2022-23 6A Preview: Metro League

The 2022-23 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 Metro League will once again rank among the top conferences and practically all of the teams are post-season contenders. Here's how we see it turning out.   League Predictions   1. Beaverton 2. Jesuit 3. Mountainside 4. Westview 5. Southridge 6. Sunset 7. Aloha   Player of the Year: [player_tooltip player_id='861092' first='Jalen' last='Childs'], Beaverton   All-League Predictions: [player_tooltip player_id='861092' first='Jalen' last='Childs'], Beaverton; [player_tooltip player_id='1256714' first='Isaiah' last='Crane'], Jesuit; [player_tooltip player_id='1201007' first='Brady' last='Rice'], Beaverton; [player_tooltip player_id='1315391' first='Amare' last='Rolle'], Westview; [player_tooltip player_id='1110590' first='Kayin' last='Turner'], Sunset   Top Sleeper/Newcomer: [player_tooltip player_id='861083' first='Bogdan' last='Chobu'], Westview   State Tournament Threats: Beaverton, Jesuit   Other Post-Season Teams: Mountainside, Westview, Southridge, Sunset   Analysis   Beaverton was going to be challenging for a Metro League title in 2022-23 with the players they had coming back from last year's 6A state tournament team but with the additions of transfers over the off-season, the Beavers are now considered the favorites. The arrival of [player_tooltip player_id='861092' first='Jalen' last='Childs'] (18.0 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 2.4 apg, .514 fg%) from Sunset and [player_tooltip player_id='1268432' first='Chance' last='Winter'] (5.5 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 6A leading 2.5 bpg) from Glencoe over the off-season gives head coach Andrew Vancil the most feared starting five in the conference if not all of 6A. With Childs - one of the few seniors in the state with NCAA Division I scholarship offers - running the point and Winter anchoring the defense down low, it frees up the likes of senior [player_tooltip player_id='1201007' first='Brady' last='Rice'] (12.7 ppg, 3.1 rpg) and juniors [player_tooltip player_id='1278329' first='Aidan' last='Rice'] (7.3 ppg, .406 3pt%) and [player_tooltip player_id='1197477' first='Max' last='Elmgren'] (10.7 ppg, .381 3pt%) to fire away from the perimeter. Guard [player_tooltip player_id='1484974' first='Mason' last='Shank'] (2.6 ppg) and forward/football QB Hunter Borter (1.6 ppg) will be two of the first guys off what will be a deep bench. The schedule will be ultra-tough with both the Capitol City Classic and Les Schwab Invitational but on paper, the Beavers look like the class of the conference.   They - including us - said that Jesuit would be "down" last season yet the Crusaders still ended up winning the Metro League regular season title. Head coach Gene Potter's squad unfortunately did miss the state tournament though - only the third time in the millennium - but this year's squad should have what it takes to right that wrong. A big part of it is the fact the team's leading scorers from last year, senior duo of [player_tooltip player_id='1256714' first='Isaiah' last='Crane'] (13.3 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 1.6 apg) and [player_tooltip player_id='1382413' first='Cade' last='Collins'] (11.6 ppg, 2.3 rpg, .404 3pt%) are both back with Crane in particular a big factor on defense as well. The backcourt will also return Gonzaga soccer signee Drew Pedersen (3.1 ppg) and Owen Davies (2.3 ppg) and JV studs [player_tooltip player_id='1112940' first='Tyler' last='Curvy'], [player_tooltip player_id='1455146' first='Henry' last='Smith'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1565732' first='Nico' last='Rafalovich'] add significant depth. The question mark will be who does the dirty work up front with rebounding and defense but football standouts Peyton Roth (0.6 ppg in 3 games) and Patrick Kelley (0.3 ppg in 6 games) are worthy candidates. Jesuit in particular has had Beaverton's number the past few seasons so it wouldn't be a surprise to see the Crusaders be right there in the league title chase.   2021-22 was a historic season for Mountainside as the Mavericks not only qualified for their first-ever 6A state tournament but made it to the semis. The senior trio of Dimitri Cohen, Dezman Baker, and Dylan Westlake have all moved on to the college ranks but head coach Dustin Hewitt really likes what he has coming back. One guy who already proved himself last year was sophomore stud [player_tooltip player_id='1276628' first='Brayden' last='Boe'] (10.0 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 2.6 apg), who got even better both skillwise and with his athleticism over the summer. He's already one of the top talents in the entire league. Utility guy [player_tooltip player_id='1110571' first='Quinn' last='Haveman'] (7.1 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 2.0 apg) is also back as a returning starter and in addition to his outstanding defense will be counted upon for more scoring and rebounding this year. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1085791' first='Blake' last='Thune'] (2.0 ppg) should be the top shooting threat on the wing and seniors [player_tooltip player_id='1085793' first='Jaylin' last='Ormond'] (1.9 ppg, 1.7 rpg, .621 fg%) and Reed Gerber (0.3 ppg) will anchor the post. A couple of younger guards in sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1368229' first='Peyton' last='Reyes'] (0.5 ppg) and freshman [player_tooltip player_id='1582931' first='Eli' last='Vizconde'] will also get plenty of playing time as Mountainside could be one of the deeper teams in the conference.   Last season was a bit rough for Westview but the Wildcats should be back to their usual winning ways this year. Head coach Michael Wolf has the personnel that will be able to play uptempo this year and they put up some big-time scoring numbers this past summer. One guy that should have a breakout senior season is [player_tooltip player_id='1315391' first='Amare' last='Rolle'] (10.1 ppg, 3.4 rpg) who led the team in scoring. The 6-foot-4 wing can score both inside and out and is outstanding in transition. Cooper Likens (4.5 ppg, 3.1 rpg) and Alex Choi (3.1 ppg) should see their scoring numbers rise, and expect to see sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='1368243' first='Jason' last='Grady'] (2.7 ppg) and [player_tooltip player_id='1370665' first='Kai' last='Russell'] (1.4 ppg) in the regular rotation. Add in the return of senior [player_tooltip player_id='861083' first='Bogdan' last='Chobu'] after being away from Oregon the past two years and the Wildcats will be an entertaining team to watch.   Southridge may be more a team of the future but head coach Phil Vesel believes the Skyhawks have what it takes to be plenty competitive right now. Nevertheless, the team is anchored by a couple of juniors in their backcourt of [player_tooltip player_id='1110914' first='Carter' last='Fortune'] (11.1 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 3.7 apg) and [player_tooltip player_id='1197476' first='Kaden' last='Groenig'] (12.6 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 2.5 apg, .350 3pt%). Both of whom are quality scorers and facilitators and are capable of putting up big numbers. While the strengths will lie in guard play there are a few young guys up front that show a ton of promise in 6-foot-4 [player_tooltip player_id='1496193' first='Alonzo' last='Hoff'], 6-foot-7 post [player_tooltip player_id='1565739' first='Vitomir' last='Petcov'], and 6-foot-3 Dante Scott, and all three had their moments this summer. Add in seniors such as Nick Vanzuylen (3.7 ppg, .389 3pt%) and Nick Naylor to hold things together with their senior leadership and the Skyhawks are looking solid to qualify for a playoff spot.   If not for a couple of transfers ([player_tooltip player_id='861092' first='Jalen' last='Childs'] to Beaverton, [player_tooltip player_id='1212001' first='LJ' last='Dixon'] to Lake Oswego), Sunset might be ranked a little higher in the pre-season. Head coach David Saultz isn't fretting though as he's excited about the coaching players that remain. The attack will start with junior [player_tooltip player_id='1110590' first='Kayin' last='Turner'] (7.6 ppg, 4.2 rpg, .626 fg%) whose combination of size, skill, and athleticism makes him a difficult matchup for defenses. He had some huge games playing AAU basketball this summer and Saultz is hopeful that Turner can consistently deliver those results this season. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1309847' first='Will' last='Holboke'] (1.9 ppg, 1.3 rpg) will be counted upon for his leadership and heady junior [player_tooltip player_id='1268434' first='Jett' last='Birdsall'] will run the point. The Apollos should have enough to qualify for the post-season but who on the roster steps up outside of these guys could make a difference in how many more wins Sunset gets in league play.   Aloha is back to square one again with a brand new head coach in Daniel Blanks and the former Gresham and Nelson assistant knows the task ahead is tough. Most of last year's squad has moved on but Blanks is hoping one of the Metro League's best all-around athletes, track star Hunter Reeve (9.4 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 2.5 apg, 2.2 spg) returns. But other than him and seniors [player_tooltip player_id='1642549' first='Omar' last='Sicat'] and Muhammaed Muya - both of whom saw bit time last year - there's nobody else with much varsity experience. Some younger players to keep an eye on include sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='1624482' first='Sekari' last='Jones'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1624483' first='Koby' last='Predmore'] as the Warriors hope to squeeze out some wins in the non-league slate before hitting what will be a buzzsaw waiting for them in Metro.

The 2022-23 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 Metro League will once again rank among the top conferences and practically all of the teams are post-season contenders. Here's how we see it turning out.