AAU previews is a series that talks to coaches and directors of AAU programs and we do a preview of their teams and expectations for the upcoming AAU season.

I got a chance to talk to Chris Myers of the Oklahoma Impact and their high school teams are looking to make a big impact this season.

Myers talks about the importance of building student-athletes as the emphasis of building good students  is just as crucial as building good basketball players

"Our goal as a program is to provide a comprehensive and competitive summer for our student-athletes. Maximum exposures while playing top competition throughout the country, helping our student-athletes grow, mature as a person and basketball player,” Myers said. “ Everything starts with our staff and our leadership and direction in success of our student-athletes. “

17u-Myers is led by Brewster Peacock and Jace Shepherd with their 6’11 controlling the paint.

“Our 17u - Myers team returns  five student-athletes from our last year 16u team that finished 39-16 on the season and had success over Texas Select, M33M, Team Texas, Oklahoma Wizards 16u (ranked 10th on Indihoops) when we played ,” Meyers said. Our 17u team lead by Brewster Peacock, who is averaging 19.3ppg 7.6rpg while shooting 46% from 3pt on his HS season. PG Jace Shepherd & Kyle Dortch G/F of Fort Gibson will be the anchors of our defense again, while Mason Wiggins & Greyden Steinmetz have grown and matured as basketball players. Can’t forget our big man 6’11 Daniel Rodriguez who will only get better throughout the summer.”

17u- Reed is full of underrated players according to Meyers. With solid play at wing and guards that know how to manage the game.

“17u- Reed will be led by 5’9 PG Tristin Jorgensen who is a floor general, great leadership skills and vision, 6’3 Caleb Riggs of Okay HS & 6’4 Jack Scrutchins of Purcell as this team is just full of sleepers, student-athletes who have the ability to play at the next level.,” Myers said.

Oklahoma Impact 16u consist of small-town, hungry driven kids that look to make noise against other top tier, more well-known talent.

“Our 16u is full of small town talented guards from across the state lead by returning PG from our 15u team Jayden Martin (6’0) Ketchum, OK. Martin is averaging 21ppg, 4rebs, 4ast, 2.8stls during his high school season. Excited about this group as all the guards are 6’3-6’6. Expect a big summer from Karim Byrd Talahina HS, Jacob Ogle (6’6) Norman HS, Grayson Nix (6’3) Red Oak, Shane Didiuk (6’5) Enid HS, Jacob Armstrong (6’3) Gans HS, Trace Ham (5’9) Mooreland HS & Nathaniel Shaffer (6’3) Stigler HS.”

That team will be led by former Navarro College assistant coach Eric Colbert, who owns two JUCO national championships and currently assistant at Pratt College. Colbert, who is a great defensive mind that will be a very good fit for this team.

The 15u team is led by another college coach, Trey Hendon who is an assistant at Langston University that is ranked 10th in the country.

“Hendon lead our 15u to a 51-9 record last season. I believe this team has a few of the top players in the 2019 class in Kellen Hines and Jett Sternberger,” Myers said. “Trey Green and Kolten Childers of Waynoka High School are two student-athletes who will become a common name in the State of Oklahoma over the next few years, Green is averaging 19.2ppg 6.6rpg 4.1apg while Kolten is averaging 12.0ppg 2.7rpg 3.2ast. We have a young man on this team as well who is a 2020 in 6’3 Darius Phillips who I feel has a tremendous upsize.”

Every coach, from middle, high school, college and AAU feel their program is different from others. That they offer more in one area than another or they do something that separates themselves from others. For the Ok. Impact their staff and the way they prepare their kids for the next level makes them different from others.

“In my opinion it starts with our staff as we have high character guys who do this for a living, as all of our staff is former or currently college coaches. Three members of our staff have former NCAA Div 1 experience (OK State, Nebraska, Northwestern in Louisana. As we understand the recruiting process, how to market our student-athletes,” Myers said.

“The fact that when we say student-athletes that’s what we really are, our program requires a 3.0 GPA requirement. We do Act Prep work within our program and require our student-athletes to register for the ACT Test, as this year April 9th, 2016 all 32 student-athletes will be taken the test.” Our Christmas drive as we buy Christmas presents for Nevada Children Center over the last two years as we spent time at the children center while in Las Vegas in July of each AAU season. I think what separates us is how we help our kids grow as student-athletes, it’s not about win and loses it’s about preparing them for life through basketball. We have had a lot of success with 96% of our student-athletes earning scholarships during their senior season of high school ball, I believe playing a quality schedule and our kids becoming road warriors with all the travel is just part of the reason they have success. “

Here is the ending quote from Myers who is appreciative of the people that help make things happen for him.

“Without my staff and their willing to sacrifice from their personal lives we wouldn’t be as good, I’d like to say thank you to all the families, staff and student-athletes who are a part of our family, this is truly a family over here, all of our teams support each other.”

To check out the history of their program, you can check it out here:  http://www.oklahomaimpact.org