The prep and homeschool scene continues to grow, and several programs are assembling rosters capable of competing with quality teams throughout Oklahoma and beyond.
As the preseason approaches, three programs in particular deserve attention: Grind Prep, OKC Storm, and South Central Prep.
South Central Prep: Talent Meets a New Staff
South Central Prep (SCP) could be one of the more intriguing teams to follow this season.
SCP features Parker McDaniel, one of the state's top prospects, giving the program a centerpiece around which to build. But South Central hasn't stopped there.
The program has been extremely active on the recruiting trail, bringing in a considerable amount of out-of-state talent to strengthen the roster.
Now comes the interesting part: putting all of those pieces together.
With a new coaching staff on board and several new players entering the program, chemistry and identity will be important early in the season. There appears to be plenty of talent available. The preseason question is how quickly that talent develops into a cohesive basketball team.
If the pieces come together, South Central Prep could be one of Oklahoma's most interesting prep programs to watch.
OKC Storm: A Familiar Feeling Around This Group
There is also plenty of reason for optimism surrounding OKC Storm.
The Storm feature Carter Dunbar, one of the state's top young freshmen, a tough, hard-nosed point guard who will have an opportunity to make his presence felt despite his youth.
More importantly, he isn't alone.
This could be one of the more talented Storm teams we've seen in some time. For those familiar with the history of the program, this roster creates some of the excitement surrounding past Storm teams that featured players such as Alonzo Trier and Chauncey Collins, among others.
That's a significant standard, and this young group still has to prove itself on the floor. But there is enough talent to make the comparison worth watching. The combination of young talent, toughness and experience around the roster could make the Storm a difficult matchup throughout the season.
Grind Prep: Quietly Building Something
While some programs have generated attention through recruiting, Grind Prep has taken a quieter approach.
Don't mistake quiet for inactive.
Behind the scenes, Grind Prep appears to be assembling a very strong roster, with the program preparing to take its talent onto The Grind Session, where it will have opportunities to compete against high-level programs and prospects. There may also be a few surprises still brewing.
Grind Prep could potentially feature a couple of Oklahoma's top young prospects, adding another layer of intrigue to a roster that already has the potential to make noise.
For Grind, the national schedule will provide an important measuring stick. Competing on that stage should tell us a lot about how this roster stacks up against quality prep talent from around the country.
Don't Overlook Aspire and Hoops For Christ
The conversation doesn't end with the preseason top three.
Tulsa's Aspire Blazers and Hoops For Christ have consistently shown that they can play a good brand of basketball.
Both programs regularly compete against smaller traditional schools in Oklahoma as well as teams from surrounding areas, giving their players an opportunity to test themselves against a variety of styles and competition levels.
These are the types of programs that shouldn't be overlooked simply because they operate outside the traditional high school basketball structure.
On any given night, they can compete.
Programs such as Redemption Life Prep, Oklahoma City Knights and NOAH add even more depth to Oklahoma's growing prep and homeschool basketball landscape.
More Than the Score
There is more basketball talent in Oklahoma than what appears on a traditional high school classification list.
Prep and homeschool programs are providing another pathway for athletes to develop, compete, gain exposure and pursue opportunities beyond high school.
That's why More Than The Score (MTTS) looks forward to covering this part of Oklahoma basketball throughout the season.
We'll be watching the established players, introducing fans to emerging prospects, following the new-look rosters and telling the stories behind these programs.
Grind Prep. OKC Storm. South Central Prep. Aspire Blazers. Hoops For Christ. Redemption Life Prep. Oklahoma City Knights. NOAH.
The preseason conversation is just getting started.
More Than The Score — because Oklahoma basketball is bigger than the scoreboard.
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