Les Schwab Invitational Preview: Oregon Players To Watch
The Les Schwab Invitational is considered one of the most prestigious holiday high school basketball tournaments in the nation. This year will mark the 24th anniversary of the tournament, and it once again will feature the type of likely future…
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Continue ReadingThe Les Schwab Invitational is considered one of the most prestigious holiday high school basketball tournaments in the nation. This year will mark the 24th anniversary of the tournament, and it once again will feature the type of likely future college and NBA stars the LSI has been accustomed to showcasing for more than two decades. In this article, PH takes a look at some of the top Oregon players participating in this event.
Erik Fraser 6’3 SG Grant 2020 (#17PHO 2020) – Fraser is a shooter/scorer for Grant. I got an opportunity to watch the senior play last week in Las Vegas and he was terrific in helping Grant reach the semifinals of the Tarkanian Classic.
Isaiah Amato 6’5 SG Central Catholic 2020 (#5PHO 2020) – Amato is one of the most efficient players on the West Coast. The two dribble specialist does a great job of creating space with the bounce. He combines that with the ability to use a variety of shots in the lane including runners, and floaters. He currently holds offers from Eastern Washington and Pacific.
Nate Rawlins-Kibonge 6’7 PF Jefferson 2021 (#3PHO 2021) – The physical specimen will be fun to watch. Rawlins Kibonge who also doubles as a defensive end, is a high volume rebounder with the ability to score down low. He has committed to play at Washington St University.
Kaelan O’Neil 6’5 SF Churchill 2020 (#3PHO 2020) – Part of the reason why I’m traveling to Oregon is to see Churchill play. I saw O’neil this fall at one of our expos and was absolutely blown away. Besides from pure swag, O’neil brings a terrific handle, good size and creative passing ability to the tournament. The Eastern Washington commit probably has more than one highlight-reel play up his sleeve for this weekend.
Brian Goracke 6’5 SF Churchill 2020 (#1PHO 2020) – I think it’s fair to call O’neil and Goracke Batman and Batman. Goracke is a powerful run and jump athlete with the ability to manufacture points in transition or create for himself. Churchill is undefeated, and will undoubtedly be tested this week. Seeing these two players in this setting is an opportunity I simply couldn’t pass up.
Jesse White 6’1 SG Barlow 2020 (#6PHO 2020) – Sniper Extrodonair. White can flat out shoot the ball. He moves well without the ball and doesn’t need a ton of space to get his shot off. The Barlow Churchill game should be one of the more competitive and entertaining of the first round.
Nathan Bittle 6’11 PF Crater 2021 (#1PHO 2021) – This will be my first chance to see Bittle live. People who I respect tell me he is a sure-fire high major big. Good. I love his fluidity and defensive range. On film you can see the talent, Bittle has soft hands and shows an ability to finish strong at the rim. It will be fun to watch one of the top West Coast bigs in this setting.
Ben Gregg 6’6 SG Clackamas 2021 (#2PHO 2021) – Gregg’s off the bounce game is nuts. An above-average run and jump athlete, Gregg has the ability to create space with the dribble and then raise up. He can do this from both behind the arc and from mid-range game. He also has a finishing package that many college players would salivate over. Crater vs Clackamas should be one of the most exciting 1st round games as it provides a matchup of two of the top juniors in the class.
Micah Garett 6’4 SG West Linn 2020 (#2PHO 2020) – Garett is a bucket. Good handles, shifty combo guard that understands how to put the ball in the hole. Love watching players like Garett in tournament settings like these, because they have the ability to get hot and carry their teams.
Kegan Shivers 6’4 SF Wilsonville 2020 (#29PHO 2020) – Shivers leads the defending 5A champs into battle this week. Wilsonville opens up against a talented Eastside Catholic team featuring 3 D1 prospects. Shivers will need to use his shooting and natural scoring ability to hold them at bay. Quick-release, and textbook form Shivers comes into the tournament as one of the top marksmen.