Oregon Class of 2017 Commitment Update
As the class of 2017 approaches their graduations, we wanted to take a minute to update where some of the top ranked players are headed to further their academic and basketball careers.
Khalid Thomas Forward West Linn HS College of Southern Idaho
The versatile 6’9 forward is headed for national JUCO power College of Southern Idaho, after a senior year where he helped lead the Lions to a 3rd place finish in the 6A state tournament.
Braden Olsen Pt. Guard West Linn HS Seattle Pacific
Olsen, the Lions starting point guard this season chose SPU over a number of D2 and NAIA offers.
Geno West Guard Jefferson HS Idaho
It took a while to get his first D1 scholarship offer, but West more than earned one with his play during his senior season where he earned PIL player of the year honors and lead the Demos to their first ever 6A state title.
Myles Fitzgerald Warren Guard Madison Fresno State
The 6’3 Warren overcame more than any other Class of 2017 player to earn his D1 scholarship. Injured and out for the majority of his sophomore and junior seasons, the combo guards senior season and future potential was enough to intrigue the Bulldogs of the Mountain West Conference to pull the trigger on a full ride offer.
Jordan May Guard Reynolds Eastern Oregon
It didn’t take head coach Isaac Williams long to get Eastern Oregon back a national level this season. Williams who coached Eastern to multiple national tourneys and a #1 ranking left Lagrande to serve as the Director of Basketball Operations at Boise State. The program declined and the school jumped at the chance to rehire him. Expect the Mountaineers to lean heavily on May, the talented combo guard from Reynolds over the next few years.
Matt O’brien Post Clackamas Simon Fraser
The 6’9 athletic O’brien is headed to Canada to play for D2 Simon Fraser, the only D2 school located outside of the United States. The Clan has struggled to gain traction in the competitive GNAC conference and will rely on the Clackamas product to move up the standings.
Jackson Januik Pt. Guard Seaside George Fox
The dimunitive point guard who was a 4 year starter at state champion Seaside is headed for D3 up and comer George Fox. Januik is also expected run track for the Bruins and brings two 800 meter state titles to the table in that sport.
Cal Stueve Wing Philomath OIT
The versatile 6’5 wing, who lead the Warriors to 3 straight tourney appearances heads off to Klamath Falls to play for NAIA power OIT. The Hawks just finished up their first season under new head coach Justin Parnell after 35+ years under legendary coach Danny Miles.
Rodney Hounshell Guard West Linn Western Oregon
In the weeks after the high school season came to a close, Hounshell was preparing to choose from a mix of JUCO programs in an attempt to garner higher level interest from four year college program. As the calendar flipped to April, that interest presented itself in the form of multiple D2 and NAIA programs. In the end the athletic 6’3 guard chose to stay close to home and play for rising D2 power Western Oregon.
Cole Mehaffrey Post Lake Oswego University of Chicago
From playing on the jv2 team as a sophomore to being recruited by numerous D3 and NAIA programs, the 6’9 Mehaffrey has worked to make himself in to a productive player. He will head to the Midwest to play for Chicago, a high academic school with a solid D3 basketball program.
Cam Parker Pt. Guard Jesuit Tilton School
After a monster season where he earned Metro League Player of the Year honors, Parker heads east to attend the Tilton School, a traditional New England prep school with a strong academic and basketball history. Notable basketball alums include Nerlen Noels and many other high level D1 players and pros.
Lucas Wilson Wing Churchill Link Year Prep
The ultra athletic 6’5 wing has turned down multiple D1 football scholarships to continue his pursuit of a college basketball scholarship. That quest will take him to Branson, Missouri where he will attend Link Year Prep, a relatively new player in the prep school world.
Spencer Hoffman Post Churchill Link Year Prep
Hoffman will be joining his high school teammate back in Missouri after a solid senior year where he helped lead the Lancers to a 5A state runner up trophy.
Will Likayi Forward Parkrose Casper College
The talented 6’8 forward who returned from injury late in the season to lead Parkrose on a run to the 3rd place trophy is headed for Casper College, a national level juco in Wyoming.