City Rankings: Top Underclassman in Whatcom and Skagit Counties
In this article:
For this city rankings article, I did not include any layers from the class of 2023 or 2024. As there aren’t many 2026’s up here who have made a name for themselves just yet, as the basketball season hasn’t started.…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingFor this city rankings article, I did not include any layers from the class of 2023 or 2024. As there aren’t many 2026’s up here who have made a name for themselves just yet, as the basketball season hasn’t started. This article features five of the best underclassman from Whatcom and Skagit Counties.
Michael Johnson
Michael Johnson
I watched Michael a couple times over the summer during some local HS tournaments and he was extremely impressive. His patience on the court is fantastic, he lets the game come to him. He can distribute the ball very well as I watched him make many cross court passes, back door passes, and passes down to the post from the top of the three point line. He has the ability to turn on the scoring as well, showing that when he went for 27 against Lynden HS in a game over the summer. His game will only keep evolving, so he will be a name to watch in Whatcom and Skagit counties for a couple more years.
Brady is a FORCE down in the paint. His presence is known right away given his ability to score down low and defend down low on the defensive side very effectively. Standing already at 6’4” 220, there’s not many players within Whatcom and Skagit counties who can match his size. He’s patient down low with and without the ball. When he gets the ball, his offensive moves are nearly unstoppable too. His turnaround jumper is something defenders should watch for, but won’t be able to stop as he keeps improving his game. His hands are extremely efficient as he doesn’t drop many passes that come his way. The Pioneers are a sneaky team to watch next year with Brady & company.
Jaeger was very solid last year playing varsity last year as a freshman but what really makes me excited to watch him is what I saw in the summer. Last season he showed he had a good deep shot and could hit from anywhere beyond the three point line. Over the summer he showed a lot of improvement. When I watched the sophomore to-be, he was creating his own shots smoother, facilitating the offense to find his teammates, and most importantly he was being a leader. He has fantastic size for the point guard position and is improving his game in all the right places. Defensively he gets his hands in the passing lanes with ease due to his long wingspan. His feet are quick as well, giving him the ability to guard the 1-4 positions.
Highlights
Gannon Dykstra
Gannon Dykstra
First thing that stand outs in Gannon’s game is his lights out three point shot. He can shoot from 3/4 feet beyond the three point line and does it effectively. His ball handling is solid as he is able to keep his dribble through a defender playing tough 1on1 defense. His ability to pass with either hand is impressive as well. He can make cross court passes just as good with his left hand as his right hand. I saw improvement just over the summer during the varsity summer league action, he was able to facilitate the offense a lot more smoother by the end of the summer. I’m sure it helps learning behind one of the top PG’s Tyler Sipma Tyler Sipma 6’0″ | CG Lynden Christian | 2023 State WA . Dykstra’s role will increase this year coming off the bench and should make a solid impact for the Lyncs.
To me, Davis is one of the most intriguing players in the entire state of WA. His potential is through the roof as he has all the abilities to be a player who can lead a team right now despite being a 2025 and having limited varsity experience. Standing at roughly 6’4”, his wingspan stands out right when you see him on the court. His long arms are valuable on the defensive end as he gets his hands in the passing lane easily in the tough Anacortes 2/3 zone defense. Offensively, Fogle can score at all 3 levels already. He gets to the hoop with ease, finishing around the defenders with athleticism. He creates his own mid-range shot well and shoots off the catch effectively. He’ll be a HUGE addition to this Anacortes team that might surprise a lot of people next season.