2022-23 Mount Si Wildcats Team Preview
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The Wildcats went 25-1 last season, losing their only game in overtime of the 4A State Championship game. They had an incredibly balanced attack with four starters averaging ten-plus points per game. The biggest difference heading into this season is…
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Continue ReadingThe Wildcats went 25-1 last season, losing their only game in overtime of the 4A State Championship game. They had an incredibly balanced attack with four starters averaging ten-plus points per game. The biggest difference heading into this season is the loss of two key starters, one key reserve, and seven total players from their 2021-22 Varsity team. On the flip side, they welcome transfer forward Bennett Olujic Bennett Olujic 6'7" | SF Mount Si | 2023 State WA from Eastside Catholic who will come in and fill a big hole in the starting lineup. However, with the exodus of experience in the 2022 class, the Wildcats are much thinner than a season ago. Here are some of the names who left and the key guys coming back in 2022-23.
Graduated: Bennett O’Connor (Central Washington), Quin Patterson (UCSD), Cam Holliway (Northwest Nazarene), Drew Hiddleson
Incoming: Bennett Olujic Bennett Olujic 6'7" | SF Mount Si | 2023 State WA (Eastside Catholic)
Key Returners: Miles Heide Miles Heide 6'7" | C Mount Si | 2023 State #274 Nation WA , Blake Forrest Blake Forrest 6'0" | PG Mt Si | 2024 State WA , Trevor Hennig Trevor Hennig 6'4" | SG Mt Si | 2024 State WA , Cyrus Turley
Even after losing three college-level players from last year’s team the Mount Si Wildcats boast one of the most talented starting lineups in the state. Their depth and bench play will be crucial in their success this season, as well as the ability of the starting five to avoid foul trouble and be efficient on both ends of the floor. The Wildcats also lose some size from last year with Quin Patterson (6’7), Cam Holliway (6’5), and Drew Hiddleson (6’7) moving on. That’s why a guy like Cyrus Turley (6’7), who didn’t play a lot last season, could be a key player spelling bigs Heide and Olujic off the bench.
The big man out of Mount Si is a beast in the paint and plays with high energy at the rim. He’s great at working off the pick and roll with hard dives to the hoop and his hands ready for the pass. Heide is athletic and loves to show this off by running the floor and finishing fast breaks. He’s pretty mobile on defense too, guarding pick and rolls and is able to switch onto smaller players capably. He is committed to playing at San Diego State for college ball and would surely like to end his high school career with another state championship, but his first as one of the go-to-guys.
Forrest was a key starter for the Wildcats last season, primarily helping out from long-range and providing astute defensive pressure. He has the ability to be a lightning rod, getting hot from distance, playmaking off drives, and locking down opposing guards. Forrest will be asked to run more point guard this season with the departure of Bennett O’Connor who average just over seven assists last season. While Forrest has a different style game than O’Connor, he should be more than capable of filling the role and still providing good scoring from outside. He will have a lot of fun running the pick and roll with both Heide and Olujic this season.
His season was cut short last year due to injury, but when he was out there, Hennig was a gamechanger with length, skill and athleticism. He led the Wildcats in scoring as a sophomore at 16.9 points per contest. At 6’4 he’s a strong finisher inside who can beat guys off the bounce but also shows good awareness with back doors and cuts to the rim. He’s another Mount Si guard who is stout defensively and gets his fair share of steals with his long reach. He can stroke the three ball too and will be a big difference maker for this team come winter.
Olujic is a massive transfer for Mount Si, slotting right into the starting five and providing solid play across the board. He’s bigger than last year, now standing 6’7, he’s stronger, looks more athletic, and appears as hungry as ever. He adds an element of playmaking that will help spread the load and allow their guards to be the dynamic scorers they are. Olujic is a good shooter from mid-range and beyond the arc. He’s a strong finisher and has soft touch around the rim too. He is going to have a breakout year and has already been turning heads this summer.
Highlights
They came so close to capping the perfect season last year but now they have a new dynamic, with playmaking across the board, shooters, and of course the always-reliable Miles Heide Miles Heide 6'7" | C Mount Si | 2023 State #274 Nation WA causing havoc inside. The star power in the starting five is undeniable but the bench will play a key role this season and could decide if this team is going to seal the deal with a championship this year.