Class 2A-East vs West showdown
In this article:
I have already posted my class 2B and 1A all star teams for the East and West side of the state. These are the players I choose if I were to be coaching an all star team to win one…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingI have already posted my class 2B and 1A all star teams for the East and West side of the state. These are the players I choose if I were to be coaching an all star team to win one game. It’s gets tougher as I get into the bigger classifications and have more players to choose from. These are the six I want from each side of the state, starting with the west.
WEST ALL-STARS
He is no doubt one of the top players in 2A. His game is smooth and he’s one of the best pure scorers in the state regardless of classification. My teams will all have a theme that favors players who can shoot it. There’s no way he gets left off with his shooting abilities. He scored 56 points in a summer league game at the Battle of the Border. Summer league tournament or not, there aren’t many players who have the ability to do that. Not to mention he’s topped the 40 point mark during the season. He’s got a beautiful compact shot, but he can make the defense miss, like a running back in football. He’ll get himself free by weaving his way through the defense. His mid-range is excellent. He sees, the floor well. He’s a good ball handler. No brainer here. He can play either guard spot for my team.
Sticking with the theme. I now have two shooters at the guard position who are among the best in any classification. He’ll definitely be a shooter for me, but I like his toughness and willingness to do what it takes to win. I like competitors and he is one. He’ll give me more than just shooting, he will be all over the floor, doing the little things. Either one of these first two can be trusted to make great decisions with the ball and not be phased by pressure. He is a gamer and probably wouldn’t ever come out of the game on my team.
Highlights
Along with the first two, adding him fits perfectly as my three. Last year’s 2A state tournament MVP for state champion Lynden, he is no stranger to shining under the bright lights. He fits because he can really stretch the defense at the three. He is long and uses it to get buckets in the paint. Inside-outside threat who will rebound, play defense and block shots with that length. Most importantly, he’s versatile. My teams are always versatile and interchangeable for the most part. I have a proven winner and competitor here. If you don’t compete, you don’t make my team.
I’m thinking ahead to my East team and I need more size and length for the West. That’s where this 2025 up and coming forward fits in. I see huge upside here, with the likelihood of him growing taller as well. I can use his length and active style to help offset the size advantage the east will have. I think you will see a lot of growth in his game the next three years. He will need to play big for my team and use his length. He’s also skilled and can score when he gets it, but I need that active length more than anything here. He’s young and talented enough to give me that.
The west is guard heavy in 2A and my team is no different. I can count on him to be a calming presence with his excellent floor game. He has big game experience. He has good size for a guard. He’s just an excellent floor general. He sees the floor as well as anyone. He’s unselfish, and likes to get his teammates involved. He will also be a big-time scorer for Kitsap this season. He’s an extension of the coach on the floor, and I am sure his father appreciates that as his coach at North Kitsap. He is one of the better all around guards in the state. I might even hand the clipboard to him and let him call some plays. He knows how to get people open.
Highlights
Once, again, I feel like I nailed it with my sixth man. Here’s instant offense off the bench, following the theme of my first and only bench player for each team. His skill level is elite, and it just keeps getting better. You can almost see the wheels turning when you watch him, as if he’s making adjustments on the fly, doing things that he might not have ever done before. This is what separates good players from great players. They make those adjustments and they get better at the little things. I shouldn’t say little things, because they can turn into huge things when players understand the importance of making themselves better. That is what the off-season is all about. If you haven’t seen him play in a while, you will notice those improvements. He’s a highly skilled guard who can really score.
EAST-SIDE
He has everything I want for my teams. The reigning CWAC MVP, he’s versatile, skilled, and plays hard. He’s one of the more skilled players in the state at his size. He has a great understanding of how to score the basketball. He can shoot from all over the court, but I think he’s at his best when he’s creating on the fly. He handles the ball well enough to highlight his other skills, like getting to the hole, or pulling up and taking the fifteen footer off the dribble. I love his ability to score off the bounce. He’s also a monster on the boards and will give the West all they can handle as a small forward type who can also play any position. He’s a competitor.
He made my East team for all classifications so he was an easy pick for my 2A team. Nothing that I don’t like about his game. He’s a shooter. An elite one. He’s also a scorer, an underrated one because so much attention is paid to how well he shoots it. I think teams will understand this sooner rather than later next season if they aren’t already aware. He’ll beat you from anywhere. He competes. He gets better and is a sneaky good athlete. He has in the gym range but he is more than just a shooter. He is a unanimous pick for my East team.
Highlights
Another player who made my all classifications team. He could become the best prospect in the state. You might not think interchangeable when you see that he’s 6’11”. You’d be wrong, although he does everything a back to the basket post would be expected to do and does it well. The most impressive thing is that he can bring the ball up the floor, shoots it really well from three, and can do guard like things better than most guards. He runs very well. He’s active. I use that word a lot, and when I do, I think of a player who runs like a deer, goes and gets rebounds, blocks shots, and has highlight reel dunks. He is probably the most “active” player I have ever written about here.
Highlights
This kid is tough and likes to compete. He’s a lefty with a smooth stroke from beyond the arc. He is great at getting himself free off the dribble and creating space to shoot it. He’s unafraid and gets downhill well, with a purpose. This is a kid who should climb up the rankings. He’s only a junior, so he’ll get that chance. He can play either guard spot, and should help my east team take care of the ball, as he can handle it well. He will help the team with his great court vision and ability to break down the defense, and find his guy when the help comes.
Highlights
Another player from the CWAC, and the second named Levi. This has nothing to do with him making my team. He’s a shooter, and he fits perfectly into the game plan. He was a 1st team CWAC player as a sophomore last season. It was a tough choice between he and teammate Julian Garza, who returns as a senior this year. Any kid who plays for Grandview seems to fit the competitor theme that I build my teams around. Grandview should be a tough out next season as they return three starters from a good team.
Another 1st team CWAC player from a year ago, I will use him as my sixth man. I know I can plug him into any position on the floor with his versatility. I have two players from Ellensburg, which can only help my team as they are already used to playing with each other. He’s tough player, who can play inside and out. He averaged 14PPG last season and he shot 90% from the free throw line. Maybe the best indicator of a good shooter. He scored 42 points in a summer league game, so I am confident that he can add instant offense off the bench, to go with the toughness and willingness to rebound. He’s got good size, and can give the west some matchup problems.