3A/2A Wesco League Preview - Early Favorites

With regular season hoops over a month away from returning, we still have a solid idea of where the top schools in the 16-school Wesco league stack up against each other, and where they may end up in the 22′-23′…

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2021-22′ Season Rewind:

Arguably, The key storyline from last season was the Mountlake Terrace Hawks and their sixth place finish at the Tacoma Dome back in March. With 6-foot dynamo point guard Jefferey Anyimah (George Fox University) leading MLT past Kelso and Timberline, before the Hawks fell to Mt. Spokane in the semifinals and ultimately lost to Garfield in the fourth place game.

Shorecrest seemed to be the Wesco favorite for most of last season, with lead senior guard Elijah Johnson (Howard University) putting up crazy scoring numbers on a weekly basis and then junior Parker Baumann Parker Baumann 6'5" | CG Shorecrest | 2023 State WA playing at an All-League level as well. The cards didn’t fall their way last year as the Scots got bounced by Kelso in the regional play-in. Shorecrest should still be in the running as an early favorite after reloading over the summer.

Arlington was the other Wesco school which made it past the district tourney, taking out Evergreen in the play-in, and falling to Ferris at the end of regionals behind a deep roster headlined by first-team all league choice Ethan Martin (now graduated).

Returning all-league players:

Honorable Mention — Keegan Williams Keegan Williams 6'4" | SG Lynnwood | 2023 State WA (Lynnwood, sr.)

Early favorites:

Everett Seagulls

Last season’s record: 11-11 overall, 10-7 in league

After a middling season overall, Everett is my pick to make the biggest leap of any team in the conference, and could very well end up taking the crown with the collection of talent the group has. The Gulls’ may have the deepest team in the league, and they pair that with a ton of athleticism and scoring ability. 6-foot-6 senior Hayden Conaxis Hayden Conaxis 6'6" | SF Everett | 2023 State WA , who was left off the all-league teams last year, figures to be in for a breakout season as a rim protector and floor runner who can stretch the floor from deep.

The returning guard duo of senior Daniel Savovic Daniel Savovic 6'0" | CG Everett | 2023 State WA and junior Isaiah White Isaiah White 6'4" | CG Everett | 2024 State WA could do some damage together in the backcourt, along with a long 2024 two-way wing Mo Jaiteh Mo Jaiteh 6'5" | SG Everett | 2024 WA , who could make a big impact in his first taste of varsity playing time with the squad.

In addition, there’s a pesky off-ball guard in Ty Bloomfield (2024) and 6’3 pogo stick Isaiah Parker Isaiah Parker 6'3" | CG Everett | 2023 WA (2023). Both of those guys slot in easily as glue guys. It’s a long season, but Everett should be considered a favorite as we get closer to the start.

Shorecrest Scots

Last season’s record: 20-4, 16-3 in league

With two key losses to the roster in Eljiah Johnson and Newton Pepple, the Scots main corps will look a bit different this time around, but Shorecrest remains one of the more talented programs in Wesco. Returning 6’5 guard Parker Baumann Parker Baumann 6'5" | CG Shorecrest | 2023 State WA is in line for another huge year after a first-team all-league nod, averaging 20 ppg, 9 rpg, and 6 apg.

Senior all-around guard Keaine Silimon Keaine Silimon 6'1" | PG Shorecrest | 2023 State WA figures to be leaned on heavily to provide some stability in the backcourt and is an all-league candidate as well. Shorecrest’s newest addition, junior sharpshooter Anthony Najera Anthony Najera 6'0" | PG Everett | 2024 State WA , who transferred over from Marysville-Gethell, adds another element to the Scots squad on the perimeter.

Even with some talent leaving this roster due to graduation, The Scots seem to have filled some gaps they lost from last year, and should remain one of the top teams in the league.

Mountlake Terrace Hawks

Last season’s record: 19-5 overall, 13-3 in league

The loss of speedy floor general Jeffrey Anyimah might be one of the biggest hurdles the Hawks have to get over this season. The 6-foot PG brought a lot to the teams state tournament run, along with 6’4 post Adison Maddix, who brought rebounding and physicality. Junior swingman Jaxon Dubiel Jaxon Dubiel 6'3" | CG Mountlake Terrace | 2024 State WA should be getting a lot more responsibilities with the ball in his hands after improving over the AAU season.

Returning lefty senior Chris Meegan figures to be setting up the offense, while junior forward Zaveon Jones Zaveon Jones 6'2" | SF Mountlake Terrace | 2024 State WA looks to build off his breakout sophomore season, where he asserted himself as a force on the low block, posting 14 ppg and 7 boards a night, proving to be a matchup problem with his size.

Terrace was one of the more consistent teams in the league last season, and even with some tough blows in terms of returning personnel, the group’s outlook is still strong as the season creeps closer.

Archbishop Murphy Wildcats

Last season’s record: 7-13 overall, 6-8 in league

AMHS is perhaps the biggest dark horse team in Wesco this year. The Wildcats struggled to get things going in the wins column last season. Archbishop will be without the graduated Ben Snider (second team all-league), but have some up-and-coming names to anchor them this year.

Garnering a few D-III offers over the summer, 23′ guard Luke Blachly Luke Blachly 6'4" | SF Archbishop Murphy | 2023 State WA seems ready to make the leap this season. Fundamentally sound on both ends of the floor, and sporting a reliable jumper, he could end up being the main scoring option for AMHS. incoming 6’7 sophomore Mateen Usui Mateen Usui 6'6" | PF Archbishop Murphy | 2025 State WA has one of the biggest upsides of any player in Wesco. Still young and growing into his body after shooting up in height over the summer, his development as a finisher and as a high-potential defender will be key for the Cats’ if they want to serious damage in the Wesco standings.