Midwest City Carl Albert 2024 guard Quincy Hopkins able to relish any and all challenges

MIDWEST CITY, OKLAHOMA - Quincy Hopkins likes challenges. 

That is what drives Carl Albert’s senior guard.

On the court, that means accepting the task of guarding the opposing team’s best player. It’s something the 6-foot-3 guard relishes.

“He has improved on that, but just his ability defensively to guard somebody tough (is impressive),” Carl Albert coach Jay Price said. “I think he's really embraced that and said, 'I'll take that role and I want to do that.'

"And so, that's something we're going to continue to rely on.”

Hopkins showed that ability during a recent matchup when he held Caddo’s electric guard, DJ Dill, to 16 points on 6-of-19 shooting.

“I just tried to play him and intensely stay on him, stay close,” Hopkins said. “Tried to make his shots as hard as I could.”

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Being a standout defender is just one of the many jobs the 6-foot-3 Hopkins has as one of the Titans' senior leaders this year. With designs on leading the team back to the 5A title game, he knew coming in he had to expand his role and skill set.

“I wanted to see more competitiveness, a bigger leadership role and be the heart of our team,” Hopkins said. “Being the leader, making the right plays, playing unselfishly, taking accountability, guarding the best player day in, day out, just taking the load on offense.”

Hopkins said he worked on his shooting during the offseason as he looks to become a more all-around player for the Titans. He says the players his game most resemble are his brother, Tre Hopkins, and Chicago Bulls' guard DeMar DeRozan.

“Quincy's just such a great athlete and he's really tough with the ball in his hands and he has got a really good mid-range,” Price said. “He's starting to improve on his 3-point shooting and we rely on him a lot defensively as well.

"Usually, he's having to guard their best player and he's embraced that and does a good job with that. We want to get him involved and we want to get the ball in his hands from time to time and get him in space where he can make plays. And if we can continue to do that, he's going to have some success, which I think we will too if that happens.”

Hopkins is planning to continue his basketball career after he graduates from Carl Albert. While he doesn’t have any offers as of yet, Price believes they will start to come if he continues to play at the level he has been.

“I think he'd be a really good Division II kid,” Price said. “I'm not sure Division I. Everybody wants to go there and I just don't know if he's ready for that yet. There might be a place for him that he could fit in there, but I think there are so many really good D2 programs around.

"You go watch those guys play and they got some great players and I think he could fit in there really well. And I'd like for something like that to come around for him. I think that would work for him really well.” 

Carl Albert (13-4) has won 10 of its last 11 ballgames, the latest a 75-57 win against El Reno on Jan. 23. The Titans are back in action this Tuesday when they travel to take on Elgin.

-- Michael Kinney | @SBLiveOK