How Hill has overcome obstacles to become an all-time top-10 rusher
CHANDLER — The chorus of exclamations rang out from the metal bleachers at Joe Telford Field.
“Oh, man, that kid’s good!” “Casmen – he’s gonna score!” “Give him the ball!”
Former Chandler assistant Justin White has proudly listened to Casmen Hill’s growing fan club of team parents and community members. Hill’s older brothers Rodney Lewis and Ryan Lewis have been there to hear the cheers on Friday nights, too.
As the seventh-ranked Lions have stormed through the first two rounds of Class 2A football playoffs, several locals are regarding Hill as the best running back to ever play for Chandler High School, about 45 miles northeast of Oklahoma City.
Mentors and family members know the high school senior’s character has carried him through adversity to this point.
“He’s not like any other kid that I know,” said White, a house parent at Willow Springs Boys Ranch, where Hill has lived through most of high school. “He’s just a different, different kid, in all the best ways.”
Statistics back up that statement. As the Lions chase their first state title
since 2005, Hill’s 7,362 career rushing yards make him the all-time 10th-leading running back in Oklahoma high school football.
That’s only a footnote on the list of reasons White considers him unique. Those who are close to Hill see his constant dedication to Chandler football, putting in extra work off the field and motivating others to do the same. They see his compassion toward siblings, friends and teammates.
For Hill, suiting up in a blue-and-red No. 10 jersey on Friday nights revolves around more than running through defenses – though the stiff-arm is his signature move. It’s an opportunity to put lessons into action, thank those who have inspired him and represent the one high school team he always pledged to play for.
“He’s just a great young man that’s been through a tremendous amount of stress and pressure that not most kids have to go through,” said Rodney, his oldest brother. “And he’s handled it tremendously.”
Throughout his childhood, he dealt with constant change.
In eighth grade, he lived with Ryan, his then-20-year-old brother who had a young family of his own. As a preteen, Hill had moved from Chandler to Prague to Tecumseh to Wellston with his mother.
When he returned to Chandler and stayed with Ryan, Hill hadn’t yet emerged as a football star, waiting his turn as a backup rusher.
But he was just grateful to be back in his hometown. He wanted to follow Rodney, who had donned the No. 10 as a Chandler running back.
“Honestly, if I had been anywhere else,” Hill said, “I wouldn’t have played.”
When he entered a game off the bench, he made his presence known.
“He was just a really good worker, waiting on his turn and seized the opportunity,” Ryan said.
One morning, former Chandler High School assistant Neal Bacon urged head coach Jack Gray to watch a standout play from the junior high team’s film. Hill made a sharp cut up the field and took off, giving the coaches a glimpse of the Lions’ future.
“From then on, we were kind of like, ‘All right, when this kid becomes a freshman, he is becoming our tailback,’” Gray said.
The young rusher also caught Justin White’s attention.
Hill wasn’t a stranger to White, who then coached the Lions’ running backs. Growing up in Wellston, a town separated from Chandler by only about 10 miles of Route 66, White knew Rodney and Ryan. But it wasn’t until Hill’s freshman year when White became a mentor beyond the football field.
One of Hill’s friends, Dezmon Taliaferro, was living with White’s family at Willow Springs Boys Ranch, a residential program for school-aged boys who are dealing with family crises or other at-risk situations.
Hill already had a place to live, and Rodney said he knew Ryan was doing everything he could to care for their little brother. But Ryan was only a few years removed from high school, adapting to life as a father while looking out for Hill. Ryan said the choice wasn’t easy, but before Hill’s sophomore year, they realized it would be best for him to go to the Boys Ranch, turning to White as a coach and mentor while staying in Chandler where he could often visit family.
“At the end of the day, it was Casmen’s decision,” Rodney said. “We just tried to guide him as best as we could.”
Again, Hill had to adapt – he moved in with White, who is married with two kids, along with three other Boys Ranch residents.
The first couple of months were quiet, White said. Hill mostly kept to himself and stayed in his room.
Then he perked up one morning when the aroma of pancakes wafted through the house. Abi, White’s wife, had made a fresh batch for breakfast because Hill told her he liked them.
“He ate probably 30 pancakes,” White said, laughing. “The kid eats like you wouldn’t believe.”
As time passed, Hill opened up and shared more interests. He loves to read and play WWE video games. He enjoys games of Monopoly, though White usually wins, he said.
And he’s committed to learning about football.
White described Hill as “the most coachable kid.” Gray said Hill is constantly adding new dimensions to his game. With this open, eager mindset, he burst onto the high school football scene, making The Oklahoman’s Little All-City team after the 2020 season.
“Just his sophomore year, he kind of blossomed into the running back and the young man that he is today,” Rodney said.
Living with White, who was a running back at Weber State in Utah, Hill could ask for advice at any time. But the then-assistant coach made sure football didn’t dominate the conversations in their household. White himself had grappled with the realization that football is not his identity, he said, and instilled that same principle in Hill.
“It’s kind of just 50-50,” Hill said. “We’ll talk about it, and then we’ll have the space to just chill.”
With 300+ rushing yards in postseason matchups with Hennessey and Frederick, Hill has established himself as a playoff star. As the Lions prepare to face No. 8 Tulsa Victory Christian in the quarterfinals Friday, Hill understands opponents are likely planning around him.
He isn’t letting that distract him from his game. The senior is thankful for another opportunity to wear his Lions jersey.
“It means a lot,” Hill said. “I honestly never thought it would go like this.”
The Chandler community is supporting him. White is reaching out to contacts at colleges, trying to get Hill recruited, and Hill thanked his family and coaches for believing in him.
Hill has given something to them, too. He stays close to his family, visiting Ryan most days after school. White emphasized Hill’s thoughtful nature. Once, he sent a text message to White asking about candy he could buy for Abi, who has type 1 diabetes. Hill ended up bringing her candy and a card, giving her a joyful moment amid the stress of regulating her blood sugar.
Wide receiver Stefaun Mackey said Hill is one of his best friends, someone he can talk to about anything.
“I don’t like to open up to people like that, and I just felt so comfortable to open up to him,” Mackey said. “I know whatever I say to him, it’s gonna stay between me and him.”
On Friday nights, the crowd’s cheers for Hill are rewarding to those who are close to him, an indication of his progress and potential. White enjoys the comments about Hill’s highlight plays, but those aren’t his favorite compliments.
Instead, he’s happiest when people comment on Hill’s kind spirit. His down-to-earth nature. His authentic personality.
Through constant change, those qualities have remained.
“He’s just an amazing person,” White said. “And the fact that he’s this phenomenal football player is just the cherry on top. It’s just, he happens to be good at football, as far as my wife and I are concerned.
“We love Cas the person more even than Cas the football player, and that’s just what’s so special about him.”