5A Preview: Way Too Early Top 10 (#5-#1)
For the second segment of our 5A top ten, we have selected the teams that we believe are most likely to compete for a state title during the forthcoming season: 5) Willamette Key Players: Luke Smith, Ejim Akuma, Alex Puckett…
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Continue ReadingFor the second segment of our 5A top ten, we have selected the teams that we believe are most likely to compete for a state title during the forthcoming season:
5) Willamette
Key Players: Luke Smith, Ejim Akuma, Alex Puckett
Key Departures: Owen Cross, Luke Burke, Jake Curtis, Tyler Culver
The Wolverines will be led by ball-handling forward Luke Smith, who began turning heads for his performance at Gill Coliseum in March. The junior should be productive offensively alongside a key transfer in Ejim Akuma, who provides some much needed depth at the guard position. The Wolverines are once again in decent position to contend for a Midwestern League title if they can pull off an upset or two at their home court.
4) Wilsonville
Key Players: Dakota Reber, Keegan Shivers, Gabe Reichle
Key Departures: Jack Roche, Zac Rivers
The defending champs may have lost their primary ball handler in Jack Roche, but a stout frontcourt and deep program should position them near the top of 5A once again. Keegan Shivers will be dominant inside on both ends of the floor, while Gabe Reichle balances the Wildcats offensive attack as a premier perimeter shooter. No team in the Northwest Oregon Conference has the talent to matchup with the recently dominant Wildcats, who show little sign of slowing down this season.
3) Crater
Key Players: Nate Bittle, Jayden Vranes, Hunter Chubb, Kruger Edwards
Key Departures: N/A
For the most part, the Comets revolve around blue-blood prospect Nate Bittle, who could honestly be a fairly frequent quadruple-double threat, but the supporting cast that returns is also solid. Jayden Vranes can offer some ball-handling relief for Bittle in addition to solid playmaking ability. Hunter Chubb rounds out a top-notch 5A offense with some added perimeter scoring that could help guide the Comets to a possible final four.
2) Silverton
Key Players: David Gonzalez, Grant Dunn, Jordan McCarty
Key Departures: Levi Nielsen, Jonah Downey, Josiah Roth
The Foxes come off another very successful campaign in 2018-19 that involved having two separate Co-Conference Players of the Year on the roster, one of which was David Gonzalez, an experienced point guard that should be primed to tear up the Mid-Willamette Conference this season. Despite losing quite a bit of personnel to graduation, the Foxes still return smooth shooter Grant Dunn and talented sophomore Jordan McCarty, who will develop under a well-coached program. As long as the Foxes take care of business against Corvallis, they will be the clear favorites to win a conference championship and roll to a high seed in the state tournament.
1) Churchill
Key Players: Silas Bennion, Brian Goracke, Kaelan O’Neil, Isaiah Wallace
Key Departures: Ejim Akuma
The Lancers return the entire starting five from a team that competed in the state championship game last season. Silas Bennion and Isaiah Wallace play with tremendous chemistry and should score the basketball effectively this season alongside a talented frontcourt in Kaelan O’Neil and Brian Goracke. These four paired with solid defensive guard Evan Pia complete one of the most polished lineups in the state of Oregon. Despite playing in the toughest conference, the Lancers should roll for most of the season behind recognizable experience and well-executed game-planning. Coach Kelly Bokn and company have many reasons to be excited for this winter.
Photo: Joe Richter/OSAAToday