4A Juniors to Watch
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Shelby Bruney HEIGHT 5'10" POS CG CLASS 2025 Shelby Bruney School: Astoria Bruney is perhaps one of the most talented basketball players in the state of Oregon. Her greatest strength is her ability to dominate on both ends of the…
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Continue ReadingShelby Bruney
Shelby Bruney
Bruney is perhaps one of the most talented basketball players in the state of Oregon. Her greatest strength is her ability to dominate on both ends of the floor. With a quick, knockdown three-point shot and an elite athleticism to drive by just about any defender, she is a nightmare for defenses. Meanwhile, her length and anticipation allow her to get tips on any ball in her general area on the defensive end, where opposing teams struggle to get the ball past her. Last season, she was the Cowapa League player of the year and the league’s Defensive Player of the Year, she made second team all-tournament at the state tournement, and was the only sophomore to be named first team all-state and OBCA first team all-state. Astoria is coming off a third place finish in the state in 4A, and their team — led by Bruney — will no doubt be hungry for more success this coming season.
Anna Harper
Anna Harper
Harper has already established herself as one of the most dominant power forwards in the state in 4A. Playing for a Henley program that is known for producing talent, Harper finished the season on an incredibly high note at the state tournament last year, as she was third in total points with 17.3 per game on 56.4% shooting with the most made field goals of any player while also finishing in the top 5 in rebounding with 8.3 per game, all while playing more minutes than anyone at the tournament. Throughout the season, she demonstrated this tenacious rebounding as well as her consistent ability to score points. Harper earned second team all-tournament for her efforts in addition to nods for honorable mention all-state, OBCA honorable mention all-state, and first team all-Skyline Conference. As she and Henley’s star senior guard, Annie Campos Annie Campos 5’8″ | SG Henley | 2024 State OR , are both returning, you will not want to miss Harper and the Hornets this season.
Tayla Huber
Tayla Huber
Working alongside Bruney, Tayla Huber has been a valuable component of Astoria’s success and she will continue to be as she enters her junior season. She was first team all-league in the Cowapa and also earned honorable mention all-state honors in her sophomore campaign. Huber has a beautiful shot and a quick release. In addition to this, she is lightning quick, getting the ball from the defensive end to the rim in incredible time before anyone can recover. Huber also demonstrates great hustle and is never afraid to get on the floor and mix it up for a loose ball. Doing the little things as she does, Huber is an underrated component of Astoria’s team and she will be a player to watch in 2023-24.
Sydney Newby
Sydney Newby
Newby is one of those power forwards who seem to just be able to do it all on every corner of the basketball court. For example, in a double-double performance against Estacada last season, Newby had 14 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists, 5 steals, and 2 blocks. Those points came from both in the paint and from beyond the three-point line as well. With her 6’0 frame and impressive athleticism, Newby seems to have no trouble keeping up with guards, in fact, she even outruns them at times when she pushes the fast break herself. She also offers a nice mid-range jumper which is a great skill to already have as a post at her age. Newby is coming off a first team all-conference season in the Tri-Valley, which is no easy feat, and as her and the Riverhawks look to improve upon what they started last year, her development will be fun to watch.
On a Gladstone team that features a lot of older talent, Jaekel still found a way to shine in her sophomore season. She is one of those players who just looks like a natural basketball player out there, with a smooth shot that she knocks down both from the mid-range and from beyond the arc and with easy handles that are on full display in the advanced turnaround moves that she is capable of. Jaekel uses her length to cause deflections and she shows that her next-play awareness is on a high level when she always looks to put her teammates in good positions to succeed. Jaekel’s sophomore year saw her earn honorable mention all-conference in a loaded Tri-Valley Conference, and she finished strong with a second team all-tournament nod. As Jaekel continues to get older and learn from her gifted teammates, she will only get more impressive and fun to watch.
Highlights
Tatum Montiel
Tatum Montiel
Montiel is a powerhouse in the post for the Pirates, who finished 5th in 4A a year ago. With her incredible strength, defenses find it quite difficult to guard her. Perhaps her most impressive skill is her rebounding ability: she has great hands, great timing, and gets positioning early to clean up the boards for her team on both ends of the floor. She also was amongst the leaders in blocks at the state tournament in 2023. She earned first team all-league in the Sky-Em League in her sophomore season. With most of the varsity roster returning, Marshfield will be a threat to make a deep run in the state this season, and Montiel’s post play will be a huge factor in that.
Kayle Collman
Kayle Collman
Another talented rising junior, Kayle Collman will be one you won’t want to miss this upcoming season. Collman has great defensive instincts and demonstrates outright hustle all the way through the whistle on every single play. She has a natural three-point shot that she looks for with confidence the second she touches the ball. Collman has uniquely incredible speed as is on full display in track & field where she has placed top 5 in the state in multiple sprinting events. She made second team all-league in the Greater Oregon League, which was especially notable considering she was the youngest player and only sophomore to earn any league honors. Collman will be in an increased leadership role with the Tigers this season as they look to compete for a title in a challenging league.