Top Sophs in the NWAC
By all accounts, the recruitable talent level in the Northwest Athletic Conference (NWAC) has risen the past couple of years and the 2019-20 season will be no different. A whole host of sophomores will be watched closely by colleges at…
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Continue ReadingBy all accounts, the recruitable talent level in the Northwest Athletic Conference (NWAC) has risen the past couple of years and the 2019-20 season will be no different. A whole host of sophomores will be watched closely by colleges at all levels this year and there are several with Oregon backgrounds among them. We caught up with our own Ryan Svenson to chat about the top prospects from the recent Pure Focus Sports Northwest JUCO Jamboree and here’s a look at the top former Oregon prep basketball players who are sure to garner plenty of attention this season as sophomores.
Robert Ford (2018 Jefferson/Clackamas CC)
With a number of scholarship offers in hand – including two of the D-I variety in Portland State and Pacific – there’s no question that Ford is arguably the highest-recruited prospect in the NWAC this season. And for good reason – the 5-foot-11 point guard was the league’s version of Russell Westbrook last year averaging a near-triple double of 18.8 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 8.3 assists. More offers are likely to come his way with another similar effort in 2019-20.
Alexis Angeles (2018 Tualatin/Lower Columbia (WA) CC)
Angeles was First Team 6A All-State his senior year at Tualatin and the original plan was St. Martin’s. But after a year a deep reserve averaging 0.9 points in 13 games, the 6-foot-3 combo guard moved on to Lower Columbia for this season. In the NWAC it’s expected he will regain the confidence in his abilities and display the mid-range game that made him such a devastating scorer at the prep level.
Cameron Benzel (2018 Oakland/Umpqua CC)
Benzel may be 6-foot-7 – which means he’s one of the bigger players in the league especially in the South Division – but the truth of the matter is the Oakland native is more of a versatile threat. As a freshman at Umpqua he showed that he could step out and shoot the ball in addition to scoring near the hoop and registered 6.4 points and 5.8 rebounds. Expect those numbers to increase this upcoming year.
Rodney Hounshell (2017 West Linn/Lane CC)
Hounshell is primed to have a big sophomore season for Lane, which has become a well-visited spot for four-year college coaches on the recruiting trail. Last year as a redshirt freshman coming in from Western Oregon, the West Linn product averaged 11.6 points and 3.3 rebounds while flashing high-level athleticism on the wing. The eligibility clock will likely preclude him from the D-I level but you can bet that D-II/NAIA programs will be on the prowl.
Clay Sullivan (2018 Vernonia/Clackamas CC)
Ford isn’t the only sophomore prospect at Clackamas as Sullivan has been generating some buzz as well. Four-year schools are always in the market for shooters and the 6-foot-3 wing brings plenty of that to the table. Last season he shot a sizzling 42.4 percent from three-point range while canning four or more threes in a game 12 times. Sullivan does more than shoot too as he pulled down 4.3 rebounds a game while dishing out 2.4 assists.
Lucas Wilson (2017 Churchill/Lane CC)
Standing 6-foot-5 and built like a tank, Wilson could easily be playing tight end on the gridiron – something he almost did coming out of Churchill HS. Instead, he’s entering his sophomore year at Lane as arguably the most athletic player in the entire NWAC. Wilson is a powerful finisher at the rim and rang up 13.5 points and 7.7 rebounds as a freshman in 2018-19. He’s picked up a D-I offer from Pacific and more schools will be watching his development this season.