Way Too Early Class 3A Top Five
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Summer school and AAU club basketball has all completed and as fall league approaches, we thought we’d go over our notes and start taking a look at the 2023-24 season. Rosters obviously won’t be settled until late November and there…
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Continue ReadingSummer school and AAU club basketball has all completed and as fall league approaches, we thought we’d go over our notes and start taking a look at the 2023-24 season. Rosters obviously won’t be settled until late November and there is still plenty of transfer action bound to happen, but here’s a way-too-early look at our pre-season top five teams in 3A (listed alphabetically).
Cascade Christian
This list of teams is sorted alphabetically, but when you are talking about 3A it likely begins and ends with Cascade Christian. And this is including the off-season loss of 3A Player of the Year Drew Hall, who moved to Arizona. A big reason why is because big man Austin Maurer Austin Maurer 7'0" | C Cascade Christian | 2024 State #209 Nation OR is back and should be a Division I signed player by the time the season starts. One reason the loss of Hall isn’t as harsh is because incoming freshman Avery Huston Avery Huston 6'2" | CG Cascade Christian | 2027 State OR comes in as anticipated a player in Southern Oregon in quite some time. Practically everyone else is back too for the two-time champs, notably Peyton Maurer Peyton Maurer 6'3" | SF Cascade Christian | 2024 State OR , Deryk Farmer Deryk Farmer 6'2" | SG Cascade Christian | 2026 State OR , and Jaren Fronckowiak. If not for an expected appearance in the Les Schwab Invitation, head coach Brian Morse’s squad may very well run the table otherwise on their way to a third straight 3A title.
Dayton
Several key guys from last year’s state tournament squad return for head coach Ron Hop, who always has the Pirates in playoff and 3A title contention. Senior guard and Second Team All-State honoree Boston Hodges Boston Hodges 5'9" | PG Dayton | 2024 State OR leads the way and along with lanky junior wing Lane Garrison, provide a one-two punch that could be unmatched in the PacWest Conference. Senior Morgan Gallagher will have an expanded role and Dayton is a program that’s traditionally deep so expect roster returnees or guys coming up from JV to make an impact.
De La Salle North Catholic
Any pre-season top five – whether too early or close to season’s start – will almost always include the Knights, one of the true powerhouses at the 3A level. Once again head coach James Broadous has to deal with some players leaving for bigger schools but with senior Quincy Aranda Quincy Aranda 5'7" | PG De La Salle North Catholic | 2024 State OR and junior Jaylen Hill Jaylen Hill 6'5" | PF De La Salle North | 2025 State OR both back, he’s set at two of the most important positions in basketball with point guard and the post. Hill earned First Team 3A All-State honors and Aranda earned Third Team last season. As always the talent pool is deep at DLSNC, and expect to see a number of new names rise to the surface and contribute heavily to the Knights’s success.
Pleasant Hill
After finishing as runner-up and making it to state last year, the Billies are a year older and ready for a return to Coos Bay. Head coach Darwin Terry has a lot of his roster back, namely stud junior Gavin Inglish Gavin Inglish 6'3" | SG Pleasant Hill | 2025 State OR to lead the way. The do-everything swingman is the odds-on favorite to repeat as Mountain Valley Player of the Year and earn First Team All-State honors. Senior point guard Matthew Nguyen Matthew Nguyen 5'10" | PG Pleasant Hill | 2024 State OR will run the show again and Bradeon Hazel and Landen Melvin also return as starters. Emerging senior big man Sawyer Ireland Sawyer Ireland 6'7" | PF Pleasant Hill | 2025 State OR made strides over the summer and will be a key contributor.
Westside Christian
Westside Christian lost a great group of seniors but as usual, there’s good talent coming back and who knows what transfers might show up at head coach David Henry’s front doorstep in the fall. Senior Dax Hanzlik Dax Hanzlik 6'5" | SF Westside Christian | 2024 State OR leads the returning starters and the athletic wing turned some heads in summer ball and camps. Senior point guard Kahlid Hodge is the other starter back and other seniors such as Will Ficker Will Ficker 6'0" | CG Westside Christian | 2024 State OR and Wesley Chandler have plenty of experience. Given some of the names we’ve heard thrown around as possible incoming transfers, the Eagles will once again be in the hunt for state tournament hardware.
Other schools considered: Burns, Creswell, Douglas, Oregon Episcopal, Santiam Christian, Vale, Valley Catholic