4A/3A Preview: Top 10 Non-League Games to Watch (Pt II)
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Here we continue with some of the top non-league games in the 4A and 3A this season. We start off with an East vs West game and a potential 4A Title contender in Federal Way. Dec 27 Federal Way vs…
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Continue ReadingHere we continue with some of the top non-league games in the 4A and 3A this season. We start off with an East vs West game and a potential 4A Title contender in Federal Way.
Dec 27 Federal Way vs Gonzaga Prep (@ Bellarmine Prep HS) 5:00 PM
Players to Watch: Dace Pleasant Dace Pleasant 6'6" | SG Elite Prep | 2024 State WA (Federal Way), Dane Lewis Dane Lewis 6'2" | CG Federal Way | 2023 State WA (Federal Way), Vaughn Weems Vaughn Weems 6'5" | SF Federal Way | 2023 State WA (Federal Way), Isaiah Afework Isaiah Afework 6'5" | SF Federal Way | 2023 State WA (Federal Way), Kofi Peyton Kofi Peyton 6'4" | SG Federal Way | 2024 State WA (Federal Way), Dae’Sean Johnson-Holiman Dae’Sean Johnson-Holiman 5'10" | PG Federal Way | 2023 State WA (Federal Way), Colton West Colton West 6'1" | SG Federal Way | 2023 State WA (Federal Way), Doni Burkett (Federal Way), Jackson Floyd Jackson Floyd 6'0" | PG Gonzaga Prep | 2023 State WA (Gonzaga Prep), Jamil Miller Jamil Miller 6'6" | SG Gonzaga Prep | 2023 State WA (Gonzaga Prep), Carter Verret Carter Verret 6'6" | PF Gonzaga Prep | 2023 State WA (Gonzaga Prep), Henry Sandberg Henry Sandberg 6'3" | CG Gonzaga Prep | 2024 State WA (Gonzaga Prep), Jayce Swanson Jayce Swanson 5'9" | PG Gonzaga Prep | 2025 WA (Gonzaga Prep)
Notes: It should be pretty evident by the number of players to watch, but these are two teams we should see hanging around late into the 4A State Playoffs. Federal Way returns five players who started games a year ago and added two all-league caliber players, not to mention having one of the highest-regarded freshmen in the state, Doni Burkett. They have people buzzing about a possible state championship but Gonzaga Prep has talent too. They have players in every class that compete at a high level and should keep the Eastside powerhouse a relevant player in the 4A this season.
Dec 28 Mariner vs Kamiakin (@ Central Valley HS) 5:00 PM
Players to Watch: Jailin Johnson Jailin Johnson 5'10" | PG Mariner | 2023 State WA (Mariner), Isaiah Cuellar Isaiah Cuellar 6'0" | SG Glacier Peak | 2024 State WA (Mariner), Peter Dress Peter Dress 6'6" | SG Kamiakin | 2024 State WA (Kamiakin), Javier Sideregts (Kamiakin), Samuel Wantz Samuel Wantz 6'7" | PF Kamiakin | 2024 WA (Kamiakin)
Notes: Both teams were highly competitive last season; Kamiakin finished 4th at State and Mariner was one of the tougher teams to play all season with their grueling style of play. Yet, both teams lose a lot of firepower heading into this year and will look to new players to step up and lead the way. This will be a great matchup to gauge where each team stands as they look to guys like Jailin Johnson Jailin Johnson 5'10" | PG Mariner | 2023 State WA and Peter Dress Peter Dress 6'6" | SG Kamiakin | 2024 State WA to lead their respective teams back to the 4A Playoffs.
Dec 29 Camas @ Kentridge 6:00 PM
Players to Watch: Beckett Currie Beckett Currie 6'0" | PG Camas | 2025 State WA (Camas), Jace Vanvoorhis Jace Vanvoorhis 6'0" | PG Camas | 2025 State WA (Camas), Theo McMillan Theo McMillan 6'2" | PG Camas | 2023 State WA (Camas), Elijah Cain Elijah Cain 6'2" | SG Kentridge | 2023 State WA (Kentridge), Dominic Randhawa (Kentridge), Xzavier Randhawa Xzavier Randhawa 6'2" | SG Kentridge | 2023 State WA (Kentridge), Jalon Blackwell Jalon Blackwell 5'7" | PG Kentridge | 2023 State WA (Kentridge), Jamari Harris Jamari Harris 6'5" | SG Garfield | 2024 State WA (Kentridge), Dorian Thomas (Kentridge)
Notes: Kentridge is one of my favorite teams to keep tabs on heading into the season. They re-upped in the backcourt with Elijah Cain Elijah Cain 6'2" | SG Kentridge | 2023 State WA transferring over from Graham-Kapowsin, and now have five starting caliber guards on their roster. This will be a guard-driven matchup with two young Camas guards ready to stamp their names all over the 4A this season as well. Neither Camas nor Kentridge were able to make the 4A State Tournament last year but both have huge upsides heading into the year.
Jan 7 Rainier Beach @ Silas 5:00 PM
Players to Watch: Ryan Mpouli Ryan Mpouli 6'4" | SG Rainier Beach | 2024 CO (Rainier Beach), Miles Gurske Miles Gurske 6'0" | PG Rainier Beach | 2023 State WA (Rainier Beach), Mario Clark (Rainier Beach), Victor Raymond (Rainier Beach), Jeremiah White Jeremiah White 6'5" | SF Rainier Beach | 2025 State WA (Rainier Beach), Patrice Mpouli (Rainier Beach), Cayden McDaniel Cayden McDaniel 6'3" | CG BFL Prep | 2023 State WA (Silas), Keon Dewalt Keon Dewalt 6'4" | SF Silas | 2023 State WA (Silas), Tre Walker Tre Walker 5'9" | CG Mt Tahoma | 2024 State WA (Silas), Romeo Webber (Silas), Taveonte Webster (Silas)
Notes: Rainier Beach changed out almost their entire varsity squad from a year ago and guess what… They might be just as talented again. Victor Raymond, the Mpouli’s, Jeremiah White Jeremiah White 6'5" | SF Rainier Beach | 2025 State WA are all super long, athletic players, and Miles Gurske Miles Gurske 6'0" | PG Rainier Beach | 2023 State WA has the talent to be an All-State player. On the flip side, Cayden McDaniel Cayden McDaniel 6'3" | CG BFL Prep | 2023 State WA returns to the sidelines for Silas and is another All-State caliber player. Silas didn’t make a lot of noise last season without McDaniel but should be firmly in the 3A mix with all the talent they have heading into the season. This game should be marked on everyone’s calendar.
Jan 16 Mt Si vs Kentridge (@ Showare Center) 7:00 PM
Players to Watch: Miles Heide Miles Heide 6'7" | C Mount Si | 2023 State #274 Nation WA (Mt Si), Bennett Olujic Bennett Olujic 6'7" | SF Mount Si | 2023 State WA (Mt Si), Blake Forrest Blake Forrest 6'0" | PG Mt Si | 2024 State WA (Mt Si), Trevor Hennig Trevor Hennig 6'4" | SG Mt Si | 2024 State WA (Mt Si), Elijah Cain Elijah Cain 6'2" | SG Kentridge | 2023 State WA (Kentridge), Dominic Randhawa (Kentridge), Xzavier Randhawa Xzavier Randhawa 6'2" | SG Kentridge | 2023 State WA (Kentridge), Jalon Blackwell Jalon Blackwell 5'7" | PG Kentridge | 2023 State WA (Kentridge), Jamari Harris Jamari Harris 6'5" | SG Garfield | 2024 State WA (Kentridge), Dorian Thomas (Kentridge)
Notes: This one will be an interesting meeting between an established 4A power and an up-and-coming 4A contender. Mt Si has possibly the best top four in the state with Trevor Henning returning from a late-season injury that cost him a chance to suit up for the 4A Title last year. Then you have San Diego State commit Miles Heide Miles Heide 6'7" | C Mount Si | 2023 State #274 Nation WA , and Eastside Catholic transfer Bennett Olujic Bennett Olujic 6'7" | SF Mount Si | 2023 State WA up front that will provide a tough wall in the paint and versatility and strength on the offensive end. This will be a great game at the Showare Center and a chance for both teams to make a statement.