The Decade’s Five Best!
It is officially 2020 on the calendar and it got me thinking about who the best five players out of Washington have been in this last decade. We have been fortunate to have some really solid talent in the last 10 years and it sparked a discussion with some associates of mine that follow high school basketball closely in the state of Washington. Without further ado, here is my personal list of the five best players that we have seen come out of Washington in no particular order from the classes of 2010-2020. This is based on high school resume, on the court talent and accomplishments while in high school.
2014 6’0 SG Brittany McPhee (Mount Rainier HS)
McPhee had one of the most historic high school careers that Washington has ever seen before embarking on a very successful four years at Stanford. She is the only 3-time Washington Gatorade State Player of the Year to ever grace a high school floor. As a five star recruit at Mount Rainier, McPhee scored 2,815 points ranking second all time. She earned the State MVP in 4A two times, averaging 24.3 points, 13.0 rebounds and 5.3 blocks per game in the 2014 tournament. Playing in the state’s highest classification, McPhee put up 27.1 points, 12.8 rebounds, 3.0 steals, 2.8 blocks and 2.3 assists per game as a senior. She also scored 27 points per game in her junior year. The one accomplishment that eluded Brittany was a 4A state title, but she made up for it winning on the spring/summer circuit with the Northwest Blazers on one of the greatest club teams the PNW has ever seen. She capped off her high school career being named a Parade All-American and adidas All-American. Simply put, no player has scored and rebounded the ball in the highest class the way McPhee did throughout her high school career. She did so as a 6 foot guard, which is even more impressive. Her record three Gatorade State Player of the Year awards may never be broken. McPhee is one of the greatest high school players Washington has ever seen and we were fortunate to see her in the most recent decade.
2018 6’0 SG Lexie Hull (Central Valley HS)
Current Stanford star Lexie Hull was apart of one of the greatest four year runs from any one program Washington has ever seen. Central Valley finished 102-6 in her four years, winning two 4A state championships and a GEICO High School Basketball National Championship. She finished with 26 points and 10 rebounds in Central Valley’s historical win over Hamilton Heights (TN). Rated as a five star recruit and top 15 player nationally, Lexie Hull averaged 20.4 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 2.6 steals per game as a senior. She finished her career with a school record 1,883 points. She walked out of high school being named three-time 4A AP Player of the Year, Washington State Ms. Basketball, two-time Gatorade State Player of the Year and WBCA All-American Honorable Mention. The epitome of a winner every step of her high school career and that is how she will be remembered for her time at Central Valley and the Spokane Stars club program. *Feature image
2020 5’7 PG Hailey Van Lith (Cashmere HS)
The lone current high school player on the list has more than earned her way, despite still being in the middle of her senior year. The Louisville signee’s phenomenon has really grown in the most recent age of social media covering girls basketball. Hailey has been putting up monstrous numbers at 1A Cashmere High School dating back to her freshman season. She has over 2,000 career points and counting and could break Jennifer Stinson’s career scoring record by the end of the season. She has set State 1A records in multiple categories including most points scored in a tournament, most field goals made and the single-game scoring record. She once recorded a mind-blowing quadruple-double tallying 37 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists and 14 steals in a single game. Her separating accomplishments have come in international play. She has won four gold medals as a member of Team USA, including two MVP awards in Fiba World Cup 3×3 competition. Van Lith is a three time 1A First Team All State Member, one time Gatorade State Player of the Year and Naismith High School All American Honorable Mention. She is a near lock for the 2020 McDonald’s All American Game, Jordan Brand Classic and just about any other honor a high school player can receive. Hailey achieved adidas All-American status and played on the adidas USA Select team in her high school career. She was a member of two Northwest Blazers teams that finished second at adidas Nationals and she has two runner up finishes in the 1A class with Cashmere as well. Van Lith played for Tree of Hope’s 17u team during her final spring before joining the United States National team for the summer. This story is still being written, but she is well deserving of making the list.
2012 5’10 SG Jamie Weisner (Clarkston HS)
Jamie has put together one of the best college and international/pro careers out of all the players over the last decade, but she was dominating the high school scene before suiting up for Oregon State, Canada’s National Team and overseas clubs. The Number 41 player nationally was widely known for her ability to score and rebound with tenacity, never taking any plays off. She led Clarkston to a 2A state title in her senior season, notching 33 points and 12 rebounds in the championship game. She was the 2012 State MVP, 2A State Player of the Year and two-time First Team All State honoree. Weisner won an AAU National Championship as a member of the Northwest Blazers during the summer and saw a lot of success throughout her career in club basketball. Weisner would go on to be the Pac-12 Player of the Year and get drafted in the second round of the WNBA.
2016 5’10 SG Mikayla Pivec (Lynnwood HS)
A current senior and standout for nationally ranked Oregon State University, Mikayla Pivec had a strong career for the Lynnwood Royals. She helped the Royals to the 2015 4A State Championship and third place finish in 2016, finishing 26-1. A player with a super high motor, Pivec netted 21.7 points, 14.1 rebounds, 4.4 steals and 4.1 assists per game in her senior season. She also finished with two Gatorade State Player of the Year awards and was named the AP Player of the Year two times as well. ESPN rated her as a five star prospect and she was the highest rated recruit in history for Oregon State at the time. Her combination of athletic prowess, team success and accolades earn her a spot of my top five list for the decade. Mikayla Pivec was a standout for Sam Adams’ ECBA Swish club team in her high school years.
Let the debate begin! Which players would you add or drop and why? Remember this is based on high school resume, talent and accomplishments while in high school. Many players could have a case made for them and I am excited for the next round of talent in this upcoming decade.