Oregon AAU Preview: Portland Basketball Club 17U

As the first NCAA viewing period begins this week, Prep Hoops Oregon will be profiling several of the AAU programs featuring Oregon players.  When you look at club basketball and shoe sponsored teams, the majority opinion is that Nike’s Elite Youth Basketball League (EYBL) is the premier circuit in the country.  For the first time since 2014, Oregon features an EYBL team in the Portland Basketball Club(PBC) which will make their EYBL debut this weekend in the Boo Williams Showcase in Hampton, Virginia.  We caught up with program director Reggie Walker who broke down the roster for us. PBC’s top 17U team is coached by Mike Plank who has served as an assistant at Portland State amongst other coaching stops.  The marquee player for PBC is 6’9 forward Kamaka Hepa from Portland’s Jefferson HS.  Hepa a consensus Top 50 player in the country has offers from all of the Pac 12, Gonzaga, Texas, and Georgia Tech amongst others.  His passing ability and shot blocking ability are the skills that most impress college coaches and scouts.  Other Oregon HS players on PBC who currently hold scholarship offers include Kelton Samore, a 2018 forward from Grant HS who possesses offers from Boise State, University of Portland, San Francisco, and others.  Samore a highly skilled 4 man will look to improve his stock by displaying his shooting ability and basketball IQ.  2019 combo guard Marcus Tshonis from Jefferson HS already holds offers USC and Montana.  Look for the 6’5 guard to increase that total with a solid spring on the EYBL circuit.  Other Oregon prep players on the roster include athletic 2018 wing Immanuel Allen of Lakeridge, sharp shooting 2018 guard Matt Lang from Jesuit, 2019 combo guard Christian Allen from Lakeridge, and first team all state post Teagan Quitoriano from Sprague.  The 6’7 post has multiple high level D1 football offers and brings that physical mentality to the EYBL circuit. PBC dipped into the graduating senior/reclassification category to add some veteran talent.  Included in that group is Oregon 6A player of the year Elijah Gonzales from Clackamas HS.  The 5’7 point guard who put on a show in leading the Cavs to a 2^nd place finish at state provides quickness, perimeter defense, and the ability to break down a defense.  The second reclassifying senior is 6’5 wing Roberto Gittens from Foss HS in Tacoma.  Gittens who lead his team to a high school state championship has walked away from a Boise State scholarship offer in an attempt to raise his profile and expand recruiting interest.  The talented wing will provide PBC with a level of athleticism and toughness needed to succeed at this level.  The final reclassifier is 6’8 post Zeke Quinlan of Life Christian HS in Beaverton.  The explosive post player dominated in Oregon’s 2A ranks by simply being bigger and stronger than the opponents.  In order to improve his stock with college programs, Quinlan will need to show the ability to consistently play at a high level against bigger and more talented athletes. PBC also went outside the state to add to the roster by bringing in California big man Jack Wilson.  The 7’0 center has already verbally committed to Wayne Tinkle and Oregon State and will provide interior defense and rebounding.  In addition to Wilson, they also pulled 6’3 2018 wing Zach Chappell out of the Sacramento area.  Chappell is an above the rim player who is a dynamic finisher in transition. Check back later in the week for previews of PBC’s other teams competing this aau season.