2022-23 6A Preview: Pacific Conference
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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.…
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Continue ReadingThe 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. The Pacific Conference has been Sherwood’s domain in recent years and things don’t look too much different this season, but how it shapes up after the Bowmen will be very competitive. Here’s how we see it turning out.
League Predictions
1. Sherwood
2. Century
3. Liberty
4. McMinnville
5. Forest Grove
6. Glencoe
7. Newberg
Player of the Year: Jared Sucher Jared Sucher 6'4" | SG Sherwood | 2023 State OR , Sherwood
All-League Predictions: Jared Sucher Jared Sucher 6'4" | SG Sherwood | 2023 State OR , Sherwood; Brandon Bomberger Brandon Bomberger 5'9" | PG McMinnville | 2023 State OR , McMinnville; Tyler Bradford Tyler Bradford 6'3" | SF Liberty | 2024 State OR , Liberty; Matthew Verkamp Matthew Verkamp 6'4" | SF Sherwood | 2023 State OR , Sherwood; Axton Wongsomadi Axton Wongsomadi 6'1" | CG Century | 2023 State OR , Century
Top Sleeper/Newcomer: Jay Johnson, Liberty
State Tournament Threats: Sherwood
Other Post-Season Teams: Century, Liberty
Analysis
It’s become a bit of a broken record but it really is the same tune again this year – Sherwood looks to be tops in the Pacific. As usual, head coach Rahim Tufts brings back the most talent and experience. Leading the way is wing Jared Sucher Jared Sucher 6'4" | SG Sherwood | 2023 State OR (16.3 ppg, 4.5 rpg, .391 3pt%) who is no doubt primed to have a huge senior campaign. When healthy, he’s one of the top shooters and scorers in all of 6A and he also has the athleticism to finish above the rim. Senior Matthew Verkamp Matthew Verkamp 6'4" | SF Sherwood | 2023 State OR (8.4 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 1.7 spg) is back as his running mate and the do-it-all performer could potentially average a double-double. In the backcourt, Breyan Kelly Breyan Kelly 6'2" | CG Sherwood | 2023 State OR (2.4 ppg, 0.5 apg) can really fill it up from long range and transfer Ethan Eckard Ethan Eckard 6'3" | SG Sherwood | 2024 State OR (6.6 ppg, 1.9 rpg at Lakeridge) will add scoring punch. The next step for the Bowmen program is making the 6A state tournament and this team has the offensive ability to make that happen.
Once again, guard play will be the strength for Century and head coach Scott Kellar and the trio of senior Axton Wongsomadi Axton Wongsomadi 6'1" | CG Century | 2023 State OR (11.3 ppg, 2.2 rpg), junior Jordan Johnson Jordan Johnson 6'1" | CG Century | 2024 State OR (11.5 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 3.0 apg), and sophomore Jessly Bukeyenza (8.6 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 2.4 apg) will lead the way. All three can fill it up from long range – Wongsomadi has been one of 6A’s leaders in threes made per game the past two seasons – and you can expect to see plenty of threes getting launched this season. Senior point guard Elijah Garcia (7.0 ppg, 3.7 apg) is back to get everyone the basketball as well. The key as usual will be how the height-challenged Jaguars will match up against bigger teams and if they can capably rebound and defend to make up for the nights when the shots aren’t falling.
Liberty hopes to build upon last year’s strong finish that allowed them to qualify for the post-season and head coach Mike Gregory’s still relatively young squad now has experience. Junior wing/forward Tyler Bradford Tyler Bradford 6'3" | SF Liberty | 2024 State OR (8.2 ppg, 5.9 rpg) is arguably the top athlete in the conference and physically will be tough to contend with inside or outside. The key will be if he can consistently flip the switch into manchild mode. Getting him the ball will be junior point guard Donovan Crowder Donovan Crowder 5'9" | PG Liberty | 2024 State OR (6.9 ppg, 3.9 apg), one of the quickest guys around. 6-foot-6 senior John Marugg (6.5 ppg, 4.1 rpg) is the size up front and fellow senior Nate Smith (4.3 ppg, 2.8 rpg, .576 fg%) operates well inside despite being undersized at 6-foot-1. Freshman Jay Johnson is a talented offensive player who may be a big factor by season’s end.
McMinnville head coach Willie Graham has been around a while – he’s only second in tenure in the conference behind Kellar at Century – so shifting from having size to leaning on his guards is nothing new. Thankfully he’s got some experienced backcourt operators to lean on, starting with four-year starter Brandon Bomberger Brandon Bomberger 5'9" | PG McMinnville | 2023 State OR (10.0 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 2.6 apg) at the point. Another returnee Graham is expecting big things from this season is junior Owen Wark Owen Wark 6'2" | CG McMinnville | 2024 State OR (6.1 ppg, 2.8 rpg) who has the ability to get things done both inside and outside. Senior Max Saltmarsh (8.4 ppg, 2.6 rpg, .330 3pt) is the team’s top outside shooter and will likely be the third offensive option. There are some talented young players that will need to quickly develop and emerge for the Grizzlies as well.
Forest Grove is the biggest team in the league with seven guys listed at 6-foot-3 or taller and head coach Marc Roche is hoping that will translate into some wins. The Vikings are fairly senior-dominated as well but from an experience perspective though, they are still relatively green. Afton Milton (3.8 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 1.0 apg) figures in at the point and he has good size for the position at 6-foot-3. Charlie Funk (1.2 ppg, 1.1 rpg) has potential up front, and junior Kaden Hale (0.9 ppg, 0.9 rpg) – the school’s starting QB – brings athleticism to the table. A couple of younger guys that could emerge are sharp-shooting sophomore Nolan Hudgins Nolan Hudgins 6'0" | SG Forest Grove | 2025 State OR and freshman point guard Andwele Bridges.
Had Chance Winter Chance Winter 6'10" | C Beaverton | 2024 State OR returned – the big man transferred to Beaverton – things might have been different but instead it’s looking like another year of trying to stay competitive for Glencoe and head coach Kevin “Pip” Bloodsaw. A couple of key returnees – junior guard Cooper Landaker (9.3 ppg, 1.4 rpg) who can fill it up from long range, and senior point guard Keith Miller (4.9 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 2.2 apg) – will lead the way and seniors wings Austin Stampflee (1.1 ppg, 1.1 rpg) and Lucas Anthony (0.7 ppg), as well as junior guard Tyson Young (1.0 ppg), and all had their moments for the Crimson Tide last season.
Newberg was the only job head coach Brett Vernon would have left any other spot for, so when it opened up this off-season he jumped at the chance. What the former Tigers star inherits is an essentially new team as last year’s roster that won five games is practically gone. One guy that does return is a big one – literally – 6-foot-7 Palmer Thompson (0.6 ppg, 1.4 rpg). Vernon is hoping his senior big man will man the middle, especially on the defensive end and on the boards. Junior guard Malachi Muthiah Malachi Muthiah 5'10" | CG Newberg | 2024 State OR (3.8 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 1.2 apg) should supply much of the scoring. Pretty much everyone else is a newcomer, of which point guard Elijah Camp and senior post Caysten Knows His Gun could emerge.