Recruiting Update – Jaden Steppe (2024 Tualatin)
You might need to pinch Jaden Steppe Jaden Steppe 6'8" | SF Tualatin | 2024 State #289 Nation OR because he could be dreaming. The versatile 6-foot-8 junior is still on Cloud Nine when he thinks about being a part…
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Continue ReadingYou might need to pinch Jaden Steppe Jaden Steppe 6'8" | SF Tualatin | 2024 State #289 Nation OR because he could be dreaming. The versatile 6-foot-8 junior is still on Cloud Nine when he thinks about being a part of Tualatin’s back-to-back championship team, so while the club season lies ahead where winning and his college recruitment will be a priority, Steppe continues to take some time to allow things to sink in.
“It’s a really surreal feeling – when I saw my teammates at school, we just like, looked at each other and we’re like, can’t believe we did that against all odds,” Steppe said. “It feels really good and our teammates are really excited. That was crazy and it was a great way to end our (season). It’s always better ending your year off with a win.”
Steppe of course was a huge part of the Timberwolves success and came up big at the 6A state tournament. He averaged 17.3 points and 8 rebounds over the three days, and posted a 19-point, 10-rebound double-double in the title game win over West Linn. In many ways, the team’s start of the post-season prepared them for the moment – and they delivered.
“Just going into the tournament, having a tough first-round game, almost losing down 17 to Roosevelt, in the locker room we all just kind of looked around and we’re like, we have to go 100 percent,” Steppe said. “So after that, we just had like the hungriest look in our eyes, like every shoot around, every game we knew we were going to win. That just stemmed from a lot of confidence, especially coming back from that deficit result. It just kind of prepared us for everything else.”
It was a breakout season overall for Steppe, who moved into the starting lineup and was the thunder to Josiah Lake Josiah Lake 6'1" | PG Tualatin | 2023 State OR ‘s lightning, averaging 19.6 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 2.2 assists, dominating the paint at times but also getting the opportunity to showcase his versatility.
“I think it went really well – I got to move more out to the three point line and use some guard skills,” Steppe said. “At 6-foot-8, I still have to go in and I still have to get big. That doesn’t help with recruiting at all, because they see like a 6-foot-8 post so when colleges come watch my high school games they might not like it, but I really like how the season went.”
“Me and Jojo, we were a really good team – we worked well together, so I think it went well,” Steppe continued. “Huge jump from last year where people don’t really know who I was at all – they thought I was bad. So I liked the season a lot.”
With the high school season done, Steppe now turns his attention to AAU ball where he’ll be suiting up for a combination Seattle/Portland squad on the Nike EYBL Circuit. His expectations are high.
“Well, our main goal is to win Peach Jam – we have a really talented team,” Steppe said. “So obviously the goal is to win Peach Jam and then find a place to commit to after EYBL is over. So wherever that may be, just a place where I can play and hopefully get to the NBA or a pro league somewhere.”
Steppe noted that he is currently talking to Montana (where he took an official visit in the fall) and St. Mary’s the most and he also holds an offer from Portland State. He added he’s also been hearing from some Pac-12 schools and at this point is keeping all of his options open.
“I’m just going to keep working and then really going to showcase how diverse my game can be versus the best players in thenation this summer, which is I’m excited for,” Steppe said. “It’s like a weird balance where I want to be recruitable, but I want to win. I’m just super excited to get play against the best and do what I have to do, be able to pass a lot more too, play with some really talented players and have fun.”
Steppe currently ranks as the #2 player in the PrepHoops Oregon Class of 2024 rankings.