5A State Tournament: Players to Watch (1/2)
In this article:
The 5A state tournament begins today, and eight teams are fired up to have made the trip to Gill Coliseum. In preparation, we take a look at the key difference-makers for each squad, starting with the top half of the…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThe 5A state tournament begins today, and eight teams are fired up to have made the trip to Gill Coliseum. In preparation, we take a look at the key difference-makers for each squad, starting with the top half of the bracket, which features matchups between Redmond and Ashland, and Crescent Valley and Silverton:
Garrett Osborne Garrett Osborne 6'3" | SG Redmond | 2022 State OR (2022 Redmond)
Osborne, the clear choice for IMC player of the year, is a versatile scorer at 6-foot-3. Entering the tournament, the senior guard is not only one of the field’s best finishers, but a contender for 5A player of the year honors.
Evan Otten Evan Otten 6'10" | C Redmond | 2023 State OR (2023 Redmond)
At 6-foot-8, Otten was a first-team All-IMC selection for the first-seeded Panthers. A daunting presence inside, the junior center should be one of the premier paint protectors at the tournament.
Hawthorn Lapierre Hawthorn Lapierre 6'8" | SF Ashland | 2022 State OR (2022 Ashland)
Lapierre is one of the most dangerous players in 5A due to his combination of size and scoring. At 6-foot-7, he’s a high-flying finisher with the ability to create off the dribble and shoot the three.
Egan Shields Egan Shields 6'10" | C Colorado Prep | 2023 CO (2022 Ashland)
A powerful force underneath, Shields stands at a towering 6-foot-10 and completes Ashland’s twin towers inside. The big man is a proven handful with notable strength, footwork, and touch in the painted area.
Noah Dewey Noah Dewey 6'6" | SF Crescent Valley | 2022 State OR (2022 Crescent Valley)
Dewey, a 6-foot-7 guard, may be the odds-on favorite to win 5A player of the year. Essentially playing point guard for the Raiders, the stud senior is unstoppable at times offensively, combining his standout size with a polished feel for the game.
Adam Temesgen Adam Temesgen 6'1" | PG Crescent Valley | 2023 State OR (2023 Crescent Valley)
A junior, Temesgen is one of the best pure guards in the field. With a pure jump shot and a crafty handle, he can get hot in a hurry, and makes Crescent Valley particularly dangerous.
Jordan McCarty Jordan McCarty 6'0" | CG Silverton | 2022 State OR (2022 Silverton)
McCarty, a four-year varsity player for the Foxes, was a first-team All-MWC selection this season. The senior point guard stands out as both a floor general and a leader. For the title-contending Foxes, he’s one of many guys that can take over.
Neil Efimov Neil Efimov 6'4" | SG Silverton | 2022 State OR (2022 Silverton)
Another first-team All-MWC selection for the Foxes, Efimov is perhaps the smoothest all-around player in this tournament. At 6-foot-4, the senior does a little bit of everything on the offensive end for the MWC champs.