12 New Names in the 2024 Rankings
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Another update to the 2024 class rankings has allowed us to add even more names gathered throughout the summer. These guys include all-league players, as well as guys stepping up to take on big roles within their squads this winter.…
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Continue ReadingAnother update to the 2024 class rankings has allowed us to add even more names gathered throughout the summer. These guys include all-league players, as well as guys stepping up to take on big roles within their squads this winter. These are brand new names to our rankings and should all be players to know heading into the 2023-24 season.
Carter Stonerock Carter Stonerock 6'1" | CG Tahoma | 2024 State WA Tahoma
Stonerock has been a great fit at Tahoma so far and can play either guard spot, showing he can score and dish the ball this summer. He’s a multi-dimensional player who has excellent range behind the arc, an ability to slash to the rim and make some acrobatic finishes, but really stood out this summer for his vision and ability to fit the ball into tight passing windows. Tahoma has a lot of guys that can hurt you but Stonerock could be the key between making a deep run at State and coming up short. He has the kind of playmaking potential that could kick this team into another gear this winter.
Caleb Bowden Caleb Bowden 6'3" | SG Auburn Mountainview | 2024 State WA Auburn Mountainview
Bowden is another new name in the ranks that should be an integral part of his team’s chances this coming season. He’s a bit of a “do-it-all” type of player. He can knock down shots from the outside, has good feel for working at the high-post and around the paint to bury the mid-range buckets, and also has an array of finishing moves at the rim to be an efficient scorer from each level. But Bowden’s biggest asset seems to be his understanding of the game flow and ability to win the small battles that add up over the course of a game. He’ll chip in on the glass, plays tough defense, and can execute the key passes. Bowden was a third-team all-league guy last season and should build on that this winter.
B.J. Shannon B.J. Shannon 5'10" | PG O'Dea | 2024 State WA O’Dea
There are a lot of players vying for minutes at O’Dea but Shannon feels like a kid who should carve out a nice role with his ability to handle the ball, play tough on both ends and stand out as one of their key defenders in the backcourt. He can pick up his man the length of the floor, does a great job sticking close off the ball, and has some pace to push the ball in transition, turning defense to offense in a hurry.
Nick Mautone Nick Mautone 6'5" | SF Mercer Island | 2024 State WA Mercer Island
Mautone is a skilled forward who gives the Islanders a unique look when he’s out there. At 6-foot-5 he has the size to look out over the defense and pick it apart with some plus vision and passing skills. He understands his strengths and goes at defenders with patience, footwork, and ball fakes, doing well to set up his attacks by picking and choosing spots on the floor where he can be most effective. He’s not a big leaper but still does well on the boards thanks to positioning and good hands.
Kiyen Martin Kiyen Martin 6'0" | CG Lake Washington | 2024 State WA Lake Washington
Martin is a quick guard who can handle both guard spots equally well. He’s the opposite of a ball-stopper and makes quick decisions to either attack gaps with the dribble or keep the ball swinging around. He can shoot it a bit from the outside, makes good off-ball cuts and flashes, and shared the point guard duties last season. Martin’s also a player who will grind on the defensive end and can apply a lot of pressure on ballhandlers.
Ciaosen Fuller Ciaosen Fuller 6'1" | SG Graham Kapowsin | 2024 State WA Graham Kapowsin
Fuller’s a pretty electric guard at times who plays with a tough mindset inside, allowing him to take contact at the rim and still deliver. He’s got good speed, good burst over small spaces, and is the type of two-way guard who can be on the floor in any scenario. Fuller can drop in some shots from the outside as well and has the potential to power runs for his team with his play on both ends of the court.
Keith Kariuki Keith Kariuki 6'4" | SG Sammamish | 2024 State WA Sammamish
Kariuki is a long and tall guard who can help to facilitate the ball from varying spots on the floor. He’s shown good to great vision at times this summer, whether it’s from the perimeter or when he’s on the block or short corner posting up smaller guards. He should get more opportunities to be a higher-usage playmaker this season after the departure of guard Zak Abdulkadir, and has the potential to be a really effective two-way player for Sammamish this winter.
Romen Jackson Romen Jackson 6'1" | PG North Creek | 2024 State WA North Creek
Jackson was an honorable mention all-league guy last season in the Kingco but should get a lot more opportunities this season with the departure of 2022-23 first-teamer Drew Jensen. Jensen ate up a lot of the scoring for North Creek a year ago, but Jackson has put in some big scoring performances himself and has the ability to be that leading scorer for the Jags this winter. He averaged 13.8 points per game last season, including five games of 20 or more. He’s a super quick player and has the kind of stop-and-go pace and control to make a killing from the mid-ranges and at the rim. Jackson also led the team in assists last season at 3.2 per game.
Silas Woodward Silas Woodward 6'5" | SF North Creek | 2024 State WA North Creek
Woodward is another guy who could step up to help lead the Jags in scoring. He was third on the team last year at 9.8 PPG and has a pretty smooth offensive game. He was decently efficient from the field in 2022-23 (34% 3PT, 44% 2PT, 71% FT), and seems to have added some ability off the dribble this summer while getting stronger finishing at the rim. He has a good mix of size and skill, and could be a guy who makes a good leap in his senior season.
Kayden Stuit Kayden Stuit 6'4" | PF Lynden Christian | 2024 State WA Lynden Christian
The EWU football commit is a big presence around the hoop who gets position and holds it. While he is only 6-foot-4, he plays much bigger on the glass with his strong frame and high work rate. He knows what he brings to the team and plays to his strengths, setting hard screens, running the floor in transition, and being physical inside on both ends of the court. Stuit also has some pretty good touch around the paint and can sink the occasional mid-range shot if given space.
Braxton Gruenich Braxton Gruenich 6'4" | SF Kentridge | 2024 State WA Kentridge
Gruenich can play from the perimeter and down low, and his skill set kind of lends itself to floating back and forth and working wherever the open areas are. He does a great job moving without the ball, attacking rebounds, and getting those second-chance opportunities. He’s got quick feet that help him work around bigger post players and also give him some ability to make a quick move with the ball to get through traffic and finish at the cup. He displays good instincts, fight, and enough skill to be a pretty productive player for Kentridge.
Mason Chmielewski Mason Chmielewski 5'11" | CG North Kitsap | 2024 State WA North Kitsap
The North Kitsap guard isn’t a striking presence on the floor and doesn’t really stand out for any one thing he does, but he is still one of the most impactful players for the Vikings because of his heady all-around play. He affects the game across the board. He sinks open shots from 3-point, is a grinder defensively, is a tough rebounder crashing in from the perimeter, and even handles some point responsibilities at times. He’s just a tough player who has a knack for making impact plays and doing whatever job is necessary to help his team win.