EUFAULA BOYS
Grant Callison, a Eufaula graduate, brings with him a successful coaching background that includes a state championship team at Sequoyah Tahlequah in 2018 and knowledge inherited from his dad Larry-himself, a veteran coach and member of the Oklahoma Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame, as he takes over as head coach of the Ironheads. Callison inherits a talented group of returning players plus a couple coming back from injury, and the knowledge of being back in Class 3A this year after a year in 4A, all adding up to high expectations for 2025.
“Keaton Parish (6-2, Sr.) and Jentry James (6-0, Sr.) will be four-years starters for us this year plus three guys that were key players last year in Ty Sparks (5-8, Sr.), Logan Plant (6-5, Jr.) and A.J. Taylor (6-6, Jr.). Jentry, Keaton and Ty will be asked to do a lot of things for us this year. And back from injury are R’Reon Morrow (5-10, So.) and Payden Lanhem (6-4, Jr.) so we have a pretty good group to start the season,” said Callison who believes in a strong defense that’s tougher than everyone else and an efficiently run offense. And he had praise for members of this returning group.
“Keaton is one of the best kids I’ve ever been around. He is truly selfless, almost to a fault sometimes. He’s a good student and a natural born leader. I’m extremely blessed to be with a lot of high character kids, but Keaton is special in this department. He averaged 11 points a game last year and I think he’s just scratching the surface of his potential. Jentry will be our starting point guard this year. His stats aren’t eye popping but I think that’s more a reflection of the style they played before. I think he’s got a good chance to play small college ball somewhere. Ty is one of the most hard-nosed kids I’ve ever coached and is one of those guards that you hate to go against. He’s already had a couple of small college offers. Logan has been hampered by a football injury, but I expect him to be a starter for us. Payden is a good shooter and ball handler and is coming back off a couple of knee injuries and R’Reon missed all of last season due to a football injury. I’ve had a few really good players that I’ve coached, and I think R’Reon will be very high on that list by time he’s finished. He will no doubt be a player to watch in 3A this year,” said Callison.
There’s excitement in his voice as Callison talks about the Ironheads prospects for 2025.
“I like to play fast and press and I think we have the players to be able to do that and that are hungry for success. We’re a little above average athletes, but we work really hard. Between my three seniors and R’Reon, we have four dynamic guards that can score at a high level. I feel like our team is going to surprise a lot of people in 3A this year. I feel like we’ll be gritty and be able to score the ball and I have high expectations for our team to make a deep run in the playoffs this year.”
