11 Freshmen to Know From the Weekend (Bonus Player Included)
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These are some of the most exciting players to get to know over the course of the summer. As up-and-coming players, many of whom either didn’t get all that much playing time last season, are getting their first runs with…
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Continue ReadingThese are some of the most exciting players to get to know over the course of the summer. As up-and-coming players, many of whom either didn’t get all that much playing time last season, are getting their first runs with varsity teams, or are the special few walking into expanded roles as potential impact players, they bring a lot of excitement to the summer runs. Here are 11 of the top freshmen performers I saw last weekend and one bonus player from the 2027 class I just couldn’t leave out.
G | Luca Faletto | 6’0 | Chelan
New to Chelan’s team, Faletto has made an instant impact this summer as a high-activity player who constantly finds ways to get involved. He went after the loose balls and made tough finishes in the paint through defenders and from tight angles off the glass. He showed great intensity and a high motor that helped the Goats on both ends of the floor.
G | Deonte Howard | 5’11 | Kamiakin
Another pretty active player, Howard made a bunch of great reads off of the pick-and-roll and showed a little bit of wiggle with the ball to get penetration. He’s a sneaky little player that managed to get his hands on the ball defensively with tips and steals, and could be a key part of Kamiakin’s rotation next season.
F | Nick Malisani | 6’2 | Kamiakin
Malisani is another freshman for Kamiakin showing some good fight and potential to contribute. He played tough inside, ran the floor hard, and while he isn’t the tallest post player yet, he still shows a good motor and skillset to make some things happen around the rim.
G | Elijah Gillespie Elijah Gillespie 5'10" | PG Graham Kapowsin | 2026 State WA | 5’8 | Graham Kapowsin
He’s a super crafty player with the ball, is smooth transitioning from dribble to shot, and does a good job staying on two feet and finding the right timing to get his shot off when his defender is caught flat-footed or leaning one way.
G | Nick Norrah Nick Norrah 6'2" | SG Bellevue | 2026 State WA | 6’1 | Bellevue
This guy is a physically imposing player with strength and quickness that opposing teams feel on both ends of the court. He was able to get his shots off the dribble for much of the day with quick, compact moves and the ability to stay on balance and rise up. The results off the jumper were a little inconsistent when I watched but he has enormous potential if he can get it falling from outside as his handle and physicality are already tough to handle.
G | Dash Lamebull-Ingram Dash Lamebull-Ingram 5'7" | PG Eastside Catholic | 2026 State WA | Eastside Catholic
I got to see some of Dash in the spring and I was just as impressed with him this weekend. He’s not a big guard by any stretch of the imagination but his understanding of how to maneuver his body in traffic and get shots up against bigger players at the rim is incredible. He’s an intelligent player who sees the court well on both ends and brings an attacking mindset to the floor.
G | Caleb Campbell | 6’3 | Monroe
Campbell was one of the most pleasant surprises of the day for me. I was not familiar with his game but he was the catalyst for Monroe offensively, playing a pretty smooth overall game with the ball in his hands and the ability to score from all levels. He showed a reliable stroke from behind the arc, an ability to face up in the post and shoot or put a move on his man and get to the rim, and he can put the ball on the floor and work his way from the perimeter to the rim. I was really impressed with his play and will make sure I keep up with him when the winter season tips off.
G | Cody Bennion Cody Bennion 5'11" | SG Auburn Mountainview | 2026 State WA | 5’10 | Auburn Mountainview
He was feeling good on Friday, getting shots within the flow of the offense, making quick decisions with the ball, and showing an ability to catch and shoot from three, or hit a quick pump and get to the rim with either hand. He looked very comfortable offensively which helped him play at a quicker pace but still under control.
G | Brandon Tagle Brandon Tagle 6'1" | PG Kentwood | 2026 State WA | 5’11 | Kentwood
Tagle is one of my favorite players to watch because he plays with a certain swagger that he quickly backs up with his play. It’s not an outward, in-your-face swagger, but more of a quiet grinning confidence that he knows he’s going to bust you up. He made a nasty off-handed and-one layup early on in the day to set the tone and continued to have his way throughout the game against Kentridge. He can speed you up or slow you down and is a smart player to watch in the 2026 class.
F | Giovanni Moimoi | 6’3 | Kentridge
I caught a glimpse of Moimoi earlier in the spring and seeing him again only elevated my perspective of his game. He’s a very good athlete who gets up at the rim quick and was making a huge impact on the boards on both ends of the floor. He looked hungry attacking the ball in the air and getting bunches of buckets at the rim. There is some potential for him to develop as a wing player though his handle looks a little loose right now. But he’s an exciting player to watch with big potential.
G | Brian Webster Brian Webster 6'3" | SG O'Dea | 2026 State WA | 6’3 | O’Dea
It might be a little early to say, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Webster ended up being the top guy on a talented and deep O’Dea team next winter. He has all the tools to affect the game in a number of ways, filling stat sheets and making smart plays. He shoots, he passes, he rebounds, he defends, there is not a lot he doesn’t do well at this point. He had a strong spring and is already receiving interest from D-1 schools.
Bonus Player
G | Achilles Reyna | 6’5 | Eastside Catholic | 2027
Reyna is already an unbelievable prospect with fluidity, touch, size, and an understanding of how to attack space on the court that rivals his years. He showed a diverse attacking skillset, hitting shots in the middle of the court, off the dribble, spotting up on the wing for threes, and fighting on the glass to get boards and putbacks. Most impressive though, was his calmness on the court. He seems to know he belongs out there and just lets his instincts and feel rule without pause. He’s not wide-eyed at all. He will be a fun one to watch as Eastside Catholic surely has one of the top players in the 2027 class.