Top 250 Expo: Top Performers (2019)
Pictured: Keylin Vance, Jefferson
The PrepHoops Top 250 Expo for Oregon took place on Saturday at Parkrose High School, and 40 of the top players in the state gathered for some high level competition in front of numerous observers in attendance including a number of college coaches.
About half of the participants were seniors from the Class of 2019. Here are the top performers from that class at the event.
Keylin Vance, Jefferson (Top Performer)
We made note of Vance’s performance in our Event Recap. While Vance did dominate in terms of scoring, he did show off some passing skills from time to time. We’re not sure if they have ever played together other than pick-up action, but Vance had good chemistry with teammate Oreon Courtney as they often found each other with passes on alley-oops or on the break. Vance will always be a score-first guard but any kind of point guard skills he can show this upcoming season will make him more attractive to the type of high-major Division I recruiting interest he’s aiming for.
Oreon Courtney, West Linn
Courtney certainly caught the eyes of many in attendance and was unanimously thought of as one of the top talents on the court. The 6-foot-3 swingman is an athlete pure and simple, as all throughout the day he was finishing above the rim. But Courtney was more than simply running faster or jumping higher than opponents. He showed all-out effort on the boards and likely led the event in rebounding. He worked hard on defense, gathering steals and blocked shots alike. And on occasion when open, Courtney spotted up and knocked down some wide-open threes. In some ways, he’s a man without a true position but the fact of the matter is, Courtney makes things happen on the floor with his athleticism and ability to make plays.
Brock Henry, Southridge
Upon arrival at Parkrose High School, Henry immediately caught the eye of many simply because of his mop head style hair. But the 6-foot-3 senior quickly earned more or a reputation with his play because he was an offensive juggernaut at the event. We’ve seen Henry convert on long bombs many times in the past and he certainly hit a few on Saturday, but where he caught attention was with his drives to the basket. Henry seemingly scored at will on drives, finishing with either hand and over multiple defenders. At times it seemed effortless for him to put the biscuit in the basket, and with a 3.2 GPA and super high test scores (27 ACT/1370 SAT) there’s no question that Henry should be getting more recruiting attention (especially from the D-III level) than he currently is.
Colton Gorski, Sandy
Gorski’s reputation has always been that of a scorer, but over the summer the 6-foot-2 senior has been working on his playmaking skills and they were evident. Up to his usual standard, Gorski hit perimeter jumpers and converted on drives to the basket using his strength to physically get past defenders. But he was also very active in finding open teammates for shots as much as creating offense for himself. Despite a good summer of AAU basketball, Gorski still remains largely under the radar in terms of college recruitment but has a ceiling as high as the D-II level.
Ryan White, Lakeridge
White has largely been a role/glue type guy wherever he’s played, whether it has been in high school or on the AAU circuit (for which he played with Nike Team Northwest’s second 17U team this summer). That certainly was what he did at the Expo, battling down inside for boards while spotting up for mid-range jumpers when given the opportunity. White at 6-foot-4 isn’t flashy nor particularly athletic, but he plays with a purpose and within the team concept. D-III/NAIA level schools should be giving him a look.
Trevon Richmond, Jefferson
Richmond struggled with his shot most of the day, especially early on. But as we have come to expect from the 6-foot guard, he contributed in many other ways on the court with his ball-handling, passing, and on defense. As usual, Richmond was all over the basketball whether it was playing tough perimeter defense or giving it all to crash the boards. He still needs to physically mature which may mean starting out in junior college may be the route for him, but he’s a solid four-year college player in the future.
Dominic Blake, Columbia Christian
A late registrant to the event, Blake didn’t particularly hit many shots but played with good energy, especially on defense. The 6-foot point guard handled the ball well against pressure and played within himself for the most part. A solid student, Blake should be getting D-III/NAIA/JC type of interest at the college level.