4A/3A Preview: Top 10 Non-League Games to Watch (Pt II)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here we continue with some of the top non-league games in the 4A and 3A this season. We start off with an East vs West game and a potential 4A Title contender in Federal Way.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4>Dec 27 Federal Way vs Gonzaga Prep (@ Bellarmine Prep HS) 5:00 PM</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Players to Watch: </em>[player_tooltip player_id='923123' first='Dace' last='Pleasant'] (Federal Way), [player_tooltip player_id='1270693' first='Dane' last='Lewis'] (Federal Way), [player_tooltip player_id='1270612' first='Vaughn' last='Weems'] (Federal Way), [player_tooltip player_id='923104' first='Isaiah' last='Afework'] (Federal Way), [player_tooltip player_id='1450499' first='Kofi' last='Peyton'] (Federal Way), [player_tooltip player_id='1270688' first='Dae'Sean' last='Johnson-Holiman'] (Federal Way), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1633559' first='Colton' last='West']</strong> (Federal Way), <strong>Doni Burkett</strong> (Federal Way), [player_tooltip player_id='1270715' first='Jackson' last='Floyd'] (Gonzaga Prep), [player_tooltip player_id='1086705' first='Jamil' last='Miller'] (Gonzaga Prep), [player_tooltip player_id='1416287' first='Carter' last='Verret'] (Gonzaga Prep), [player_tooltip player_id='1450501' first='Henry' last='Sandberg'] (Gonzaga Prep), [player_tooltip player_id='1450986' first='Jayce' last='Swanson'] (Gonzaga Prep)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Notes: </em>It should be pretty evident by the number of players to watch, but these are two teams we should see hanging around late into the 4A State Playoffs. Federal Way returns five players who started games a year ago and added two all-league caliber players, not to mention having one of the highest-regarded freshmen in the state, Doni Burkett. They have people buzzing about a possible state championship but Gonzaga Prep has talent too. They have players in every class that compete at a high level and should keep the Eastside powerhouse a relevant player in the 4A this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4>Dec 28 Mariner vs Kamiakin (@ Central Valley HS) 5:00 PM</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Players to Watch: </em>[player_tooltip player_id='1439037' first='Jailin' last='Johnson'] (Mariner), [player_tooltip player_id='1139155' first='Isaiah' last='Cuellar'] (Mariner), [player_tooltip player_id='1409013' first='Peter' last='Dress'] (Kamiakin), <strong>Javier Sideregts</strong> (Kamiakin), [player_tooltip player_id='1450942' first='Samuel' last='Wantz'] (Kamiakin)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Notes: </em>Both teams were highly competitive last season; Kamiakin finished 4th at State and Mariner was one of the tougher teams to play all season with their grueling style of play. Yet, both teams lose a lot of firepower heading into this year and will look to new players to step up and lead the way. This will be a great matchup to gauge where each team stands as they look to guys like [player_tooltip player_id='1439037' first='Jailin' last='Johnson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1409013' first='Peter' last='Dress'] to lead their respective teams back to the 4A Playoffs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4>Dec 29<em> </em>Camas @ Kentridge 6:00 PM</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Players to Watch: </em>[player_tooltip player_id='1450989' first='Beckett' last='Currie'] (Camas), [player_tooltip player_id='1450988' first='Jace' last='Vanvoorhis'] (Camas), [player_tooltip player_id='1270731' first='Theo' last='McMillan'] (Camas), [player_tooltip player_id='1270690' first='Elijah' last='Cain'] (Kentridge), <strong>Dominic Randhawa</strong> (Kentridge), [player_tooltip player_id='1439251' first='Xzavier' last='Randhawa'] (Kentridge), [player_tooltip player_id='1270691' first='Jalon' last='Blackwell'] (Kentridge), [player_tooltip player_id='1450500' first='Jamari' last='Harris'] (Kentridge), <strong>Dorian Thomas</strong> (Kentridge)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Notes: </em>Kentridge is one of my favorite teams to keep tabs on heading into the season. They re-upped in the backcourt with [player_tooltip player_id='1270690' first='Elijah' last='Cain'] transferring over from Graham-Kapowsin, and now have five starting caliber guards on their roster. This will be a guard-driven matchup with two young Camas guards ready to stamp their names all over the 4A this season as well. Neither Camas nor Kentridge were able to make the 4A State Tournament last year but both have huge upsides heading into the year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4>Jan 7 Rainier Beach @ Silas 5:00 PM</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Players to Watch: </em>[player_tooltip player_id='1112472' first='Ryan' last='Mpouli'] (Rainier Beach), [player_tooltip player_id='923111' first='Miles' last='Gurske'] (Rainier Beach), <strong>Mario Clark</strong> (Rainier Beach), <strong>Victor Raymond</strong> (Rainier Beach), [player_tooltip player_id='1451032' first='Jeremiah' last='White'] (Rainier Beach), <strong>Patrice Mpouli</strong> (Rainier Beach), [player_tooltip player_id='923120' first='Cayden' last='McDaniel'] (Silas), [player_tooltip player_id='1270694' first='Keon' last='Dewalt'] (Silas), [player_tooltip player_id='1450603' first='Tre' last='Walker'] (Silas), <strong>Romeo Webber</strong> (Silas), <strong>Taveonte Webster</strong> (Silas)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Notes: </em>Rainier Beach changed out almost their entire varsity squad from a year ago and guess what... They might be just as talented again. <strong>Victor Raymond</strong>, the Mpouli's, [player_tooltip player_id='1451032' first='Jeremiah' last='White'] are all super long, athletic players, and [player_tooltip player_id='923111' first='Miles' last='Gurske'] has the talent to be an All-State player. On the flip side, [player_tooltip player_id='923120' first='Cayden' last='McDaniel'] returns to the sidelines for Silas and is another All-State caliber player. Silas didn't make a lot of noise last season without McDaniel but should be firmly in the 3A mix with all the talent they have heading into the season. This game should be marked on everyone's calendar.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4>Jan 16 Mt Si vs Kentridge (@ Showare Center) 7:00 PM</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Players to Watch: </em>[player_tooltip player_id='923112' first='Miles' last='Heide'] (Mt Si), [player_tooltip player_id='1177126' first='Bennett' last='Olujic'] (Mt Si), [player_tooltip player_id='1450494' first='Blake' last='Forrest'] (Mt Si), [player_tooltip player_id='1450486' first='Trevor' last='Hennig'] (Mt Si), [player_tooltip player_id='1270690' first='Elijah' last='Cain'] (Kentridge), <strong>Dominic Randhawa</strong> (Kentridge), [player_tooltip player_id='1439251' first='Xzavier' last='Randhawa'] (Kentridge), [player_tooltip player_id='1270691' first='Jalon' last='Blackwell'] (Kentridge), [player_tooltip player_id='1450500' first='Jamari' last='Harris'] (Kentridge), <strong>Dorian Thomas</strong> (Kentridge)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Notes: </em>This one will be an interesting meeting between an established 4A power and an up-and-coming 4A contender. Mt Si has possibly the best top four in the state with Trevor Henning returning from a late-season injury that cost him a chance to suit up for the 4A Title last year. Then you have San Diego State commit [player_tooltip player_id='923112' first='Miles' last='Heide'], and Eastside Catholic transfer [player_tooltip player_id='1177126' first='Bennett' last='Olujic'] up front that will provide a tough wall in the paint and versatility and strength on the offensive end. This will be a great game at the Showare Center and a chance for both teams to make a statement.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->