2021-22 5A Preview: Top Five
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While many of the names at the top are the usual suspects, it should be an interesting and very competitive race in 5A this season. Here’s a look at our pre-season Top Five. 1. Silverton 2. Wilsonville 3. Churchill 4.…
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Continue ReadingWhile many of the names at the top are the usual suspects, it should be an interesting and very competitive race in 5A this season. Here’s a look at our pre-season Top Five.
1. Silverton
2. Wilsonville
3. Churchill
4. Crescent Valley
5. Thurston
Analysis
Silverton seemingly has all the parts to make a serious title run, which would match what the accomplished in football. Head coach Jamie McCarty has a senior-laden team including arguably the best backcourt in all of 5A with son, quarterback and point guard Jordan McCarty Jordan McCarty 6'0" | CG Silverton | 2022 State OR (14.0 ppg, 5A-leading 6.8 apg) and shooter/scorer Neil Efimov Neil Efimov 6'4" | SG Silverton | 2022 State OR (14.9 ppg, 4.7 rpg, .390 3pt%). Fellow seniors Ryan Redman-Brown (5.0 ppg, 3.3 rpg) and Austin Ratliff Austin Ratliff 6'1" | CG Silverton | 2022 State OR (4.7 ppg, 3.5 rpg, .620 fg%) are solid returnees as well. The Silver Foxes will get the opportunity to really show their stuff as they are playing in not only the Capitol City Classic but also the Cactus Jam in Arizona in December.
As always, Wilsonville is in the title discussion and head coach Chris Roche has a good group of returnees, notably in terms of size. 6-foot-10 senior Logan Thebiay Logan Thebiay 6'10" | PF Wilsonville | 2022 State OR will be the main man in the middle and the OIT signee will be a double-double threat every night. 6-foot-7 junior football standout Tristan Davis Tristan Davis 6'8" | PF Lakeridge | 2023 State OR and 6-foot-5 sophomore Kyle Counts Kyle Counts 6'7" | PF Wilsonville | 2024 State OR are solid. In the backcourt, point guard Maxim Wu Maxim Wu 6'0" | PG Wilsonville | 2023 State OR ascended into the starting lineup last year as a sophomore, has a great feel for the game and is a tremendous defender, and Kallen Gutridge Kallen Gutridge 6'4" | SG Wilsonville | 2024 State OR is a lights out shooter on the wing.
Churchill head coach Kelly Bokn continues to pursue his first title at the 5A level and has the kind of roster that can get it done. Samaje Morgan Samaje Morgan 5'9" | PG Churchill | 2022 State OR (20.5 ppg, 6.0 apg) is back for his final year in a Lancers uniform and the point guard is the kind of player that can take over games all by himself. He’ll have plenty of help though. Ty Weiskind Ty Weiskind 6'4" | SF Churchill | 2022 State OR (9.1 ppg) is a hard-working swingman who can also score and senior Matthew Forsyth Matthew Forsyth 6'4" | SG Churchill | 2022 State OR can knock down open threes. Bugsy Jensen and Evan Thompson Evan Thompson 6'3" | SG Churchill | 2022 State OR will provide athleticism as well on both ends.
If not for the presence of Silverton, we’d be talking about Crescent Valley in the Mid-Willamette. Head coach Michael Stair has one of the top one-two punches in all of 5A with do-it-all athlete Noah Dewey Noah Dewey 6'6" | SF Crescent Valley | 2022 State OR (18.4 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 1.6 bpg) and stalwart big man Jake Leibelt Jake Leibelt 6'5" | PF Crescent Valley | 2022 State OR (11.8 ppg, 7.9 rpg). Junior Adam Temesgen (8.9 ppg, .395 3pt%) can hit it from three as can senior Cooper Wakefield (3.2 ppg).
Thurston rounds out the top five. Arizona State football commit Jacob Newell (19.6 ppg, 15.1 rpg) is the main attraction, but is currently hurt and out for a few weeks. In the meantime, head coach Blaine Liberatore will make due until he’s back. Seniors Miguel Perez (6.8 ppg, 2.1 rpg) and Lucas Stutesman (4.3 ppg, 2.0 rpg) are experienced in the program and 6-foot-5 Arizona transfer Andrew Mills adds size. The Colts will be there in the MWL discussion at the end when Newell returns – he’s that impactful of a player.