2A district by district favorites-Part one
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My 2A hoops breakdown by district and picks to advance to the state tournament this season, along with some of the best of the rest from districts across the state. After taking a closer look, the battle to earn a…
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Continue ReadingMy 2A hoops breakdown by district and picks to advance to the state tournament this season, along with some of the best of the rest from districts across the state. After taking a closer look, the battle to earn a bid to Yakima won’t be an easy task with many teams knocking on the door last year, looking for a way in this year. Starting with the east side, there are a few teams that have the talent to win it all. I’ll start with the Central WA district.
2A Central WA
The state champion could very well come from this district. There are a few teams that should make some noise in the post-season. I’ll start with my favorite from the Central WA teams.
Ellensburg
This is a deep and experienced team that will be ready to rumble after not quite getting to the tournament last year. They have arguably the best player in 2A. They are big, and skilled.
The recent Oregon State commit doesn’t need an introduction. He’s one of the best prospects in the state. He does everything well and his skill set is special. He is different and he’s a difference maker. He could be cutting the nets down before he leaves for Corvallis.
Highlights
Returning all-league player also has a great skill set for his size. He can score from inside and out, making Ellensburg a tough matchup for teams to handle. He’s a tough competitor and a good compliment to the big man. You have two of the top players in 2A with these two. Ellensburg is my pick to have the best shot at a title from the east side, along with a team from the Greater Spokane district that I will mention later.
Highlights
Prosser
I watched them send Mark Morris home last season in a loser out regional game. They were a scrappy team that played hard nosed defense.
Quarterback on the football team for a school known for football. He also runs the point for the hoops team. He’s a solid player with good ball skills that can shoot the rock. Solid floor game and a scrappy defender who can be a factor with his offensive contributions and defense. Prosser plays hard and have the supporting cast to be competitive again this season and fight for a state tournament berth.
Grandview
State tournament team from a year ago brings back a pair of all league guards to lead the always tough Greyhounds.
He’s one of those tough players who will compete and dig deep on both ends of the floor. He can shoot it, and get himself to the cup. He should be one of the best guards in the 2A Central district, along with his teammate I will mention next. They both love to run and shoot it from deep.
He was a 2nd team all league pick last year and his best strength is that he can get red hot from three. He’s a good all around player and is tough like his backcourt mates. Grandview has a scrappy bunch of guards who will be in your face style defensively and get out and go style offensively. They aren’t very big but they have the talent to get them to Yakima.
Selah
You can’t count this team out with a couple red hot Peppers in the lineup. Both of them are talented and one of them is a big time prospect. The other could join him as next up in the next three years.
Here’s my quick break down of what he can do. He’s 6’6 and excels at getting to the bucket. He can really cover some space using his great spin moves and drives. He is a great finisher, and capable of highlight reel dunks. He shoots off the dribble extremely well, and he is a good three point shooter. He rebounds, and can play with his back to the basket if he needs to but he’s really solid at breaking down the defense and scoring. He’ll put up video game numbers for Selah this season and could carry them to Yakima. He’s that good.
Jackson Pepper
Jackson Pepper
Here’s another of a long line of Peppers that have dominated the hoops scene in Central Washington for generations. He’s more of a point guard and handles it well, but is also a scoring threat whose just a sophomore. He showed all the qualities of another great one last season as a freshman. I expect him to make a big jump this season. Having two Pepper names on the roster make it tough to leave Selah out of the conversation for a state berth.