2022-23 6A Preview: Pre-Season 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 6A 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 6A 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.
- South Medford
2021-22 was a magical run for South Medford as the Panthers made it to the state tournament and came away for a fourth place trophy. Head coach James Wightman loses several key seniors and sophomore guard Drew Hall Drew Hall 6'3" | CG Basha | 2025 State AZ transferred to Cascade Christian but he’s got enough back to be considered the favorites in the Southern Oregon Conference. It will all start with the one-two punch of junior Jackson Weiland Jackson Weiland 6'0" | PG South Medford | 2024 State OR and Boden Howell Boden Howell 6'3" | CG South Medford | 2025 State #394 Nation ID , who are arguably one of the top offensive duos in the entire state. The rest of the supporting cast is young and untested but talented.
- West Salem
Now that Summit has moved down to 5A, West Salem is ready to make its move back to the top and head coach Travis Myers is excited about the opportunity. The Titans have the roster to get things done as many of last year’s key contributors are back. Jackson Leach Jackson Leach 5'10" | PG West Salem | 2024 State OR will step in at the point and guards Connor Oertel Connor Oertel 6'3" | SG West Salem | 2024 State OR and Tommy Slack Tommy Slack 6'1" | CG West Salem | 2023 State OR provide plenty of outside shooting. Junior big man Trenton Ferguson – who just picked up an offer from Oregon for football – and senior Jimmy Lathen Jimmy Lathen 6'4" | SF West Salem | 2023 State OR will man the middle. Others will contribute off the bench as West Salem has arguably the most depth in the Central Valley Conference.
- Central Catholic
The Rams fell one game short of making it to the Chiles Center last season but have what it takes to make up for it in 2022-23. Head coach David Blue has a young roster – Gray Thompson Gray Thompson 6'6" | SF Central Catholic | 2023 State OR is the only senior – but there’s plenty of talent. Sophomore guard Isaac Carr Isaac Carr 6'3" | CG Central Catholic | 2025 State #75 Nation OR is ready to make the ascent up to leading man and junior swingman Marley Zeller Marley Zeller 6'5" | SF Central Catholic | 2024 State OR has continued to develop into an all-around offensive threat. Sophs Duce Paschal Duce Paschal 6'0" | CG Central Catholic | 2025 State OR and Quincy Scott Quincy Scott 6'5" | SG Grant | 2025 State OR can run and jump all long and added to the mix is one of the top freshmen in the state, Duce’s younger brother Zamir “Bam” Paschal.
- Tualatin
You’d think there would be a letdown at Tualatin this season as a one-of-a-kind senior class that was the heart and soul of the 6A title team as well as the head coach have moved on. But new head coach Brandon “Bubba” Lemon was promoted from within and there are some key guys back to defend the title. Senior Josiah Lake Josiah Lake 6'1" | PG Tualatin | 2023 State OR emerged during the state tournament as a legitimate force and junior Jaden Steppe Jaden Steppe 6'8" | SF Tualatin | 2024 State #289 Nation OR will inherit a leading role. Senior point guard Ryan Schleicher Ryan Schleicher 5'7" | PG Tualatin | 2023 State OR will run the show and athleticism dots the roster all over the place with D-I level athletes such as Jack Wagner, Richie Anderson, Jayden Fortier Jayden Fortier 6'3" | SF Tualatin | 2024 State OR , and AJ Noland AJ Noland 6'0" | CG Tulalatin | 2024 State OR .
- Roosevelt
One can wonder what might have happened this season had Terrence Hill returned but head coach Yusuf Leary isn’t crying over spilt milk. The Roughriders still have some incredible impact players back including arguably the top junior backcourt in all of 6A in Utrillo Morris Utrillo Morris 5'8" | PG Roosevelt | 2024 State OR and Chance White Chance White 6'0" | CG Roosevelt | 2024 State OR . Both are essentialy unstoppable to guard one-on-one and they will be heavily counted upon on both ends of the floor. Senior Beya Kim Beya Kim 6'3" | SF Roosevelt | 2023 State OR is one of the most athletic leapers in the state and sophomore guard Owen Nathan Owen Nathan 6'2" | CG Roosevelt | 2025 State OR are two others who will contribute heavily and the key for the Roughriders is how their depth develops.
- Cleveland
In one of the more competitive multi-team races in the PIL in quite some time, it was Cleveland that came out on top and also made it to the 6A state tournament. The Warriors will try to get it done again under brand new coach Sam Glasgow, who has many of the same pieces back from last year’s run. Senior Jackson Cooper Jackson Cooper 6'5" | SF Cleveland | 2023 State OR is one of the top big guys in the state and Sean Chris Tresvant Sean Chris Tresvant 5'11" | PG Cleveland | 2023 State OR is back to run the show at the point. The explosive Christian Green Christian Green 6'1" | CG Cleveland | 2023 State OR transferred out but that opens up opportunities for others like Jackson Owens Jackson Owens 6'3" | CG Cleveland | 2024 State OR to fill in the gap.
- Jesuit
While many might consider 2021-22 a “down” year for Jesuit – largely since they missed out on the state tournament – the Crusaders still managed to come away with the Metro League title. It would be a huge mistake to look past head coach Gene Potter’s team this year as many of the key players are back, starting with seniors Isaiah Crane Isaiah Crane 6'1" | CG Jesuit | 2023 State OR and Cade Collins Cade Collins 6'4" | SG Jesuit | 2023 State OR . Football stud Peyton Roth and Gonzaga soccer signee Drew Petersen will have increased roles and some members from the dominant JV squad the likes of Tyler Curvy Tyler Curvy 5'10" | CG Jesuit | 2024 State OR , Henry Smith Henry Smith 6'2" | SG Jesuit | 2023 State OR , Nico Rafalovich Nico Rafalovich 6'6" | SF Jesuit | 2024 State OR , and Aidan Cooney Aidan Cooney 6'3" | SG Jesuit | 2023 State OR will give Jesuit plenty of depth.
- Lincoln
Head coach Heather Seely-Roberts made a serious splash in her debut at Lincoln as the Cardinals finished one game shy of making the state tournament. Could this be the year they make that next step? Lincoln certainly has the size to get it done as the biggest team in the state, led by senior Graham Eikenberry Graham Eikenberry 6'10" | PF St Andrew’s RI | 2023 State OR (6-foot-11), junior Evan Heisler Evan Heisler 6'9" | C Lincoln | 2024 State OR (6-foot-9), and Seely-Roberts’ twin sons Malachi (6-foot-8) and Moroni (6-foot-6). The Cardinals won’t just be a plodding team either as you can expect them to run and press at a fast tempo. The key may be with their guard play and who can step up and knock down open shots.
- Beaverton
The Beavers were going to be good in 2022-23 with who was coming back but with the addition of a couple of key transfers, Beaverton looks to be a major state title contender. First Team All-Metro League point guard Jalen Childs Jalen Childs 6'3" | PG Beaverton | 2023 State OR (Sunset) and 6A leading shot-blocker Chance Winter Chance Winter 6'10" | C Beaverton | 2024 State OR (Glencoe) are huge pieces to add to returnees Brady Rice Brady Rice 6'2" | SG Beaverton | 2023 State OR , Aidan Rice Aidan Rice 6'2" | PG Beaverton | 2024 State OR , and Max Elmgren Max Elmgren 6'0" | CG Beaverton | 2024 State OR as head coach Andrew Vancil has a squad that can basically score and defend anywhere on the court. Add in their trademark zone defense and this being the last year before the shot clock is implemented, the Beavers look awfully tough on paper.
- West Linn
There’s been a lot that has changed across the 6A landscape since last year ended but one thing hasn’t much – and that’s West Linn being the pre-season #1 team. The fact that returning 6A player of the year Jackson Shelstad Jackson Shelstad 6'0" | PG West Linn | 2023 State #55 Nation OR is back is a huge reason but the Lions have also added last year’s PIL Player of the Year, senior Adrian Mosley Adrian Mosley 6'2" | SF West Linn | 2023 State #269 Nation OR to the mix, as well as 6A’s leading three-point shot maker last season in Nick Digiulio Nick Digiulio 5'9" | PG West Linn | 2024 State OR from Wells. Other returning starters Mark Hamper Mark Hamper 6'3" | SF West Linn | 2023 State OR and Blake Oltmans Blake Oltmans 6'2" | SG West Linn | 2023 State OR are back and new head coach Robert Key has plenty of young guys who can knock down open threes to fill out the roster.