Oklahoma's Class of 2009 shining on AAU circuit
Class of 2009 could be Oklahoma's best

By Brandon Chatmon

Published: July 20, 2007

Basketball fans in Oklahoma may be looking at the best high school basketball class to ever come out of the Sooner State when this year's junior class graduates in 2009.

And they've proven it this summer on the AAU circuit.

Putnam City guard Xavier Henry and Bishop McGuinness forward Daniel Orton are consensus top-15 players in the Class of 2009, and Norman forward Kyle Hardrick is a consensus top-30 player in the class.

"If you're third in that threesome, that's like playing golf with Tiger Woods and Arnold Palmer,” said Scout analyst Dave Telep.

Said Rivals analyst Jerry Meyer: "There are a lot of states that have more depth. But with Henry and Orton, you have top-of-the-line, five-star talents.”

Henry, Orton and Hardrick have made a strong impressionthis summer, earning invitations to the NIKE Global Challenge, which boasts the top 40 players in the nation.

While they all are receiving high praise among insiders of the AAU circuit, nobody has been showered with as much praise as Henry.

"He's looked really good this summer,” Meyer said. "He is an elite prospect and has the chance to be a superstar in the NBA one day. He's that good.”

Said Telep: "Xavier is amongst the five best players in his class. He's playing with guys that are older than him and he's not only fitting in, he's standing out. He's the real deal.”

Orton and Hardrick have also impressed.

"I think everyone is waiting on Daniel Orton to explode,” Telep said. "He has the size, talent and basketball IQ to become a dominant player on the circuit. I think he'll get to a point when he looks around and it will click for him and he'll realize he has the chance to be the best player on the court every time he steps on the court.”

While Hardrick's name isn't thrown into conversations on the circuit as much as Henry and Orton, the Oklahoma commitment has proven his value nonetheless.

"I talk about Orton and Kyle Hardrick in the same sentence,” Telep said. "They have something that sets them apart from most big men. They're excellent passers with a great feel for the game so their value (is great).

While it remains to be seen whether they can compete with the state's 2002 class, which included Shelden Williams, DeAngelo Alexander, Kelenna Azubuike, Julius Lamptey and Marques Hayden, this class (especially if you include Norman-based guard Terrence Boyd) will be remembered for years.

"It's not as deep (as 2002),” Telep said. "(But) I think the 09 contingent, those three guys, at the end of the day, that's going to be a class the state can hang its hat on for a while.”

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