El Reno’s Kason Haydon
By Elizabeth Contreras
Just before the opening tip of the state tournament, Kason Haydon exchanged a silent signal with his dad, a wink that spoke volumes.
Inside the Big House, with the crowd rising and the lights glaring down, Haydon stood at midcourt and searched the stands. Moments before the ball went up, he locked eyes with his dad. No words were needed. A simple wink told him everything; take it in, enjoy it, remember this.
“I’ll never forget that,” Haydon said.
For Haydon, basketball has never been just a game. It’s a family language, one spoken long before he could form sentences of his own. He jokes that he was “pretty much born with a ball in his hands,” growing up around the El Reno program his father coached, and watching his older cousins play the sport that shaped him early.
That foundation is apparent in the way Haydon plays now. As a versatile wing with a lanky frame, he scores at all three levels, uses his length to disrupt passing lanes, and plays above the rim when opportunities present themselves.
“I would say my role on our team is the senior leader and captain,” he said.
Leadership, for Haydon, is as much about presence as production. It is about character and poise in tough moments, encouragement during late-game huddles, and making sure teammates thrive in their positions.
“Being a good leader to me is making sure my teammates are always in the most comfortable position on the court,” he said. “And leading by example, not only with how I play, but my body language and the way I carry myself.”
His work ethic and leadership skills mirror the example set by the person who has influenced him most.
“My dad,” Haydon said. “Just seeing how much he gives and the amount of time he puts into his teams has always made me want to give 100 percent back to him on the court.”
Continually inspiring him to appreciate each moment he is in, Haydon said his dad has taught him to savor every moment and face challenges head-on. As a senior leader, he knows that pressure comes with the role.
“I embrace the pressure and the moment,” he said. “And then I tell myself that it’s a privilege anytime I get to step on the court for a big game.”
As a senior, his goals are to earn all-state honors and help lead El-Reno back to the state tournament. Until then, every game carries weight.
“Anytime I get to take the court alongside my brothers and compete, it’s a blessing,” he said. “I treat it like the biggest game of the season.”
It’s advice he now offers younger players, too.
“Just enjoy it and soak it in,” Haydon said. “One day you’ll be a senior and wish you could get one more year of all the things you took for granted.”
Because sometimes, all it takes is a wink before tipoff to remind you that every game, every moment matters.
