4A State Tourney Team Prospect Profile: Auburn
Photo Above: Auburn Head Coach Ryan Hansen With four All-League underclassmen, Auburn High’s tight-knit band of basketball junkies qualified for the Sweet Sixteen round of the 4A State Tournament by beating Kennedy and South Kitsap. The Auburn Trojans are 22-4…
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Continue ReadingPhoto Above: Auburn Head Coach Ryan Hansen
With four All-League underclassmen, Auburn High’s tight-knit band of basketball junkies qualified for the Sweet Sixteen round of the 4A State Tournament by beating Kennedy and South Kitsap.
The Auburn Trojans are 22-4 (as of February 18) and are currently ranked #8 by RPI.
Auburn won the North Puget Sound League’s 4A Olympic Division.
The unselfish and youthful squad is guided by veteran head coach Ryan Hansen. Hansen has had several players move on to play college. In the 18 seasons under Hansen, Auburn has been to 17 postseasons, six state tournaments, and have won five league championships. Coach Hansen has earned SPSL Coach of the Year three times, as well as Tacoma News Tribune Coach of the Year in 2004.
First Teamers:
Maleek Arington | 6-0 Point Guard-Class of 2022 | (First Team All-NPSL)
Arington led the NPSL in assists at 7.2 per game. He rarely turns the ball over and is never out of control. The team leader has superior court vision and is a savvy decision-maker. He finishes in traffic, draws fouls, and hits floaters with such ease that it appears everybody else is playing in slow motion.
Trevon Blassingame | 6-5 Wing- Class of 2022 | (First Team All-NPSL)
Blassingame is a long, active all-around player having a breakout season. He has extended his range to the three-point line, been taking bigger players off the dribble, and is crashing the boards like a post. He is timing his jump really well and has become a more than capable shot blocker. Defensively, he has shown great diversity and has guarded every position on the floor.
Second Teamers:
DaeKwon Watson | 5-10 Guard- Class of 2022 | (Second Team All-NPSL)
Watson is a sharpshooter who missed a portion of the regular season due to a nagging hip injury but has returned to form and has been splashing in threes, handling the ball, and displaying his quickness on the defensive end where he displays incredible anticipation and is a constant disruptor.
Amar Rivers | 6-5 Wing- Class of 2021 | (Second Team All-NPSL)
One of the top prospects in the class of 2021, Rivers is a consistent three-point threat. His long arms and soft shooting touch coupled with perfect shooting form make him an incredibly effective mid-range shooter and high post distributor. He has been a key component of the Trojan’s blistering 70.3 points per game.
Sole Senior Starter:
Darrell Hester | 6-5 Post- Class of 2020 |
Hester is the only senior starter and is a three-year letterman. He does all the dirty work inside. His sharp elbows and powerful motor make him the prototypical energy guy. Hester centers the team’s defense and has played a major role in the Trojans giving up a league-leading low of just 45.6 points per game.
Three Prospects off the Bench:
Connor Howat | 6-2 Wing- Class of 2021 |
Howat has established himself as the best charge-taking player on the team. It is no surprise that Howatt loves contact. He had an incredible year on the football field where he was a First Team, All-League Defensive Back, Wide Receiver, and Specialist. On the basketball court, he sets great screens and blocks out so well that he often draws fouls on opponents. Howatt’s quickness inside, relentless pursuit of the ball and slashing ability allows him to get lay-ins against bigger defenders and offensive rebounds far out of his area.
Kaden Hansen | 5-8 Point Guard- Class of 2022 |
The coach’s son is a spark plug. Kaden has started several games and shows a shiftiness on offense and a peskiness on defense that has turned the momentum of games. The tireless lefty is extremely confident and his moxie comes from playing with his Trojan teammates since their early AAU days in the fourth grade. With range well beyond the three-point line and a quick first step, the fearless Hansen has hit mouth-dropping shots proving he can score on anybody.
Ryan Mpouli | 6-2 Guard- Class of 2023 |
Mpouli is likely to have a breakout moment. He has looked impressive in spurts but minutes have not been easy to come by on this talented and deep squad. Mpouli attacks the rim with no regard for any defender. He has a tremendously quick release and is not bashful about pulling deep threes even with a defender nearby. The daily competition against all-league players will certainly pay-off.