Millwood wide receiver Josh Turner comes in at No. 38 on the Scout.com 150 list of the nation’s top recruits for next year.
That’s no surprise, as Turner has a healthy list of offers than includes all three state Division I schools, Arizona, Kansas, Nebraska and Texas Tech.
Oklahoma State commitment QB J.W. Walsh (Guyer HS, Denton, Texas) checks in at No. 97 on the list.
Southmoore QB Kendal Thompson, who is committed to OU, is No. 128 and is the only other state high school player on the list.
Turner and Thompson are also the only state players rated as four stars in Scout’s preliminary list.
Three star players include: Norman North’s Dan Davis (a Stanford commit), Tulsa Washington’s Isaac Bennett, Duncan’s Dylan Dismuke, Glenpool’s Isaac Maselera (an OSU commit), Sallisaw’s Garrett Gladd, Edmond Memorial’s Kameron Doolittle and Millwood’s Kevonte Richardson and Emilio Gatewood.
A few other players who are certain to jump up to that level after further evaluation include Lawton’s Tyrequek Zimmerman, Guthrie’s Kentrell Brothers, Nowata’s Austin Beck, Choctaw’s Hunter Davis and Duncan’s Dominique Petties.
Click here for the complete Scout 150 list
DC and Santa Fe: Take a step back…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
I wasn’t at either game, but I was caught looking ahead in the schedule for a couple of ‘my teams.’ Saturday was a big make up date for basketball teams, and a not so good one for a pair of tremendously talented girls teams.
First was only loss No. 2 on the season for Paul Bass’ Santa Fe squad, dropping a 44-40 decision at Choctaw. This was a make up game from last month that didn’t occur because there were no referees on hand.
The Wolves have played with fire a lot in some of their wins. Not coming out sharp but having the talent to muscle their way to a win.
Santa Fe has three games this week to get back on track, starting with Tuesday’s battle at Putnam West. After Yukon on Thursday, comes a rematch with Choctaw on Friday.
The other head-scratcher happened in Piedmont. When rivals get together, who knows what will happen. This was just another one of those cases.
Deer Creek had beaten Piedmont by 11 in the first meeting, but Piedmont pulled out a thrilling 48-47 win in double overtime.
Not much time to sulk for Totsy Manning’s club, either, as Deer Creek has El Reno on Monday (I’ll be there) and Western Heights on Tuesday.
Big wins for both Piedmont and Choctaw, so interesting to see how those teams build off of them and how DC and ESF respond after the losses.
Former Muskogee/OU standout Littrell promoted
By Ryan Aber
raber@opubco.com
Former Muskogee and OU standout Seth Littrell, who played for the Sooners when Arizona coach Mike Stoops was OU’s defensive coordinator, was promoted to co-offensive coordinator with the Wildcats, Stoops told the Arizona Daily Star on Thursday night.
Littrell, 31, served as running backs and tight ends for Arizona last year. Prior to that, he served for four years as running backs coach under another former OU assistant, Mike Leach, at Texas Tech. Before that, he was a graduate assistant under Mark Mangino at Kansas.
“Everywhere Seth has been, they’ve won,” Stoops told the Daily Star. “He brings a winning attitude and a great knowledge and enthusiasm.”
Littrell will serve as co-coordinator with Bill Bedenbaugh. Bedenbaugh came to Arizona in 2007 after serving as an assistant at Texas Tech for five years.
Littrell is a big reason the Wildcats have made a strong recruiting push in the state. He helped Arizona get Owasso’s Trent Spurgeon in this year’s singing class. Midwest City defensive lineman Dominque Jones was committed to the Wildcats for a time as well before signing with Baylor.
Thursday, former Jones quarterback Daxx Garman, who’s now a student at Choctaw, became Arizona’s first commitment for the 2011 class.
More on Garman to Arizona; Davis receivs KSU offer
By Ryan Aber
raber@opubco.com
Former Jones quarterback Daxx Garman, who found himself in the middle of an eligibility controversy last season that left the Longhorns out of the playoffs, has committed to Arizona.
Garman is currently attending Choctaw but it’s unclear whether he will play for the Yellowjackets next year as a senior or move on elsewhere.
Choctaw coach Bill Bays said he’s received letters for Garman and has given them to the student but there has been no discussion over whether he would play.
“I don’t know about any of that but he’s a really good young man and very polite,” Bays said. “I’m happy to hear that for him.”
Garman also had an offer from North Carolina.
If he decided to play in-state next year, Garman would have to receive a hardship waiver from the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association.
Jones was forced to forfeit six wins, five from district play, late last season after Garman was ruled ineligible. Garman had transferred from Choctaw to Carl Albert and then moved into the Jones district and started going to school there. But because of his previous status as a transfer, a hardship waiver was required. Jones never filed for a waiver for Garman and a retroactive waiver application was denied.
Garman threw for 2,107 yards and 23 touchdowns last season.
Choctaw defensive end Hunter Davis received his first Division I offer last week when Kansas State extended an offer.
“He’s a big, strong, athletic young man,” Bays said. “There’s absolutely no doubt he’s got the tools to be a Division I football player.”
Former Jones QB Daxx Garman commits to Arizona
By Ryan Aber
raber@opubco.com
Still checking on this and the report that he’s now enrolled at Choctaw High School (which is where the family home is, although he’d still have to receive a hardship waiver from the OSSAA to go to school there), but former Jones QB Daxx Garman has committed to Arizona, according to Rivals.com and The Arizona Daily Star:
Arizona lands 2011 recruit, day after 2010 class signs
Garman, who transferred from Choctaw to Carl Albert and then to Jones, was at the center of a controversy late in the season that led to the Longhorns being forced to forfeit games and being knocked out of the playoffs. The link calls it a “clerical error” although it was a bit more than that as the hardship waiver was eventually denied when it was filed. Garman certainly deserves a second chance at football somewhere but it’ll be interesting to see how this shakes out if he does indeed stay at Choctaw.
Signing List 2010
It’s still a work in progress. Know a signing we missed? E-mail me at raber@opubco.com and we’ll get it added. We’ll run the signing list several times over the next few weeks:
