True Buzz Invitational – Michael’s Top 18U Performers
In this article:
Get 25% off your subscription by entering Knight25 in the coupon code area. Enjoy! Prep Redzone Oklahoma was once again on hand in Dallas for the True Buzz Invitational 7v7 tournament. We were there from start to finish and saw…
Access all of Prep Redzone
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingGet 25% off your subscription by entering Knight25 in the coupon code area. Enjoy!
Prep Redzone Oklahoma was once again on hand in Dallas for the True Buzz Invitational 7v7 tournament. We were there from start to finish and saw some fantastic playmakers throughout the two days in DeSoto. We also pulled double duty in the DFW area and were also at the USNFT Combine. Stay tuned for breakdowns on that as well. For now, I kick off our 7v7 coverage, taking a look at the five players that impressed me the most in the 18U division. Jake Johnson will also be providing his five top performers and a look at the younger division as well as some breakout players. So stay tuned to the website for that!
Caden Pickens
Caden
Pickens
5'11" | LB
Plainview | 2022
State
OK
– 2022 Linebacker – Plainview
Played With C4 Texoma
We start with a player that was on the best defense that I personally saw on Saturday. During pool play on Saturday, C4 Texoma went 3-0 and gave up a total of 12 points with a shutout thrown in there. They also gave up 6 points in their first game of bracket play on Sunday before they were eventually bounced out of the tournament Their defense played lights out and a guy that was very vocal and flying all over the field was linebacker
Caden Pickens
Caden
Pickens
5'11" | LB
Plainview | 2022
State
OK
. The Plainview standout is certainly not your prototypical 7v7 player and he definitely excels more when he puts a helmet and pads on and can hit people. But on Saturday, I really liked the way he moved around and was consistently making reads and getting into the right position on the field. And C4 has some absolute ballers and it was Pickens who was one of the more vocal guys on the defensive side of the ball. C4 was without another Oklahoma LB star in McAlester’s
Chase Faber
Chase
Faber
6'2" | LB
McAlester | 2022
State
OK
over the weekend so that opened the door for Pickens to have a big tournament and he certainly did that and then some. Not only was he a top performer but C4’s entire defense earned that honor.
Jordan Drew
Jordan
Drew
6'1" | ATH
Booker T Washington | 2022
State
OK
– 2022 Athlete – Booker T Washington
Played With Sooner 7 Black
He’s listed as an athlete and he does play both sides of the ball but Booker T Washington’s
Jordan Drew
Jordan
Drew
6'1" | ATH
Booker T Washington | 2022
State
OK
is on this list because of his work this weekend at the wide receiver position. Drew was the deep threat for Sooner 7 and was routinely finding himself in the end zone on deep throws from Choctaw quarterback
Steele Wasel
Steele
Wasel
6'4" | 210 lbs | QB
Choctaw | 2023
State
OK
or Perkins-Tryon quarterback
Gunnar Jeffrey Thrash
Gunnar
Jeffrey Thrash
6'1" | 190 lbs | QB
Perkins-Tryon | 2022
OK
. Drew is without a doubt one of the fastest athletes in Oklahoma and he showcased that speed several different times throughout the weekend. Whether it’s on offense or defense, we’re really excited to see Drew take the next step this fall with the Hornets. Because of his combination of size and speed, the sky is the limit for his ceiling and I still think it’s too early to label him with just one position. Personally, I think that he could end up being a breakout star for the Hornets at the wide receiver position this fall. The only question I have about Drew from watching him on Saturday has absolutely nothing to do with football. Drew wore ski goggles throughout the day on Saturday. Maybe it’s because he was absolutely flying up and down the field all day Saturday.
Kanijal Thomas
Kanijal
Thomas
6'1" | DB
Del City | 2023
State
OK
– 2023 Defensive Back – Del City
Played With Sooner 7 Black
The first of three straight defensive backs for Sooner 7 Black is Del City 2023
Kanijal Thomas
Kanijal
Thomas
6'1" | DB
Del City | 2023
State
OK
. While the other two defensive backs are primarily used as cornerbacks, Thomas has been moved all over the secondary but was primarily lining up at safety over the weekend in Dallas. Thomas was an absolute ball hawk for Sooner 7’s Black squad and continues to show unbelievable versatility in the secondary. You run into defensive back prospects that play one position well and that’s where they have to be in order to be successful. A corner has to be a corner. A safety has to be a safety. When it comes to Thomas, one thing we’ve learned from watching him this offseason is none of that matters. Thomas can line up at corner on the outside, he can be in the slot, he can move back to safety and he’s comfortable and confident in all of the above. Thomas was a playmaker throughout the weekend and showed why he’s one of the top 2023 prospects in the state, not just at his position, but as an overall prospect. We continue to be impressed with Thomas and over the weekend it was his versatility that certainly stood out.
Korbyn Green
Korbyn
Green
6'1" | DB
Owasso | 2022
State
OK
– 2022 Defensive Back – Owasso
Played With Sooner 7 Black
Similar to
Jordan Drew
Jordan
Drew
6'1" | ATH
Booker T Washington | 2022
State
OK
, you can make the argument that no defender has raised his stock more playing with Sooner 7 this offseason than Owasso’s
Korbyn Green
Korbyn
Green
6'1" | DB
Owasso | 2022
State
OK
. The True Buzz Invitational was the third tournament that we’ve gotten a chance to see Green and Sooner 7 and not only has he been impressive every time out but he continues to get better and better. He’s become a lock down cornerback that can be trusted to simply take away half of the field. We’ve gotten the opportunity to be close to this team on the sidelines and in between games and one of the biggest vocal leaders is Green. And if you know the game of football you know the following. When it comes to the cornerback position, you have to be confident. A lot of times that confidence can also be vocalized and Green makes no secret about how confident he is when he’s talking to his opponent or the opposing sideline for that matter. This offseason, Green made the move from Booker T Washington to Owasso and has a chance to be part of a very special defense with the Rams. If he plays this fall like he has this offseason, Owasso is going to become a “No Fly Zone” very quickly.
NuNu Campbell
NuNu
Campbell
5'11" | DB
Holland Hall | 2022
State
OK
– 2022 Defensive Back – Holland Hall
Played With Sooner 7 Black
The final top performer is yet another defensive back for Sooner 7 Black. Seriously, their secondary will put the clamps on you. Holland Hall cornerback
NuNu Campbell
NuNu
Campbell
5'11" | DB
Holland Hall | 2022
State
OK
has been a prospect I’ve really liked since watching his sophomore film. After seeing him two times in person during his junior season, I was convinced that he was one of the top cover corners in Oklahoma. While playing with Sooner 7 this offseason, he’s done nothing but back up that thought every time I’ve had a chance to watch him. One play from the weekend that stands out had Campbell completely taking his receiver out of the play and out of bounds, the pass goes over the middle, Campbell is roughly 25 yards away and gets there in a blink of an eye after completely dominating his match-up. Campbell is a heat-seeking missile that is much more than just a cover corner and that evolution in his game should make him more valuable when it comes to his recruitment. In addition to being that cover corner, he can get from point A to point B in the blink of an eye and it doesn’t matter how much ground he has to cover. Campbell continues to impress every time he steps on the field.