Edmond North (Oklahoma) 2024 standout Dylan Warlick can enhance 'best winner' reputation one final time
To say Edmond North’s Dylan Warlick plays with a physical presence would be an understatement.
In a day and age when more players are more concerned about shooting 3-pointers, highlight-worthy Euro-steps or leaking out on defense for easy dunks, the 6-foot-5, 215-pound Warlick has made a living bullying foes wherever he finds them on the court.
While it rarely causes videos on social media to go viral, Warlick’s style of play has gotten him to a level no other current player in Oklahoma can lay claim to, according to Edmond North coach Scott Norris.
“To me, he's the best winner in 6A basketball history,” Norris said. “We've been to a final four his freshman year and won back-to-back (state titles) the last two years.
"So, depending on how we finish this year, I don't think there's anybody in 6A basketball that's had a career that he's had winning-wise.”
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When Warlick was told what his coach said, the 6A-1 District Player of the Year took pride in the comments.
“That's a big thing for me. Winning. It's the most important in my opinion,” Warlick said. “No matter your stats, whatever it is, I think winning's the most important thing.
"So, it is a big thing for him to say that about me and being a winner, it's a big thing.”
Edmond North senior Dylan Warlick fights for the ball during a recent game. Warlick attempts to lead the Huskies to a third straight Class 6A state title this week.
With the 6A boys state tournament kicking into gear Wednesday at the Lloyd Noble Center in Norman, Warlick has a chance to close out his prep career with three consecutive state championships. In the two previous runs, Warlick has been the driving force behind the title and the same is expected again this week if they are to win it all.
“He's smart, very physical. Nobody matches his physicality and when they do, they can't stop him still,” North’s Dontrell Yearby said. “Just pure dominance every day at practice.
"I've never seen anybody stop him, ever. He just gets it done. It doesn't matter.”
Edmond North boys in position to make run at third straight 6A championship
Yet, Warlick admits he hasn’t always played at that level. He has incorporated other facets of his game that have made him a dangerous player anywhere on the hardwood.
“My game has definitely grown a lot. I mean, I used to only be somewhat of a post player; now you see me taking the ball in transition, getting on fast breaks, passing and shooting,” Warlick said. “So it's grown a lot.”
According to Warlick, everything he does on the court is geared toward winning. He knows he could fill up the stat book and be a constant highlight, but the feeling of raising the gold ball at the end of each season trumps everything else.
“I could go out there if I wanted to and probably take 20, 30 shots a game if I wanted to,” Warlick said. “I don't because I want to win.
"I like my teammates, I respect them and I think we're really, really good, and so we're a better team when I'm not taking that many shots most of the time.”
Warlick’s teammates have the same respect for him as well.
“He pushes me to be a better teammate, get extra shots up, and just going hard every day,” Yearby said.
When Warlick’s prep career comes to an end this week, he will start preparing himself for his new basketball home. He will continue his education and basketball career at the University of Wyoming.
“I went there for a visit and I had three scheduled. I had Wyoming, San Jose State and Davidson all scheduled,” Warlick said. “I went to Wyoming first for my official and as soon as I got there the first day I was kind of skeptical. I wasn’t sure.
"The second day, I knew where I wanted to be. The coaches and players. That's what I decided on. That's the reason I want to go there.”
Edmond North senior Dylan Warlick (right) will be playing next season at the University of Wyoming.
Warlick was recruited by Davidson, San Jose State, South Alabama and Abilene Christian before signing with the Cowboys on Nov. 8.
Wyoming coach Jeff Linder appears to be as big a fan of Warlick’s winning mindset as his current coaches.
"We can't wait to add Dylan Warlick to the Cowboy family,” Linder said. “Dylan has been on our radar for some time after a great underclassman career in Oklahoma high school basketball. Having won multiple state championships at Edmond North High School, in the highest classification in Oklahoma, we knew there was something special about his will to win and ability to effect winning. Two traits that cannot be discounted.
"We loved his ability to elevate not only himself, but his teammates and program as well.”
Warlick would prefer to walk onto the Wyoming campus with three state championship rings instead of two. Yet, even as the top seed in 6A and only one loss to a team from Oklahoma, the field seems more wide open than the previous years.
That could mean the Huskies will have to work even harder to capture their goal. Warlick seems fine with that.
“It's just going to take all of us to lock in, play together, and that's all it is. Just win,” Warlick said. “All of us need to be winners at the end of the day and it will all work itself out.”
The Huskies begin the 6A state tournament at 10:30 a.m. in Norman with a quarterfinal against Westmoore.
-- Michael Kinney | @SBLiveOK
