2025 Capitol City Classic Preview

The Capitol City Classic kicks off on Thursday night and this year's field features many top 5A and 6A squads in the mix. Here's a quick look at all of the in-state teams participating and some of the players to watch out for.

Tualatin - Last year's champs are back looking for a repeat and several of the guys who were on that squad are ready for the challenge. The star duo of Jemai Lake Jemai Lake 6'2" | CG Tualatin | 2026 State OR and Pat Vialva Jr Pat Vialva Jr 5'11" | PG Tualatin | 2027 State OR has gotten off to a good start as expected, and fellow returning starter Carter Lemon Carter Lemon 5'9" | CG Tualatin | 2027 State OR has adjusted nicely coming from football season. Newcomer Takeo McCrae Takeo McCrae 6'4" | SF/SG Tualatin | 2026 State OR has started settling into his role on the squad and junior big man Damian Olvera Damian Olvera 6'4" | PF West Linn | 2027 State OR has been the man inside for head coach Bubba Lemon. The bracket sets up where they won't potentially meet one of the powerful out-of-state teams until the semifinals, but they have a couple of tough in-state teams to get past first starting with Thurston in their very first game on Thursday.

Wilsonville - The Wildcats have been a participant in the CCC from day one and once again look to make some noise. While their most recent game was a loss to West Linn, head coach Chris Roche's squad is off to a fast start as usual having captured three wins in their own event, the WIT, and did so without sophomore big man Michael Ratcliffe Michael Ratcliffe 6'8" | C/PF Wilsonville | 2028 State OR in the lineup. Newcomer Aazzee Breaux Aazzee Breaux 6'5" | CG Wilsonville | 2027 State OR has emerged as the team's top scoring threat and junior Jett Bruce Jett Bruce 6'1" | SG/CG Wilsonville | 2027 State OR has adjusted well into a new role at lead guard. Sophomore power forward Jonah Mason Jonah Mason 6'6" | PF Wilsonville | 2028 OR has been solid both inside and out and if Ratcliffe is available to play in the event, watch out. Wilsonville opens the tournament against Sprague on Day 1.

Sherwood - Sherwood returned to the CCC last season after a few years away but are back this time with a talented crew looking to grab some wins. It all starts with their talented wing duo of senior Brody Rygh Brody Rygh 6'5" | SF Sherwood | 2026 State OR and Avery Johnson Avery Johnson 6'1" | CG Sherwood | 2027 State OR , the latter of which has kicked off the season strong with his scoring. The rest of head coach Rahim Tufts' squad is a solid supporting case, from point guard Riley DeBorde to big man Jonah Furino, and one varsity newcomer that's slowly start to rise is junior wing Judah Dressler. The Bowmen open up the tournament with a matchup against a familiar foe in West Linn on Thursday.

West Linn - Speaking of West Linn, head coach Travis Myers brings back a team that had great success in last year's CCC - one that included a highlight win over Inglewood and made it all the way to the semifinals. The look of his squad is much different though as the Lions are practically a brand new squad - yet still talented as players from their successful JV team last year move up. So far this season, players such as point guard Sloan Baker, wings Tyson Donnerberg and Blake Lampert Blake Lampert 5'10" | PG West Linn | 2027 State OR , and forward Jack Tycast Jack Tycast 6'5" | SF/PF West Linn | 2026 State OR have emerged as ones to watch and they should match up well with Sherwood in their first round game.

West Salem - The Titans - one of the only in-state teams to win the CCC - are back in the field and looking at competing in the winners bracket again this year. Head coach Dean Sanderson has a squad that's strong and athletic, with many of his guys successful multi-sport athletes. Jonah Munns Jonah Munns 6'1" | CG West Salem | 2028 State OR has been the team's leading scorer so far and senior guards such as point guard Jacob Sanderson Jacob Sanderson 6'2" | PG/CG West Salem | 2026 State OR and wing Evan Wusstig have brought a hard-nosed defensive mentality to the team. Transfer Jack Lapray Jack Lapray 6'3" | SG West Salem | 2026 State OR has provided some outside shooting to the mix as well. The Titans kick things off with a matchup against Western Christian on Friday.

Nelson - Nelson makes it's debut in the CCC under head coach Daniel Blanks and they're hoping to make a big splash. While the status of star guard Braylon Gaines Braylon Gaines 6'0" | PG Nelson | 2027 State OR for the tournament is not certain, the Hawks are deep and have plenty of other players ready to make their mark. Jaydon Schregardus Jaydon Schregardus 5'11" | CG Nelson | 2027 State OR has taken over point guard duties so far this season and he's done well, and with sophomore shooting star Carter Lockhart Carter Lockhart 6'2" | CG/PG Nelson | 2028 State OR operating with him the backcourt they've been a tough one-two punch. Nelson has athletes on the wings with Chaz Katoanga Chaz Katoanga 6'0" | CG Nelson | 2026 State OR and Malachi Garlington Malachi Garlington 6'2" | SF Nelson | 2027 State OR and some size inside with Zaden Richardson Zaden Richardson 6'6" | PF Nelson | 2026 State OR , Leo Onishchenko Leo Onishchenko 6'6" | PF Nelson | 2028 State OR , and Cal Gradwahl, making one of the deepest teams in the state. They will open with West Albany on Friday.

West Albany - The Bulldogs will be a major contender in 5A and head coach Drew Halvorson has a team that will put some points on the scoreboard. So far West Albany has been able to do just that with their talented guard/wing trio of Grey Nieman Grey Nieman 6'2" | CG West Albany | 2027 State OR , Jonah Lasselle Jonah Lasselle 5'10" | PG West Albany | 2026 State OR , and Robert Southard Robert Southard 6'5" | SG West Albany | 2026 State OR , and returning forward Tyson Walker Tyson Walker 6'3" | PF/SG West Albany | 2026 State OR has been the stalwart inside for the Bulldogs. The competition will be tough - their first game will be against Nelson - but the CCC will be a perfect barometer for where this team will be heading into league play.

Thurston - Last year's undefeated Midwestern League champs are in the field this year at the CCC and are capable of adding some tallies to the win column. Head coach Blaine Liberatore brings back the league's MVP in Lucas Labounty Lucas Labounty 6'4" | CG Thurston | 2026 State OR and he'll be flanked on the wing by up-and-coming sophomore star Treyson Hill Treyson Hill 6'5" | CG Thurston | 2028 State OR . Senior point guard Logan Piquette has been through the wars and brings a lockdown defensive mentality to the point and so far this season, sophomore big man Leofatu Filipe Leofatu Filipe 6'4" | SF Thurston | 2028 State OR has been tough inside. The immediate task may be tough in the first round in Tualatin, but the Colts will be prepared.

Sprague - A regular at the CCC as one of the Salem area's top teams each season, it will be head coach Tyler Lewis' first at the event and he's got a young squad that's still finding itself early on this season. As expected, Elijah Schmidt Elijah Schmidt 5'9" | CG Sprague | 2027 State OR has advanced from off-the-bench scoring punch to main offensive threat and he's been joined by Tayshawn Juarez Tayshawn Juarez 6'0" | SF/SG Sprague | 2027 State OR in the backcourt as a consistent point producer. 6-foot-8 junior Lane Isham Lane Isham 6'8" | CG Sprague | 2027 State OR is a unique matchup challenge with his length and ability to operate on the perimeter and London Butler is a sophmore that has stepped up early. The Olympians will start the tournament by taking on Wilsonville.

Benson - Coming down from Portland to make their first-ever appearance in the CCC is Benson, a squad that many feel will be the favorite to win the PIL. The Astros are still in essence a young team, but do bring back an experienced senior in First Team all-league honoree Dache Acelar Dache Acelar 6'0" | CG Benson | 2026 State OR . Junior point guard Richad Hudson Richad Hudson 5'11" | SG/PG Benson | 2027 State OR runs the show and sophomores Malu Niko and JP Parnell-Patton bring toughness to the frontcourt, and so far this season fab freshman Kendall Hopkins-McGlothen Kendall Hopkins-McGlothen 6'2" | SF/SG Benson | 2029 State OR has lived up to billing as a big-time scoring threat. It will certainly be a tough task with their first round game against St. Mary's of Arizona but head coach Earl Clark fully embraces the underdog mentality so Benson will be ready to make some waves.

Central - The Panthers are one of the smallest schools in the tournament but they've got the opportunity to catch some eyes as they are an experienced squad. Head coach Tyler Allen has a lot of guys coming back from last year's squad, notably senior guard Jack Holestine Jack Holestine 6'1" | SG/PG Central | 2026 State OR who was one of 5A's top scorers last season. Fellow senior Ryan Burgett is an athletic player and one of the more underrated playres in the state on the wing and sophomore big man Lucas Haines Lucas Haines 6'5" | C/PF Central | 2028 OR roams the paint with plenty of rebounding and shot-blocking ability. The first round game for Central is formidable against out-of-state Ruston from Louisiana, but the Panthers will compete no matter who they face up against.

North Salem - North Salem is back in the CCC and head coach Hemingway Huynh has another team capable of pulling off some wins as they enter the tournament with a 4-0 record. Senior stalwart Antonio Alvarez has been joined by bounceback transfers Rafael Ochoa Rafael Ochoa 6'3" | CG North Salem | 2026 State OR and Isaiah Vargas Isaiah Vargas 5'11" | PG McKay | 2026 State OR this season and so far they've proven themselves to be capable scoring threats. Emerging big man Ben Box Ben Box 6'7" | PF/C North Salem | 2027 State OR patrols the lane and others have stepped up into their roles - something that will be critical in the tournament for the Vikings, who open things up against powerful Western Groves of Missouri.

Western Christian - The Pioneers probably made the biggest statement in last year's CCC when they upset Chatsworth of California in the first round. Western Christian will try to shock the world again but head coach Geoff Martin will have what's essentially a brand new squad to do it with. So far this season, Parker Reed and Gage Slaughter have been early standouts and many others will try to make a name for themselves. Western Christian hopes to get things started off strong opening up against West Salem.