Oklahoma's best high school girls basketball players: Meet the state's top post players
By Ty Loftis
Photo of Tuttle's Landry Allen by Michael Kinney
Basketball season is here and as we look to see what lies ahead come playoff time, we have compiled a list of players to watch at each position. Here at SBLive Oklahoma, we look at post players who look to make an impact on their respective girls basketball teams across the state this season.
There are hundreds of standout girls basketball players in Oklahoma, and these lists are not intended to be comprehensive. Let us know if there are any other posts worthy of fans’ attention in 2022-23, as we know this position is extremely deep in talent this season.
Oklahoma's Top High School Girls Basketball Players
Point Guards | Shooting Guards | Small Forwards
In no particular order:
Elle Papahronis, 5-11, Sr., Edmond North
While Papahronis might not be your true post player, she deserves to be recognized for the defensive effort she shows on a night in and night out basis.
Papahronois is a two-time defending champion of the defensive player of the year in the state of Oklahoma and as a senior, she is set to attend the University of San Francisco next year. Papahronis led her team to a Class 6A state title last year.
Avery Jordan, 6-3, So., Edmond Memorial
The sophomore looks to get the Lady Bulldogs back to the Class 6A state tournament this year. Jordan is already beginning to see interest from different colleges after leading her team in rebounds last year.
Jazzlin Brown, 6-0, So., Putnam City West
Brown is only a sophomore, but is certainly a talent that is drawing attention from all across the nation. The 6-foot Brown can play every position on the floor and has had already had unofficial visits to Eastern Michigan and the University of Arkansas.
Meredith Mayes, 6-3, Sr., Bixby
Mayes can do a little bit of everything for her Lady Spartan ball club, as she was a major reason the team made a run to the Class 6A title game last year.
Her ability to play outside, but dominate physically down low with her 6-3 build, has enabled Mayes to be one of the top players in Class 6A and the reason she recently signed with Abilene Christian University. She averaged a double-double last year.
However, Mayes' senior season is likely over as she suffered a torn ACL injury during a game in early December.
Jazmin Adams, 6-2, Sr., Putnam City West
The 6-2 center led Choctaw to the Class 6A state tournament last year before transferring to PC West this offseason. She has signed to play at Eastern Michigan University.
The senior led Choctaw in rebounds and blocks last year. Through 14 games this season at PC West, Adams was averaging 10.8 points and 7.3 rebounds a game.
Makenna Yokley, 6-1, Jr., Owasso
Yokley had a breakout sophomore season for the Lady Rams. She will look do that once again this year, as the 6-1 post player came close to averaging a double-double in the back half of the season last year.
Jacey Crawford, 6-2, Sr., Stillwater
Crawford is a 6-2 forward for the Lady Pioneers who is one of the more versatile players in the state.
Crawford averaged nearly 19 points and six rebounds as a junior. She also recorded 54 blocks throughout the year, a single-season record at the school.
Recently, Crawford became the Lady Pioneers' all-time blocks leader.
Cherish Haywood, 6-0, So., Mustang
As a sophomore, Haywood is a 6-foot playmaker who can play anywhere on the floor when needed. She helped lead her team to the Class 6A state tournament last year and hopes to do the same this year, as she stepped up big time as a freshman.
Haywood has already received an offer to play at SMU.
Kori Rainwater, 6-1, Jr., Tahlequah
Rainwater had a successful season a year ago, but with the Lady Tigers moving down to Class 5A this year, it is possible she does even more this season.
The 6-1 Rainwater shot nearly 50 percent from the field last year as a sophomore, and has a lot of interest coming her way from Division I programs.
Laynee Stanley, 6-0, So., Fort Gibson
Stanley is only a sophomore, but is already a player that many are keeping an eye on across the state. Several schools have showed interest in the sophomore, but she is currently showing interest in Oklahoma State University.
She attended Kansas High last year, so it will be interesting to see how she adjusts to a higher level of basketball on a day-in and day-out basis.
Landry Allen, 6-3, Sr., Tuttle
Tuttle was dominant in its wins last year. So much so that Allen only averaged playing about half the game.
Even with that, the University of Oklahoma signee shot nearly 70 percent from the field and averaged just over four blocks a game. Her Lady Tiger basketball team lost to Classen SAS in the Class 4A state championship game, but the 6-3 senior and her teammates will be out for revenge this year.
Kate Fletcher, 6-3, Sr., Bishop McGuinness
As a senior, Fletcher is expected to do big things for the Lady Irish. As a team captain, the 6-3 Fletcher will have to wreak havoc down low in order to lead her team to the state tournament.
Mary Carden, 6-6, Jr., Idabel
As a junior, Carden already towers over her opponents standing at 6-6. She easily averaged a double-double last year and had a great field goal percentage.
Carden and the Lady Warriors fell a game short of winning the Class 3A title a year ago, but if she can match her play from last year, there is no reason to think they won’t be in contention again this year.
Carden has an offer from Oral Roberts University, and several other schools are showing interest in the junior.
Sofi Woodson, 6-3, Jr., Jones
Woodson returns to the Lady Longhorn program as a junior with several DI programs already interested in her talents.
She helped lead her team to back-to-back state championships while averaging 50 percent from the floor and coming up big when needed most.
Standing at 6-3 as a junior, Woodson’s frame is sure to intimidate opposing teams and that could become even more menacing over the next two years.
Tiani Ellison, 6-2, Sr., Silo
Ellison, now a senior, eclipsed the 1,000-point mark in the midway point of her junior season. Not just that, but the 6-2 senior averaged nine rebounds a game last year as well en route to her team making the state tournament.
Ellison’s hard work has paid off, as she will be attending Missouri Western next year.
Emma Stover, 6-0, Sr., Okarche
The Lady Warriors fell a game shy of making it to the Class A state championship game a year ago, but behind the tough play of Stover, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Okarche back in that position again this year.
She was a Three Rivers Conference MVP and nearly averaged a double-double while doing so.
Hannah Coons, 6-2, Jr., Kiefer
The Lady Trojans are set to do big things this year thanks to Coons, a junior.
As Kiefer finished with a Top 10 ranking in Class 3A last year, Coons averaged 18 points and seven rebounds. Expect Coons to be a name you hear about as the season rolls along.
