2021-22 6A Preview: Pre-Season Top Ten

<p>We are back to "normal" with the 2021-22 season and it’s going to be extremely competitive at the 6A level. After watching guys play in the summer and fall and attending a number of open gyms and practices to get a closer look at everyone, here’s our pre-season top ten.</p> <p><strong>10. South Medford</strong></p> <p>The Panthers had a great run in 2021 capturing the unofficial Southern Oregon title and head coach James Wightman will have a squad prepared to truly battle the rest of the state in 2020-21. [player_tooltip player_id="942247" first="Devon" last="Malcolm"] is looking to finish off his high school career with a bang and has both experienced and young talented players around him such as senior [player_tooltip player_id="964543" first="Junior" last="Sleezer"], sophomore [player_tooltip player_id="1269430" first="Jackson" last="Weiland"], and freshmen [player_tooltip player_id="1110808" first="Boden" last="Howell"] and Drew Hall.</p> <p><strong>9. Beaverton</strong></p> <p>What’s the follow up to the best record in the Metro League and a culminating bracket title? It will be fun to see especially since head coach Andrew Vancil is looking to change things up. With Dane Erikstrup off to college, the Beavers will be heavily guard oriented and they’ve got one of the best backcourts to go to with [player_tooltip player_id="964546" first="Trevon" last="Hamilton"], [player_tooltip player_id="1201007" first="Brady" last="Rice"], and [player_tooltip player_id="1308407" first="Jordan" last="Mesa"]. Beaverton will be tough to match with their speed and shooting.</p> <p><strong>8. Barlow</strong></p> <p>It’s hard to believe that the dean of all of 6A has yet to taste a state title but this year head coach Tom Johnson has another team that has a great shot. The Bruins are senior-dominated and has spent a lot of time playing together so they have tremendous chemistry. [player_tooltip player_id="857368" first="Connor" last="Hills"] is the leader at the point and brothers [player_tooltip player_id="1229386" first="Nathan" last="Jones"] and [player_tooltip player_id="1229391" first="Jesse" last="Jones"] will get things done on both ends of the floor. Add in wunderkind freshman [player_tooltip player_id="1276625" first="Jalen" last="Atkins"] when he’s healthly and Barlow will be in the hunt.</p> <p><strong>7. Summit</strong></p> <p>Talk to any Mountain Valley Conference about who’s the best in their league and their voices are in unison - Summit. The rest of the state should watch out for the senior-dominated Storm too who have everything it takes to make a state tournament run. [player_tooltip player_id="1228279" first="Caden" last="Harris"] is one of the top players in Oregon and head coach Jon Frazier has plenty of shooters and a point guard in [player_tooltip player_id="964539" first="Julian" last="Mora"] that will push the pace. An undefeated league record is not out of the question.</p> <p><strong>6. Mountainside</strong></p> <p>That brand new school on the outskirts of Beaverton has slowly been emerging on the boys basketball scene and this could be the year that head coach Dustin Hewitt has everything put together for a Metro League title. The Mavericks have plenty of grizzled seniors the likes of [player_tooltip player_id="857364" first="Dimitri" last="Cohen"], [player_tooltip player_id="857352" first="Dezman" last="Baker"], and [player_tooltip player_id="1229382" first="Dylan" last="Westlake"] but also young guns like sophomore [player_tooltip player_id="1110571" first="Quinn" last="Haveman"] and [player_tooltip player_id="1276628" first="Brayden" last="Boe"]. Mountainside can run, shoot, and score with anyone in the state.</p> <p><strong>5. Tualatin</strong></p> <p>The buzz is legitimate - Tualatin potentially has the most talent in the entire state. Head coach Todd Jukkala has a roster that’s filled with athletes, many of whom are on the top-ranked football team. The backcourt of [player_tooltip player_id="857353" first="Malik" last="Ross"] and [player_tooltip player_id="857354" first="Noah" last="Ogoli"] ranks among the elite in the state and there’s size and skill with the likes of [player_tooltip player_id="1079528" first="Peter" last="Burke"], [player_tooltip player_id="1229383" first="Kellen" last="Hale"], and sophomore stud [player_tooltip player_id="1174265" first="Jaden" last="Steppe"]. The Timberwolves are deep and this could be the season everything comes together.</p> <p><strong>4. West Linn</strong></p> <p>When you talk about the Three Rivers League there’s no question the Lions and one of the state’s best coaches in Eric Viuhkola will always be in the discussion. This year why West Linn could be the favorite may based on one name - [player_tooltip player_id="861091" first="Jackson" last="Shelstad"]. The junior point guard is one of the best in the nation but he’s not alone. Backcourtmate [player_tooltip player_id="857359" first="Zeke" last="Viuhkola"] is criminally underrated and there are some good athletes with basketball smarts in the frontcourt like [player_tooltip player_id="861098" first="Mark" last="Hamper"] and Peyton Durbin.</p> <p><strong>3. Central Catholic</strong></p> <p>Despite the fact they lost players not only to graduation but to transfer, the Rams still have the depth and talent to compete for the state title. Head coach David Blue is blessed to have the size, athleticism, and shooting to compete with anyone. [player_tooltip player_id="857346" first="Luke" last="Johnson"] is back up front and [player_tooltip player_id="857347" first="Aidan" last="Slater"] will shift over to run the point. Young players such as [player_tooltip player_id="865366" first="Gray" last="Thompson"], [player_tooltip player_id="1110583" first="Marley" last="Zeller"], and freshman [player_tooltip player_id="1276626" first="Isaac" last="Carr"] will be key contributors as Central Catholic makes a case to be among the state’s elite.</p> <p><strong>2. Roosevelt</strong></p> <p>The murmurs are no longer quiet at Roosevelt as #VeltMeBasketball is now louder than ever as the Roughriders are legit state contenders. Head coach Yusuf Leary has incredible speed and athleticism in bookend senior forwards [player_tooltip player_id="1214443" first="Raysean" last="Seamster"] and [player_tooltip player_id="857345" first="Donatello" last="Tupper"] and young skilled guards like [player_tooltip player_id="1052572" first="Terrence" last="Hill"], [player_tooltip player_id="1110736" first="Utrillo" last="Morris"], and [player_tooltip player_id="1110570" first="Chance" last="White"] will make things go. The Roughriders will undoubtedly be fun to watch but they have the talent to not only win the PIL but go all the way.</p> <p><strong>1. Grant</strong></p> <p>It’s as close a year as any we’ve covered the past three years when it comes to the top teams but when it all came down to it, Grant was our pick for pre-season #1. Head coach Robert Key has practically all of his team back from last season including four starters in [player_tooltip player_id="861078" first="Adrian" last="Mosley"], [player_tooltip player_id="857356" first="Jae’sean" last="Pete"], [player_tooltip player_id="964542" first="Andre" last="Lawrence"], and [player_tooltip player_id="857344" first="Max" last="Von Arx"]. The Generals also added significant newcomers in transfer [player_tooltip player_id="1096106" first="Marcus" last="McKinney"] and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id="1110568" first="Vashon" last="Hardges"]. Grant has the speed, athleticism, skill, and experience to dominate on both ends of the floor - all makings of a potential state title team.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>