Recruiting Update – Braylon Gaines (2027 Nelson)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It was a great turnout at Portland State Elite Camp this year and while there were many top performers, the star shined perhaps the brightest for [player_tooltip player_id='2026057' first='Braylon' last='Gaines']. That's not a shocker as the rising junior at Nelson has already proven himself as one of the top players in the state, but getting to do it against top-notch competition in front of the eyes of college coaches was definitely something special. Nothing new for the talented point guard, who started getting a taste of this spotlight this off-season when he joined the NW Rotary Rebels for club basketball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"It was a good experience getting with new guys, because I'd played with the same guys my whole life in AAU," Gaines said. "So it was good doing something new. I liked all the coaches and my teammates and I'm excited to do it again next year. I was just learning a lot. My role, I started with just a pure point guard and that carried on the rest of the sessions. But just learning how to be the best at my role, because it changed from the high school season to AAU, and it got good."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Of course, playing with a new team on the famed EYBL was definitely a different level of play. "The level of competition was crazy - I've never played anything like it," Gaines said. "But adapting to it was cool and by the end, it got kind of normal, I guess. And it carries over as I come back to Portland. It gets a lot easier and the game slowed down."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gaines has seen the fruits of his labor with the development of his game. "I improved my jumper a lot," Gaines said. "I still need to improve it and build confidence, but that came along well and just being a better leader over the summer and knowing how to lead in different ways with different groups."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>His recruitment has also seen a spike as well. Gaines recently received his first scholarship offer - something that certainly generated a lot of excitement. "I just got offered from Western Oregon a couple of weeks ago," Gaines said. "That was really cool, building a relationship with Coach Orton. I really like him a lot and he's a cool guy. He reaches out to me almost every day and I really love the family - they treat me well."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As much as Gaines appreciates the offer and is highly considering the Wolves, he's continuing to keep things open. He was unquestionably one of the top performers at Portland State Elite Camp and is looking at going camping at the University of San Francisco too. As he continues to look at schools and talk to college coaches, he'll be keeping tabs on what he's hoping to find at the next level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"I want the program to be a winning program," Gaines said. "I'm big into whoever is interested first. So I guess, I'm loyal - it's like a loyalty thing. I'm big into that."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Given that he's only going to be a junior, there's clearly no rush for Gaines with his recruitment. His focus instead is on this upcoming season at Nelson, one where the Hawks are aiming for big things. "Our aspiration is our state championship and I really hope we can build that," Gaines said. "Over these past few years, I felt we've built a really good culture with Coach (Daniel) Blanks and this year is really the statement year."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gaines currently ranks as the #2 player in the PrepHoops Oregon Class of 2027 rankings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->