High school boys basketball preview: The top teams, players in the South Sound in 2022-23
The 2022-23 high school basketball season in Washington is in full swing and league title races are taking shape around the South Sound.
Wondering what to watch for in the new year?
We’ve got you covered, breaking down the favorites and possible contenders in the Class 4A North Puget Sound League, 4A South Puget Sound League, 3A North Puget Sound League, 3A South Sound Conference, 3A Pierce County League, 2A South Puget Sound League, 2A EvCo and small schools. Plus, we list the top players in the area to watch across all classifications.
LEAGUE PREVIEWS
4A NPSL
Federal Way’s senior trio of Vaughn Weems, Isaiah Afework and Dace Pleasant have been making noise since they were sophomores. Now seniors, is this Federal Way’s year to make another deep run in the 4A state tournament? Federal Way (11-1) is the league favorite — the Eagles have steamrolled through NPSL opponents so far and have a 25-point win over perennial 4A contender Gonzaga Prep on their resume. Each of Federal Way’s three veteran players bring something different to the table. Look for Weems, the team’s motor, to keep filling the stat sheet. Kentridge (8-2) and Tahoma (6-3) are in the picture as well. Kentridge guard Jalon Blackwell and 6-foot-4 wing Jamari Harris have the Chargers on the rise. Tahoma lost springy guard Carson Talbert to graduation, but the Bears return an experienced group with plenty of height, led by 6-foot-6 guard Adam Davis and 6-foot-7 center Logan McGough.
4A SPSL
Reigning 4A state champion Curtis certainly looks ready to defend its title this winter, returning much of the group that finished 27-3 last season and brought home the program’s first championship since 2012. The Vikings (10-2) bring back the state’s top-ranked player in the junior class in Zoom Diallo, who is considered a five-star point guard and the No. 11 player nationally in 2024 by 247Sports. The returning 4A SPSL North MVP and TNT All-Area selection was also named the 4A state tournament MVP after leading the Vikings in scoring in their championship win over Mount Si last March. Point Loma signee Tyce Paulsen, another returning TNT All-Area selection and 4A SPSL North first-teamer, is also back, along with several more key contributors that have Curtis positioned as the clear favorite in the 4A SPSL North again this season. The Vikings have not lost to an in-state opponent so far this season, and have topped each of the eight Washington teams they’ve faced by double digits, with an average margin of victory of 34.6 points. Olympia (9-3) controls the 4A SPSL South standings early, and is the favorite to win that division for a second consecutive season. Like Curtis, the Bears bring back much of the cast that led the program to a third-place trophy in the 4A state tournament last March — Olympia’s best finish since 1998. WSU-bound guard Parker Gerrits, last season’s 4A SPSL South MVP and a TNT All-Area pick, and forward Andreas Engholm, a 4A SPSL South first-team selection, return to lead the Bears. A pair of 4A SPSL first-team wide receivers during football season — Mason Juergens and Drew Carlson — are also back for Olympia.
3A NPSL
Auburn (6-5) lost a lot from last year’s group, which won the first state championship in program history. Gone is Tre Blassingame — last season’s 3A NPSL MVP and TNT All-Area player of the year — as well as Maleek Arington, Dae’Kwon Watson and Kaden Hansen. The Trojans finished last season with a 27-2 record, rolling through 3A Metro League opponents at the 3A state tournament in the Tacoma Dome, beating Garfield, Seattle Prep and Rainier Beach to lift the state championship trophy. Despite all of the losses from last year’s tight-knit roster, the cupboard isn’t bare for Auburn coach Ryan Hansen. Rainier Beach transfer Jaylen Petty, a guard, gives the Trojans a boost and senior Tyrell Nichols and explosive junior Luvens Valcin are taking on bigger roles this season. Auburn Mountainview (5-3) could factor into the league race. Lions point guard Jamaal Elliott and forward Mande Wanlemvo pace the offense.
3A PCL
Will Lincoln return to the top of the 3A PCL for the first time since the 2018-19 season? The Abes (8-4) are off to a good start. Nearly halfway through the first round of league games, they are a perfect 5-0. Lincoln opened 3A PCL play with a win over defending league champion Mount Tahoma back in December, and has added double-digit wins over four more league opponents since. Two seniors in forward Omarion Boston and guard Gabarri Johnson — a Missouri football signee who was TNT All-Area player of the year and an all-state selection at quarterback in the fall — lead an Abes program also looking to return to the Tacoma Dome for the first time since that 2019 run. Stadium (8-2) is another 3A PCL contender led by 6-foot-6 guard Ne’Quan Brown, who was a 2A SPSL first-team pick at Washington last season. The Tigers also return four starters, including sophomores Baaroc Rivers and Donovan Gill, who played as freshmen. Mount Tahoma (6-6) brings back three starters, and is paced by guard Carter Williford, but graduated last season’s league MVP in Asjon Anderson.
3A SSC
It’s a two-horse race between Timberline and Gig Harbor, two programs that played in the state tournament in the Tacoma Dome last winter. Timberline (6-4) returns UNLV signee Brooklyn Hicks, the reigning 3A SSC MVP and a TNT All-Area pick last winter. He’s a scoring machine, is averaging 33.5 points per game this season and recently broke the Blazers’ single-game scoring record with 51 points in a win over Central Kitsap. Timberline’s second-leading scorer from last year, Miles Gurske, transferred to Rainier Beach, but Blazers coach Allen Thomas feels Timberline is up to the task of replacing his production. Darrell Gipson, a 6-foot-5 wing, is taking on a bigger role in the offense this season and can score inside and out. Timberline beat Gig Harbor in the first meeting of the teams this season, but the Tides (7-1) hope to be healthier when the teams meet again in late January. Gig Harbor brings back bouncy 6-foot-6 guard Will Landram, a TNT All-Area selection last winter, and sharpshooting guard Luke Browne. Tides guard Christian Parrish is a pesky defender.
2A SPSL
Foss is on an 11-game winning streak following a season-opening nonleague loss to Mount Tahoma back in December. Nearly at the midway point of the 2A SPSL schedule, the Falcons are the only team without a loss in league play, besting each of their first seven league opponents with Steilacoom (6-4) the only team they have yet to play. Guards Keshawn Lewis — a 2A SPSL first-teamer as an athlete during football season last fall — and Jamie Killian-Howard pace Foss in scoring, averaging 15.7 points per game apiece. Enumclaw should factor into the league title race, too, led by guard Noah Seabrands and wing Karson Holt, who averaged a double-double last season. The Hornets (8-2) have one league loss at this point, to Foss. Steilacoom could also factor into the 2A SPSL race, boasting one of the league’s top players in guard TyShawn Cordon. The Sentinels’ depth will be tested, though, after losing guard Jaydus Green to a season-ending ACL injury.
2A EVCO
Tumwater (7-4) will look to win back-to-back 2A EvCo championships, returning key contributors from the group that secured a fourth-place trophy at the 2A state tournament last winter. Reigning league MVP Luke Brewer is back, leading the T-Birds with 17.9 points per game, while Andrew Collins, a 2A EvCo first-teamer last season, also returns and is averaging 14.5 points per contest. Tumwater stacked its nonleague schedule with tough opponents, including four that advanced to the state playoffs in their respective classifications last season. The T-Birds enter Friday night’s league contest against against crosstown rival Black Hills without a loss in 2A EvCo play. The Wolves (7-4) also enter the rivalry game undefeated in league play. W.F. West (8-2), which advanced to the state regionals last season, should also be in the mix for the league’s top spot, led by a returning 2A EvCo first-teamer in 6-foot-11 forward Soren Dalan (18.9 points, 14 rebounds per game).
SMALL SCHOOLS
A young core has emerged at Annie Wright, led by sophomore guard Martin Kaupanger and junior guard TJ Marshall. The Golden Gators (7-0) are undefeated early, following up on their trip to the 1A state quarterfinals last winter. Annie Wright has rattled off six consecutive wins to open 1A Nisqually League play, including a 23-point victory over a Life Christian program that brought home a third-place trophy from the 1A state tournament last season. Life Christian (5-2) is still in the mix despite graduting key contributors to that run, including 1A Nisqually first-teamers Bradley Swillie and Chae Haynes. Chief Leschi coach Scott Halasz and the Warriors have lofty goals as the only 2B program in the 253 area code. The Warriors (9-1) are off to a 5-0 start in the 2B Pacific League, and have posted nine consecutive wins since a season-opening loss to 2A program Fife. Chief Leschi returns all five starters — including this season’s leading scorer in guard Brendon Brown — from a team that advanced to the 2B Southwest District tournament last season.
25 PLAYERS TO WATCH
G Isaiah Afework, Federal Way, sr.
G Jalon Blackwell, Kentridge, sr.
F Omarion Boston, Lincoln, sr.
G Luke Brewer, Tumwater, sr.
F Ne’Quan Brown, Stadium, sr.
G Luke Browne, Gig Harbor, sr.
G Adam Davis, Tahoma, jr.
G Zoom Diallo, Curtis, jr.
F Andreas Engholm, Olympia, sr.
G Parker Gerrits, Olympia, sr.
F Darrell Gipson, Timberline, jr.
F Jamari Harris, Kentridge, jr.
G Brooklyn Hicks, Timberline, sr.
G Gabarri Johnson, Lincoln, sr.
G Kaden Katsberg, Sumner, sr.
G Martin Kaupanger, Annie Wright, soph.
G Will Landram, Gig Harbor, sr.
G Keshawn Lewis, Foss, sr.
G Cinque Maxwell, Curtis, sr.
G Tyce Paulsen, Curtis, sr.
G Jaylen Petty, Auburn, soph.
G Dace Pleasant, Federal Way, sr.
F Marquis Robinson, Emerald Ridge, sr.
F Luvens Valcin, Auburn, jr.
G Vaughn Weems, Federal Way, sr.
This story was originally published January 6, 2023 at 10:28 AM.
