Returning 5A Stat Leaders: Top Scorers

<p>There’s an abundance of great players coming back for the 2020-21 season at the 5A level and many of them were huge contributors already this past season. With the decision made to spend his final year of high school at Prolific Prep in California, last year’s leader <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="606246" first="Nathan" last="Bittle"] (2020 Crater)</strong> leaves behind his 25.6 ppg average. But several others are back to pile on the points and hopefully lead their squads far into the post-season.</p> <p>Here are the top returning scorers for 2020-21.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="815599" first="Luke" last="Smith"] (2021 Willamette) - 22.9 ppg - #2</strong></p> <p>Smith emerged as one of the top scorers in the state at any level as a junior. The now 6-foot-3 combo guard was always able to shoot it from distance (.414 3pt%) but started to use his body to create space to get into the lane and either finish around the basket or draw contact, where he was near automatic at the free throw line (.902 ft%). Smith is as tough as they come as any guard in the state and he’s no question the odds-on favorite to be the leading scorer in 5A this upcoming season.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="965080" first="TJ" last="Zimmerman"] (2021 West Albany) - 18.9 ppg - #6</strong></p> <p>Zimmerman’s future will likely be in football but he’s plenty talented on the hardwoods as well. At 6-foot-5 with plenty of heft, he’s a bully down in the block and was a nightmare for most teams to contend with down low. Zimmerman has a decent touch from mid-range as well and was tough to block out from the offensive glass, where he got easy putbacks.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="855945" first="Dakota" last="Sams"] (2021 Pendleton) - 18.3 ppg - #7</strong></p> <p>Sams has always been a deep threat (61 made threes) but became more of a diversified scorer in 2019-20. The 6-foot-2 combo guard also showed diversity in his offensive skills, creating off of the dribble and finding ways to get to the line (.775 ft%). Also one of the state’s top assist men, Sams should once again see himself on the leaderboard in both categories this year.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="855937" first="Isaiah" last="Gilliam"] (2021 South Albany) - 17.3 ppg - #9</strong></p> <p>Gilliam is the definition of a power guard. Powerfully built and athletic at 6-foot-1, he showed the ability to blow by defenders and really get into the paint and finish. This led to a high percentage shooting percentage (.536 fg%) as well as plenty of free throw opportunities (137 made ft). Gilliam worked hard on his outside shooting this past season to be more of a perimeter threat in 2020-21.</p> <p><strong>Kevin Sanchez (2021 Crook County) - 17.1 ppg - #10</strong></p> <p>Another returning talented combo guard with a knack for putting the ball in the hole is Sanchez. The 6-foot-2 rising senior really carried the load offensively for the Cowboys with his ability to score in multiple ways. In some ways Sanchez was a volume shooter but could definitely find a groove and get hot from the outside.</p>