2022-23 5A Preview: Preseason Top Ten
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The 2022-23 boys basketball season is upon us and there’s no question that it is going to be extremely competitive at the 5A level. After watching guys play in the summer and fall and attending a number of open gyms…
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Continue ReadingThe 2022-23 boys basketball season is upon us and there’s no question that it is going to be extremely competitive at the 5A level. After watching guys play in the summer and fall and attending a number of open gyms and practices to get a closer look at everyone, here’s our pre-season top ten:
10. North Eugene
In the always competitive Midwestern League, the Highlanders appear to be ready for a breakout season with a large number of returning contributors. Most notably, the backcourt duo of Joey Banry Joey Banry 5'9" | PG North Eugene | 2024 State OR and Devon Anderson Devon Anderson 6'2" | SG North Eugene | 2023 OR will be among the classification’s most dangerous, while frequent starters Ethan Sims Ethan Sims 6'3" | SF North Eugene | 2023 State OR , Ben Kitzhaber, and Jonas Spencer Jonas Spencer 6'5" | CG North Eugene | 2024 State OR also return for the Highlanders. While many of its league foes are reloading, North Eugene is a sleeper team.
9. Milwaukie
The Mustangs bring back a very talented backcourt in Logan Law Logan Law 5'9" | PG Milwaukie | 2023 State OR and Kaden Harris Kaden Harris 6'2" | CG Milwaukie | 2023 State OR to go alongside a sizable frontcourt that should be among the classification’s most imposing. Law, with his ability to fill up a stat sheet, may be a dark horse to take home 5A-POY honors as the Mustangs challenge for an NWOC title.
8. Central
In a depleted Mid-Willamette Conference, Central appears to be the early favorites behind the paint dominance of Chase Nelson Chase Nelson 6'5" | PF Central | 2023 State OR , who was a first-team all-conference selection a season ago. Matthew Quinn also returns to the Panthers’ frontcourt and adds size at 6-foot-6, while combo guard Dom Castanon completes one of 5A’s top trios as another returning all-conference selection.
7. La Salle
Another team competing for the NWOC title will be the Falcons, who bring back one of 5A’s top players in Nick Robertson Nick Robertson 6'4" | SG La Salle | 2023 State OR . The senior guard can do a little bit of everything and will certainly be in the running for league player of the year honors, while Finbar O’brien and Cade Jansen Cade Jansen 6'0" | PG La Salle | 2023 State OR add even more experience to the backcourt. At 6-foot-8, Johnathan Barnes will also be a presence for the Falcons, who will likely contend for a trip to Gill Coliseum come March.
6. Mountain View
Behind the all-around production of junior Quincy Townsend Quincy Townsend 6'2" | CG Mountain View | 2024 State OR , the Cougars appear ready to move down to the 5A classification and be immediate contenders. Brayden Meier Brayden Meier 5'10" | CG Mountain View | 2023 State OR adds shooting to the backcourt, while Ian Prictor Ian Prictor 6'8" | PF Mountain View | 2024 State OR and Nathan Hoisington Nathan Hoisington 6'5" | SF Mountain View | 2023 State OR complete one of the state’s most complete lineups top-to-bottom. In the new-look Intermountain Conference, Mountain View will contend for the title.
5. Redmond
Returning a solid batch of players from its magical season a year ago, Redmond also figures to be a contender in the Intermountain Conference. Led by dominant senior big man Evan Otten Evan Otten 6'10" | C Redmond | 2023 State OR , the Panthers also return two other starters in crafty point guard Tanner Jones and athletic swingman Nathan Wachs. Junior guard Colton Horner will make the jump from sixth man to starter as the Panthers hope to contend in a newly-congested league.
4. Churchill
Even without former head coach Kelly Bokn, the Lancers appear to be in the mix for the 5A title yet again, as Sky Stickney adopts an incredibly deep roster capable of competing with some of the state’s top teams. It’s difficult to predict a starting lineup for the Lancers, but Gary Le Gary Le 5'7" | PG Churchill | 2023 State OR , Max Montgomery Max Montgomery 6'0" | CG Churchill | 2024 State OR , Bugsy Jensen Bugsy Jensen 6'1" | CG Churchill | 2023 State OR , Carsen Luna Carsen Luna 6'2" | CG Churchill | 2023 State OR , Cooper Case Cooper Case 6'4" | SF Churchill | 2023 State OR , and Pete Pennington all played big minutes a season ago and figure to be in the mix again this winter. Even without Samaje Morgan, last season’s 5A player of the year, Churchill is among the favorites in the MIdwestern League.
3. Ashland
While the Grizzlies recently lost dominant big man Egan Shields to Colorado Prep, their chances to contend at the 5A level remain solid. Izzy Golden Izzy Golden 6'0" | PG Ashland | 2023 State OR and Sebastian Stowasser Sebastian Stowasser 6'0" | CG Ashland | 2023 State OR combine to make 5A’s most cohesive backcourt, while Azure Mcnamara and Silas Wright Silas Wright 6'8" | SF Ashland | 2023 State OR bring noticeable length and versatility to the frontcourt. Sean Thompson completes the starting lineup as a defensive specialist for the Grizzlies, who appear to be the best defensive unit in the MIdwestern League.
2. Wilsonville
It wouldn’t be a 5A top ten without Wilsonville, which appears ready to contend for the state title yet again. While they lost some size in the 6-foot-7 Tristan Davis Tristan Davis 6'8" | PF Lakeridge | 2023 State OR , who transferred to Lakeridge, the Wildcats still bring back enough to be among the championship favorites. It starts with the backcourt of Maxim Wu Maxim Wu 6'0" | PG Wilsonville | 2023 State OR and Kallen Gutridge Kallen Gutridge 6'4" | SG Wilsonville | 2024 State OR , who were both all-league selections last season. At 6-foot-7, Kyle Counts Kyle Counts 6'7" | PF Wilsonville | 2024 State OR adds length and experience to a Wilsonville lineup that replaces a lot, but will still be among the state’s best.
1. Summit
Naturally, the preseason number one team in 5A is a team that moved down from the 6A classification. The Storm was the runner-up in the state’s top classification a season ago, and we predict that success to be carried into this winter. Summit is forced to replace a ton of production, but there is no shortage of talent, as Boise State-commit Pearson Carmichael Pearson Carmichael 6'6" | SF Summit | 2024 State #270 Nation OR returns as one of the states most unique talents. Other returnees Collin Moore Collin Moore 6'2" | CG Summit | 2024 State OR , Wyatt Stassens Wyatt Stassens 6'5" | SG Summit | 2023 State OR , and Charlie Crowell help make Summit 5A’s deepest team, while transfer additions Miguel Taylor Miguel Taylor 6'6" | CG Summit | 2024 State ID and Mac Bledsoe Mac Bledsoe 6'4" | SF Summit | 2024 State OR add even more depth to a lineup that could certainly still compete in 6A.