2023-24 5A Preview – Pre-Season Top Ten

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2023-24 boys basketball season is upon us and while admittedly there are some heavy hitters at the top, there's no question in general that it is going to be extremely competitive at the 5A level. After watching guys play in the summer and fall and attending a number of open gyms and practices to get a closer look at everyone, here's our pre-season top ten.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true,"start":10} --> <ol start="10"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Churchill</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On paper, many of the names on the Lancers roster are new to everyone except head coach Sky Stickney and his staff but one name that's recognizable is the school - Churchill. That alone carries a ton of weight as when it comes to the Lancers, no matter who's on the roster you can pretty much expect them to be a state contender. This year's group is unquestionably young and inexperienced - three sophomores and one freshman will start - but they are extremely talented and ready to win now. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='1598089' first='Max' last='Montgomery'] is the sole veteran back but he's a good one and he'll be ready to lead this youthful group which includes [player_tooltip player_id='2351853' first='Jace' last='Litten'], TJ Wright, and freshman [player_tooltip player_id='2026086' first='Alonzo' last='Reyes'] some names to keep an eye on.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true,"start":9} --> <ol start="9"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Thurston</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Thurston got the short end of the stick when it came to the post-season picks last year but that shouldn't be an issue in 2023-24 as head coach Blaine Liberatore returns a squad that should easily qualify this time around. A big reason why is the talent that comes back, starting with forward [player_tooltip player_id='1503810' first='Nate' last='Stiffler'] who's one of the top shooters with size in the state. Also back from the starting lineup are Walker Bonar and Luke Newell, both of whom are great athletes coming off solid seasons on the gridiron. Quarterback Noah Blair provides additional athleticism and the Colts also have some young guys to keep an eye on including sophomores Lucas LaBounty and Logan Piquette.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true,"start":8} --> <ol start="8"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>La Salle</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>La Salle did what nobody thought was possible last season - wrest the NWOC title away from Wilsonville. The question is now what is the encore for head coach Sean Kelly and his Falcons? The graduation losses are steep - including one of the school's all-time greats in Nick Robertson - but there's enough returning for this team to make another run at the league title and a trip to Gill. The Falcons have great size - senior Grant Ellison is back in the paint and he'll be flanked by fellow senior [player_tooltip player_id='2205003' first='Milan' last='Skoro'] and junior [player_tooltip player_id='1450155' first='Aidan' last='Kelly'], both of whom will increase their numbers from last season. Soccer star [player_tooltip player_id='1910901' first='Vance' last='Sheffield'] can really fill it up from the outside and look for [player_tooltip player_id='1920333' first='Paul' last='Skoro'] to run things at the point.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true,"start":7} --> <ol start="7"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Mountain View</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mountain View loses three guys from last year's starting lineup but the two players that head coach Bob Townsend does bring back make the Cougars worthy of Top Ten consideration. His son, [player_tooltip player_id='1113084' first='Quincy' last='Townsend'], will be in his fourth year starting and he's as dominant an offensive guard as you'll find in all of 5A with his ability to score at multiple levels and pass as well. He alone makes Mountain View a threat but the other returning starter is big man [player_tooltip player_id='1457596' first='Ian' last='Prictor'], who has continually developed into a steady force in the paint on both ends of the floor. Junior Brady Kennedy should step into a starting role after playing major minutes last season and senior Kole Hendricks and junior Jace Brewer will help out up front.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true,"start":6} --> <ol start="6"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Parkrose</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>An outstanding 2022-23 season ended just short of the state tournament but head coach Donell Morgan feels this could be the year the Broncos take that next step. He's blessed with a team that features talent at key positions and a bevy of outside shooters that will keep opposing defenses on their toes all year long. Leading the way should be two guys with all-league potential in senior post [player_tooltip player_id='2287290' first='Ben' last='Livingston'], a near-unstoppable force in the paint, and senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1266107' first='Kamar' last='Benbo'], a great athlete whose game really started to click this summer. Surrounding the two will be the aforementioned shooters, which include senior [player_tooltip player_id='2206481' first='Leo' last='Marshall'] and brothers [player_tooltip player_id='1763791' first='Julius' last='Blair'] and Jaiden Blair.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true,"start":5} --> <ol start="5"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Woodburn</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Making the jump back up to 5A was no problem for Woodburn in 2022-23 as the Bulldogs came right into the Mid-Willamette Conference and came away with the league title. Some top guys from that team return for head coach Raul Veliz and the Bulldogs appear to be in good shape to get it all done again. What the Bulldogs have back at two key positions are critical - point guard with his son, junior [player_tooltip player_id='1368274' first='Cruz' last='Veliz'], and the big man inside, 6-foot-9 senior [player_tooltip player_id='1883819' first='Liam' last='Slattum']. They won't be operating alone as senior [player_tooltip player_id='1908827' first='Brody' last='Hawley'] and junior Dylon Renteria also return on the wing and guard and there are some younger players ready to step up and make an impact.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true,"start":4} --> <ol start="4"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>West Albany</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Year one of the Drew Halvorsen era at West Albany was a great success and the head coach is ready for his team to take the next step. The Bulldogs return much of their roster including Mid-Willamette Player of the Year, Brycen Kachel, a manchild physically who can score from practically anywhere on the court that will once again be a load that opponents will try to contain. It will be hard to fully focus on Kachel because the Bulldogs have so many other weapons. Austin Simmons and [player_tooltip player_id='2056752' first='Jackson' last='Strandy'] add size and length inside and junior guards [player_tooltip player_id='2046424' first='Gavin' last='Aguilar'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2045350' first='Owen' last='Hopkins'] can really fill it up from the perimeter. It's a coin flip between West Albany and Woodburn in the Mid-Willamette but we're going to give the Bulldogs the nod.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true,"start":3} --> <ol start="3"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>North Eugene</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Midwestern League is arguably the most competitive conference in 5A and this year should be no different but at the end of it all, we fully expect North Eugene to finish on top. Head coach Blake Gee has a roster filled with plenty of experience and with the addition of two impact tranfers, the Highlanders appear to be a safe bet to not only win league but challenge for a state title. Point guard [player_tooltip player_id='1110575' first='Joey' last='Banry'] is back as the MWL's returning player of the year and he's got plenty of weapons to get the ball to including do-it-all senior [player_tooltip player_id='1315364' first='Jonas' last='Spencer'], sharp-shooting senior Elias McKinnis on the wing, and Sheldon transfers [player_tooltip player_id='1495286' first='India' last='Mohiuddin'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1486146' first='Kamani' last='Winger'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true,"start":2} --> <ol start="2"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Summit</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After two years serving as the bridesmaid, will 2023-24 be the year that the Storm takes home the ring? If there's a team for head coach Jon Frazier to finally capture that state championship ring it's this squad, which is not only talented but hungry enough to get it done. It all starts with returning 5A player of the year and Boise State signee [player_tooltip player_id='1110580' first='Pearson' last='Carmichael'], who ranks among the state's best players at any class. He alone would make Summit a favorite but the fact is he's surrounded by extremely talented players too. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='1113082' first='Collin' last='Moore'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1908818' first='Mac' last='Bledsoe'] are both incredible athletes and other standouts from the football team in Arizona-commit Charlie Crowell and Pax Kettering will be key contributors as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} --> <ol><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Wilsonville</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Until they're knocked off their perch, two-time defending champions Wilsonville remains our pick as the top team in all of 5A. Granted, they have two Division I players heading the attack in [player_tooltip player_id='1110843' first='Kyle' last='Counts'] (St. Thomas) and [player_tooltip player_id='1110842' first='Kallen' last='Gutridge'] (undecided), but two other starters in [player_tooltip player_id='1110844' first='Nick' last='Colyer'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2348760' first='Emmett' last='Fee'] are also back and the rest of the roster is packed with talented players who have simply been waiting to showcase their abilities. The biggest question head coach Chris Roche has to figure out is how to replace the leadership and defense of point guard Maxim Wu, but other than that and what will be an intense push from Summit, we see no other reason why the Wildcats can't be hanging up another banner in their gym in March.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->