2024-25 5A Preview: Mid-Willamette Conference

The 2024-25 season is upon us and PrepHoops Oregon has you covered. We're doing pre-season previews for all of the 5A leagues across the state, giving you some insight into the teams and players you should be watching this year, courtesy of Jared Gensman of Oregon 5A Boys Basketball. It looks like a two-horse race for the league title, but everything else will be up for grabs this year in the Mid-Willamette Conference.   League Predictions   <ol class="wp-block-list"> <li>Woodburn</li>   <li>West Albany</li>   <li>Crescent Valley</li>   <li>Silverton</li>   <li>South Albany</li>   <li>Corvallis</li>   <li>McKay</li>   <li>Dallas</li>   <li>Central</li>   <li>Lebanon</li> </ol>   Player of the Year Candidates: [player_tooltip player_id='1368274' first='Cruz' last='Veliz'], Woodburn   All-League Predictions: [player_tooltip player_id='1368274' first='Cruz' last='Veliz'], Woodburn; [player_tooltip player_id='1910910' first='Truman' last='Brasfield'], Crescent Valley; [player_tooltip player_id='1910905' first='Brody' last='Kuenzi'], Silverton; [player_tooltip player_id='2575663' first='Colin' last='Cordle'], South Albany; [player_tooltip player_id='2046424' first='Gavin' last='Aguilar'], West Albany; [player_tooltip player_id='2045350' first='Owen' last='Hopkins'], West Albany   Top Sleeper/Newcomer: [player_tooltip player_id='1602196' first='Rafael' last='Ochoa'], McKay   State Tourney Threats: Woodburn, West Albany   Other Post Season Teams: Crescent Valley, Silverton, South Albany   Analysis   Woodburn should be tops in the league this year and be one of the favorites to win it all. What makes this remarkable is that they lost two all-league players. That usually equates to a "re-building" or regressing type of year, but to have the expectations as high as they do is remarkable. It does help having the Mid-Willamette player of the year return as guard [player_tooltip player_id='1368274' first='Cruz' last='Veliz'] (18.3 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 4.9 apg, 3.5 spg) embarks on his senior season. There is a strong class of juniors on this team, anchored by all-league honorable mention [player_tooltip player_id='2356006' first='Anthony' last='Figueredo'] & senior transfer [player_tooltip player_id='2204986' first='Esai' last='Carrasquillo'] (from McNary). Also having larger roles with this team will be junior all-league honorable mention Dylon Renteria & Fernando Del Rio. This is a top three team on paper, but they'll have a target on their back all year long with teams eager to take them down.   The Bulldogs should be able to rinse and repeat the success they had last year. They lose a first team all-league talent, but I don't think it'll be much of an issue this year. They are still loaded with plenty of playmakers. It all starts with senior first team all-league do everything [player_tooltip player_id='2046424' first='Gavin' last='Aguilar'] & senior second team all-league [player_tooltip player_id='2045350' first='Owen' last='Hopkins']. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='1958534' first='Jonah' last='Lasselle'] will also be a vital part of this team's success as I'm sure they're looking forward to finally knocking down Woodburn, who in their 3 meetings last season, lost by an average of only 3 points, and probably should have won that last one.   The Raiders may end up being the most improved team this year. They scored a couple huge transfer pickups this season from Corvallis with first team all-conference senior [player_tooltip player_id='1910910' first='Truman' last='Brasfield'], and senior [player_tooltip player_id='2084597' first='Jackson' last='Bluhm']. These two former Spartans, alongside senior second team all-conference Lucas Ikjaer should make an immediate impact and push this team to the next level. If Brasfield keeps improving at the rate we are seeing, this Crescent Valley team could bully their way atop of the Mid-Willamette conference. This is not a team you can look past anymore.   The Foxes should be able to build on last season's success, but will it be enough to keep up with Woodburn, West Albany & rising Crescent Valley? Silverton will rely heavily on senior, first team all-conference star [player_tooltip player_id='1910905' first='Brody' last='Kuenzi'] (13.2 ppg, 7.2 rpg, .594 fg%). His talent alone might not be enough to position themselves as an elite team. Fortunately, they also have all-league honorable mention senior Elisha Short (4.3 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 2.8 apg). Short will be able to absorb some of the defensive attention that will undoubtedly get thrown at Kuenzi all season long, yet they'll need a consistent third guy if they hope retain their 4th spot in league and make themselves relevant in the post season conversation.   Last season's RedHawk team was consistently near or in the top 10 rankings all year but couldn't beat Woodburn or big brother West Albany to put themselves in better post season positioning. They'll be immersed in a difficult schedule this season as Crescent Valley & Silverton have turned into teams they also have to overcome. They have an outstanding leader in first team all-conference senior [player_tooltip player_id='2575663' first='Colin' last='Cordle'] (18.0 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 2.4 apg), who will no doubt have another outstanding year, but the lack of help will be the cause they take a step back and battle for an at-large bid.   This was supposed to be the year Corvallis established themselves as a Mid-Willamette conference contender. Yet, the dynamic transfer portal had other plans. The Spartans will still be a good team led by conference honorable mention seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2204979' first='Asher' last='Smith'] & Jackson Trimmer, and a senior heavy roster full of physicality, determination & experience.   The Royal Scots should experience more success this season in an ever-competitive Mid-Willamette conference. One of the top sleepers in 5A, junior transfer from North Salem [player_tooltip player_id='1602196' first='Rafael' last='Ochoa'] will make an instant impression. He's a gifted and creative three level scorer that will make McKay a tough out. Couple that with senior all-league honorable mentions Dennis Bondar (12.5 ppg, .395 3pt%) & Kevin Munguia (9.8 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 2.4 apg), as well as an experienced roster full of juniors and seniors and you have a team that will stay more competitive that most expect.   The Dragons will struggle again this season, and hopefully keep games within reach where they may steal a game or two away from teams ahead of them. With a senior heavy roster this year, it would not be surprising. Their key contributors will be a pair of seniors that were all-conference honorable mentions in Zanden McMahill & Talon Krieger.   The Panthers will find themselves struggling with a renewed roster. They had 9 seniors on the team last year, 4 of them had all-conference recognition. Losing that much will be challenging to overcome, although it is not super uncommon for a buried treasure to appear after a mass exodus of seniors. Shouldering the load for Central this season will be junior all-conference honorable mention [player_tooltip player_id='1606558' first='Jack' last='Holestine'].   The Warriors were another team that was senior heavy last season. They will have about 5 returners including all-conference honorable mention Logan Large, and several inexperienced fresh faces looking to help the team out this season.

The 2024-25 season is upon us and PrepHoops Oregon has you covered. We're doing pre-season previews for all of the 5A leagues across the state, giving you some insight into the teams and players you should be watching this year, courtesy of Jared Gensman of Oregon 5A Boys Basketball. It looks like a two-horse race for the league title, but everything else will be up for grabs this year in the Mid-Willamette Conference.