Oregon’s best high school boys basketball players: Meet the top stars in the 6A Mountain Valley Conference

We’re taking a conference-by-conference look at some of the state’s top high school basketball players. Here’s the Mountain Valley Conference boys list.

We’re taking a conference-by-conference look at some of the state’s top high school basketball players. Here’s the Mountain Valley Conference boys list.

Every league has numerous standout players, and these lists are not intended to be comprehensive. Let us know which other players you think should be added to the list.

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Bend

G Cody Claussen, Sr., 6-1

Claussen is in his third season starting at point guard, averaging 13 points, six assists and six rebounds per game. “At the pace and style we play, he is the engine who makes us go,” coach Aaron Johnson said. 

G Ben Keown, Jr., 6-2

Keown leads the Lava Bears in scoring at 16 points per game, hitting almost four three-pointers per game, to go with five assists, five rebounds and three steals. “He runs the floor as well as anyone we’ve seen and is very active on defense,” Johnson said.

G Caden Dornhecker, Jr., 6-2

Dornhecker has morphed from a role player during the spring season into a starter who’s averaged 12 points and five rebounds per game. “He has shined in that expanded role,” Johnson said. 

F Austin Baker, Jr., 6-3

Baker not only averages eight points and eight rebounds, but he also takes about two charges per game. “The numbers don’t do justice in terms of his value to our team,” Johnson said. 

McKay

G Jacob Hernandez, Sr., 5-9

Hernandez has stepped into a leadership role for the Scots this winter, something that coach Kyle Oglesby said comes naturally to the guard. “He has proven to be an asset to our team and puts a high level of effort into anything he does,” Oglesby said. 

F Caleb Westrick, Sr., 6-2

Westrick patrols the middle for the Scots, becoming the team’s leading shot-blocker as well as an inside-outside threat on offense. 

McNary

G Jando Gonzalez, Jr., 5-6

Gonzalez has started at point guard since midway through his freshman season. This winter, he’s averaging 8.5 points and 2.3 assists per game. 

W Tyler Copeland, Sr., 6-0

Copeland went from swing player as a sophomore to valuable rotation player as a junior, and this winter, he’s averaged seven points and a team-high 4.8 rebounds. 

W Jabol Balos, Jr., 5-10

Balos missed the first two games recovering from an ankle injury but has ensconced himself into the rotation ever since, averaging 6.7 points per game.

Mountain View

P Tane Prictor, Sr., 6-11

Prictor is coming back from an illness that limited him in the offseason, but he averaged 13.5 points and 7.5 rebounds in December. “Look for him to have a strong second half of the season as he continues to work into shape,” coach Bob Townsend said in January. 

G Quincy Townsend, So., 6-1

The coach’s son took over the point guard job as a freshman in the spring and has busted out this winter, averaging 18.3 points, 8.2 rebounds and 5.2 assists in the Cougars’ 8-1 start. “Quincy manages the game for us and really makes us go,” Coach Townsend said.

F Nathan Hoisington, Jr., 6-4

The team’s best defensive player missed a couple of weeks with an injury. 

South Salem

G Eli Gabriel, So., 6-3

Gabriel grew into his starting role as a freshman and has been a key contributor this winter as one of the team’s top scorers. “Eli is starting to become a good leader and does it on the defensive end and with his ability to score at all three levels,” coach Travis Brown said. 

G Greg Comer, So., 6-0

Comer started at point guard as a freshman and like his backcourt mate has grown into a leadership role within the program.  

G Charlie Rapp, Jr., 6-0

Rapp is a talented junior who missed time this season with an injury.  

Sprague

F Dallon Morgan, Sr., 6-9

Morgan, the state’s No. 7 recruit according to Prep Hoops Oregon who sports an offer from Montana State, has taken another step in his game from the spring season, according to coach Jordan Graneto. He leads the team in scoring (21 points per game), rebounds (10 per game) and blocked shots (three per game). 

G Ryder Skogstad, Sr., 6-0

Skogstad moved up from the JV in the spring to take over at point guard. He deftly runs the show for the Olympians while averaging 12 points per game and playing strong perimeter defense. 

G Boston Ralston, Sr., 5-11

Ralston, who averages nine points per game, is a tough finisher at the rim and a strong on-ball defender.

G Emerson Long, Sr., 5-11

Graneto believes his hard-nosed team captain should be on the short list for MVC defensive player of the year. 

Summit

G Julian Mora, Sr., 6-0

Mora is a dynamic point guard who can score at all three levels. He averaged 17 points and 7.5 assists during the December schedule.   

W Caden Harris, Sr., 6-6

Harris, the state’s No. 4 recruit according to Prep Hoops Oregon, has committed to Chico State. He is among the state’s scoring leaders at 22.7 points per game and grabs seven rebounds per game. “He has a great three-point stroke and is an athletic finisher,” coach Jon Frazier said. 

G Carson Cox, Sr., 5-11

Cox is an excellent perimeter shooter and defender who averaged 8.5 points per game in December.

West Salem

G Jon Breyman, Sr., 5-10

The Most Outstanding Player of the Capitol City Classic “is the heart and soul of this team,” coach Travis Myers said. Breyman averaged 12.7 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.6 assists in December. “He takes on the toughest defensive matchup, and whenever we need a bucket, he seems to find it,” Myers added.

P Brooks Ferguson, Sr., 6-6

Ferguson can play inside or outside for the Titans and averaged 8.2 points and 5.7 rebounds in eight December games. 

W Tommy Slack, Jr., 6-2

Slack “is really tough to stay in front of off the bounce,” Myers said, and he has been a solid third scoring option (11.1 points, 2.0 steals per game). 

P Trenton Ferguson, So., 6-7

Ferguson (no relation to Brooks) got his feet wet at the varsity level late in the spring, and he broke through with a first-team all-tournament performance at the Capitol City Classic. He averaged 11.4 points and a team-high 8.6 rebounds in December.