Metro League and Northwest Oregon Conference Standouts
This week I spent a lot of time watching games between some of the best competition in the Portland area. The Metro League (6A) and Northwest Oregon Conference (5A) are two of the most competitive high school leagues in the…
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Continue ReadingThis week I spent a lot of time watching games between some of the best competition in the Portland area. The Metro League (6A) and Northwest Oregon Conference (5A) are two of the most competitive high school leagues in the state, and watching some of these teams battle it out in past seasons was incredibly enticing. The talent that these players have exhibited in previous seasons while surrounded by more senior teammates and opponents is impressive– thus I chose them from the bunch to analyze because I think they have shown great potential that should not go unnoticed. Here we have four athletes who stand out on the court due to their talent and overflowing heart for the game.
Mackenzie Naro – Beaverton HS – 2021 Guard
A 5’8″ guard with a quick three point release and impressively long range. In her junior season she made as many as seven three pointers in a single half! Defensively, I can’t say enough positive things about this player; she stays low with her hands up throughout the entire defensive possession and boxes out hard on every shot. Naro simply out works her opponents on both ends of the floor, which often results in one-on-none fast breaks in the open court and an easy layup for her. Mackenzie is truly an all around player that is part of an outstanding girls basketball program, and she will only continue to improve throughout her senior year.
Tait Quinlan – Southridge HS – 2022 Forward
During her sophomore season, Quinlan was a young asset on an elite senior squad. At 6’2″, this developing forward does a great job fighting for and earning position in the post. She works hard to follow shots on both offense and defense and gets off the ground quickly for offensive boards and put-backs. Tait is a young, coachable, and athletic player that has contributed to a highly ranked program early on in her high school career. She has all of the tools needed to become a pronounced collegiate athlete and will be a major asset to the Skyhawks this season.
Rhyan Mogel Rhyan Mogel 5'10" | SF Clackamas | 2023 State OR – La Salle Prep – 2023 Shooting Guard
To put it simply, Rhyan is a smart and unselfish player. She is patient, in every aspect of the game; pivoting and pump faking around the rim, settling into pull-up jumpers smoothly, and making sure to keep proper offensive spacing in open pockets awaiting an assist for 3. As a 5’10″ guard and small forward, she has a knack for finding frequent blocking opportunities against many of her match ups. She plays through the end of every possession on both ends of the court– always crashing for rebounds, getting put backs, and hustling for steals leading to fast breaks. All of this is to be said based only on her freshman season… Meaning this player still has plenty of time to develop further and will be a really stunning athlete by the time she reaches the collegiate level.
Sydney Burns Sydney Burns 5'8" | PG Wilsonville | 2021 State OR – Wilsonville HS – 2021 Point Guard
This is a senior point guard that has contributed highly at the varsity level since her freshman season. She started earning her keep early on on the defensive end, where she creates multiple steals per game. Flash forward to her junior season, where she was one of the leading scorers for the Wildcats. In their game against La Salle Prep back in January she scored 20 points, 18 of which were in the 2nd half, and led her team to the 52-47 upset victory. Something I personally appreciated about watching Burns play was that she always gives credit where it’s due to her teammates when they deliver an assist or help out on a play. She doesn’t let others efforts go unnoticed by any means, and that’s something that really helps build the camaraderie of a team.
Again, I chose these four athletes to mention because they play with a passion and energy that is unmatched by many high school athletes. They have contributed to their programs from the beginning of their high school careers and are continuing to deliver as they grow as athletes and teammates. They are competing against some of the best high school league competition that can be found in Oregon, and many of them also bring their enthusiasm and talent to some of the state’s top club programs. These are, undoubtedly, four players that should not be overlooked as they continue their journey, always progressing, in the wonderful game of basketball.
“Ability may get you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there.” -John Wooden