2023-24 6A Preview – Three Rivers League
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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.…
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Continue ReadingThe 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. As usual, the Three Rivers League (TRL) will be extremely competitive from top to bottom. Here’s how we see it turning out.
League Predictions
- Tualatin
- West Linn
- Oregon City
- Lakeridge
- Lake Oswego
- Tigard
Player of the Year: Jaden Steppe Jaden Steppe 6'8" | SF Tualatin | 2024 State #289 Nation OR , Tualatin
All-League Predictions: Steppe; Cole Holum Cole Holum 6'9" | PF Lakeridge | 2024 State OR , Lakeridge; Max Juhala Max Juhala 6'5" | SF West Linn | 2024 State OR , West Linn; Aengus Sutherland Aengus Sutherland 6'5" | SF Lake Oswego | 2024 State OR , Lake Oswego; Dylan Westermeyer Dylan Westermeyer 6'6" | SF Oregon City | 2024 State OR , Oregon City
Top Sleeper/Newcomer: Pat Vialva Jr Pat Vialva Jr 5'10" | PG West Linn | 2027 State OR , West Linn
State Tournament Threats: Tualatin, West Linn
Other Post-Season Teams: Oregon City, Lakeridge, Lake Oswego
Anaysis
After two straight titles, it would be tough to bet against Tualatin as a legitimate threat to three-peat as 6A champions. The loss of one of the program’s best of all-time in Josiah Lake (25.2 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 3.0 apg) is certainly a tough task, but the Timberwolves have enough returning to compensate. It all begins with Jaden Steppe Jaden Steppe 6'8" | SF Tualatin | 2024 State #289 Nation OR (19.6 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 2.2 apg), who could lay claim to being the most unstoppable offensive force in 6A. The 6-foot-8 Colorado State signee can score from everywhere on the court and especially inside there are very few that can match up with him physically. Replacing Lake may seem like an insurmountable task but the Timberwolves only have to stay within the same family and turn the ball over to Jemai Lake Jemai Lake 5'11" | CG Tualatin | 2026 State OR (1.3 ppg in 9 games). The sophomore is extremely skilled, has grown physically over the summer, and could be further along in his development at this stage than his older brother. Cole Javernick Cole Javernick 6'4" | SF Tualatin | 2024 State OR (1.1 ppg, 0.9 rpg) returns on the wing and should be ready to take on an elevated role and football standouts such as AJ Noland AJ Noland 6'0" | CG Tulalatin | 2024 State OR (7.0 ppg, 2.0 apg) and Zach Zuckerman Zach Zuckerman 6'0" | SG Tualatin | 2024 State OR (1.8 ppg) will bring athleticism and toughness to the mix. Two more gridiron stars that will make an impact if healthy will be Jayden Fortier Jayden Fortier 6'3" | SF Tualatin | 2024 State OR (5.7 ppg, 6.8 rpg) and Nolan Keeney Nolan Keeney 6'4" | PF Tualatin | 2025 State OR (7.8 ppg, 5.4 rpg at Westview), but at press time it appears they may both be out of action this season. With or without them, head coach Bubba Lemon has seemingly everything on his roster to capture the league title and challenge for yet another trophy.
While Oregon high school legend Jackson Shelstad (28.2 ppg, 3.6 apg) and a whole host of seniors have moved on from West Linn, those in the know aren’t shedding any tears for head coach Robert Key. The Lions have one of the deepest programs in the state when it comes to talent and a whole host of young players who have been chomping at the bit to play will get their chance this season. Two returnees that played major minutes last season will emerge as the team leaders in seniors Max Juhala Max Juhala 6'5" | SF West Linn | 2024 State OR and Nick DiGiulio (8.8 ppg, .438 3pt%). Juhala, a sharpshooter from long range who buried over 57 percent of his three-point attempts, further developed his all-around game and should help in every phase of the game. DiGiulio, the owner of one of the fastest shot releases in the state, ranked among 6A’s leaders in threes made per game. Adding even more of a threat from the outside will be junior Jalen Snook Jalen Snook 5'9" | PG West Linn | 2025 State OR and fellow juniors Kevin Benson Kevin Benson 6'6" | PF West Linn | 2025 State OR , Sawyer Young Sawyer Young 6'2" | SF West Linn | 2025 State OR , and Warren Stanton Warren Stanton 6'4" | SF West Linn | 2025 State OR will be threats on both sides of the ball. Joining the mix is an extremely talented group of freshmen, of which Key is high on point guard Pat Vialva Jr Pat Vialva Jr 5'10" | PG West Linn | 2027 State OR , who could start from day one. The team will be young and inexperienced and the toughness of last year’s squad will certainly be missed, but the Lions are certainly loaded with potential.
In third appears to be Oregon City and head coach Aaron Newkirk has a very seasoned and experienced group ready to do big things. The senior backcourt of Deon Best Deon Best 6'0" | PG Oregon City | 2024 State OR (11.0 ppg, 3.8 apg) at the point and Whitworth-commit Dylan Westermeyer Dylan Westermeyer 6'6" | SF Oregon City | 2024 State OR (13.1 ppg, 2.7 rpg) on the wing will be in its third year starting and both are set on having big final years at the high school level. Junior Gylan Payne Gylan Payne 6'5" | CG Oregon City | 2025 State OR (6.1 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 2.5 apg) cut his teeth on the varsity level last season and despite some injuries this summer, is set on adding more offensive punch to the offense. The Pioneers have some size inside with senior Miles Daly Miles Daly 6'7" | C Oregon City | 2024 State OR (3.6 ppg, 1.6 rpg, .725 fg%), who is extremely efficient around the basket and will be physical and ready to mix it up with anybody. Sophomore guard Alijah Scott Alijah Scott 6'2" | CG Oregon City | 2026 State OR showed some athleticism and scoring ability this summer and if senior Holden Geister (3.2 ppg) has fully recovered from an ankle injury over the off-season, Oregon City will definitely be in the post-season conversation if not the league title hunt.
Despite the fact they haven’t won a league game in years, Lakeridge is set on showing this isn’t your older brother’s Pacers squad. In fact, new head coach Jimmy Watts inherits a group that has the potential to not only win some league games but challenge for the post-season. One guy who looks really ready for the step up into the spotlight is senior Cole Holum Cole Holum 6'9" | PF Lakeridge | 2024 State OR (6.5 ppg, 4.2 rpg). The now 6-foot-9 post added strength and athleticism in the off-season and with a much more aggressive attitude taking the ball strong to the basket and finishing at the rim, will certainly be a force to contend with. The top returning leading scorer is Patrick Napierala Patrick Napierala 6'5" | SG Lakeridge | 2024 State OR (9.0 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 2.0 apg) who at 6-foot-5 can really stroke it from the outside but has the physical frame to help out inside too. Ready to breakout as a senior is Nick Ghetie Nick Ghetie 5'11" | PG Lakeridge | 2024 State OR (2.5 ppg, 1.5 apg) who will take over the reins at the point, and senior Daniel Bassaly and junior Jack Clarke Jack Clarke 6'6" | PF Lakeridge | 2025 State OR provide additional depth in the paint.
For the first time in almost a decade, Marshall Cho won’t be on the sidelines for Lake Oswego. The Lakers have turned to interim head coach Mark Swenson to rally the troops and he’s turned to good friend and former Linfield head coach Shanan Rosenberg to help out. While a lot is lost to graduation and transfer – including the high-scoring Winters Grady (26.7 ppg) who is off to Prolific Prep – there is enough back to keep Lake Oswego competitive. Aengus Sutherland Aengus Sutherland 6'5" | SF Lake Oswego | 2024 State OR (10.5 ppg, 4.3 rpg, .596 fg%) is one of those key returnees and the senior will be heavily counted on to use his athleticism and physical presence to score and rebound. Look for him to double his averages from last year and games of 20 points and 10 rebounds become the norm. Other returnees expected to take on bigger roles include senior point guard Peter Cory, one of the best athletes on the team, and junior wing Corbin Cichy Corbin Cichy 6'3" | SF Lake Oswego | 2025 State OR , a deadeye shooter. Of the younger players moving up, junior Carter Dietz Carter Dietz 6'3" | SG Lake Oswego | 2025 State OR and sophomore Liam Rigney Liam Rigney 6'2" | SG Lake Oswego | 2026 State OR have some offensive potential.
Rounding up the league standings will be Tigard, who will be almost an entirely new squad from last year’s team after graduating all five starters and over 60 points per game. That’s all good for veteran head coach Shawn Alderman, who feels he’s got a group of hungry kids eager to learn that will be fun to coach and work with. One guy that’s he’s got back who got significant minutes last year who will be counted on a lot will be point guard Colt Ness Colt Ness 5'10" | PG Tigard | 2025 State OR . The junior point guard is shifty off the dribble and it’s easy to imagine the offense running through him. The rest of the roster is very inexperienced but look for athletic senior guard Jason Amens and rugged forward Jack Hagen to make plays. And while their roles are yet to be determined, look out for sophomore guards Kingston Hunter Kingston Hunter 5'10" | CG Tigard | 2026 State OR and Dominic Gold Dominic Gold 5'9" | CG Tigard | 2026 State OR , two dynamic transfers who may represent the future of the program.