Oregon’s best high school boys basketball players: Meet the top stars in the 5A Mid-Willamette Conference

We’re taking a conference-by-conference look at some of the state’s top high school basketball players. Here’s the Mid-Willamette 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 Mid-Willamette 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. 

Isaiah Sim (South Albany) photo by Leon Neuschwander 

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Central

P Chase Nelson, jr., 6-5

A first-team all-MWC pick as a sophomore, Nelson is a pure post player who dominates the paint on both ends. He is averaging 17 points and eight rebounds per game this winter. “Chase is an old-school, back-to-the-basket player with soft touch,” head coach Dean Sanderson said of Nelson, who is also the Panthers’ quarterback in football. 

F Mikey Young, jr., 6-4

Young started for Central as a freshman but missed all of the spring season due to a torn ACL. “Mikey is a really, really good athlete,” Sanderson said. 

G Adrien Barba, sr., 5-10

Barba is a traditional point guard who has excellent vision and passing feel. A four-year starter, Barba is averaging 11 points, four assists and two steals as a senior. 

Corvallis

G Karsten Sullivan, sr., 6-1, and G Kellen Sullivan, sr., 6-0

The Sullivan brothers are three-year varsity players who are the leaders of guard-heavy Corvallis. “They are hard workers and are skilled at both ends of the court,” Spartans head coach Ross Duerfeldt said. 

G Zach Robel, jr., 6-0

Robel is a standout on the defensive end who also gives Corvallis another scoring presence. “Zach is a great defender and has a good offensive skill set,” Duerfeldt said.

P Owen Sahnow, jr., 6-3

One of the tallest members of an undersized Spartans team, Sahnow is also a versatile two-way player. “Owen is a very good shooter for a post player,” Duerfeldt said.

Crescent Valley

F Noah Dewey, sr., 6-6

Also a standout on the diamond, Dewey is an athletic senior with a solid jump shot. Head coach Mike Stair said Dewey put on about 10 to 15 pounds of muscle following his junior season. “He is more assertive and more confident,” Stair said. “He is becoming more of an inside presence to complement his outside shooting. He is also stronger going to the rim.”

G Adam Temesgen, jr., 6-1

A lights-out shooter from beyond the arc, Temesgen is a quick guard who knows how to use his athleticism. “When he is playing well, we are usually playing well, as he can create opportunities for others as well as for himself,” Stair said. 

F Jake Leibelt, sr., 6-5

Leibelt is a natural post player who has worked on his shooting touch from the perimeter. “Jake is a very improved offensive threat, both inside and out,” Stair said. “He is also improving on the defensive end.” 

Dallas

W/F Coven Rotter-Gale, so., 6-4

Only a sophomore, Coven Rotter-Gale dropped 22 points in an early-season victory over McMinnville. “He is really building confidence, which has been huge with his game,” Dallas head coach Jordan Sollman said.

W/F Kailyr Gibson, sr., 6-1

Gibson leads the Dragons in scoring at 15.5 points per game while also grabbing nearly six rebounds. Sollman said Gibson is shooting the ball with great consistency. “He’s made great strides in his offensive game,” Sollman said. 

G Kobe Braziel, sr., 5-8

Braziel is filling up the stat sheet as a senior by averaging 11.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists. “Kobe has taken over point guard duties and has been playing very well for us,” Sollman said. “He does a great job bringing the ball up and is a threat from deep.”

G/F Ashton Foster, sr., 6-1

Foster, who also plays quarterback for Dallas, is looking to make the all-conference team for the third straight season. “He is our secondary ball-handler and has a lot to offer with leadership on the floor,” Sollman said. “He’s a threat to get to the rim and is starting to show his range this year.” 

Lebanon

G Henry Pointer, sr., 6-1

After averaging 18.3 points and 6.5 rebounds as a junior, Pointer has upped his stats to 22.4 and seven this winter. “Henry is a do-it-all scorer,” assistant coach Tim Olson said. “He gets to the rim and makes three-pointers.” 

G Jackson Parrish, jr., 5-11

Parrish is a rising junior who is putting up 8.3 points in a supporting role. Olson said Parrish is also a very strong defender. “Jackson is a slasher with tremendous leaping ability,” Olson added.

G Porter Barnes, jr., 5-8

A true point guard, the undersized Barnes is averaging five assists per game as a junior. “He is a high basketball IQ guy who really pushes the tempo for us,” Olson said. 

North Salem

F DJ Ayres, sr., 6-4

A team captain and one of the top scorers in the Mid-Willamette Conference, Ayers is averaging 15.1 points as a senior. “DJ shoots the ball really well and has also become a solid rebounder,” head coach Lane McLeod said.

G Ivan Primbs, sr., 6-3

Primbs is another senior scoring threat who was also voted team captain. He is averaging 11.3 points this winter. “Ivan can really get to the rim and he shoots it very well,” McLeod said.

G Justin Hoover, sr., 6-0

One of North Salem’s best ball-handlers, Hoover is a senior point guard who is putting up 8.2 points per game. “Justin also has really good court vision and can shoot or get to the rim,” McLeod said.

Silverton

G Jordan McCarty, sr., 6-1

One of the state’s best all-around athletes regardless of classification, McCarty is a veteran point guard who can score, pass and defend. The 6-foot-1 senior is a three-star football prospect who recently committed to Western Oregon. On the basketball court, he is a dynamic lead guard who can heat up when needed. 

G Neil Efimov, sr., 6-4

Efimov led the Foxes in scoring (15 points) and rebounding (4.7) a season ago and was voted first-team all-MWC alongside McCarty. “I believe (Jordan and Neil) are the best backcourt in the state at our level,” coach Jamie McCarty said. “They are both tremendous leaders and are both great defensive players.”

P Ryan Brown, sr., 6-5

Brown was more of a role player last season who is now one of the Foxes’ top options. “We’re seeing his productivity in scoring and rebounding really increase,” coach McCarty said. “He is a terrific defender and shot-blocker and runs the court extremely well for a post.” 

W Austin Ratliff, sr., 6-2

Ratliff is also a star football player (wide receiver and defensive back) who has transitioned back into basketball mode. The senior put up 15 points in an early-season win over Sheldon and is capable of scoring even more. “Austin is back feeling healthy and he is quicker, stronger and faster than ever,” coach McCarty said.

W Joey Haugen, sr., 6-4

Haugen is a senior who improved his all-around game during the offseason, coach McCarty said. “He is a hard-nosed defender and rebounder but can also score the ball from the perimeter and in the paint,” the coach added.  

South Albany

G DeShawn Gilliam, so., 6-0

Younger brother of 2021 MWC player of the year Isaiah Gilliam, DeShawn Gilliam is a talented sophomore who is averaging nine points per game. “DeShawn is a lockdown defender who has excellent feet and does a great job causing frustration for opposing guards and shooters,” head coach Tim Matuszak said. “He’s an outstanding perimeter shooter himself.” 

P Isaiah Sim, jr., 6-3

Sim is an athletic junior post who is averaging eight points and six rebounds. Matuszak said Sim has made tremendous strides since joining the program last spring. “Isaiah does a great job of commanding the paint on both ends of the floor,” he said. “Isaiah also does a great job running the floor in transition and finds plenty of opportunities to get to the free throw line.” 

P Grant Hooley, sr., 6-1

Hooley uses his quickness to excel on offense and defense. He is putting up 10 points and six rebounds per game for the RedHawks. “Grant does a great job of finding extra opportunities for us on the offensive glass and is shooting just under 60 percent from the field,” Matuszak said. “He also has the ability to play on the perimeter.” 

G Jason Patrick, sr., 5-9

Arguably the team’s best outside shooter, Patrick is making 40 percent of his attempts from three-point land. “He is an elite shooter,” Matuszak said. “He also does a great job of taking charges for us on the defensive end of the floor and does a great job working to come off of screens to get himself open looks.” 

West Albany

G Jeffrey Hunt, jr., 5-10

Hunt can play either guard position and is an adept outside shooter. He is averaging 8.6 points and 2.1 rebounds per game. “We are asking him to play a point guard role, get to the rim and find open guys for us,” head coach Derek Duman said. 

F Nathan Marshall, sr., 6-2

Marshall is an athletic senior forward who is a two-way contributor for the Bulldogs. He is putting up 9.2 points and 5.2 rebounds per game with a 56.4 effective field goal percentage. “Nathan is crafty around the basket and also helps us with rebounding the ball as well,” Duman said. 

G Michael Cale, sr., 6-0

Quarterback of West Albany’s football team, Cale is also the most experienced basketball player for the Bulldogs. He is averaging 9.2 points and three rebounds per game. “Michael is an athletic guard who can get to the rim and score,” Duman said. “He is also one of our best defenders.”