2021 6A Preview: Mt. Hood Conference
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The season is about to start and without a true state championship, much of the pride in 2021 will ride on who brings home the league titles. Initially the Mt Hood Conference planned on playing a full round-robin schedule but…
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Continue ReadingThe season is about to start and without a true state championship, much of the pride in 2021 will ride on who brings home the league titles. Initially the Mt Hood Conference planned on playing a full round-robin schedule but already some early games have been canceled. This could potentially lead to some non-league games – which weren’t happening before. But given what we have, here’s how we see things turning out this year in the Mt Hood Conference.
League Predictions
1. Central Catholic
2. Clackamas
3. Gresham
4. Barlow
5. David Douglas
6. Sandy
7. Reynolds
8. Centennial
Player of the Year: Darius Gakwasi Darius Gakwasi 6'5" | SG Central Catholic | 2021 State OR , Central Catholic
All-League Predictions: Gakwasi; Ryan Lewis Ryan Lewis 6'4" | SG Clackamas | 2021 State OR , Clackamas; Esyah Pippa-White Esyah Pippa-White 6'2" | PG Gresham | 2023 State OR , Gresham; Connor Hills Connor Hills 5'6" | PG Barlow | 2022 State OR , Barlow; Tanner Brewster Tanner Brewster 6'5" | SF Sandy | 2021 State OR , Sandy
Top Sleeper/Newcomer: Malik Rose Malik Rose 5'8" | PG Central Catholic | 2022 CA-N , Central Catholic
Analysis
Central Catholic seems to be the team to beat in the MHC, and that’s with losing three guys to the NCAA D-I and D-II levels. A lot of it has to do with how much is still coming back and that starts with Darius Gakwasi Darius Gakwasi 6'5" | SG Central Catholic | 2021 State OR (16.3 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 4.0 apg). The Princeton-bound senior is one of the most versatile players in the state and he’ll be heavily counted upon not only on the court but off the court with his leadership. A couple of new point guards in Malik Rose Malik Rose 5'8" | PG Central Catholic | 2022 CA-N and Sean Chris Tresvant Sean Chris Tresvant 5'11" | PG Cleveland | 2023 State OR will trigger head coach David Blue’s attack, Luke Johnson Luke Johnson 6'8" | PF Central Catholic | 2022 WV (11.3 ppg, 6.0 rpg) will man the middle and Aiden Slater (6.2 ppg, .450 3pt%) will be the sniper on the wing. If not for the early graduation of Ben Gregg Ben Gregg 6'8" | SF Clackamas | 2021 #50 Nation OR (21.4 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 3.1 apg, 2.0 bpg), Clackamas could very well have been the favorite. The senior quartet of Ryan Lewis Ryan Lewis 6'4" | SG Clackamas | 2021 State OR (11.6 ppg, 5.7 rpg), Damon Erickson Damon Erickson 6'4" | SG Clackamas | 2021 State OR (7.6 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 2.7 apg), Izzy Baker Izzy Baker 6'4" | PF Clackamas | 2021 State OR (8.6 ppg, 3.2 rpg), and KJ Horsley KJ Horsley 5'10" | PG Clackamas | 2021 State OR (5.3 ppg, 2.7 rpg) make head coach Cam Mitchell’s team one of the most experienced in the state. Gresham will also challenge with as head coach Erik Lyslo’s backcourt tandem of senior Elijah Munyan Elijah Munyan 6'3" | SG Gresham | 2021 State OR (11.9 ppg, 6.4 rpg) and sophomore Esyah Pippa-White Esyah Pippa-White 6'2" | PG Gresham | 2023 State OR (10.4 ppg, 5.8 apg) a tough matchup for any team. Nate Caro (5.6 ppg, .417 3pt) and Drew Larsen Drew Larsen 6'2" | CG Barlow | 2021 State OR (4.8 ppg, .455 3pt) will provide plenty of shooting to make up for the Gophers relative lack of size.
Barlow takes a step back a little with as graduation of Jesse White Jesse White 6'0" | CG Sam Barlow | 2020 State OR (24.8 ppg) and Evan Inglesby Evan Inglesby 6'3" | SG Barlow | 2020 State OR (20.9 ppg) leaves some big holes to fill but the dean of all 6A coaches, Tom Johnson, will have his team competitive as always. Junior Connor Hills Connor Hills 5'6" | PG Barlow | 2022 State OR is the one to watch at the point guard spot and the Bruins got a lot of experience playing together in AAU tournaments this off-season. David Douglas as always will be an under-the-radar threat under head coach Chad Reeves. Trent Templeton Trent Templeton 5'11" | CG David Douglas | 2021 State OR (9.0 ppg, 2.7 rpg), who’s committed to Division III Hamline in Minnesota, will be the top returning Scot to watch. Sandy loses some key contributors but has a new coach with fervor in former assistant Brock Mueller and a big returnee in 6-foot-6 senior Tanner Brewster Tanner Brewster 6'5" | SF Sandy | 2021 State OR (11.7 ppg, 7.4 rpg). Reynolds, also led by a new coach in Terrance Dickens, is building from scratch and head coach John Poetsch continues to pick up the pieces at Centennial.
Best Non-League Game: TBD, Jefferson vs. Central Catholic
Best League Game: 6/2, Clackamas at Central Catholic; 6/19, Central Catholic at Clackamas