New-look Forest Grove boys basketball team will be led by the big men this spring

Here’s our look at the Forest Grove Vikings boys of the Class 6A Pacific Conference.

By René Ferrán

Over the next two weeks, SBLive Oregon will break down more than 100 Oregon high school basketball teams. Here’s our look at the Forest Grove Vikings boys of the Class 6A Pacific Conference.

Lucas Ellington photo by Dan Brood

FOREST GROVE TEAM PAGE

HEAD COACH

Greg Evers, 11th season (115-132)

2019-20 AT A GLANCE

Overall record: 11-13

League record: 6-6, tied for fourth in Pacific

Playoffs: None

ALL-LEAGUE PLAYERS DEPARTED

G Guy Littlefield, first team

W Roman Miller, honorable mention

PLAYERS TO WATCH

F Braden Hudgins, Sr., 6-6

Hudgins broke through last season, averaging 12.5 points per game while shooting 35 percent from three-point range and leading the Vikings in rebounding (5.6 per game) and blocked shots (26). Evers predicts Hudgins, a second-team all-Pacific pick, will be playing somewhere collegiately next season. “Braden is long and athletic and can play anywhere from point guard to post,” Evers said. “He’s very versatile and is a huge part of what we will be doing this year.” 

P James Irvine, Sr., 6-2

Irvine, an all-Pacific honorable mention selection as a junior, averaged 11.3 points on 55.8 percent shooting and 5.3 rebounds in his first season in the starting lineup. He might not be the tallest post, but Evers calls him “a very crafty player who does a terrific job with his footwork and can score and rebound with players much taller than him.”

G Ayden Case, Sr., 6-1

Case plays quarterback on both the gridiron and the hardcourt, filling in last season when Littlefield went down with an injury and proving he’s ready to take on a bigger role this spring. He averaged 4.2 points and shot nearly 42 percent from three-point range. “Ayden filled in and played very well for us, providing a needed ball-handler to our team,” Evers said. “He should provide some needed experience and athleticism to our team.” 

P Lucas Ellington, Jr., 6-4

Ellington was a part-time player for the Vikings as a sophomore, averaging 1.9 points and two rebounds per game. He’ll take on a more significant role this season. 

P Jake Steltenpohl, Jr., 6-4

Steltenpohl was one of the first bigs off the bench for Evers last season, averaging 4.2 points and 2.5 rebounds per game. “He will be relied on for big contributions for us in 2021,” Evers said. 

OUTLOOK

The Vikings relied heavily on their guard play last season, with two-time all-Pacific first-team point guard Littlefield (12.6 points, 5.0 assists, 2.1 steals per game) leading the show. After he went down with four games remaining, Forest Grove went 2-2, but one of those losses was to Century in the penultimate game, costing the Vikings a playoff berth.

With Littlefield now down the road at Pacific University, Evers set a goal of finishing over .500 this spring, hoping to steal a few wins against teams that might be better “on paper” as the Vikings transition to a more post-oriented identity focused on Hudgins and Irvine.

Ellington and Steltenpohl will gain valuable experience playing alongside Hudgins and Irvine this season. The biggest question mark will be who will step up beside Case in the backcourt — maybe it’ll be 5-11 junior Kaden Clute, who tag-teamed with Case at quarterback during the football season.

COACH SAID 

“This year’s team should be a team with some length and athleticism and should compete every night, but given the short preseason and all the time off, it’s hard to tell where we will be, especially without playoff implications.” — Greg Evers

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