Oklahoma: 25 Student-Athletes to Watch in 2015-16

Defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah hopes to keep Oklahoma State on top of its football rivalry with Oklahoma, while Buddy Hield’s surprising decision not to go to the NBA gives the Sooners hope of a big NCAA run.

We ran the Value Add Sports calculations on all returning Oklahoma athletes and emailed 73 sports writers and other experts in the state to help rank the 25 state players to watch on a list we will update here.

The Oklahoma-Oklahoma State rivalry dominates in all sports, but Tulsa also has some standout athletes. Then there is one more “Big O” school in the state.

The state has a great track and field tradition going back to multisport Jim Thorpe, perhaps the greatest athlete in the history of the country, and Justin Estala (pictured gives the state a potential Olympian pole vaulter. He is one of several Oral Roberts players to make the list, joined by:

Alejandra Acosta, Oral Roberts women’s golf
First team All-Summit League … Led Summit League in stroke average in 2015.

Obi Emegano, Oral Roberts men’s basketballNABC Second Team All-District … First Team All-Summit League and all-tournament selection … Posted highest scoring total in 2015 CBI with 30 points.

D’Khari Hicks, Oral Roberts men’s track & field
2015 Summit League Track Athlete of the Year.

Madison Reynolds, Oral Roberts women’s track & field
NCAA qualifier.

Matt Whatley, Oral Roberts baseball
Freshman All-America … Summit League Newcomer of the Year and first-team all-league performer.

1. Emmanuel Ogbah, Oklahoma State Cowboys, Foot, DE
2. Buddy Hield, Oklahoma, Basket, SG
3. Justin Estala, Oral Roberts, Track and Field, Pole Vault (All-Amer)
4. Obi Emegano, Oral Roberts, Basket, SG
5. Eric Striker, Oklahoma Sooners, Foot, LB
6. Ryan Spangler, Oklahoma, Basket, C
7. Matt Whatley, Oral Roberts, Baseball,
8. Rachel Thun, Tulsa, Soccer, Midfielder
9. Phil Forte, Oklahoma St., Basket, SG
10. Perine, Samaje, Oklahoma Sooners, Foot, RB
11. Madison Reynolds, Oral Roberts, Track,
12. Elizabeth Luallin, Oklahoma, Soccer, Midfielder
13. Shaquille Harrison, Tulsa, Basket, SG
14. Mayfield, Baker, Oklahoma Sooners, Foot, QB
15. James Woodard, Tulsa, Basket, SF
16. Alejandra Acosta, Oral Roberts, Golf,
17. D’Khari Hicks, Oral Roberts, Track,
18. Anna Beffer, Oklahoma State, Soccer, Forward
19. Isaiah Cousins, Oklahoma, Basket, SF
20. Le’Bryan Nash, Oklahoma St., Basket, SF

Others Receiving Votes:

Lindy Waters, Norman, OKNorth, Basketball, G

Kristian Doolittle, Edmond, OKEdmond Memorial, Basketball, F