The Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame has recognized six OKCPS student-athletes for their remarkable athletic achievements and academic excellence during the 2023-2024 school year.
On June 26, 2024, over two dozen honorees, including Daryen Jefferson from Douglass High School, James Allen and Chloe Threatt of John Marshall High School, Luisa Talavera and Jailyn Ramirez of Southeast High School, and Cameron Pearson from U.S. Grant High School were celebrated at the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame’s 40th annual All-Sports & Scholar-Athlete Awards Ceremony.
The Oklahoma Coaches Association and the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame recognized Jefferson, Allen, Threatt, Talavera, and Ramirez as Jim Thorpe High School Players of the Year for their respective sports. Pearson received the Virgil Milliron Wrestling Scholarship Award.
Meet the All-Sports & Scholar-Athlete Award Winners
Daryen “DJ” Jefferson – Jim Thorpe High School Player of the Year–Boys Cross-Country
A 2024 Douglass High School graduate, Daryen “DJ” Jefferson is the Jim Thorpe High School Player of the Year in Boys Cross-Country. Known for his dedication to both athletics and academics, DJ was a top 25 finisher at the 4A Boys Cross Country State Meet, served as the Student Council President, maintained an impressive 4.5 GPA, and received the Simon Greiner Track & Field Program Scholarship. DJ will attend Sterling College on a full scholarship, where he will continue his journey as a cross-country and distance runner.
James Allen – Jim Thorpe High School Player of the Year–Boys Track & Field
James Allen, a rising John Marshall High School senior, is the Jim Thorpe High School Player of the Year in Boys Track & Field. In April, Allen competed against the fastest in the country at the Kansas Relays, posting a 7th-place finish in the 100m. The 2023 state champ in the 100m, 200m, and 4x200m Relay finished the 2024 track season at the 5A State Championships with 2nd, 3rd, 6th, and 10th-place finishes in the 200m, 100, 4x200m relay, and 4x400m relay, respectively.
Chloe Threatt – Jim Thorpe High School Player of the Year–Girls Track & Field
Chloe Threatt, another standout senior track star from John Marshall High School, is the Jim Thorpe High School Player of the Year in Girls Track & Field. At the prestigious Kansas Relays in April, Threatt finished 5th in the 100m against some of the country’s top sprinters. Threatt ended the 2024 track season with her second consecutive 5A state championship in the Girls’ 100m. She also claimed a 4th place finish in the Girls’ 200m and 6th place in the Girls’ 4x200m relay.
Luisa Talavera – Jim Thorpe High School Player of the Year–Volleyball
Luisa Talavera, a 2024 Southeast High School grad, has been chosen as the Jim Thorpe High School Player of the Year in Volleyball. The team captain led the Lady Spartans to their 3rd straight ACAC Volleyball Championship and earned a spot on the ACAC Volleyball All-Conference Team. Talavera is a leader off the court as well. During her senior year, she served as Senior Class President, became Spring Homecoming Queen, and placed 2nd in the Business Professionals of America Torch Awards for National Ambassador of the Year.
Jailyn Ramirez – Jim Thorpe High School Player of the Year–Girls Cross-Country
Now entering her sophomore year at Southeast High School, Jailyn Ramirez made a significant impact in her first year on the Spartans XC and track teams and earned Jim Thorpe High School Player of the Year honors for Girls Cross-Country. She broke four school records this year and won four events at the ACAC Championships. Ramirez emerged as the Class 5A Regional Champion in the 800 meters before competing in the 5A State Championships, where she finished 9th in the 800m, 15th in the 1600m, and 13th in the 4x800m Relay.
Cameron Pearson – Virgil Milliron Wrestling Scholarship Award Winner
A 2024 U.S. Grant High School graduate and multi-sport athlete, Cameron Pearson received the Virgil Milliron Wrestling Scholarship Award for his accomplishments on the mat. In wrestling, Pearson was named a Class 6A All-Star by the Oklahoma Coaches Association and helped U.S. Grant win the ACAC Wrestling Championship. He also excelled at cross-country and track for U.S. Grant, qualifying for the 6A Cross-Country State Meet and earning the Simon Greiner Track & Field Program Scholarship. Pearson signed with MACU to run track and cross-country in college.
The Impact of Sports on Youth Development
At Fields & Futures, we stand firmly on the conviction that sports provide students with more than just physical activity and competition; they offer a sense of belonging, identity, and purpose. When young people join a team, they find a family and a community that supports them.
Access to quality playing fields and the opportunity to participate in sports at no cost from elementary through high school in Oklahoma City’s urban core pave the way for a brighter future. The availability of top-notch facilities and coaching elevates the district’s sports culture, enhancing the level of competition and opening doors to further opportunities in sports beyond high school. For many OKCPS student-athletes, sports participation leads to a happier, healthier life.
The OKCPS students recognized by the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame and Oklahoma Coaches Association All-Sports & Scholar-Athlete Awards Ceremony embody our “Hope in Action” motto. Their achievements demonstrate the positive influence sports can have on young people, proving that with access and opportunity, they can achieve great things both on and off the field.