McNary boys basketball has a true superstar in Nate Meithof

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 McNary Celtics boys of the Class 6A Mountain Valley Conference.

Nate Meithof photo by Leon Neuschwander

McNARY TEAM PAGE

HEAD COACH

Ryan Kirch, 10th season (136-97)

2019-20 AT A GLANCE

Overall record: 16-9

League record: 9-5, third in MVC

Playoffs: Lost 95-52 to West Linn in first round

ALL-LEAGUE PLAYERS DEPARTED

W Riley Flores, honorable mention

PLAYERS TO WATCH

W Nate Meithof, Sr., 6-4

Meithof was a second-team all-state selection and MVC co-player of the year as a junior, when he averaged 22.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, two steals and 1.5 blocks per game. He transferred to Coronado High in Henderson, Nev., over the summer to gain exposure for his senior season, but after Nevada canceled its basketball season, he returned to Keizer and is ready to showcase his skills during the abbreviated spring season. “He’s a do-it-all player who can score from everywhere on the court,” Kirch said. “He also uses his length to cause havoc on defense.”

G Jando Gonzalez, So., 5-6

Gonzalez entered the starting lineup as a freshman point guard and finished the season as the team’s second-leading scorer at 5.8 points per game to go with 1.5 assists in making the all-MVC honorable mention list. “Jando has great vision and is able to distribute the ball on time,” Kirch said. “He’s a highly competitive on-ball defender who plays bigger than he is.”

P Zane Aicher, Jr., 5-11

Aicher earned all-MVC honorable mention as an undersized post player who averaged 2.6 points and 2.2 rebounds per game as a sophomore. “He’s a tough, physical player who does all the little things to win,” Kirch said. “A complete competitor in all areas.”

W Kyler Rodriguez, Jr., 6-0

Rodriguez began last season as a swing player from the JV and finished it as the Celtics’ third-leading scorer at 5.2 points per game, shooting 42.1 percent from three-point range. “He’s an athletic perimeter player who can slash to the rim and is a threat in the open court,” Kirch said.

G Gunner Smedema, Jr., 5-10

Smedema, like Rodriguez, opened last season on the JV team and finished it as a starter on the varsity, averaging 3.1 points per game and shooting 44.4 percent from three-point range. “A strong, smart and tough wing who has great court awareness,” Kirch said.

W Tyler Copeland, Jr., 6-1

Copeland has displayed tremendous improvement since swinging between JV and varsity last season, growing physically and developing his game and body during the long offseason after averaging 3.5 points per game as a sophomore. “He’s developed into a very solid varsity basketball player who will have a large role on the offensive end,” Kirch said.

OUTLOOK

The Celtics had one of the state’s youngest teams in 2019-20 and spent much of the season mixing and matching lineups, starting 13 players yet defying expectations by winning 16 games and qualifying for the playoffs.

The one constant was Meithof, who did a little of everything to carry the team and became the first McNary all-state player since 2017. His return from Nevada provides a major boost to a program that still boasts plenty of youth this spring.

“We need individuals to be in shape and take the next step in their game,” Kirch said. “We need scoring depth outside of Meithof.”

There are plenty of candidates who gained valuable experience last season. Maybe it’ll be Gonzalez, who seized the starting point guard job early as a freshman, or Rodriguez or Smedema, who each showed flashes after starting the season on the JV roster.

Or perhaps it’ll be 5-8 sophomore Jabol Balos-Mesey, who spent last season on the JV team but is a lightning-quick guard who can attack off the dribble and in transition.

COACH SAID

“Last year’s success will not lead to this season’s success. Our mindset must be to remain focused on our improvement with a chip on our shoulder. We need to focus on our process more than the end result on the scoreboard early in the season. This will allow us to be at our best the final weeks of the season.” — Ryan Kirch