Lone star steal
New Texas football coach Tom Herman has traveled north of the Red River and plundered another Oklahoma prep player, getting a verbal commitment from Putnam City’s Ron Tatum III.
Putnam City defensive end Ron Tatum III stood behind a table surrounded by family, coaches and friends struggling.
The hat was white and had a burnt orange longhorn on it. But it would not go on his head.
It was a lighthearted moment as the 6-foot5, 269-pound junior was announcing his commitment to Texas in Putnam City’s gymnasium Wednesday afternoon.
He became the second player from Oklahoma’s 2018 class to commit to Texas — joining Southmoore quarterback Casey Thompson.
“I think it’s the best fit for me,” Tatum said. “It’s the people and the place, it’s beautiful, the coaches, the offense and defense is great.”
Before announcing, Tatum received an invitation to the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. On Tuesday, he was invited to the Under Armour AllAmerica Game as well.
Tatum chose Texas over Oklahoma, Alabama, Georgia and TCU. But it ultimately came down to the Red River Rivalry.
Tatum said he made up his mind late Tuesday night. It came down to a late push from Texas recruiters.
“It was probably the people and how hard they recruited me,” Tatum said.
OU also recently lost a quarterback commitment from Cameron Rising, who flipped to Texas.
The Sooners were also in the mix for Thompson early, and have contacted him since Rising’s change of heart.
But Thompson, whose father and brother both played quarterback at OU, said he knew from the beginning of his contact with Texas coach Tom
Herman that the Longhorns planned to take two quarterbacks in the 2018 class.
Uselton, Vilade ranked in ESPN’s top prospects
Conner Uselton’s draft stock appears to be rising.
Southmoore’s star outfielder was ranked No. 19 in Keith Law’s Top 50 MLB Draft prospects that was released Wednesday morning on ESPN.com.
Uselton and Stillwater’s Ryan Vilade (No. 44) were the only Oklahomans on the list. Both have signed with Oklahoma State.
Law said Uselton has “looked better in the field and on the bases this spring.” He’s a powerful outfielder who scouts told Law may be able to stay in center field, but his play will profile “just fine in a corner.”
Vilade, meanwhile, may be destined to play third base at the next level. He’s played shortstop for Stillwater, but Law wrote that “his plus raw power will make him a good regular as long as he hits enough to get to it.”
Edmond North boys get perfect district run
With a 3-0 win over Yukon on Tuesday night, the Edmond North boys soccer team capped a regularseason run of five straight shutouts in district play.
Edmond North outscored its seven district opponents 27-3 to head into the playoffs with a 12-1 overall record, including an unbeaten mark against in-state competition.
The Huskies will host a first-round playoff game next Tuesday. The playoff pairings will be released later this week.
OSSAA sets state baseball sites
The Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association posted the sites for the state baseball tournaments throughout the next two weeks.
Class A and Class B will play beginning next Thursday, while the remaining classes follow the next week.
Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark will be the site for three championships — Class 6A, Class A and Class B.
Times and brackets will be released the week of each tournament.
Next week, Class A will spend Thursday and Friday at Dolese Park. Class B opens Thursday at Edmond Memorial before shifting Friday to Dolese Park. Both title games are Saturday at The Brick.
In the final week, Class 6A spends the first two days at Choctaw before finishing at The Brick.
Class 5A will spend all three days at Yukon. Class 4A will be at Edmond Santa Fe. Class 3A will be at Edmond Memorial. Class 2A will be at Shawnee.
Chandlers’ Milligan earns scholarship
Multi-sport star Jalen
Milligan of Chandler was recently recognized as one of 20 national winners of a Foot Locker Scholar Athlete scholarship worth $20,000.
Milligan, who runs track and plays softball at Chandler, founded the Exchange Zone program, which takes donations of sports equipment for youth athletes.
Milligan plans to attend Wichita State next year.
In its sixth year, the Foot Locker Scholar Athletes program honors 20 studentathletes a year with a $20,000 scholarship for demonstrating academic excellence and exemplifying strong leadership skills both in sports and within their communities.