2022-23 Federal Way Eagles Team Preview

Weems is such a vital piece to the Federal Way puzzle because he never stops playing. He catches opposing players when they ease up or get too comfortable, stealing the ball away time and again. And he doesn’t just create turnovers, he capitalizes on them with an aggressive mindset and excellent finishing. He is a reliable tone setter and helps this team succeed inside and on the glass without a true big man on the floor.

Afework is another tone setter for the Eagles because he plays with that same nonstop mindset as Weems. He’s a wing but plays with the heart of a big man and makes sure to mix it up in every loose ball he can get to. He’s a huge factor on the boards, slashes to the hoop with intent, and takes playing defense personally. I imagine he has set the bar pretty high entering his final season at Federal Way.

Now that we’ve talked about their “tone setters” let’s look at the guy holding it together and making sure this train doesn’t go off the rails. Johnson-Holiman leads from the point, distributing the ball, knocking down threes, and bringing that same energy on defense as his two forwards do. He’s a quick player who can push the ball up the floor in a hurry, which plays right into Weems and Afework’s strengths. With the addition of Lewis in the backcourt, Johnson-Holiman will be able to play a little more off-ball and I expect to see an uptick in his shooting numbers from deep.

The thing with Federal Way is they have ballers at each position. They are well-rounded and can attack from any spot. Pleasant is another guy who brings a combination of size, strength, and quickness to the court. He can stroke the three, handles the ball well, and is a freight train heading to the hoop. The one thing the Eagles were a little short on last year was outside shooting and from what I saw this summer, it looks like Pleasant has been working to make that a bigger part of his game.

Peyton is a big addition for the Eagles as a player who can score in a variety of ways and brings even more athleticism to the Federal Way attack. Kofi could be the missing piece their offense needs. He’s a high-level shooter from deep and mid-range. He hits off the pull-up, can catch and shoot, and has good burst to the rim. I think he will fit in perfectly with what the Eagles want to do and should be a player to watch in the North Puget Sound League.

Lewis is another transfer that fits almost too perfectly into the Eagles’ identity. He is at his best running and gunning, setting up teammates and operating in space. He is lightning quick, shifty with the ball, and has a pass-first mentality that will accentuate the depth this team has. Lewis can shoot it too and has some shiftiness at the rim as well. He’ll be a great addition, pushing the pace and playmaking for a team with plenty of finishers.

West is yet another key returner from a year ago when the Eagles went 12-1 in league play. He’s a long wing player that has the size to be an integral part of their defensive identity. He can hit the long-range shot and has a quick release that makes it a tough shot to block. He knows his teammates well, looks to move the ball and keep defenses working. West will add good depth to this team as a player who saw big minutes in crucial games last season.