Oregon Top 250 Expo – GameChangers
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This content series is sponsored by GameChanger-The Official Scorekeeping, Stats, Team Management & Technology Partner of Prep Hoops.
For the first time in its history in Oregon, the #PHTop250Expo was sold out and many of the state’s best came to compete against one another. Players got a great chance to see what they could do, especially offensively and plenty of points were scored. While that was great to see, we looked beyond just the raw point totals to see if there were some players that impacted and changed the game through their play in not only scoring but also other areas.
A number of these guys were given All-Event nominations by the coaches in attendance. While they may not have made the final vote for that team, these young me certainly qualify as #PHTop250Expo GameChangers.
Isaiah Crane Isaiah Crane 6'1" | CG Jesuit | 2023 State OR (2023 Jesuit)
Instagram: isaiah_crane_
Twitter: @isaiah_crane_
Crane played very well at the event and got some votes from coaches. We would classify him as a lead guard in that he’s certainly capable of scoring the basketball, usually by attacking the basket and finishing but he’s also got a solid jumper out to three-point range. A good ball-handler who is especially good with decision-making in transition, there is some semblance to his game to former Jesuit legend and Oregon State Beaver Josh Tarver.
What Made Him a GameChanger: Crane’s willingness to play both ends at a high level is what makes him such a coach’s dream. Sure, he can score the ball and he did that early and often at the PrepHoops Top 250 Expo. But the senior’s ability to lockdown on D and do those types of things that don’t show up necessarily on the stats is what makes him a GameChanger.
Graham Eikenberry Graham Eikenberry 6'10" | PF St Andrew’s RI | 2023 State OR (2023 Lincoln)
Instagram: eikenk1d
Twitter: @EIKENKID
Eikenberry is a classic big man. Offensively he’s at his best with his back to the basket, with a turnaround half-hook his go-to move. He keeps the ball high on shots and on rebounds to keep it away from smaller players, something that is often a struggle with many big guys. At the PrepHoops Oregon Top 250 Expo, the senior did what he always did – score inside and grab rebounds.
What Made Him a GameChanger: Rebounding, rebounding, and rebounding. Obviously his height plays a big factor in Eikenberry getting so many boards on both ends of the floor, but he understands positioning and his willingness to get physical also is a major piece to the puzzle. He notched a double-double in each of the three games he played and his boardwork definitely made a huge difference in his team’s success.
Chance Winter Chance Winter 6'10" | C Beaverton | 2024 State OR (2024 Beaverton)
Instagram: chance_w_winter
Twitter: @ChanceWinter5
If there was any doubt to Winter’s shot-blocking skills, consider that wholly erased. The 6-foot-10 post not only has height but he’s long, lanky, and mobile which allows him to not only reject shots down low but also come out on closeouts to tip perimeter shots. Offensively there’s still development to be had but each time we’ve seen Winter play this off-season, he’s improved in that area. He even hit a three in one game we watched.
What Made Him a GameChanger: A shot blocker, especially at the high school level, can make such a huge difference. Winter can certainly defend the rim but his ability to run the floor and move to get to the shooter continues to get better and better. There was one block he had in oen game where he pinned the ball on the glass that garnered oohs and aahs. And because he was such a menace blocking shots, sometimes he didn’t even need to do anything and it affected shot attempts by opponents inside.
Max Elmgren Max Elmgren 6'0" | CG Beaverton | 2024 State OR (2024 Beaverton)
Instagram: max_elmgren_
Twitter: @elmgren_max
He may have only played two games as he and all his Beaverton teammates left for fall league at Jefferson, but Elmgren was extremely impressive in the action he did participate in. The lefty hit the bullseye from long range and it was consistent over the course of both games, and not just a single hot streak. Elmgren nailed catch-and-shoot opportunities but also hit a handful via dribble pull-ups. His game wasn’t all threes either as he had a couple of quick drives to the hoop for scores.
What Made Him a GameChanger: A serious threat from three-point range completely changes the game as defenses are forced to adjust which opens things up for other players. Elmgren simply could not be left open or he would make opponents pay with his deadly shooting stroke. The fact he can also hit some shots off the move whether it’s coming off of screens or using the dribble makes him that much more dangerous than just a standstill shooter.
Izzy Golden Izzy Golden 6'0" | PG Ashland | 2023 State OR (2023 Ashland)
Instagram: izzygolden_
Twitter: @izzygolden2_
Golden really had his shooting stroke on automatic during the Top 250 Expo. He used his dribble to set things up, whether it was a pull-up or step-back, the senior point guard was nailing shots from well beyond the three-point stripe. Golden didn’t just hog the ball either as he looked to move the rock around, but if he was given space he certainly looked to launch – and he did so with plenty of success.
What Makes Him a GameChanger: Golden not only hits threes but has deep, deep range and can hit them contested right in the defender’s face. While it could be argued it may be a bit streaky in nature, the fact he can get smoking hot during certain periods of time can certainly change the flow of the game. That certainly was the case for him on Sunday.