6A Sophomores to Watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we approach the most wonderful time of the year, the stage is set for a thrilling high school girls' basketball season here in Oregon. There are many names to keep in mind heading into this year, so in preparation, we will be going through several of them over the next few weeks. The first category: sophomores to watch out for at the 6A level. This list by no means covers all of the talented sophomores playing in 6A, however, these are a few key players who had incredible freshmen campaigns. It will be a must to keep an eye out for them in the coming months. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='832599' first='Samarah' last='Massey']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12121","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Benson","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"NW Greyhounds","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Massey returns to the Benson roster after a nearly perfect freshman campaign: she was voted first team all-league in the Portland Interscholastic League (PIL) in addition to being named the league's Defensive Player of the Year. With these efforts, she helped lead the Techsters to a perfect 16-0 in league play and a first place finish in the PIL. Although falling just short of making the final 8 in the state tournament, Massey still received honorable mention all-state honors from the OBCA. On the court, Massey can do it all. As a tall, long wing, she can get to the rim with apparent ease, while also having the ability to knock shots down from the outside with a beautiful stroke. Massey also demonstrated immense maturity as a freshman starter, and the sky seems to be the limit regarding her potential in the future.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["502352"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Zuniga promptly made her mark as one of the best freshmen in the state a year ago. In her first year, she quickly earned her place as one of West Salem's go-to players as she consistently put up impressive stat lines like her 22 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals, and 2 blocks against Sprague. She was the only freshman in the Central Valley Conference to earn first team all-league and also got the nod for honorable mention all-state from the OBCA. As seen by that stat line, Zuniga is incredibly versatile: a gifted scorer with great court vision and is not afraid to crash the boards or dig in on the defensive end. With some of her fellow starters graduated and with a year under her belt, she will be one to watch for this season.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='832605' first='Sara' last='Mangan']","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"5'6u0022","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"12125","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"Southridge","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_2_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Mangan had an immediate impact for the Skyhawks as a freshman and leader. She earned first team all-league honors in the challenging Metro League, the only freshman to get any post-season recognition in this league. Mangan often led the Skyhawks scoring efforts with her ability to shoot from the outside, and perhaps her greatest asset was often on display: her high basketball IQ. With Southridge returning the majority of its roster, they will be a fun, experienced team to watch with Mangan leading the charge.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='832611' first='Taylor' last='Young']","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"5'7u0022","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"12121","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"South Medford","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_3_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"With South Medford graduating one of the best talents in the state in Donovyn Hunter, it is now [player_tooltip player_id='832611' first='Taylor' last='Young']'s time to shine. She had a year playing with and learning from Hunter and a starting lineup filled with upperclassmen, during which she averaged nearly 10 points and over 3 steals per game, demonstrating her unique proficiency on both sides of the floor. This was on full display during the State quarterfinals last season against West Salem when she scored 16 points on 8-10 shooting while also going for 4 steals. She earned second team all-league in a very talented Southwest Conference and was the only other freshman on the OBCA's honorable mention all-state list. With some very big shoes to fill, Young's talent will no doubt be on full display this season.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='832618' first='Carly' last='Skogstad']","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"5'7u0022","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"12121","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"Sprague","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='713147' first='Oregon' last='Elite']","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_4_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Skogstad is yet another talented guard to watch out for in 2023-2024. She demonstrated immense leadership on the Olympians' roster from the very beginning, as seen by her averages in her first five high school games ever played: 22.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.4 steals, and 2 assists. Her outstanding performance continued on into league play in a challenging Central Valley Conference, where she earned first team all-league. Skogstad is a natural scorer and can create from anywhere on the floor, which often resulted in her being to focus of opposing defenses. With only two seniors graduated from last season, Sprague comes back with a lot of experience and Skogstad will be at the center of it all for the Olympians this season.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='832621' first='Reese' last='Jordan']","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"12123","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"West Linn","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_5_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_5_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"As the only freshman to be named second team all-league in the Three Rivers League, Jordan is one to watch out for in 2023-2024. Often running the point for West Linn, she demonstrated incredible skill shooting, driving aggressively, and distributing the ball. She ended last season with an exclamation point in the Lions' upset victory over Newberg in the opening round of the State tournament, in which she led her team with 22 points. Jordan is a tenacious competitor and will no doubt be one you won't want to miss.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_6_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='832624' first='Brook' last='Tate']","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_6_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_6_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_6_player_details_position":"12122","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_6_player_details_school":"South Salem","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_6_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_6_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_6_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"Yet another talented freshman out of the Central Valley Conference, [player_tooltip player_id='832624' first='Brook' last='Tate'] was a crucial member of the Saxons' roster right out of the gate. With a second team all-conference nod, Tate has the potential to develop into one of the premier power forwards in the state. In addition to her scoring abilities, Tate was a force on the boards and a defensive presence in the paint. South Salem returns most of their roster, and after averaging 10 points per game a season ago, Tate is bound to have an impressive sophomore season.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_7_player":["599574"],"_player_evaluations_7_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"Brownson was the bright spot for the Jaguars last season, putting on multiple brilliant performances throughout the season. She truly put the team on her back, scoring 24 of her team's 43 points in one outing against Forest Grove, and add 6 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal to that performance. She also had an incredible 31 point, 3 rebound, and 4 steal game against West Albany. Come season's end, she was voted to honorable mention all-league in the Pacific Conference. Brownson is always looking up the floor, and she has a smooth shot and a knack for pulling up off the dribble that is advanced for her age. She will certainly be very fun to keep an eye on this season.","_player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":8,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-653c22d049500"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->