The News Tribune’s 2022 All-Area boys basketball team
Each year, with input from local coaches, The News Tribune selects its All-Area boys basketball team.
This year, nine high schools from the South Sound are represented by players and coaches selected to the first and second teams.
The 13 spots, broken down by leagues, are 4A South Puget Sound League (four), 3A North Puget Sound League (three), 4A North Puget Sound League (two), 3A South Sound Conference (two), 3A Pierce County League (one) and 1A Nisqually (one).
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
TRE BLASSINGAME
Auburn
Guard, 6-5, sr.
Alongside a talented group of teammates, Blassingame emerged as a sophomore for the Trojans and over the course of his high school career, became the heart and soul of the Trojans. He saved his best for his senior year, averaging 20.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.9 steals per game. Blassingame, a 6-foot-5 guard, never entertained the prospect of transferring out of Auburn, instead building something special with the Trojans and leading Auburn to the program’s first state championship this winter, beating three Metro League teams at the Tacoma Dome, including Rainier Beach in the title game, 58-48. He was a first-team all-tournament selection and the 3A NPSL MVP. Perhaps the best illustration of Blassingame’s poise under pressure: he sunk two free throws with under a second to go against top-ranked Garfield in the tournament quarterfinals to force overtime, in a game Auburn would go on to win, 64-60.
CO-COACHES OF THE YEAR
Ryan Hansen, Auburn and Tim Kelly, Curtis
Hansen led the Trojans to a 27-2 record and the first state championship in program history. He took a group of talented sophomores to the Tacoma Dome for a first taste in 2020. After the 2021 state tournament was canceled, Hansen returned this winter with the group — Tre Blassingame, Maleek Arington, Kaden Hansen and Dae’Kwon Watson — now seniors. Auburn defeated three Metro League teams (Garfield, Seattle Prep and Rainier Beach) in a row to lift the Class 3A state championship trophy. Hansen still has a ways to go to catch Kelly, who won his fourth state championship as a high school basketball coach this winter, when Curtis beat No. 1 Mount Si in the 4A championship game, 52-49. With the win, Kelly became the 14th boys basketball coach in state history to reach four championship wins. His first title with Curtis was in 2013 over 4A Wesco program Jackson. He also won two at Lincoln, topping 4A in back-to-back seasons in 2001 and 2002. Both of those title wins were against Greater Spokane League member Ferris.
FIRST TEAM
ZOOM DIALLO
Curtis
Guard, 6-3, soph.
We saw flashes last spring, when Diallo was a springy freshman with a smooth jumper. This winter, he took it to a new level, averaging 17.8 points, 5.1 assists and 5.1 rebounds per game en route to being named the 4A SPSL North MVP. He was named the 4A state tournament MVP after leading Curtis to the 4A state championship, scoring a game-high 22 points in the title game against top-seeded Mount Si, including a clutch layup and free throw late in the fourth quarter to force overtime in the win. Pac-12 schools and big-time college basketball programs are starting to line up for Diallo, who has immense athleticism, gets to the rim with ease and makes acrobatic finishes look routine. He holds offers from UW and WSU and has interest from Arizona, Boise State, Louisville, Oregon State, UCLA and Utah. Considered a four-star recruit by 247sports.com.
PARKER GERRITS
Olympia
Guard, 6-1, jr.
One of the smoothest guards in the South Sound this winter, Gerrits led Olympia to a third-place finish at the 4A state tournament in the Tacoma Dome, the program’s best finish since the 1997-98 season. Gerrits, the 4A SPSL South MVP, averaged 18 points, five assists and five rebounds per game for the Bears, beating opponents with a high-level handle and jumpshot. He averaged a team-leading 15 points during the state tournament and was a second-team selection to the 4A all-tournament team. Holds offers from Portland, Saint Martin’s and Montana.
BROOKLYN HICKS
Timberline
Guard, 6-3, jr.
The back-to-back MVP of the 3A South Sound Conference led the Blazers to a state tournament appearance at the Tacoma Dome this season, leading the league in points per game, rebounds and was top three in steals. One of the area’s most dynamic playmakers, Hicks gets downhill quickly, finishes above the rim and is a catalyst for Timberline’s transition game. Three-level scorer averaged 24 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and two steals for the Blazers this winter.
TYCE PAULSEN
Curtis
Guard, 6-4, jr.
One of the area’s most dangerous 3-point shooters, Paulsen was an impact player on both ends of the floor for the 4A state champions, knocking down jumpers on offense and using his long wingspan to alter shots on defense. The three-time 4A SPSL first-team selection — and 2021 spring MVP — averaged 13.5 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.1 assists for the Vikings. Paulsen snatched a clutch steal in overtime of the 4A state tournament championship game against top-seeded Mount Si, converting the game-winning layup at the other end to seal Curtis’ first state title since 2013. Holds offers from Cal Baptist, Montana, Pepperdine and Southern Utah.
LOGAN STEMPNIAK
Kentwood
Forward, 6-7, sr.
While Kentwood wasn’t a state tournament team this year, Stempniak — the 4A NPSL MVP — was a machine for the Conquerors, racking up 17 double doubles in 20 games for Kentwood. He scored 20-plus points 15 times for Kentwood, led the league in rebounding and was second in the league in scoring. Averaged 20.4 points and 13.1 rebounds per game, making 64 percent of his two-point shots and shooting 39.4 percent from behind the arc.
SECOND TEAM
Asjon Anderson, Mount Tahoma, sr.
Kaden Hansen, Auburn, sr.
Will Landram, Gig Harbor, jr.
Bradley Swillie, Life Christian, sr.
Carson Talbert, Tahoma, sr.
This story was originally published March 18, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
