BASKETBALL

Four starters return as Oak Ridge Wildcats begin a new basketball season

Allen Etheridge
Special to The Oak Ridger

Last year: Going into the 2022-2023 season, Oak Ridge High School Head Basketball Coach Aaron Green’s Wildcats were an unknown. Graduation losses meant that the 'Cats would field a young and inexperienced team. However, that team played above expectations and ended up District 3 champions with a 24-6 record before losing to Karns in the Region 2 Tournament. This year, four of last year’s starters return with a season’s worth of high-level experience, and the 'Cats, who travel to the Bahamas at Thanksgiving and to the national-level Arby’s Classic at Christmas, come in with big goals and high expectations. 

The 2023-24 Oak Ridge High School Wildcats boys' basketball team.

Players to watch

  • No. 11 Rayquan Watson (6-0 Junior) - Returning point guard comes in much more experienced this year. Looking for a turnover-to-assist ratio closer to 3:1, RayRay should make better decisions this season. Shot has improved. Great locker room guy to have on your team. 
  • No. 10 Brennen Scott (6-1 Senior) - The shooting guard has a great outside shot and can take it to the hold as well. Green calls him one of the better guards in the area with solid handles. One of the team leaders. 
  • No. 20 Kaden Brightharp (6-2 Senior) - The forward is the best defender on the team and is often the best offensive player. Green calls him a “silent assassin,” who lets his play do the talking. “Hard-hat” player with a physical game. 
  • No. 5 Garrett Giles (6-6 Junior) - The Greenback transfer has been a great addition to the Wildcat program. He’s rangy and athletic, a good shooter who fits in well with the team. Green says he’s still learning the system. 
  • No. 35 Cooper Williams (6-6 Junior) - When Bryson Comer went down with an injury at the end of last year, Williams stepped in to fill the role under the rim. He’s strong, moves well, has great hands, and is a good passer and shooter. 
  • No. 2 Shamar Green (6-6 Junior) - Will share the post spot with Williams at this matchup-dependent spot. Great shot blocker and rim protector. One of the most improved players on the squad, he’s an aggressive rebounder. 

Season Outlook: COVID-19 limited school travel for a couple of years, but now the 'Cats are ready to get back in the air, and they travel back to the Bahamas once again for the Thanksgiving Tournament. Green says this is a big deal for the team, most of whom have never been out of the country before. Including teams from the Atlanta area and the Bahamas, competition at the tourney presents a solid early-season test. Over the Christmas holiday, the 'Cats return to the Arby’s Classic in Bristol, playing at Viking Hall in this venerable and competitive tournament. After the holidays, the 'Cats play a full District schedule and lose a perennial rival in West, which moves to District 4 while Halls moves to District 3. A tough non-District schedule that includes The HDC Classic, 5Star Preps Classic, Cleveland, Oakland, Alcoa, Oakland, and Fulton is designed to sharpen them for District play. Green calls this team his best in the last two to three years in terms of talent and experience, but the expectation remains the same each year regardless of talent and experience: to compete for district, region, and state titles. 

The 'Cats begin the 2023-2024 campaign on Tuesday, Nov. 14, in the Hall of Fame Game against Grace Christian at 7:30 p.m. at Wildcat Arena. 

The Wildcats' basketball schedule for the 2023-24 season.

Allen Etheridge is the Oak Ridge High School assistant athletic director and sports information director.