Open Gym Report: Westview Wildcats
PrepHoops Oregon is hitting up open gyms in the Portland Metro area this next month to get an early look some of the top teams. Tuesday afternoon’s visit was to see the Westview Wildcats. Head coach Michael Wolf doesn’t have a lot of size at his disposal, but he has some scorers and shooters that should create headaches for the Metro League this season.
There weren’t any full-on games but there were halfcourt and fullcourt drills that showcased the players skills. Here are observations on several of the players present:
Kobe Newton (2019)
The 6-foot-1 senior is the alpha dog and unquestionably the top player on the team. Offensively, he can pretty much do it all from hitting three point shots to slashing to the basket and finishing at the rim. He was very aggressive getting his own shot but didn’t necessarily play selfishly. Newton also utilized his quick hands to be a pest defensively. Very vocal, the hope is that Newton’s emotional nature will be channeled in a positive direction this year. According to Wolf, Newton will likely go the junior college route and has already picked up significant interest from NWAC schools including an offer from Highline (Wash.).
Wayne Jamison (2020)
Like Newton, Jamison, at 6-foot-1, is also a returning varsity player with experience. In the workout, he was solid all-around and didn’t necessarily for his own offense, but rather to make the right pass and keep the ball moving. He kept his ground on defense and helped out on the boards. Wolf believes Jamison has D3/NAIA college potential.
Noah Bautista (2019)
Bautista played JV last year but will move up and be perhaps the starting point guard, according to Wolf. At 5-foot-10, he’s a shifty ball-handler who looks to distribute rather than score, but he can definitely hit the three when left open. Wolf believes Bautista has D3/NAIA college potential.
Keshav Anand (2022)
We first saw this 6-foot-2 freshman at Portland State Team Camp and were immediately impressed with his lefty shooting stroke. He shot it well at this workout, but he seemed hesitant to be aggressive on offense, rather deferring to the older players on the team. It would not be surprising to see him become more comfortable asserting himself as the year progresses.
Koby Hawley (2019)
Hawley, at 6-foot-1, showed a lot of hustle on both sides of the ball. A lanky lefty, he canned a couple of pull ups and fought hard on the boards.
Juwon Esuk (2019)
Esuk, at 6-foot-4, will likely be playing post for undersized Westview. A decent athlete, he didn’t show much on offense but was active with rebounding and defense. Esuk is still not yet fully recovered from two broken legs last year.
Cade Whitaker (2020)
Whitaker could have an argument as the Wildcats top outside shooter. He may be undersized at 5-foot-10 but he showed a smooth stroke from beyond three point range when left open.
Mason Guerra (2021)
Guerra is arguably the top baseball player in the state for his class and he’s already made an early commitment to Oregon State. He’s a good all-around athlete who will be counted on up front with his 6-foot-3 size. At the workout, his focus was on finishing plays inside the paint.
Brady Grier (2021)
Grier stands at 6-foot-4 after having grown a few inches from last year. Despite his height, he’s a wing and he showed some good range hitting some long threes. Wolf believes Grier has all-league potential as he gets more experience on the court.