Embracing the challenge

The Tournament of Champions is an opportunity - in more ways than one - for the Kingfisher boys basketball team.

The Yellowjackets begin play in the 57th edition of the prestigious invitational at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday when they take on Bartlesville at the BOK Center.

“There’s a lot of value in going to tournaments like this,” said KHS head coach Jared Reese.

“First and foremost, it’s just a great experience for the guys. Not very many people are invited to these, so it’s a great honor to be picked and then to take part.”

Then there’s the competition… and Reese doesn’t JUST mean the chance to play against the types of teams that will prepare them for Western Conference play and the playoffs.

“When you play in something like this, you go up against some really, really good players,” he said. “The types of guys that you see playing on TV a couple years down the road.”

When Kingfisher played in the 2018 TOC, they faced Booker T. Washington in the semifinals. The Hornets, who handed the Jackets their only loss that season and eventually won the 6A crown, featured Bryce Thompson.

He was the state’s top recruit that year, signed with Kansas and eventually transferred to Oklahoma State.

“He made some unbelievable shots that game,” Reese recalled.

The next day, KHS beat Putnam City West. They had a guard named Rondell Walker, who had two good years at OSU and is now playing for TCU.

Kingfisher was invited to the 2020 Tournament of Champions, but it was canceled less than a month before it was slated to begin.

Instead, Kingfisher was a last-minute entry in the Edmond Open. The Jackets were beaten in the finals by 6A’s then top-ranked Edmond Memorial. Their senior guard, Sean Pedulla, is now a standout at Virginia Tech.

“You’re going to not only see great teams, but great individual players,” Reese said. “They make you better.”

The Jackets will see just that against the Bruins on Wednesday.

Though they’re the only unranked team in the bracket, they feature perhaps the best player in David Castillo.

247Sports has the 6-foot-1 junior rated as the No. 1 player in his class in Oklahoma and the No. 3 combo guard in the nation for the Class of 2024.

He’s rated as the No. 25 overall prospect in the class in the nation.

“He’s scary good,” Reese said. “You watch his game film and you can’t help but be impressed.”

College coaches are impressed. Castillo has offers from OU, OSU, Kansas, Texas, Illinois, Florida and several other high-major programs.

Bartlesville is currently 3-3.

“None of the games are easy, but we also don’t hate our draw,” Reese said. “We just need to find a way to make sure the rest of his team doesn’t beat us and then not let him do it by himself. He’s certainly capable.”

The Bruins and Jackets are on the same side of the bracket as 5A No. 2 Tulsa Memorial and Class B’s second-ranked Roff.

The bottom half is considerably tougher on paper.

It features 6A No. 1 Edmond North against 4A no. 2 Crossings Christian and 2A No. 1 Dale against 6A No. 18 Union.

The Jackets, 4-0 and ranked No. 1 in 4A, are one of four reigning champs in the field (Edmond North in 6A, Tulsa Memorial in 5A and Dale in 2A).