TOP AREA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETES OF THE LAST 30 YEARS: JILL BRYAN
By MikeTupa
Aug. 4, 2025
BARTLESVILLE AREA SPORTS REPORT
During his nearly 30 years of covering area high school sports for either the Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise or the Bartlesville Area Sports Report, Mike Tupa has enjoyed the opportunity to observe some incredible athletes.
This is an ongoing series highlighting each few days one of those athletes from the 1996-97 school year through the present. The list is not in chronological order. The athletes are presented in random sequence.
Today's spotlight:
JILL BRYAN (Copan)
Girls basketball
If someone were to name the top 10 girls basketball players in area high school history, Bryan would definitely make the short list.
The 5-foot-9 dynamo dominated the hardcourt with bottomless talent, pure athleticism and insatiable intensity.
She would pour in more than 2,000 points during her prep career prior to starring for the University of Central Oklahoma.
The Caney Valley (Kan.) Lady Bullpup program saw more than it wanted of Bryan during her senior (2008-09) senior season.
In the first Copan-Lady Pup meeting, Bryan drained a career high 47 points in a 74-50 win. When the teams met again, Bryan managed “just” 33 points, the exact margin of difference in a 69-36 triumph.
In the latter battle, Bryan also pulled down 14 rebounds.
Bryan spearheaded Copan to a 23-4 record that season, with Jason Collins pulling the strings as head coach.
Bryan brushed the nets with three three-pointers and 31 points in a 68-40 rout of Woodland.
Copan would power into the 2009 state playoffs and be eliminated in the quarterfinals by Cashion.
Bryan dialed in 22 points and dished out seven assists in the loss.
She went on to lead the state in scoring (30.8) for the season.
Bryan also excelled in track, finishing seventh at state in the girls’ 400m dash (1:03.98).
Her prowess also extended to the volleyball court.
In the fall of 2008, she helped elevate the Lady Hornets to the No. 11 ranking in the state in Class 4A.
She filled an outside hitter’s role, creating a dragon-sized headache for opponents.
Copan outlasted Dewey, 22-25, 25-19, 27-25, 25-21, to earn one of its most satisfying volleyball wins of that season.
In the second set, Bryan set up Dakota Wickliffe for a kill that broke an 8-8 tie.
Bryan smashed the winning point in the third-set overtime win. She would be named to the All-State volleyball team.
But Bryan’s best game was basketball — which she proved with the University of Central Oklahoma women’s team.
During the 2013-14 campaign, Bryan topped the team in scoring (13.3 ppg) while contributing a team-high 51 offensive rebounds, an impressive .790 free throw percentage, 4.6 rebounds per game, 58 assists and a team-leading 37 steals.
Bryan also averaged double-digit points in the 2012-13 and 2011-12 seasons.
Her grandfather (Terry Bryan) played college hoops at Tulsa and her dad (Tim Bryan) and mom (Kristy) both played basketball at Bartlesville Wesleyan College (Oklahoma Wesleyan).
Jill Bryan