2025-26 6A Preview – Southwest Conference

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2025-26 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 Southwest Conference has some teams that look like potential champs but overall it looks pretty wide open. Here's how we see it turning out.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>League Predictions</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} --> <ol class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Sheldon</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>South Medford</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>South Eugene</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Grants Pass</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>North Medford</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Willamette</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Roseburg</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Player of the Year:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2352621' first='Kai' last='Holmes'], Sheldon</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>All-League Predictions: </strong>Holmes; Jordan Rosetta, Grants Pass; [player_tooltip player_id='2747504' first='Kai' last='Gallic'], Sheldon; [player_tooltip player_id='2134770' first='Elijah' last='Gabriel'], South Eugene; Quinton Richie, South Medford</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Sleeper/Newcomer: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2352621' first='Kai' last='Holmes'], Sheldon</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>State Tournament Threats: </strong>None</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Other Post-Season Teams:</strong> Sheldon, South Medford, South Eugene, Grants Pass</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Analysis</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It looks to be a pretty wide open race in the Southwest Conference in 2025-26 but Sheldon appears to be the favorite. Last year's undefeated run won't happen again but head coach Brian Brancato has the returnees and newcomers to once again capture the league title. It's not often a team can add a player of the year type but that's exactly what Sheldon has with [player_tooltip player_id='2352621' first='Kai' last='Holmes']. The Marist transfer comes over for his senior season and at 6-foot-6, he's a multi-talented player who can not only shoot and score with anyone in the league but make an impact defensively as well. He'll star from day one. A key returnee for Sheldon is point guard [player_tooltip player_id='2747504' first='Kai' last='Gallic'] (6.0 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 3.3 apg, 2.1 spg). The senior is arguably the top floor leader in the conference and can score, pass, and defend. The team will largely go as those two go but there are a number of other guys that will step up into key roles. Junior Jake Morrow (1.5 ppg, 1.2 rpg) and senior Gerrit Cupp (0.8 ppg in 11 games) are projected starters, as is 6-foot-5 senior Matt Schuck, and senior Geno Marzano (2.5 ppg in 6 games) is a spot-up shooter who should contribute off the bench. 6-foot-10 senior transfer Sam Harrison from Cottage Grove will be a wildcard, especially defensively as he catches up to the speed of 6A basketball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>South Medford has a good combination of returnees and newcomers that will keep the Panthers near the top - their traditional spot in the league standings. Head coach James Wightman welcomes back three of his top four scorers, including one all-leaguer from last year in Quinton Richie (6.6 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 3.0 apg), a senior leader and lead guard who will not only run the offense efficiently but also get down and dirty on the defensive end. [player_tooltip player_id='1606561' first='Jed' last='Johnson'] (8.0 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 1.4 apg) is another senior that's back, and at 6-foot-5 he's a threat to score both inside and out. Track star Joey Clevenger (7.6 ppg, 5.7 rpg) is a third experienced senior that provides athleticism at multiple positions. Jake Von Strahl (6.3 ppg, 2.8) is another consistent performer. 6-foot-7 junior [player_tooltip player_id='2517071' first='Pearce' last='Atchley'] (0.0 ppg in 7 games) is one of the varsity newcomers that should make an impact. He's long, lengthy, and can really shoot the three. 6-foot-1 sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2451611' first='Mason' last='Lupton'] should be in the rotation, as will two freshmen in 6-foot-2 wing [player_tooltip player_id='2790667' first='Scottie' last='Miller'] and point guard [player_tooltip player_id='2917299' first='Jorge' last='Pacheco'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There's a change at top at South Eugene as former Axe legend George Zaninovich takes over as head coach. He'll be welcomed by an experienced frontcourt that's dangerous offensively in seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2447883' first='Calvin' last='Yoder'] (12.8 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 3.0 apg), [player_tooltip player_id='2731711' first='Cameron' last='Perry'] (11.1 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 1.8 apg), and junior [player_tooltip player_id='2134770' first='Elijah' last='Gabriel'] (14.3 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 2.1 apg, .370 3pt%). Gabriel is an all-league honoree returning that can score inside and out, which makes him an individual matchup nightmare for opponents. Yoder can also do damage inside and out, is capable of getting hot from three, and is a good passer for his size. Perry is a lefty of capable of posting up or spotting up for three. The key for the Axe will be who steps up in the backcourt. Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2950576' first='Levi' last='Cohen'] (0.5 ppg in 8 games) is talented but even though he lacks experience he'll be thrown into the fire at point guard. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2765288' first='Julius' last='Shafer'] (2.8 ppg, .667 fg%) and Robin Lin will also likely figure into the rotation.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another squad that has a change in leadership is Grants Pass, who promotes Nate Olson to lead the team. He's got some solid returnees to work with, most prominently one of the best returning players in the league in [player_tooltip player_id='2132942' first='Jordan' last='Rossetta'] (14.2 ppg, 9.1 rpg, 1.6 apg). The 6-foot-5 junior and star quarterback is a great athlete and skilled player who could play collegiately in hoops if he wanted to. He'll be the key guy on both ends and will be the chairman on the boards. Senior Grady McKittrick also returns and will be a main character. He's a solid shooter and scorer who operates well with Rossetta. It was hoped that Senior [player_tooltip player_id='2478598' first='Kingston' last='Connelly'] could return - and still could very late in the season - but suffered a torn ACL so that means sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2737306' first='James' last='Traylor'] will need to step up. He's a tremendous athlete. Olson played on some great teams in the late 1990s and early 2000s and is looking to lead the Cavemen back to prominence at what's arguably the top gym in the state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Head coach Scott Plankenhorn is the dean of all coaches in the Southwest Conference and as always he'll field a squad that will be a tough out night in and night out. The Black Tornado are largely young and inexperienced, but have some talent to make some noise especially with the way they plan on playing up and down. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='2048285' first='Traeger' last='Healy'] (8.8 ppg, 5.4 rpg) is one of the guys that's been through the wars and he'll be counted on for not only production but leadership. Jaxon Zimmer (1.6 ppg, 1.4 rpg) is another key senior that's back and he'll operate from the wing. A player who'll be counted on to really step up is junior [player_tooltip player_id='2126215' first='Liam' last='Rea'] (4.3 ppg, 3.5 rpg). He's an athletic swingman who has the ability to end up leading the team in scoring. Juniors Quinn Scott (2.3 ppg in 3 games) and Damarious Harris add more athleticism and 6-foot-7 junior big man [player_tooltip player_id='3037270' first='Tahvo' last='Pool'] will also be one to watch, as will talented freshman point guard [player_tooltip player_id='2948620' first='Bryan' last='Nunez'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There's nowhere to go but up for Willamette as young head coach Jake O'Connor continues to develop his culture with the Wolverines program. Senior Berkley Grandberry is probably the team's most experienced player and he's back but once again the team will largely be young and inexperienced. There's talent though, especially with sophomore transfer [player_tooltip player_id='2638616' first='Ambrose' last='Gardner'] and freshman [player_tooltip player_id='2771013' first='Jordan' last='Giles'] where the future will be now. Lanky sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2949432' first='Brennan' last='Campbell'] has potential and fellow sophomore and football standout Knox Smith will make an impact.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rounding out the league is Roseburg, which will be led by new head coach Brett Nixon. It's going to be clearly a rebuilding year for the Indians, especially after losing shooting guard [player_tooltip player_id='2390032' first='Jaron' last='Leeworthy'] to a season-ending injury. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='2747505' first='Harrison' last='Scott'] will shoulder the load offensively but after that the roster may have some size as five players measure 6-foot-3 or taller, but they lack experience.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->