Way Too Early 2A Top 10
In this article:
It is never too early to speculate, so I’ve worked up some Way Too Early preseason rankings for 2A hoops. I started by looking over last season’s final 12 teams at the state tournament and went from there. Of those…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingIt is never too early to speculate, so I’ve worked up some Way Too Early preseason rankings for 2A hoops. I started by looking over last season’s final 12 teams at the state tournament and went from there. Of those 12 teams, only three fell completely out of the ranks as they lost some of the most talent from the 2023 class. In the end, I decided on 14 teams and broke them up into three tiers of contention. Here they are:
Tier 1 – Title Favorites
1. North Kitsap 2022-23 Record (20-9), return 8/12 varsity players
With two of the top players in 2A ( Cade Orness Cade Orness 6'5" | PG North Kitsap | 2024 State WA & Harry Davies Harry Davies 6'4" | SG North Kitsap | 2024 State WA ), the Vikings have a legit shot to win any night against anyone. They’ve added a big frontcourt piece in Logan Hudson Logan Hudson 6'8" | PF North Kitsap | 2026 State WA and have one of the top glue guys in the 2A with Mason Chmielewski Mason Chmielewski 5'11" | CG North Kitsap | 2024 State WA . They are my favorites to win it all next season.
2. Lynden 2022-23 Record (24-4), return 6/12 varsity players
The defending champs definitely still deserve your respect heading into 2023-24. They return all-league guys, Brant Heppner Brant Heppner 6'6" | SF Lynden | 2025 State WA and Anthony Canales Anthony Canales 6'4" | SG Lynden | 2024 State WA who bring size and skill to the court. They’ll lose quite a few players from last season but you can’t count out the back-to-back 2A champs, especially when they still have a two-time 2A State Tournament MVP on the team.
3. Mark Morris 2022-23 Record (25-3), return 8/12 varsity players
The Monarchs nearly stole the show at last season’s state tournament, knocking off previously undefeated and top-seeded Pullman in the semi-finals. They had to settle for second place when all was said and done, but they also still have one of the most electric scorers in 2A with Braydon Olson Braydon Olson 6'2" | CG Mark Morris | 2024 State WA , and second-team all-league point guard in Malakai Gray Malakai Gray 6'1" | PG Mark Morris | 2024 State WA .
Tier 2 – Contenders
4. Prosser 2022-23 Record (20-6), return 5/10 varsity players
The Mustangs took a huge leap forward and although they lose some key guys like forward Kevin Flores and shooter JJ Reyes, they still have two returning first-team all-league guys in the backcourt with Kory McClure Kory McClure 5'11" | CG Prosser | 2024 State WA and Koby McClure Koby McClure 6'1" | PG Prosser | 2025 State WA . They’ll have some tough competition in the CWAC but they can hold their own and proved it with a fifth-place finish in last season’s state tournament.
5. West Valley 2022-23 Record (20-5), return 7/12 varsity players
This is a team I think could really make some noise this winter. They return two first-team all-league guys in Ben Fried Ben Fried 6'1" | PG West Valley (Spokane) | 2024 State WA and Grady Walker Grady Walker 6'4" | PF Prosser | 2024 WA , and should have a really balanced team around them. While they were two and out at State last year, they return a good nucleus and should be even better this season.
6. Anacortes 2022-23 Record (21-4), return 6/12 varsity players
With Davis Fogle Davis Fogle 6'6" | SF AZ Compass Prep | 2025 #105 Nation AZ , anything is possible, but after getting bounced with two straight losses at last year’s tournament there are some questions about how far they can go. They had some great wins against Mt Vernon (3A), Lynden Christian (1A), Blaine (1A), and beat 2A Sehome twice. So, there is a lot to like with this squad and they are firmly in as a contender this winter.
7. Grandview 2022-23 Record (17-7), return 9/12 varsity players
The Greyhounds have a solid group of players returning, including three second-team all-league players and a freshman who was honorable mention. They do lose their top guy from last year, Julian Garza, but have plenty of talent left over to build on a solid 2022-23 season. Keep an eye on their junior class with guys like Cameron Draculan Cameron Draculan 6'2" | SF Grandview | 2025 State WA , Mavryk Bentley Mavryk Bentley 6'4" | SF Grandview | 2025 State WA , Marcelino Armendariz Marcelino Armendariz 5'8" | CG Grandview | 2025 State WA , and senior Levi Dorsett Levi Dorsett 6'0" | CG Grandview | 2024 State WA who can impact both ends.
8. Enumclaw 2022-23 Record (22-5), return 9/12 varsity players
Losing league MVP Carter DeRosier won’t be easy, but Enumclaw still has guys like Wyatt Neu, Karson Holt Karson Holt 6'4" | SF Enumclaw | 2024 WA , and Jason Feddema who should hold things together and keep the Hornets in the discussion.
9. Pullman 2022-23 Record (25-1), return 8/12 varsity players
This is another team that graduates the reining league MVP (Jaedyn Brown), but they weren’t undefeated most of the year just because of one player. They still have one of the best athletes in 2A with Champ Powaukee Champ Powaukee 6'4" | SG Pullman | 2024 State WA , a big presence inside with 6-foot-10 Austin Hunt Austin Hunt 6'10" | C Pullman | 2024 State WA , and emerging wing Daniel Kwon Daniel Kwon 6'5" | SF Pullman | 2025 State WA who can chip in across the board.
10. Renton 2022-23 Record (23-3), return 5/12 varsity players
Renton is an intersting team in the 2A to watch. They lose a lot of varsity talent and size from a team that was near the top of the 2A all season but got a quick exit at the state tournament. They also lose Ajayi Simmons Ajayi Simmons 6'7" | SF Garfield | 2024 State WA to Garfield, but bring in a first-team all-league player in Ronnie Toms Ronnie Toms 6'0" | SG Renton | 2024 State WA . The Redhawks will have a slew of guards that can really play; Marques Ill-Meneese, Isaac Elegan, Jordan Agosto Jordan Agosto 5'10" | PG Renton | 2025 State WA , Carlos Clark, Landon Saephan, and one of the best all-around scorers in Dennis Johnson III Dennis Johnson III 6'2" | CG Renton | 2025 AZ .
Tier 3 – The Bubble
Port Angeles 2022-23 Record (14-10), return 8/13 varsity players
A sneaky team led by senior guard Parker Nickerson Parker Nickerson 6'2" | CG Port Angeles | 2024 State WA , the Roughriders have a good chance to make noise in the Olympic League and could find their way into the state tournament this winter.
White River 2022-23 Record 13-11, return 9/12 varsity players
White River has a few guys that make them worth a look this season. Colin Schmidtke Colin Schmidtke 6'6" | SF White River | 2024 State WA , Tyce Donovan Tyce Donovan 6'3" | SG White River | 2024 WA , and Greg Schmitz Greg Schmitz 6'1" | SG White River | 2025 WA can all contribute in big ways and make the Hornets a team to watch this season.
Franklin Pierce 2022-23 Record (12-9), return 10/12 varsity players
The Cardinals have the talent to contend at the 2A level with a potent scorer in Mason Thomas Mason Thomas 6'1" | SG Federal Way | 2024 State WA , an athletic two-way wing in Javon Barbee Javon Barbee 6'4" | SG Franklin Pierce | 2025 State WA , the versatile Abinadi Semeli Abinadi Semeli 6'4" | SF Franklin Pierce | 2025 WA , and another highly athletic guard in Amaar Coleman. They finished in the middle of the pack in the SPSL 2A last season but bigger things could be on the horizon for the Cards this winter.
East Valley 2022-23 Record (11-14), return 9/12 varsity players
The Red Devils are a sneaky team to watch out of Yakima. They lose a key guy in 2023 Teegan Hooper but bring back a big riser at point guard with Eli Esquivel Eli Esquivel 5'10" | PG East Valley (Yakima) | 2025 State WA , some size with Chase Staymates Chase Staymates 6'8" | C East Valley | 2025 State WA and Aiden Kinlow, and overall were a pretty young team last season. They couldn’t quite beat the top teams in their league last year but had a four-point loss to Prosser and a five-point loss to Grandview in February, signaling there could be more in the tank for East Valley this coming season.
Some other teams that just missed the cut: Selah, Lakewood, Ellensburg, WF West, Clarkston, RA Long, Cedarcrest