Top 4A Senior Forwards You Didn't See at State

The State Basketball Championships were dripping with talent. There's a reason those players were among the 16 final teams to play for a chance at a state title. That being said, the road to the state tournament is no picnic either. Countless teams who put in good seasons were eliminated in heartbreaking fashion, and many standout players were left watching from the sidelines. Here are a few of the top senior forwards who missed out on a run at state. Miroslav Pavlenko 6’6 F/C Bothell The Bruiser Pavlenko is a thick 6-foot 6-inch big who has the strength to plant himself inside like a tree on the blocks. Not only does he play strong basketball, but Pavlenko has the stamina to wear down opponents inside. He exhibits a soft touch around the rim that lets him take advantage of the good position he wins and can also knock the freebies down from the foul line. He was a key presence inside for Bothell, who failed to get out of Districts, losing to Mt. Si and Glacier Peak. Luke Shillito 6’4 F Bellarmine Prep The Triple Threat Shillito is a long player whose use of the triple threat can buy him more real estate than most players. His combination of size and length causes many defenders to take two steps to Shillito's one. That makes his jab and pivot ultra-dangerous, especially when you see his ability to shoot with a high release. He's got good touch and soft hands that add to his technical feel for the game. Bellarmine ran into a tough Graham-Kapowsin team that got hot at the right time, ending the Lions' season before they could make a run at state. [player_tooltip player_id="674445" first="Logan" last="Stempniak"] 6’7 F Kentwood The Man on the Block Get him the ball on the left block and let the big man go to work. Stempniak is big and athletic. He constantly has defenders worried about dealing with both his strength and quickness. He has a deadly drop step and uses those quick, long steps to pin his man. The big guy also has the versatility to take defenders off the dribble and readjust his shot mid-air. He's a ready player with his eye on the ball on both sides of the court. Stempniak led his team to an eight seed in districts but after a loss to the eventual state champs, Curtis, they faced off with probably the toughest 10 seed in the state, Camas. They were eliminated as one of the more talented teams to miss the tournament. Carson Frawley 6’5 F Camas The Dude The first time I saw Frawley, I thought, "that's a solid player on a good team." He did a little bit of everything, was long, and pretty athletic. Over the season I saw him break school records and have multiple games dropping over 40 points. I went back to the tape and realized how unassuming and natural he looks on the court. He can stroke it from deep and protect the paint. He makes the right decisions within the offense, and he can "D" up on the perimeter using his length to jump passing lanes or poke the ball away. He helped the Papermakers stay in the top ten for 4A all season and ended up being of the most surprising teams to miss the state tournament. Tyler Rankin 6’4 F Skyline The Man with the Hands In a game reliant on touch and control, Rankin possesses both good size and phenomenal dexterity. His hands are his moneymakers. Whether it's making a sweet touch pass while falling out of bounds, draining a three, or flicking a bounce pass through tight defense, Rankin shows his finger control in many ways. On top of that, he's a solid rebounder and stout defender. This Skyline team was right on the cusp of earning a trip to state. After starting 12-4, they beat Glacier Peak in the first round of Districts before losing to the one seed, Mt. Si, the two seed, Mariner, and then being eliminated by the team they had just beat, Glacier Peak. All three of those teams advanced to Regionals. [player_tooltip player_id="674447" first="Will" last="Woodward"] 6’7 F Eastlake The Bull The UW baseball commit is no slouch on the hardwood either. He won MVP in a league that included the nearly undefeated and second-place team in state, Mt. Si. Woodward plays with the mindset to destroy. If you don't get position on him you better be prepared to be bounced out of the way, or steamrolled under the basket. He's strong and won't back down to anyone. He battles for position in the post, creating open passing lanes and angles for his teammates. He can go up with either hand at the rim and stroke the long ball with limited space. His team finished the regular season 11-8 before being bounced in the first round of districts. It's a big sign of respect that he managed to win league MVP with his team not producing the season they had hoped for. [player_tooltip player_id="674434" first="Kaden" last="Lewis"] 6’3 F Sumner Big Smooth Lewis the epitome of the phrase, don't judge a book by its cover. He's only 6'3 but the senior forward is built like a freight train. Although he is strong and plays a lot inside, what stands out is his quickness and touch. He has great footwork for any player, let alone one as solid as Lewis is. He's a beast on the boards but not limited to playing around the rim. The footwork he displays on post moves is just as well suited to weaving through defenders on a drive from the perimeter. The big man also has touch that finds bottom from any level. His Sumner squad had a unique blend of size and talent but fell short of the state tournament, losing to Olympia in the district playoffs. Connor Chalich 6’5 F Sumner The Maniac Chalich was another key piece of a difficult Sumner side that battled all season long. Their potential was no more evident than in a game against Curtis in mid-January. Sumner lost the game by four, but the unique lineup and skillsets they presented were on full display against the eventual state champs. Chalich was one of their pieces inside who could go on his own runs, taking advantage of mismatches and forcing teams to readjust their plans. Much of his standout play stemmed from his incredibly strong hands and his tenacious, relentless pursuit of the ball. Even if he didn't put in the first shot, he was responsible for cleaning up his own misses many times throughout the year.