2021-22 6A Preview: Pre-Season Top Ten
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We are back to “normal” with the 2021-22 season and it’s going to be extremely competitive at the 6A level. After watching guys play in the summer and fall and attending a number of open gyms and practices to get…
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Continue ReadingWe are back to “normal” with the 2021-22 season and it’s going to be extremely competitive at the 6A level. After watching guys play in the summer and fall and attending a number of open gyms and practices to get a closer look at everyone, here’s our pre-season top ten.
10. South Medford
The Panthers had a great run in 2021 capturing the unofficial Southern Oregon title and head coach James Wightman will have a squad prepared to truly battle the rest of the state in 2020-21. Devon Malcolm Devon Malcolm 6'4" | SF South Medford | 2022 State OR is looking to finish off his high school career with a bang and has both experienced and young talented players around him such as senior Junior Sleezer Junior Sleezer 6'2" | CG South Medford | 2022 State OR , sophomore Jackson Weiland Jackson Weiland 6'0" | PG South Medford | 2024 State OR , and freshmen Boden Howell Boden Howell 6'3" | CG South Medford | 2025 State #394 Nation ID and Drew Hall.
9. Beaverton
What’s the follow up to the best record in the Metro League and a culminating bracket title? It will be fun to see especially since head coach Andrew Vancil is looking to change things up. With Dane Erikstrup off to college, the Beavers will be heavily guard oriented and they’ve got one of the best backcourts to go to with Trevon Hamilton Trevon Hamilton 6'2" | PG Beaverton | 2022 State OR , Brady Rice Brady Rice 6'2" | SG Beaverton | 2023 State OR , and Jordan Mesa Jordan Mesa 5'10" | PG Beaverton | 2022 State OR . Beaverton will be tough to match with their speed and shooting.
8. Barlow
It’s hard to believe that the dean of all of 6A has yet to taste a state title but this year head coach Tom Johnson has another team that has a great shot. The Bruins are senior-dominated and has spent a lot of time playing together so they have tremendous chemistry. Connor Hills Connor Hills 5'6" | PG Barlow | 2022 State OR is the leader at the point and brothers Nathan Jones Nathan Jones 6'3" | SG Barlow | 2022 State OR and Jesse Jones Jesse Jones 6'6" | PF Barlow | 2022 State OR will get things done on both ends of the floor. Add in wunderkind freshman Jalen Atkins Jalen Atkins 6'2" | SG Barlow | 2025 State OR when he’s healthly and Barlow will be in the hunt.
7. Summit
Talk to any Mountain Valley Conference about who’s the best in their league and their voices are in unison – Summit. The rest of the state should watch out for the senior-dominated Storm too who have everything it takes to make a state tournament run. Caden Harris Caden Harris 6'4" | SG Summit | 2022 State OR is one of the top players in Oregon and head coach Jon Frazier has plenty of shooters and a point guard in Julian Mora Julian Mora 6'0" | PG Summit | 2022 State OR that will push the pace. An undefeated league record is not out of the question.
6. Mountainside
That brand new school on the outskirts of Beaverton has slowly been emerging on the boys basketball scene and this could be the year that head coach Dustin Hewitt has everything put together for a Metro League title. The Mavericks have plenty of grizzled seniors the likes of Dimitri Cohen Dimitri Cohen 5'11" | CG Mountainside | 2022 State OR , Dezman Baker Dezman Baker 6'3" | SF Mountainside | 2022 State OR , and Dylan Westlake Dylan Westlake 6'0" | PG Mountainside | 2022 State OR but also young guns like sophomore Quinn Haveman Quinn Haveman 6'3" | SG Mountainside | 2024 State OR and Brayden Boe Brayden Boe 6'5" | CG Mountainside | 2025 State #254 Nation OR . Mountainside can run, shoot, and score with anyone in the state.
5. Tualatin
The buzz is legitimate – Tualatin potentially has the most talent in the entire state. Head coach Todd Jukkala has a roster that’s filled with athletes, many of whom are on the top-ranked football team. The backcourt of Malik Ross Malik Ross 6'0" | CG Tualatin | 2022 State OR and Noah Ogoli Noah Ogoli 6'2" | CG Tualatin | 2022 State OR ranks among the elite in the state and there’s size and skill with the likes of Peter Burke Peter Burke 6'4" | SF Tualatin | 2022 State OR , Kellen Hale Kellen Hale 6'5" | PF Tualatin | 2022 State OR , and sophomore stud Jaden Steppe Jaden Steppe 6'8" | SF Tualatin | 2024 State #289 Nation OR . The Timberwolves are deep and this could be the season everything comes together.
4. West Linn
When you talk about the Three Rivers League there’s no question the Lions and one of the state’s best coaches in Eric Viuhkola will always be in the discussion. This year why West Linn could be the favorite may based on one name – Jackson Shelstad Jackson Shelstad 6'0" | PG West Linn | 2023 State #55 Nation OR . The junior point guard is one of the best in the nation but he’s not alone. Backcourtmate Zeke Viuhkola Zeke Viuhkola 6'1" | CG West Linn | 2022 State OR is criminally underrated and there are some good athletes with basketball smarts in the frontcourt like Mark Hamper Mark Hamper 6'3" | SF West Linn | 2023 State OR and Peyton Durbin.
3. Central Catholic
Despite the fact they lost players not only to graduation but to transfer, the Rams still have the depth and talent to compete for the state title. Head coach David Blue is blessed to have the size, athleticism, and shooting to compete with anyone. Luke Johnson Luke Johnson 6'8" | PF Central Catholic | 2022 WV is back up front and Aidan Slater Aidan Slater 6'1" | CG Central Catholic | 2022 State OR will shift over to run the point. Young players such as Gray Thompson Gray Thompson 6'6" | SF Central Catholic | 2023 State OR , Marley Zeller Marley Zeller 6'5" | SF Central Catholic | 2024 State OR , and freshman Isaac Carr Isaac Carr 6'3" | CG Central Catholic | 2025 State #75 Nation OR will be key contributors as Central Catholic makes a case to be among the state’s elite.
2. Roosevelt
The murmurs are no longer quiet at Roosevelt as #VeltMeBasketball is now louder than ever as the Roughriders are legit state contenders. Head coach Yusuf Leary has incredible speed and athleticism in bookend senior forwards Raysean Seamster Raysean Seamster 6'6" | SF Roosevelt | 2022 State OR and Donatello Tupper Donatello Tupper 6'4" | SF Roosevelt | 2022 State OR and young skilled guards like Terrence Hill Jr Terrence Hill Jr 6'3" | PG Roosevelt | 2024 State #183 Nation OR , Utrillo Morris Utrillo Morris 5'8" | PG Roosevelt | 2024 State OR , and Chance White Chance White 6'0" | CG Roosevelt | 2024 State OR will make things go. The Roughriders will undoubtedly be fun to watch but they have the talent to not only win the PIL but go all the way.
1. Grant
It’s as close a year as any we’ve covered the past three years when it comes to the top teams but when it all came down to it, Grant was our pick for pre-season #1. Head coach Robert Key has practically all of his team back from last season including four starters in Adrian Mosley Adrian Mosley 6'2" | SF West Linn | 2023 State #269 Nation OR , Jae’sean Pete Jae’sean Pete 5'9" | CG Grant | 2022 State OR , Andre Lawrence Andre Lawrence 6'2" | CG Grant | 2022 State OR , and Max Von Arx Max Von Arx 6'5" | PF Grant | 2022 State OR . The Generals also added significant newcomers in transfer Marcus McKinney Marcus McKinney 6'0" | CG Gresham | 2023 State OR and sophomore Vashon Hardges Vashon Hardges 6'2" | CG Grant | 2024 State OR . Grant has the speed, athleticism, skill, and experience to dominate on both ends of the floor – all makings of a potential state title team.