Putnam West's Walker primed for playoffs
Rondel Walker hears it at least twice a game from his coach.
Shoot the ball. Stop passing as much.
Putnam West coach Lenny Bert has yet to coach a player with Walker's capabilities. He leads the seventh-ranked Patriots in nearly every statistical category.
But Bert still wants more from his star junior.
“Since I was little I was trained if I see the open man to hit him,” Walker said. “Coach Bert is having me shoot that shot. I'm still adjusting to that. Day by day, I'm getting a little better. You may not be able to see it, but a little better.”
As high school basketball playoffs hit full st ride Thursday across t he state, Walker is inline to have a breakout postseason f or a talented Patriots team looking to return to the Class 6A state tournament.
Walker has Division I offers from all over the country — Oklahoma State, Rutgers, Texas A& M and others— and he's put together a huge season after injuries nearly derailed his sophomore year. He leads the team with 22.5 points, nearly seven rebounds, five assists and more than five
steals per game. He also has three triple-doubles.
And he does it all quietly, almost like Kevin Durant or Paul George.
“He' s not an NBA player, of course, but those are the intangibles he has,” Bert said. “If he goes for 50 points, that wouldn't surprise me.
“He' s about helping us win. He's not a selfish individual.”
With large-school playoffs opening Thursday, Putnam West is not the only storyline in the Oklahoma City area to watch. Here is a look at three others.
Heritage Hall or Kingfisher?
It's the big question of the Class 4A boys field: Which team is better?
Heritage Hall, the defending champion, is ranked No. 2 and owns a 40-game winning streak that dates to last season. The Chargers feature star sophomore T rey Alexander.
But Kingfisher still sits atop the coaches' rankings with a 22- 1 record, t he lone loss coming to Tulsa Booker T. Washington. The Yellowjackets have a plethora of talent in Jett Sternberger, Trey Green and others.
The answer to the question is likely to come in the
final game of the season once again, and i t may be the most anticipated matchup of the season.
Class 6A girls favorite?
Is there a favorite this year for the Class 6A girls state champion?
Putnam West is ranked No. 1 in state and No. 13 nationally by USA Today. The Patriots are also looking to avenge a lastsecond heartbreak in the title game last March.
They also got a boost with the recent return of Sharonica Hartsfield.
But don't overlook No. 2 undefeated Shawnee or No. 3 Moore, a team that has a ton of young talent but no playoff experience. No. 9 Choctaw and No. 14 Edmond Santa Fe should also remain in the conversation along with others.
Family affair
Thursday night opens t he Class 6A and Class 5A girls regional tournaments, and there will be no bigger matchup than No. 14 Edmond Santa Fe and No. 15 Midwest City.
It's a battle of father and daughter.
Edmond Santa Fe coach Paul Bass has f aced his daughter, Katie, before, but not with this much on the line.
The winner's season continues. The loser goes home.