S P O RT S
BY: JOSH HELMER he Oklahoma women’s basketball program didn’t have to search very far to find one of its potential future stars. Standout Norman High senior point guard Kelbie Washington signed with the Sooners in November, fulfilling a lifelong dream.
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“My goal was always to play Division I basketball at the University of Oklahoma,” Washington said. “The coaching staff at Oklahoma was really helpful with the process. Picking the University of Oklahoma was just a gut feeling and I’m happy about it.” The 5-foot-7 guard averaged 13.2 points, 4.4 assists and 4.3 steals per game during her junior season. She’s a two-time First Team All-COAC selection, a two-time COAC Defensive Player of the Year and earned Big All-City First Team status last season.
Staying Home
A proven winner, Washington helped the Tigers to the program’s fifth state championship in 2019. She earned First Team AllState Tournament honors during that title run. Norman was the favorite to repeat last spring with a record of 24-1 before the coronavirus pandemic forced the cancellation of the state tournament. The four-star point guard is ranked as the No. 66 player nationally in ESPN’s 2021 HoopGurlz Recruiting Rankings. OU head women’s basketball coach Sherri Coale knows the Sooners are getting a talented hometown addition.
Photos by: Mark Doescher
“Kelbie Washington is a kid I fell in love with watching her play as a junior high kid,” Coale said. “I love her intensity. She’s got some shooting range. She can score it, she can pass it, she can score it going to the rim, crafty finisher, draws a lot of fouls and is a great defender. She has a chance to be one of the best on the ball defenders we’ve ever had here. The passionate, emotional way she plays the game gives her a chance to be an extraordinary leader.”
Future Sooner Kelbie Washington
56 | February 2021
Washington has worked hard to expand her game in her time at Norman High. Known as a tenacious defender, her offensive game continues to improve. “From my freshman year to now, I’ve grown a lot,” Washington said. “I think that’s because of Coach Neal and the program and
