2023-24 6A Preview - Metro League

The 2023-24 season is upon us and PrepHoops Oregon has you covered. We're doing pre-season previews for all of the 6A leagues across the state, giving you some insight into the teams and players you should be watching this year. The Metro League will once again rank among the top conferences and practically all of the teams are post-season contenders. Here's how we see it turning out.   League Predictions   <ol> <li>Southridge</li>   <li>Jesuit</li>   <li>Beaverton</li>   <li>Mountainside</li>   <li>Sunset</li>   <li>Westview</li>   <li>Aloha</li> </ol>   Player of the Year: [player_tooltip player_id='1276628' first='Brayden' last='Boe'], Mountainside   All-League Predictions: Boe; [player_tooltip player_id='2216278' first='Carter' last='Fortune'], Southridge; [player_tooltip player_id='1565732' first='Nico' last='Rafalovich'], Jesuit; [player_tooltip player_id='1278329' first='Aidan' last='Rice'], Beaverton; [player_tooltip player_id='1110590' first='Kayin' last='Turner'], Sunset   Top Sleeper/Newcomer: [player_tooltip player_id='2026054' first='Isaac' last='Bongen'], Jesuit   State Tournament Threats: Southridge, Jesuit, Beaverton, Mountainside   Other Post-Season Teams: Sunset, Westview   Analysis   It was only a few years ago when Southridge only managed to win a single game, but the return of head coach Phil Vesel after that one-year sabbatical has brought the Skyhawks back to contention - and 2023-24 could see them finish at the top. A big reason why Southridge is seen as the favorite is the fact that practically every major contributor is back from last year's squad. It all starts in the backcourt with First Team All-League honorees [player_tooltip player_id='1197476' first='Kaden' last='Groenig'] (15.2 ppg, 3.3 apg, 2.8 spg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2216278' first='Carter' last='Fortune'] (14.7 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 3.3 apg), who could make an argument as the top senior guard duo in the state as both are dual threats as scorers and passers. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='1379047' first='Keenan' last='Reckamp'] (8.2 ppg, 6A-leading .919 ft%) also returns to help out with shooting and play-making, and up front, lanky junior [player_tooltip player_id='1496193' first='Alonzo' last='Hoff'] (5.3 ppg, 3.5 rpg) and undersized yet tough senior [player_tooltip player_id='1909928' first='Dante' last='Scott'] (4.7 ppg, 3.8 rpg) round out the top returnees. The Skyhawks will go beyond their starting five though - sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1607597' first='Drew' last='Groenig'] (4.1 ppg, .522 3pt%) can really drain jumpers from beyond the arc, senior Zaiden McKinney will help out inside, and a newcomer to watch will be freshman combo guard [player_tooltip player_id='2026058' first='Elijah' last='Thompson'], who may very well be the future star of the program. There's no question the Skyhawks can score - how well Southridge rebounds and defends may determine just how much a state title contender they will be.   As always any Metro League title is going to have to go through Jesuit and the Crusaders once again captured a share of the conference regular season championship in 2022-23. The Crusaders missed making it to the state tournament though, something they haven't done since their 2019 title and this could be the longest a Gene Potter-coached squad hasn't made it to the final rounds of the post-season. That ship can be righted this year though and while the graduation losses are steep, the talent is there to get things done. One key guy back is returning First Team All-League honoree [player_tooltip player_id='1565732' first='Nico' last='Rafalovich'] (13.4 ppg, 5.6 rpg, .481 3pt%) and the senior wing should have a tremendous senior season as one of the toughest guys to match up against in the state with his combination of size and skill. Fellow senior [player_tooltip player_id='1112940' first='Tyler' last='Curvy'] (1.5 ppg, 1.0 apg) will run the show from the point and alongside him in the backcourt will be junior [player_tooltip player_id='1643228' first='Patrick' last='Kilfoil'] (5.4 ppg in 5 games), who had an outstanding run in club ball and at camps/combines. As always, Jesuit will have shooters and the Ryans lead the way as junior [player_tooltip player_id='2054793' first='Ryan' last='Fraser'] and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1585574' first='Ryan' last='Barone'] can both drain open threes. Additionally, [player_tooltip player_id='2026054' first='Isaac' last='Bongen'] comes in with as much fanfare as anyone in recent memory and the fact he's one of the very few freshmen to make the varsity squad at Jesuit says a lot about his talent and potential.   Beaverton as usual will be right in the mix. Another co-champ of the league in 2022-23, the Beavers will make their run at another appearance at the Chiles Center with a key trio of seniors. Guards [player_tooltip player_id='1278329' first='Aidan' last='Rice'] (8.4 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 2.7 apg) and [player_tooltip player_id='1197477' first='Max' last='Elmgren'] (11.0 ppg, 2.8 apg, .485 3pt%) have both grown physically and with their games and should be a handful with their ability to knock down shots and create off the dribble. Rice really showed off some improved strength and athleticism in some events and camps this fall and Elmgren is as clutch a shooter as there is in the state. Head coach Andrew Vancil also brings back what most teams don't have with legit big man [player_tooltip player_id='1268432' first='Chance' last='Winter'] (6.9 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 1.9 bpg, .640 fg%). The 6-foot-11 senior has gotten more accustomed into the flow offensively and defensively, there's no one else in the state like him with his ability to contest shots both inside and outside of the paint. The key for the Beavers will be who steps up into more prominent roles both in the starting lineup alongside these three seniors and coming off the bench. Senior Max Campbell performed well this summer and fall and figures to be one of the prime candidates, as are fellow seniors Will Shields, Nick Costello, and [player_tooltip player_id='1315385' first='Madden' last='Kline'].   Ascending into one of the state's top programs is Mountainside as head coach Dustin Hewitt has taken the Mavericks to the state tournament two years in a row. Whether or not they can make it three is a good question but one answer they definitely have to their advantage is [player_tooltip player_id='1276628' first='Brayden' last='Boe'] (17.9 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 5.4 apg, 2.2 spg). The junior is unquestionably one of the best players in the state and having already achieved Metro League Player of the Year and First Team 6A All-State, the thought that the do-it-all guard is even better should be outright scary for opponents. Boe isn't alone though as guards [player_tooltip player_id='1368229' first='Peyton' last='Reyes'] (4.3 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 2.5 apg) and [player_tooltip player_id='1582931' first='Eli' last='Vizconde'] (8.3 ppg, 6A-leading .495 3pt%) are also back as experienced starters. Both had good summers and have both have expanded their games - look for the junior Reyes will be more of an offensive threat this season and the sophomore Vizconde to attack the basket with more regularity. When fully healthy, [player_tooltip player_id='1110571' first='Quinn' last='Haveman'] (14.9 ppg, 5.0 rpg, .678 fg% in 7 games) will be an X-factor. The senior is another guy who can do a little bit of everything and is projected to be back in the early season after dealing with an off-season knee injury. Lake Oswego transfer [player_tooltip player_id='1110756' first='Zane' last='Fisher'] and sophomore J'Kobi Nicholson will also be in the guard rotation but the key for the Mavs will be who steps up inside, with seniors Carter Eck (1.7 ppg, 1.3 rpg) and Ryan Shandy (2.3 ppg, 0.8 rpg in 4 games) perhaps the best candidates.   Sunset proved itself as a post-season team last season and the Apollos will once again be extremely competitive under head coach David Saultz. The attack will continue to be led by a couple of seniors in [player_tooltip player_id='1110590' first='Kayin' last='Turner'] (16.7 ppg, 6.3 rpg, .402 3pt%) and [player_tooltip player_id='1268434' first='Jett' last='Birdsall'] (9.8 ppg, 3.0 apg, .385 3pt%). With his 6-foot-5 size, athleticism, and ability to score both inside and out, Turner is one of the tougher matchups in the state and he should be primed to have a huge senior season. Birdsall is rock steady at the point and to borrow a term from legendary ESPN sportscaster Stuart Scott, cool as the other side of the pillow when it comes to handling pressure. Defensive-minded senior Alex Cheng (2.0 ppg, 0.8 apg) returns in the backcourt, bringing with him a lot of experience, and junior [player_tooltip player_id='1910909' first='Hudson' last='Guthrie'] (5.1 ppg, 1.8 rpg) could be primed for a breakout season after a good off-season of development. Senior post Carson Baker (1.7 ppg, 1.3 rpg) and senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1910912' first='Matthew' last='Lohman'] (2.5 ppg) will also have increased roles for the Apollos.   It was another season of development for head coach Mike Wolf's Wildcats but even through a lot of tough losses at the end of the year, Westview was in still in contention for a post-season berth. Those tough games will pay off this season though as many of the top players are back - although the recent loss of junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1368243' first='Jason' last='Grady'] (6.9 ppg, 2.7 rpg) to injury was unexpected. The backcourt seems solid as senior guard Alex Choi (7.4 ppg, .407 3pt%) will be an all-league candidate with his ability to score and make plays and helping him get the basketball will be junior point guard [player_tooltip player_id='1370665' first='Kai' last='Russell'] (3.7 ppg, 2.0 apg), who had a nice off-season of development both physically and skill-wise. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='2051003' first='Lucas' last='D'Haem'] (0.8 ppg in 4 games) will fit into a 3-and-D kind of role and Ani Andhole (2.8 ppg, 2.1 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2348774' first='Peyton' last='Read'] (2.1 ppg, 2.5 rpg) round out a starting lineup that should plenty of minutes, but Wolf does have a number of guys he won't be afraid to turn to on the bench, including senior [player_tooltip player_id='1458111' first='Colten' last='Smith'] (2.5 ppg)   Another year and it's another return to Square One for Aloha who once again brings in a new coach, this time with Daniel Ellis. The native Minnesotan has experience coaching at the high school and pro levels in both the United States and overseas in Australia but is well aware of the tough task ahead with the Warriors program. The cupboard isn't completely bare as a number of guys come back from last year's squad with varsity experience such as junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1624483' first='Koby' last='Predmore'], sophomore point guard [player_tooltip player_id='1625267' first='Anden' last='Augustus'], and senior post Zarek Francisco. Look for sophomores such as guard Bruno Lopez Prado and forward [player_tooltip player_id='1625268' first='Cayden' last='Williams'] to also step into more prominent roles. As usual, Aloha will try to squeeze out some wins in the non-league part of the schedule to give them some confidence going into the gauntlet known as the Metro League.

The 2023-24 season is upon us and PrepHoops Oregon has you covered. We're doing pre-season previews for all of the 6A leagues across the state, giving you some insight into the teams and players you should be watching this year. The Metro League will once again rank among the top conferences and practically all of the teams are post-season contenders. Here's how we see it turning out.