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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Subscribe Already a subscriber? Log inWe 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
OR
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
6'1" | 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
6'4" | CG
Mountainside | 2025
State
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
6'0" | 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
6'7" | SF
Tualatin | 2024
State
#258
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
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
6'2" | PG
AZ Compass Prep | 2024
#175
Nation
AZ
,
Utrillo Morris
Utrillo
Morris
5'8" | PG
Roosevelt | 2024
State
OR
, and
Chance White
Chance
White
6'1" | 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.