Athletes First Champions

Remembering
Carolyn Orton

Remembering Carolyn Orton

Athletes First mourns the loss of a family member with the passing of Carolyn Orton on Tuesday, February 10th, 2009 from complications of Lupus an autoimmune disorder. Carolyn, the mother of Terrence Crawford, former Oklahoma State player and Daniel Orton, current player at Bishop McGuinness High School and loving wife of Larry Orton (Big O), will be deeply missed by all. She will forever be remembered for her love and kindness towards all the kids in the program and her willingness to give of her herself to everyone. God has called her home but her kindred spirit will live on.

Athletes First Family



redbar



Athletes First Back to Back Wins National AAU Super Showcase Champions

2008 National AAU Super Showcase Champions

Athletes First Wins 2008 AAU Super Showcase Champions

Athletes First defeated the Illinois Warriors 67 to 62 to win 2008 National Showcase Champions.

Bottom Row: Donte Foster, Nick Johnson, Ryan Randolph

Left to Right: Coach Gary Vick, Keandra Talley, Terrence Boyd, Josh Davis, Kyle Hardrick,
Daniel Orton
Back Row: Coach Carl Henry, Xavier Henry, Hunter Gibson, Coach Larry Orton, Andrew Davis



2007 National AAU Super Showcase Champions

Athletes First Wins 2007 National AAU Super Showcase Champions

Pictured left to right- Coach Gary Vick, Hunter Gibson, Donte Foster, Nick Johnson, Garrin Wright

Back Row- Cole Hooper, Terrence Boyd, Kyle Hardrick, Daniel Orton, Xavier Henry, Ryan Randolph, Coach Larry Orton, Coach Carl Henry

Athletes First defeated the Arkansas Bumingham Storm 74 to 66 to win 2007 Naitonal Showcase Champions.


redbar


2009
College Commitments

* Xavier Henry (Putnam City)
Kansas (2009)

* Daniel Orgon (McGuiness)
Kentucky (2009)

* Kyle Hardick (Norman)
University of Oklahoma (2009)

* Terrance Boyd (Norman)
Western Kentucky (2009)

* Josh Davis (Star Spencer)
Hutchinson Jr. College (2009)


redbar


Athletes First
Event Historical Page

2006 Achievements [Read More]


2007 Achievements [Read More]


2008 Achievements [Read More]


2009 Achievements [Read More]


redbar


Former Athletes First Player

Blake Griffin Enters NBA Draft

National Player of the Year

 



redbar


Former Athletes First Players Sooners Stars
Blake Griffin, Sam Bradford Makes History

Athletes First Players Blake Griffin and Sam Bradford Makes History


Fox Logo

Whether it was Blake Griffin driving his 1993 gold Ford Explorer or Sam Bradford behind the wheel of a white 1997 Ford Expedition, the carpooling rides to AAU practice at Midwest City High would rarely deviate.

Two high school kids roaring with laughter at the expense of their buddies and Athletes First basketball teammates with one impersonation after another.

[See Article]


redbar


2009 Jordan Brand
All-American Team

Xavier Henry 2009 Jordan Brand All-American Team

Xavier Henry

Arguably the top prospect in the class of 2009, Xavier Henry has been on college coaches radar from before his freshman year of high school. Henry has a textbook jump shot that is automatic from the wing. He can put the ball on the floor and will challenge anyone on his way to the basket. Henry’s strength and size are a huge asset and are what set him a notch above the rest of the players at his position. His mother and father also played collegiately at Kansas in the early 80’s. Henry will play at Memphis next year where he will join his older brother C.J. and Coach Calipari.


Thank you for visiting our website. Athletes First is an Nike affiliated summer team. There are only 40 such teams in the Nation. Athletes First is the only boy's Nike team in the state of Oklahoma.


Nike Sponsors Athletes First


redbar


Athletes First 14’s Win
MAYB National Kick Off Tournament

Athletes First 14’s Win 2009 MAYB National Kickoff

The Athletes First 14's defeated the Tulsa Thunder 58-56 to win the 2009 MAYB National Kick Off Tournament in Newton, KS.

From Left to Right: Joel Blumenthal, Demi Royal, David Bush, Tanner Tepe, D’Angelo Smith, Richard Brothers, JR Simon, Connor McFall, J.D. Warren.
Not pictured head coach Peter Abbott


redbar


Athletes First 15’s Win
2009 Manhattan Classic National Tournament

Athletes First 15’s Win 2009 Manhattan Classic Championship

Athletes First 15's defeat the Kansas City Cowboys 66-59 to win the 2009 Manhattan Classic National Tournament.

Bottom Left to Right:
Nino Jackson, Jamil Donovan

Top Row Left to Right:
Coach Leonard Jackson, Devin Totoro, Joe Edmonds, Tre Payne, Josh Shepherd, Matt Christiansen, Mike Onuoha, James Woodard and Coach Randy Walters


redbar


Athletes First 15’s Win
2009 Texas Throwdown Championship

Athletes First 15’s Win 2009 Texas Throwdown Championship

Athletes First 15's defeat Texas Bluechips 52 to 49 to win 2009 Texas Throwdown Championship.

Pictured front row left to right:
Coach Randy Walters, Jamil Donovan, Tre Payne, Nino Jackson, Coach Leonard Jackson

Back Row: Phoenix Bills, James Woodard, Josh Richardson, Matt Christiansen, Mike Onuoha, Garrett McGrady, Devin Totoro


redbar


Athletes First 15’s Win
2009 Arkansas Showcase National Tournament

Athletes First 15’s Win 2009 Arkansas Showcase National Tournament

Athletes First 15's defeat St Louis Eagles 79 to 49 to win 2009 Arkansas Throwdown Championship.

Bottom left to right: Jamil Donovan, Tre Payne

Standing left to right: Coach Randy Walter, Nino Jackson, Phoenix Bills, Josh Richardson, Mike Onuoha, James Woodard, Devin Totoro, Coach Jack

Back row Matt Christiansen, Garrett McGrady.


redbar


NCAA Changes Recruiting Age


NCAA Changes Recruiting Age


Giving in to the young-and-younger movement in college basketball recruiting, the NCAA has decreed that seventh graders are now officially classified as prospects. The organization voted Thursday to change the definition of a prospect from ninth grade to seventh grade for men's basketball only to nip a trend in which some college coaches were working at private, elite camps and clinics for seventh and eighth graders.


redbar


Daniel Orton
2009 Highlights




Daniel Orton Shatters Backboard!






redbar



2009 Jordan Brand
All-American Team

Daniel Orton 2009 Jordan Brand All-American Team

Daniel Orton

Daniel Orton is arguably the most powerful and versatile big men in the 2009 class. He is a tremendous defensive player due to his shot blocking ability and rebounding. Orton highlighted those skills last year as he averaged 10 rebounds and almost seven blocks a game as a junior. His unselfishness on the offensive side of the ball makes any point guard want to play with him. Orton can score on the low block and is great at finishing through contact. In the summer, he played along side fellow Jordan Brand All-American Xavier Henry. Next season Orton will play for Billy Gillespie at Kentucky.



Former Athletes First Player Blake Griffin



Oklahoma Sooners Blake Griffin Top Pick In NBA Draft!

Blake Griffin No.1 Draft Pick

NBA commissioner David Stern, left, poses with the No.1 overall draft pick Blake Griffin, from Oklahoma, who was selected by the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round of the NBA basketball draft, Thursday, June 25, 2009 in New York.

Read More


Blake Griffin Athletes First Player
Blake Griffin 2006

redbar


Suns Take Taylor Griffin in Second!

Blake Griffin No.1 Draft Pick

What a night for OU men's basketball and for the Griffin family. Approximately four hours after Blake Griffin was selected No. 1 overall in the NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Clippers, older brother Taylor Griffin was taken in the second round by the Phoenix Suns with the 48th overall pick.

"This is your dream," said the 6-7, 238-pound forward from a suite at New York's Madison Square Garden. "As far as Blake and I being taken in same draft -- you can imagine maybe playing in college together, but never in million years did I really imagine both of us being drafted on the same night."
Read More



redbar




Xavier Henry Signs With Kansas

Xavier Henry Signs With Kansas

Xavier Henry finally decided to keep his family's tradition going.
[See Article]


redbar


Xavier Henry Named Gatorade Player of the Year

Xavier Henry Named Gatorade Player of the Year


Putnam City High School's Xavier Henry has been named Gatorade's state Player of the Year in boys basketball. The Memphis signee scored 24 points in the Class 6A state championship game against Jenks. Putnam City won the game, 72-48.

Henry was considered one of the best players in the country being ranked by recruiting websites and magazine publications such as VYPE.

The 6-foot-6 forward is expected to do well at the college level.



[VYPE Article]


redbar


Xavier Henry is 2009 McDonald's All American

XAVIER HENRY
2009
MCDONALDS ALL AMERICAN

2009 McDonald's All American Xavier Henry

Henry will lead USA
against the World

In addition to earning spots on the McDonald’s All-American and Jordan All-American teams, Putnam City guard Xavier Henry was named to the USA Basketball Junior National Select team, which will play the World in Nike Hoop Summit on April 11. The World team is comprised of top players 19 years old or younger from around the world.

“It feels unbelievable to be recognized as one of the best players in the United States,” said Henry, who signed with Memphis last fall. “And be on a team that gets to play against the world’s best.”

The 6-6 senior is averaging 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.7 steals per game. Henry is shooting 55.9 percent from the field, including 44.3 percent from the three-point line.

XAVIER HENRY
PUTNAM CITY HIGH SCHOOL
HOMETOWN: OKLAHOMA CITY, OK.
HEIGHT: 6'6 - WEIGHT: 225
POSITION: GUARD
COLLEGE: MEMPHIS

[See More]


Athlete First Sponsors
©2009 Athletes First

Website hosted by Backup Fortress LLC

Athletes First

Number of visitors as of Jan 2009 0000015534