As usual, there was efficient play today for Fly Select 17U from Kittleson. The Portland Christian junior was steady throughout in a big win, taking what the defense gave him instead of forcing the issue, and he really stepped up in crunch time with both a traditional three-point play and another smooth jumper from deep – for a total of 11 points.

Playing at the 2A level, it sometimes can be hard to get media attention. Kittleson’s game makes him hard to ignore. For the third straight season, he lead the Royals deep into the state tournament, losing in the semifinals to eventual state champion Trinity Lutheran. Kittleson does a tremendous job of pressuring the basketball & playing the passing lanes which leads to easy scoring opportunities for himself & his teammates. He also continued to show the ability to shoot the ball at a high level from the perimeter.

Much has been written about Kittleson, but we’ve always come away impressed by his willingness to sacrifice some of his personal numbers for the good of the team. Demonstrates a high basketball IQ, knocks down open shots at a high clip, & has developed into an excellent on ball defender. Easily one of the top 3 candidates for state player of the year at the 2A level.

Kittleson’s time on the court was limited versus Knappa, but it was clear that he is one of the elite players in Oregon’s smaller classifications. Despite not putting up his normal point total, he impacted the game in other ways, perimeter defense, pushing the ball in transition, & getting the ball to open teammates.

Kittleson put together an impressive all-around performance, finishing with 24 points, 4 assists, and 6 rebounds. A vocal leader on the floor, he’s a crafty scorer who thrives in the mid-range, attacks driving lanes, and extends his shooting range well beyond the three-point line. Regarded as one of the top guards in 2A, Kittleson consistently impacts the game with his skill, confidence, and competitiveness.

All-around guard did a great job of taking what the defense gave him. The 6-foot Portland Christian junior took and made open jumpers from deep, specializing in the corner three, and used the dribble to get into the lane and either scored with the floater or dished it to an open teammate for a score. He got out in transition nicely and made good decisions on the break.