GAMES
RANKINGS
Hightower Jr. C Ogechi Okeke
BIG SIS: Hightower's Okeke the centerpiece in H-Town
Wrong. She’s just as likely to help an opponent up off the floor as she is to post them up on it.
“I moved from Sweden before the eighth grade and I’m still pretty new to basketball,” the super junior said. “I was really uncoordinated at first and would let the little things get to me. I’ve read several books on mental health, and my confidence has improved so much. I want to uplift people— that’s just my nature.
“I used to hate my height. Now, I love it and the opportunities it’s giving me.”
Isaiah Vela (VYPE)
Now ranked No. 19 nationally in the Class of 2027, the Hightower junior is one of the most coveted recruits in the country. She helped lead the Hurricanes to the Class 6A State Finals, earning spots on the All-State Tournament Team, All-Region Team, and first-team all-district.
And now, it’s her time.
“Coach (Jasmine Brewer) has made this program a sisterhood,” Okeke said. “She’s been telling me since my freshman year that there would come a time when I’d need to lead. I think that time is now.
“I never realized how many people looked up to me — my teammates really rely on me. I’m not just doing it for me anymore. It’s for us. I’m pouring my energy into them and making sure everyone feels at home.”
The stars of 2025-26 Hightower Girls BasketballIsaiah Vela (VYPE)
Whether it’s making TikToks, hanging out at each other’s houses, or hitting Chick-fil-A, the Hurricanes have that rare chemistry —that special sauce — every great program needs.
“My social life, my school life, and my basketball life —they’re all the same people,” she said. “These girls are my family. We lean on each other because we’re all going through the same things, on and off the court.”
The sisterhood is real.
...
Hightower's Chandler Preston-Caver
ALL ABOUT THE SISTERHOOD: Bonds have led Preston-Caver to State Finalist Hightower and beyond
Preston-Caver played a pivotal role in the Hurricanes’ historic run to the UIL 6A-DII State Championship. It was the program’s first trip to the State Tournament since 2019 and the first time since 2010 that they advanced to the Final.
“The work we put in made all the difference,” Preston-Caver said. “Coach (Jasmine) Brewer pushes us to our limits and makes us set new ones. We were tested early in the season, but we knew consistency was key if we wanted to go far. We kept pushing, and the results spoke for themselves.”
Hightower Girls Head Coach Jasmine BrewerBradley C. Collier (VYPE)
Despite their incredible run, Hightower ultimately fell to the No. 1-ranked team in Texas, Boswell, in a hard-fought 51-42 battle.
Still, Preston-Caver finished the season with an impressive list of accolades.
She was named to the UIL State All-Tournament Team, earned All-State honors with both the TABC (Texas Association of Basketball Coaches) and TGCA (Texas Girls Coaches Association), and was selected as the Co-District 21-6A Offensive Player of the Year.
Though the ending wasn’t what she had hoped for, she has no regrets about transferring to Hightower from Hardin-Jefferson during her sophomore year.
“Our program is built on sisterhood,” she said. “That’s something we preach, and you’ll see it on a lot of our graphics. We truly buy into the ‘family’ mentality, and that has helped me develop both as a player and a person in the short time I’ve been here.”
The stars of 2024-25 Hightower Girls BasketballBradley C. Collier (VYPE)
That same sense of belonging ultimately led Preston-Caver to commit to Loyola University in New Orleans, marking a full-circle moment in her basketball journey.
“Loyola’s program felt the most like what I’ve experienced these past few years,” she explained. “My future coach (Kellie Kennedy) actually coached Coach Brewer when she played there. It just made sense—it felt like home, and they hold the same values I’ve come to know at Hightower.”
As one of the team’s veteran leaders and a future member of Loyola’s “Wolf Pack,” Preston-Caver embraced her role as a mentor. She made it a point to set the example for the next generation, including standout sophomore and fellow All-Tournament Team selection, Ogechi Okeke.
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
“I had to be a vocal leader, both on and off the court,” Preston-Caver said. “I wanted to relay what I’ve learned in this program—that we have to ‘stay consistent’ and ‘push ourselves ’every day. At a certain point, we began to rise, and I could see all the growth in our game. Even though I’m graduating, I know this team is in great hands moving forward.”
With her high school career now behind her, Preston-Caver leaves a legacy of leadership, determination, and resilience—qualities that will undoubtedly serve her well as she takes the next step in her journey.