Top Ten Players in 2A

The 2A field was stacked last season and that looks to be the case again in 2023-24. In case you missed it, the 2A final came down to the 3-seed Mark Morris Monarchs and the 6-seed Lynden Lions. We saw the second and third seeds at the state tournament knocked out after just two games and a semi-final matchup between the sixth and seventh seeds. There was no shortage of talent filling the benches at the Sun Dome and the same should be true this winter. So, to get an idea of where we currently stand, here is a quick list of the top ten 2A players heading into the upcoming season.   1. [player_tooltip player_id='1485542' first='Davis' last='Fogle'] Anacortes   Just an electric player at the one with size and shooting, Fogle's prospect status has taken off this summer with a number of division one offers coming his way. He's a long guard who can finish above the rim, displays various moves to create space around the paint, and has deep range from downtown. Expect another layer of growth to show through this winter as Fogle looks to take Anacortes all the way.   2. [player_tooltip player_id='1450488' first='Cade' last='Orness'] North Kitsap   Here's another player with great size who can play the point. Orness is a solid player with the rock who can dish and score at high levels. He has the size and strength to power up paint finishes but also has the feet to dance through defenders to the rim. And though he has the ability to score from each level, it's his passing that sets him apart. He can make the long pass up in transition, hitting teammates in stride for breakaway buckets. On his drives, he recognizes incoming help defenders and hits teammates crashing in for dump-off layups, and can hit the skips to waiting shooters. North Kitsap has been knocking at the door for the last two years after winning it all in 2019-20, and Orness could be the guy to lead them back.   3. [player_tooltip player_id='1450490' first='Anthony' last='Canales'] Lynden   We can't talk about the best players in the 2A without mentioning Canales. He has a chance to lead his Lions to a third straight 2A title and also capture a third straight tournament MVP in the process. He has some uncanny ability to hit the tough shots in the mid-range thanks to a high release and good footwork. But Canales is also an awesome defender who can jump passing lanes, block shots, and seems to naturally come up in big spots.   4. [player_tooltip player_id='1450497' first='Braydon' last='Olson'] Mark Morris   This guy could be up even higher when it's all said and done. He's been unbelievable this summer, putting up monster stat lines and showing improvements across the board. He's quicker, stronger, better off the bounce, and has quickly become one of the top shooters in the state. He bumped his scoring up last year to 21.6 ppg after averaging 16.1 ppg his sophomore year, and helped take his team to the 2A Final. It wouldn't be surprising to see another leap like that this season as Olson's stock keeps rising.   5. [player_tooltip player_id='1450502' first='Harry' last='Davies'] North Kitsap   Davies is another reason why North Kitsap could be heading for another deep state tournament run. He's a guy who's really worked on his shot over the last year, knocking down threes at a better clip and expanding his range. But his biggest addition to the team is his physicality and defensive prowess. He goes right at defenders at the rim and is up to the task of challenging anyone on the defensive end. He's another kid that's been a big riser over the last year and I expect that to keep up.   6. [player_tooltip player_id='1612189' first='Champ' last='Powaukee'] Pullman   A monster athlete on the wings, Powaukee is looking to take that next leap this season as a higher-usage offensive player. He's shown he can spot up and shoot the three fairly well and has that elite athleticism to make plays at the rim, but he'll presumably have to work more off the dribble this season and work on creating shots on his own. He's also a guy who can make impact plays on the defensive end with his quickness and bounce.   7. [player_tooltip player_id='1451027' first='Dennis' last='Johnson III'] Renton   Johnson III is one of the top scorers in the 2A and does a lot of it by pulling defenders out with his stroke from long-range. He can really rain them down from deep but also has long arms and a tight handle that helps him split defenders and work his way inside. Once he's in the heart of the defense, he can deploy a multitude of finishes to get the job done. He'll not just be the main scorer for Renton this season, but also one of the leaders after losing a bunch of seniors from last year's team.   8. [player_tooltip player_id='1696634' first='Jackson' last='Pepper'] Selah   Here's a crafty guard who makes great reads to get in the lane, sets up defenders well with his jab and ball fakes, and can be a lights-out 3-point shooter when he's feeling it. Pepper just has a feel for seeking out space, attacking angles, and finding room to get his shot off in tight spots. He'll take on an expanded role this season at Selah and should be one of the top scorers in the CWAC.   9. [player_tooltip player_id='1485677' first='Garrett' last='Marrs'] Ellensburg   Marrs could very well be a name that climbs this list as the season gets going. He's a big frontcourt presence with good rim defense and mobility that allows him to cover the paint pretty well. He's a capable perimeter defender when drawn out and tends to be pretty smart not to foul quicker players. Offensively, the potential is only rising. He has a smooth, repeatable shooting motion that allows him to spot up all around the arc. He's a big body with good touch and movement that could very well be one of the breakout players this season.   10. [player_tooltip player_id='1696692' first='Brant' last='Heppner'] Lynden   Just like the 1A version of this article, the tenth spot was a tough choice. I went with Heppner because he's a guy who has continued to get better in his areas of strength while also expanding his game to be a more complete player. He's a big who has decent athleticism, has started to deploy some good post moves down low, and has proven to be an efficient corner three shooter to stretch out opposing bigs. He'll be a big figure in Lynden's chase for another state title and can impact the game in a lot of ways from the frontcourt.   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Others to Watch</h3>   [player_tooltip player_id='1450564' first='Parker' last='Nickerson'] Port Angeles, [player_tooltip player_id='1451028' first='Koby' last='McClure'] Prosser

The 2A field was stacked last season and that looks to be the case again in 2023-24. In case you missed it, the 2A final came down to the 3-seed Mark Morris Monarchs and the 6-seed Lynden Lions. We saw the second and third seeds at the state tournament knocked out after just two games and a semi-final matchup between the sixth and seventh seeds. There was no shortage of talent filling the benches at the Sun Dome and the same should be true this winter. So, to get an idea of where we currently stand, here is a quick list of the top ten 2A players heading into the upcoming season.