Willamette Valley’s Best Staying Close to Home

Jed Tai April 21, 2025 @ 12:29 PM

High school seniors are making their collegiate decisions this spring and recently, two of the best guards we've seen compete in the Willamette Valley in recent years made their choices - and both are staying close to home. Western Christian's Gavin Hall Gavin Hall 5'10" | CG Western Christian | 2025 State OR and Cascade's Landon Knox Landon Knox 5'10" | CG Cascade | 2025 State OR will take their games not far from their homes to Willamette and Corban respectively and both are looking forwards to continuing their athletic and academic careers.

For Hall the choice of Willamette was the perfect fit for him both on and off the floor. The two-time 2A Player of the Year and State Champion will be able to utilize his diverse scoring abilities on the basketball court as well as reach his academic goals as well right close to home in Salem.

"I love the academic atmosphere of the school and I love how their team plays and the guys on the team," Hall said. "Also the school aligns with what career I wanna pursue, which is a lawyer. I've been talking to coach Mike (Lenahan) for awhile now - we've pretty much just been talking here and there about everything like basketball and everyday life. I could see myself as a true point guard that's just willing to do anything to win - and just work very hard."

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For Knox, the fit off the basketball floor was just as important as on - something Corban certainly provided for the dynamic guard, a First Team 4A All-State honoree who also captured a state title as a sophomore with Cascade in 2022-23.

"School wise I know that Corban is a great place when it comes to growing your faith and relationship with the Lord, which is something I was really looking for in a school," Knox said. "And basketball wise, I've grown up around Corban with my brothers playing there, so I got to see first hand what the program is all about. I got to see day in and day out what it takes to be successful there. I love the brotherhood feel of the team."

"I've known the coaches for 4 years or so and the whole staff is great," Knox continued. "They are genuine and straight forward people that all have the same goal in mind so I love that. It's college basketball and I understand the business of it and that nothing is given to you - I am going to have to earn every minute I get. So their plan for me is really up to my work ethic and production on the floor."