2021-22 5A Preview: Top Five

<p>While many of the names at the top are the usual suspects, it should be an interesting and very competitive race in 5A this season. Here’s a look at our pre-season Top Five.</p> <p>1. Silverton<br /> 2. Wilsonville<br /> 3. Churchill<br /> 4. Crescent Valley<br /> 5. Thurston</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Analysis</strong></span></p> <p>Silverton seemingly has all the parts to make a serious title run, which would match what the accomplished in football. Head coach Jamie McCarty has a senior-laden team including arguably the best backcourt in all of 5A with son, quarterback and point guard [player_tooltip player_id="857351" first="Jordan" last="McCarty"] (14.0 ppg, 5A-leading 6.8 apg) and shooter/scorer [player_tooltip player_id="1228363" first="Neil" last="Efimov"] (14.9 ppg, 4.7 rpg, .390 3pt%). Fellow seniors Ryan Redman-Brown (5.0 ppg, 3.3 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id="1079538" first="Austin" last="Ratliff"] (4.7 ppg, 3.5 rpg, .620 fg%) are solid returnees as well.  The Silver Foxes will get the opportunity to really show their stuff as they are playing in not only the Capitol City Classic but also the Cactus Jam in Arizona in December.</p> <p>As always, Wilsonville is in the title discussion and head coach Chris Roche has a good group of returnees, notably in terms of size. 6-foot-10 senior [player_tooltip player_id="857371" first="Logan" last="Thebiay"] will be the main man in the middle and the OIT signee will be a double-double threat every night. 6-foot-7 junior football standout [player_tooltip player_id="1096104" first="Tristan" last="Davis"] and 6-foot-5 sophomore [player_tooltip player_id="1110843" first="Kyle" last="Counts"] are solid. In the backcourt, point guard [player_tooltip player_id="1256625" first="Maxim" last="Wu"] ascended into the starting lineup last year as a sophomore, has a great feel for the game and is a tremendous defender, and [player_tooltip player_id="1110842" first="Kallen" last="Gutridge"] is a lights out shooter on the wing.</p> <p>Churchill head coach Kelly Bokn continues to pursue his first title at the 5A level and has the kind of roster that can get it done. [player_tooltip player_id="857343" first="Samaje" last="Morgan"] (20.5 ppg, 6.0 apg) is back for his final year in a Lancers uniform and the point guard is the kind of player that can take over games all by himself. He’ll have plenty of help though. [player_tooltip player_id="857360" first="Ty" last="Weiskind"] (9.1 ppg) is a hard-working swingman who can also score and senior [player_tooltip player_id="1079529" first="Matthew" last="Forsyth"] can knock down open threes. Bugsy Jensen and [player_tooltip player_id="1278048" first="Evan" last="Thompson"] will provide athleticism as well on both ends.</p> <p>If not for the presence of Silverton, we’d be talking about Crescent Valley in the Mid-Willamette. Head coach Michael Stair has one of the top one-two punches in all of 5A with do-it-all athlete [player_tooltip player_id="964552" first="Noah" last="Dewey"] (18.4 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 1.6 bpg) and stalwart big man [player_tooltip player_id="1079531" first="Jake" last="Leibelt"] (11.8 ppg, 7.9 rpg). Junior Adam Temesgen (8.9 ppg, .395 3pt%) can hit it from three as can senior Cooper Wakefield (3.2 ppg).</p> <p>Thurston rounds out the top five. Arizona State football commit Jacob Newell (19.6 ppg, 15.1 rpg) is the main attraction, but is currently hurt and out for a few weeks. In the meantime, head coach Blaine Liberatore will make due until he’s back. Seniors Miguel Perez (6.8 ppg, 2.1 rpg) and Lucas Stutesman (4.3 ppg, 2.0 rpg) are experienced in the program and 6-foot-5 Arizona transfer Andrew Mills adds size. The Colts will be there in the MWL discussion at the end when Newell returns - he’s that impactful of a player.</p>