Western Oregon Elite Camp: Top Performers
Head coach Wes Pifer has taken the bull by the horns at Western Oregon after getting the job in May. On Saturday, he had his very first Elite Camp with the Wolves and he and his coaching staff were able…
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Continue ReadingHead coach Wes Pifer has taken the bull by the horns at Western Oregon after getting the job in May. On Saturday, he had his very first Elite Camp with the Wolves and he and his coaching staff were able to host some of the top players in Oregon. There was plenty of instruction and great competition throughout and by the end it was clear that everyone had definitely worked and played hard. Here’s a look at the top performers we saw.
Kyle Gruhler (2020 Skyview HS) – You could say that Gruhler had quite the day. The 6-foot-4 wing simply had it going offensively and was near unstoppable whenever he got the ball. Known as a shooter he was knocking down long range bombs but he also had other parts of his game going like stopping for pull-ups and taking it strong to the hole where he finished at the cup while absorbing contact. Gruhler used his size to post up and shoot over smaller players and also was solid on the boards and defensively. If we had to choose an MVP for the players we watched on Saturday, our pick would be the rising senior form Vancouver.
Jamison Guerra (2020 Sherwood HS) – A great question to ask in the state of Oregon would be – who’s the best pure point guard in the state? Guerra may very well be the answer. The 5-foot-10 point guard is simply a consummate floor leader and at WOU camp he was on his best game as a floor leader. The rising senior consistently looked and found open teammates for baskets both in the half court and fast break settings, and passed up his own shot when a teammate had an easier one. Defensively he showed great tenacity and was physical with his assignment. Guerra led 6A in assists last year and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him do that again.
Brian Goracke (2020 Churchill HS) – One of the few players at camp already holding an offer from the Wolves, Goracke played up to billing. The 6-foot-5 wing/forward was extremely active in running the floor and getting out in transition and upon receiving the ball, threw down some impressive and powerful dunks. The rising senior also knocked down some perimeter jumpers. If there’s a criticism Goracke has received it’s about his motor but he played hard and sometimes we wonder if the perception is because he does a lot of things so effortlessly.
Jesse White (2020 Barlow HS) – At Portland State Elite camp last week, White largely played off the ball and really didn’t have his shot going. At WOU, the 6-foot guard had the opportunity to have the ball in his hands and he most certainly delivered in a way we are accustomed to seeing. White sank daggers from long range, used his dribble to create space for himself, and finished well in transition. White didn’t play selfishly and also looked to get his teammates involved. He certainly was able to show why he currently has a scholarship offer from WOU.
Andre Best (2020 Oregon City HS) – Best showed up late at WOU as he was pulling double-duty on the day having attended ID camp at Northwest Christian in the morning, but he certainly showed no signs of wear. The 5-foot-11 point guard displayed a great motor throughout and as one AAU coach noted, Best was already warmed up. It definitely showed in his outside shot as Best was nailing perimeter jumpers better than we’ve seen him do in previous settings, all while making good decisions at the point and getting tenacious on the defensive end.
Others that also impressed include Matthew Levis (2020 Jesuit), Mason Lomax (2020 Sprague), Samarje Morgan (2022 Churchill).