Western Oregon Scores In-State

A native of Oregon, Ryan Orton knows the value of having players from home on a college roster. So since taking over as head coach at Western Oregon, he's made a concerted effort to recruit in-state and it shows in his latest recruiting class. With Dayton Jenkins coming in directly out of high school and former preps Kavon Bradford and Kap Laila returning home, the Wolves hope to make some moves up in the GNAC standings in 2026-27.

We caught up with Orton for his thoughts on these latest signings and how he sees they will impact his program going forward. Getting Jenkins is a significant signing as Western Oregon does want to have a firm standing with not only top players but top high school programs in the state. Jenkins was a First Team All-Metro League selection his senior year averaging 17.7 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.8 steals, and helped lead Westview to the 6A state tournament as a junior.

"Adding a player like Dayton is a huge win for our program," Orton said. "We appreciate his belief in the direction WOU Men's Basketball is headed and the fact that he wanted to be here. He's an athletic, dynamic wing who can score, rebound, defend multiple positions, and make plays for others. His toughness, competitiveness, and desire to improve fit perfectly with the culture we're building. We believe his best basketball is still ahead of him, and we're excited to watch his growth both on and off the court. Our fans are going to love the energy and versatility he brings to the floor."

In Bradford, Orton brings in a player with significant Division I experience. After leaving Benson in 2023 as a multi-year all-PIL standout, the point guard spent a prep year at Western Canada Prepatory before playing significant minutes as a freshman at Buffalo (4.1 ppg, 1.2 apg) and as a sophomore at Northern Arizona (4.9 ppg, 1.6 apg). He'll arrive in Monmouth very much as the potential starting point guard with two years of eligibility left.

“We're excited to welcome Kavon to our basketball family," Orton said. "He is a talented point guard with outstanding leadership skills, court vision, and a strong competitive spirit. Throughout the recruiting process, he demonstrated the character, work ethic, and commitment that align with our program's vision. We believe he will make an immediate impact both on and off the court, and we're looking forward to helping him continue his development as a student-athlete."

Laila is another player that will impact Western Oregon heavily. The 6-foot-8 athlete who played his prep basketball at Franklin is still tapping into his immense potential as a college player and comes to Western Oregon after stints at Lower Columbia College and Colorado Mesa. His ability to play and defend multiple position will blend into the way that Orton likes to play on both ends of the floor.

"We're thrilled to welcome Kap to our basketball family," Orton said. "He brings a unique combination of size, skill, and versatility that will make an immediate impact on both ends of the floor. His ability to score inside and out, rebound at a high level, and make plays for his teammates fits perfectly with the style of basketball we want to play. Beyond his talent, he's a high-character young man who has demonstrated a tremendous work ethic and commitment to improvement. We believe his best basketball is still ahead of him, and we're excited to help him continue his development while contributing to the success of our program."