2022-23 6A Preview: Mt Hood Conference

The 2022-23 season is upon us and PrepHoops Oregon has you covered. We're doing pre-season previews for all of the 6A leagues across the state, giving you some insight into the teams and players you should be watching this year. It should be a fun year in the Mt Hood Conference and many of the same teams that did well last season are looking good for this year. Here's how we see it turning out.   League Predictions   1. Central Catholic 2. Gresham 3. Barlow 4. Nelson 5. Clackamas 6. David Douglas 7. Sandy 8. Reynolds   Player of the Year: [player_tooltip player_id='861087' first='Esyah' last='Pippa-White'], Gresham   All-League Predictions: [player_tooltip player_id='861087' first='Esyah' last='Pippa-White'], Gresham; [player_tooltip player_id='1276625' first='Jalen' last='Atkins'], Barlow; [player_tooltip player_id='1382409' first='CJ' last='Borin'], Nelson; [player_tooltip player_id='1276626' first='Isaac' last='Carr'], Central Catholic; [player_tooltip player_id='1382414' first='Garrett' last='Strube'], Clackamas   Top Sleeper/Newcomer: [player_tooltip player_id='1582928' first='Zamir' last='Paschal'], Central Catholic   State Tournament Threats: Central Catholic   Other Post-Season Teams: Gresham, Barlow, Nelson   Analysis   Central Catholic dominated the Mt Hood Conference last season running the table and while going undefeated in league play seems unlikely this season, it seems like the Rams will still be the top dog. This is all said despite the fact head coach David Blue has only one senior on the squad, but he's a good one in [player_tooltip player_id='865366' first='Gray' last='Thompson'] (7.5 ppg, 4.2 rpg, .446 3pt%). The 6-foot-7 forward can hurt you down low or from beyond the arc and is primed to have a big year. [player_tooltip player_id='1276626' first='Isaac' last='Carr'] (11.3 ppg, 2.1 rpg, .367 3pt%) is also ready to show the development in his game as he's advanced from being more of a shooter into a more complete scorer. Defensive-minded [player_tooltip player_id='1268438' first='Tony' last='Angelo'] (5.9 ppg, 2.2 apg) is the steady hand at the point and fellow junior [player_tooltip player_id='1110583' first='Marley' last='Zeller'] (5.8 ppg, 2.1 rpg) brings athleticism on the wing. The Rams are blessed with younger talent in the likes of sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='1368247' first='Duce' last='Paschal'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1624504' first='Quincy' last='Scott'], and incoming freshman [player_tooltip player_id='1582928' first='Zamir' last='Paschal'] - nicknamed "Bam" - ranks as one of the top players in the state in the Class of 2026.   Hoping to make a run at the top is Gresham, who will do so under new head coach [player_tooltip player_id='2427510' first='Corey' last='Lockhart']. He figures to keep many things the same as the Gophers will be once again guard heavy. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='861087' first='Esyah' last='Pippa-White'] (19.8 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 5.8 apg, 2.3 spg) leads the way and the lead guard now in his fourth year is one of the most experienced and productive players in all of 6A. Running alongside him will be senior [player_tooltip player_id='962735' first='Scotty' last='Riddle'] (13.7 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 3.8 apg), junior sharp-shooter RJ Alexander (10.2 ppg, 3.2 rpg, .405 3pt%), and Grant transfer [player_tooltip player_id='1096106' first='Marcus' last='McKinney'], who can play at any of the guard spots. Gresham may often play four guards at one time but two big men will figure into the plans are [player_tooltip player_id='1484999' first='Uli' last='Gutierrez'] (3.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg, .584 fg%) and 6-foot-7 junior [player_tooltip player_id='1495285' first='Nate' last='Gilkey']. The two will provide different looks as Gutierrez is hard-nosed and tough while the long and lanky Gilkey will make his mark as a shot-blocker.   The longest tenured coach in 6A is Tom Johnson and he's full of energy as always. The reason why - he's invigorated by his young and talented team. Leading scorer [player_tooltip player_id='1276625' first='Jalen' last='Atkins'] (15.3 ppg, 3.1 apg, .402 3pt%) is back and fully healthy, it wouldn't be surprising to see him top 20 points a game as a sophomore. He earned First Team All-League honors last year. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='1382421' first='Jahvari' last='Martino'] (8 ppg, 3 spg) will run alongside him and is an athletic player who will play hard on both ends of the floor. A guy that has tremendous talent that will get his chance to produce this season is 6-foot-5 forward [player_tooltip player_id='1368245' first='Mason' last='Bierbrauer'], who ranks as one of the top players in the Class of 2025. He's a tremendous athlete who has the ability to score both inside and out. Senior Nate Forrar will help up front and in the backcourt, defensive-minded Sam Weber, Mason's older brother Ryan Bierbrauer, and Noah McAllister add depth.   It might be only the second year of basketball for Nelson but it's clear the program is on the rise. The Hawks just missed the post-season last year but head coach Alex Edwards is hoping this season is different. He's got a good group of returning seniors to lead the way, especially up front with well-built [player_tooltip player_id='1382409' first='CJ' last='Borin'] (14.6 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 2.3 apg, .539 fg%), lanky [player_tooltip player_id='1382420' first='Vanndon' last='Heard'] (6.9 ppg, 6.6 rpg, .521 fg%), and senior Barlow transfer Gabe Townsend, who can also score both inside and out. The all-around Borin is an all-league candidate. Returning in the backcourt is senior Reid Gray (4.8 ppg, .396 3pt%) and [player_tooltip player_id='1517891' first='Sam' last='Lewis'] (5.3 ppg), and senior transfer [player_tooltip player_id='1382411' first='Parker' last='Poetsch'] (18 ppg at Centennial) will make a major impact with his scoring and passing.   It's both new and old at Clackamas as former head coach Ryan King is back for another stint with the Cavs. Last year's team was senior-dominated, so he inherits a squad with just a few returnees, the most signficant is all-league honoree [player_tooltip player_id='1382414' first='Garrett' last='Strube'] (11.5 ppg). Strube is adept at getting to the hoop for scores or kicking it out to teammates for open shots. Tyler King (5.6 ppg) and Cooper Beltz (2.9 ppg) are also back after stints on the football team. King will be a key guy in the paint while Beltz has a smooth lefty stroke from the perimeter. Transfer [player_tooltip player_id='1382410' first='Parker' last='Harrison'] (12.9 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 2.3 apg at Nelson), who also played on the football team, will add much-needed experience and an all-around game. The rest of the squad is essentially last year's JV squad; junior guard Peter An stands out with his three-point shooting ability.   Another senior-dominated team from last year is David Douglas, but dealing with turnover is something long-time head coach Chad Reeves is accustomed to dealing with. But despite the fact that the top four leading scorers are gone, the cupboard isn't bare with a quartet of seniors returning. [player_tooltip player_id='1256646' first='David' last='Alderton'] (5.3 ppg, 4.3 rpg) is back and the 6-foot-3 wing will be counted on heavily for both his scoring and rebounding. Senior Carlens Ostin (4.0 ppg, 1.3 rpg, 0.9 apg) played significant minutes last season and is also back. Drew Satterthwaite (2.1 ppg, 1.7 rpg) will help out inside while Prince Hale (1.0 ppg 1.3 rpg) can play multiple roles. One thing you can always count on from a Scots team is they will be hard nosed and play hard every night.   In his second year at the school, head coach Paul Henderson continues to build up his program at Sandy. A lot of production will need to be replaced but junior point guard Marcos Ramirez is someone to build around. Henderson has a number of experienced seniors to turn to as well - Cooper Meyers can heat up from downtown, Wayne Zimmerman is an active defender and other contributors back from last year's squad include Jake Dunham and Gabriel Pyles.   Reynolds rounds things out as head coach Terrance Dickens will once again do his best with who he has. The one returning varsity player is 6-foot guard Abraham Duran. He's a hard worker that can hit from the outside. Otherwise, the team will be new and very young. Two guys Dickens is looking forward to seeing how they fare this season are Martine Beberness, a pass-first point guard, and 6-foot-5 freshman Eddie Szabatin, a hard working big man who can score around the rim.

The 2022-23 season is upon us and PrepHoops Oregon has you covered. We're doing pre-season previews for all of the 6A leagues across the state, giving you some insight into the teams and players you should be watching this year. It should be a fun year in the Mt Hood Conference and many of the same teams that did well last season are looking good for this year. Here's how we see it turning out.