RJ Fisher
RJ Fisher gets one more chance to represent Eisenhower on the basketball court.
The senior was named to the Oklahoma Coaches Association (OCA) All-State roster as a member of the Large School West team. The game takes place at 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 26 at Oral Roberts University’s Mabee Center in Tulsa.
Fisher was ejected under questionable circumstances in the Eagles’ quarterfinal matchup against Coweta last month, so the All-State game will serve as a long-awaited opportunity to atone for his mistakes and end his high school career in a positive manner.
“That’s not a way you want to end your basketball career, and having the opportunity to come out and actually finish my career in the All-State game feels pretty good,” Fisher said.
Fisher will be surrounded by some of best senior players the state has to offer, including several players Ike has battled the past few years. Some of the players joining Fisher on the West squad are Adokiye Iyaye of the Class 6A champion, Putnam City North, and Carl Albert dynamic duo Mason Harrell and Trey Hopkins.
“There’s a lot of exciting players on our team, and a lot of guys who can really come out and make plays and a lot of athletic dunks,” Fisher said. “I think it’ll be fun to play with some of the guys like Mason (Harrell) and Trey Hopkins. The west side is actually pretty loaded, so the whole team will be fun to play with.”
Fisher wasn’t the only one from the Ike basketball program excited by the reveal, though.
Eagles coach Todd Millwee will serve as one of the two West team coaches alongside Duncan’s David McGuire.
Millwee isn’t sure what his duties entail just yet, but he eagerly awaits the opportunity.
“It’s a fun week,” Millwee said. “There’s coaches’ clinics and socials where you get together with all your peers, and there will be a couple of practices where the 10 guys get together and practice.”
Millwee has attended All-State games in the past, but never in a coaching capacity. The extent of his involvement in those situations were escorting Ike players Romio Harvey and Darius Roy in previous years. This year, Millwee gets to be a part of the game.
Although Millwee said his selection is an honor, he admits he couldn’t have reached this point without a group of talented players.
“I’m in a pretty fortunate situation where I have a lot of good players,” Millwee said. “And we’re in a good conference — our teams get a lot of respect around the state. We play hard and try to do the right thing, so it’s definitely an honor just to be part of it.
“I was really excited that RJ got picked. I think what he’s done for the program in his four years is great. From Day 1, he just wanted to win. He played defense, rebounded and hustled. He led the state in assists (7.8 apg) out of every single class, and that’s pretty amazing.”
Millwee said coaching Fisher in a game of this magnitude means a lot to him not only because of what Fisher accomplished in his career, but also because of how their last game together ended.
“It was kind of tough on (Fisher), just the way things ended,” Millwee said. “After it was over, it was something we all talked about and faced and made us wonder what if? because that hurt us mentally. I’m glad we get to experience this game together. He ends his career, and I get to be one of the guys who helps coach him and get to that point.
"You grow relationships with those guys, and once they’re out of school, it’s a little different because you saw them go from young kids to young men. It’s cool to be linked with him in that way.”
Millwee’s selection has some sentimental value for Fisher as well.
Millwee was the head coach of the Eagles for three or Fisher’s four years, and Fisher said he is grateful for everything the coach has done for him throughout his career.
“Coach Millwee is a coach who’s always had my back, and he’s always been by my side,” Fisher said. “To end it with him by my side again feels pretty good.”
However, Fisher’s participation in the game is not a certainty — there remains hurdles to clear.
Fisher signed to play football at Air Force, and the demanding schedule of a Division I program and military academy present some problems. He is set to report to Colorado Springs, Colo., on July 18, eight days before the All-State game.
Despite the scheduling conflict, Fisher is confident he will be cleared to play in the game.
“I’m still figuring that out with my coaches, but as of now, they think I’ll be able to come back down and play in it,” Fisher said. “They’re pretty cool with it because they know I’ve put a lot of time and effort into basketball.”
Denny, Huddleston also All-State
Seniors Toby Denny of Chattanooga and Dawson Huddleston of Marlow were also named All-State by the OCA and will play on the Small School West team. Mangum boys coach Chad Hussey is one of the Small School West coaches.
The small school game tips at 7 p.m. on July 26.
Denny averaged 23.3 points and 7.7 rebounds per game his senior season. After recovering from bulging disc surgery, Denny finished his career with more than 1,500 points.
Huddleston nearly joined the 2,000-point club, winding up with 1,973 points. He averaged 23.2 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.8 steals, and 1.8 assists his senior year and 17.6 points per game for his career.
Huddleston will play football at the University of Central Oklahoma starting this fall.