Early 5A Top Five for 2022-23

With the fall sports season right around the corner, it's time to preemptively start thinking about basketball. With a large group of talented seniors moving on from the 5A classification last winter, most teams will look to rebuild and regroup in hopes of heading to Gill Coliseum next March. That said, here's a look at our impulsive 5A top five for next season: <strong>1. Wilsonville</strong> Key Returnees: <strong>Kyle Counts</strong>, <strong>Kallen Gutridge, Maxim Wu</strong> If there's anything clear about 5A next season, it's that Wilsonville will be contending for a championship yet again. With three returning starters, the Wildcats bring a lot back from a roster that took the state title back in March. Wu, a terrific two-way guard, and Gutridge, a smooth multi-level scorer, figure to outmatch most 5A opponents on the perimeter. Meanwhile, the 6-foot-5 Counts will be one of the top bigs in the NWOC as the Wildcats are the team to beat again. <strong>2. Ashland</strong> Key Returnees: <strong>Izzy Golden</strong>, <strong>Egan Shields</strong>, <strong>Sebastian Stowasser</strong>, <strong>Sean Thompson, Silas Wright</strong> Impressive throughout summer ball, the Grizzlies appear to be set up for a special season this winter. Of the seven players that played big minutes last year, the Grizzlies returned five, including the 6-foot-10 paint force <strong>Egan Shields</strong>. Alongside Shields, the Grizzlies will boast one of the classification's top backcourts, as Golden and Stowasser appear ready to take a big step up offensively. Thompson is outstanding on the defensive end, while Wright adds tremendous length as a combo forward at 6-foot-7. With perhaps the most well-rounded lineup in 5A, the Grizzlies appear to be the early favorites in the loaded MWL. <strong>3. Churchill</strong> Key Returnees: <strong>Cooper Case</strong>, <strong>Carsen Luna</strong>, <strong>Bugsy Jensen</strong>, <strong>Gary Le, </strong><strong>Max Montgomery</strong>, <strong>Pete Pennington</strong> With head coach Kelly Bokn moving on from the program, Churchill will look to remain one of 5A's most consistent forces this winter. In order to do so, the Lancers will need to replace the production of the 2022 5A player-of-the-year, Samaje Morgan. With an experienced bunch of guards to go alongside a formidable frontcourt of Case and Pennington, the Lancers may have the most players in 5A capable of scoring 20 points on a given night. This depth alongside a new coaching staff will make for an intriguing combination this winter. <strong>4. La Salle Prep</strong> Key Returnees: <strong>Jonathan Barnes</strong>, <strong>Finbar</strong> <strong>O'Brien</strong>, <strong>Nick Robertson</strong> The Falcons just missed out on Gill Coliseum last season, and they bring back Robertson, who may be the early favorite to take 5A player-of-the-year honors next March. Additionally, Barnes returns as an experienced big, while O'Brien was a member of last season's All-NWOC third-team as a junior. Alongside these two, Robertson will likely be one of the top offensive players across the entire classification. Consequently, La Salle should be battling the likes of Wilsonville and Milwaukie atop the NWOC this winter. <strong>5. Redmond</strong> Key Returnees: <strong>Colton Horner</strong>, <strong>Tanner Jones</strong>, <strong>Evan Otten</strong>, <strong>Nathan Wachs</strong> After making the 5A semifinals in March, the Panthers will look to carry momentum into the 2022-23 season behind an experienced group of returnees. Otten, Jones, and Wachs all started for last year's IMC championship team, while Horner was a clear sixth man at the state tournament. First-team all-state selection Garrett Osborne left a large void that Otten, a 6-foot-8 rim-protecting big, and Jones, a fierce point guard, will look to fill. Very few teams across 5A bring back as much production as the Panthers. Next five out: Milwaukie, North Eugene, Crescent Valley, Silverton, Scappoose