Oregon 5A Top Ten Prospects (Part 1)

<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Top Five Prospects in 5A and Way Too Early Playoff Projections</h2>   I jumped on The Main Event: Oregon's 5A basketball podcast with sports reporter Brian Rathbone to rank the top ten 5A girls players (🎧: <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-248223759">Soundcloud</a>, <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-main-event-oregons-5a-basketball-podcast/id1548616555">Apple Podcasts</a>). Rathbone and I compiled our lists separately, but we still had identical rankings for the top five.   The level of talent in this classification is impressive. Here's a breakdown of players I ranked 1 through 5, and my way-too-early playoff projection for each of their high school teams:   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">1. [player_tooltip player_id='832611' first='Taylor' last='Young'] | Crater</h2>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">5-7 PG | 2026 | Cal Stars | Oregon State-Commit</h3>   ✅ High IQ, locked-in playmaking   ✅ Ball security, handles, vision   ✅ Smooth three-level scoring   ✅ Relentless, sneaky defending   • 2024 6A State Champion   • 2025 Midwestern League Player of the Year   • 2025 5A State Champion (Tournament leader in points and steals, broke tournament scoring record)   • Averaged 28.7 points (shooting 57% from the field and 31% from three), 6.7 steals, and 4.7 assists per game at the 2025 5A State Tournament.   • 2025 Name 5A Player of the Year, First Team   • 2025 5A All-State First Team   • ESPN Top 100, Class of 2026   • Committed to Oregon State University in June   • Placed 7th at Nike Nationals (EYBL) with Cal Stars   Crater 5-foot-7 senior point guard [player_tooltip player_id='832611' first='Taylor' last='Young'] is an elite prep player who can quietly take over an Oregon high school basketball game at the highest level. The Comets aren't expected to win the state title again after graduating three seniors, including 6-foot-4 center Lydia Traore, who won't be replaced. But Taylor's sister, incoming freshman [player_tooltip player_id='1264985' first='Brynlee' last='Young'], might be able to do enough to fill Sage Winslow's high school role on both ends. Can Crater win the state title playing small ball and high-pressure perimeter defense? The Comets might surprise some people this year.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2. [player_tooltip player_id='832587' first='Taylor' last='Donaldson'] | South Albany</h2>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">6-0 SG/SF | 2026 | [program_tooltip program_id='713147' first='Oregon' last='Elite'] | Wyoming-commit</h3>   ✅ Elite scorer, creates inside and out   ✅ Efficient pull-up shooter from deep   ✅ Strong frame, great length on both ends   • 2025 Mid-Willamette Conference (MWC) Player of the Year, First Team   • Averaged 22.1 points (shooting 57% from the field and 33% from three), 8.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.8 blocks per game in the competitive MWC.   • Placed 2nd at the 2025 5A State Tournament   • Averaged 18 points (shooting 40% from three) and 5.3 defensive rebounds at state.    • 2025 5A All-State First Team   • Placed 11th in Pool C of the 17U Nike Tournament of Champions with [program_tooltip program_id='713147' first='Oregon' last='Elite']   • Committed to the University of Wyoming in September   South Albany 6-foot senior guard/forward [player_tooltip player_id='832587' first='Taylor' last='Donaldson'] put up huge numbers in the competitive Mid-Willamette Conference last season. She's poised to lead the Redhawks as the favorite to win the 5A state title this year. South Albany graduated Taelyn Bentley, who had a huge presence inside on both ends in the state final game. Returning senior forward Neveah Ukaoma could step up inside for the Redhawks. Donaldson can play inside and out, and she has a supporting cast that can knock down shots and play great defense. The biggest question for South Albany is whether they have a ball handler who can effectively run the point against Crater's suffocating pressure defense.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">3. [player_tooltip player_id='832050' first='Payton' last='Starwalt'] | West Albany</h2>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">5-7 PG | 2027 | FBC Valley Tropics | Uncommitted</h3>   ✅ Lights out logo three shooter   ✅ Excellent full-court vision   ✅ Next-level entry passing, drive and dish   ✅ Dedicated competitor, hard worker   • Mid-Willamette Conference (MWC) First Team   • Averaged 22.3 points, 7.2 assists, and 3.8 steals per game in the competitive MWC   • Scored 100 three-pointers, shooting 44%, in sophomore season   • 5A All-State Second Team   • Scored 30 points, 5 assists, and 2 steals in the state quarterfinal vs. Silverton.   • Placed 7th in 17U Pool A in the End of the Trail circuit with FBC Oregon Valley Tropics.   West Albany 5-foot-7 junior point guard [player_tooltip player_id='832050' first='Payton' last='Starwalt'] stretches the floor with her knockdown three-point shooting from the parking lot, which forces teams to face guard her. She's a creative playmaker with excellent vision and passing. The Bulldogs are a team with talented young players who ran together all summer. They have three effective frontcourt players in [player_tooltip player_id='926138' first='Lola' last='Chamberlain'], [player_tooltip player_id='1179226' first='Lily' last='Hamblin'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1263197' first='Payton' last='Warner'], and can create a mismatch with any team if they go big on the court. The Bulldogs also have additional perimeter shooters in [player_tooltip player_id='1179231' first='Natalie' last='Tidwell'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1179245' first='Cate' last='Kurth']. West Albany is a well-rounded team that should gel from the jump. They have what it takes to go far in the 5A state tournament.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">4. [player_tooltip player_id='502353' first='Gabriella' last='Moultrie'] | Wilsonville</h2>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">5-8 PG | 2026 | NW Blazers | Utah Valley-commit</h3>   ✅ Next-level handles, vision, passing   ✅ Strong driver, finishes through contact   ✅ Can go off from three   ✅ Tenacious on-ball defender   • Committed to Utah Valley   • No. 1 in assists in Wilsonville program history   • On trajectory to score 2000 points in HS career   • 2025 Northwest Oregon Conference Co-Player of the Year, First Team   • 2025 5A All-State First Team   • Averaged 22.3 points (shooting 46.2% from the field and 44.8% from three), 4.3 assists, and 2.7 steals per game at the 2025 5A state tournament   • Competed in the Power 24 national tournament with the Northwest Blazers   • 17U Division Power 24 Honorable Mention   Wilsonville 5-foot-8 senior point guard Gabi Moultrie runs the offense and is a resilient bucket getter. There aren't high playoff expectations for the Wildcats after the team graduated three starters — Audrey Counts, Ryme Jaekel, and Payton Ratcliffe — who all went on to play college hoops. Moultrie, alongside returning starter [player_tooltip player_id='921393' first='Fareeda' last='ElManhawy'] (who had a great showing at the state tournament), will practically start over with a new team under a new coach. But don't count Wilsonville out. Moultrie led the Wildcats to a fourth-place finish at state after the team lost to Crater in the quarterfinals. She doesn't give up, and she makes players around her better.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">5 [player_tooltip player_id='832586' first='Ava' last='Bergeson'] | La Salle</h2>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">6-1 forward/guard | 2026 | Team Kidd | UNLV-commit</h3>   ✅ Three-level scoring threat   ✅ Quick first step, strong slasher and driver   ✅ Great length on both ends   • 2025 Northwest Oregon Conference (NWOC) Co-Player of the Year, First Team   • Averaged a double-double in the NWOC: over 15 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals per game   • 2025 5A All-State Second Team   • Committed to the University of Las Vegas   • Advanced to the Elite 8 at the 17U Power 24 national tournament   Six-foot-1 forward/guard [player_tooltip player_id='832586' first='Ava' last='Bergeson'] led La Salle in scoring, rebounding, and assists in her junior year. The Falcons graduated two starters, point guard Lindsey Kapanoske and forward Nola Bartley, who were the second and third top scorers, respectively. The Falcons return tenacious on-ball defender and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1016358' first='Kailey' last='Henry'], who gave Gabi Moultrie some trouble in at least one league game. [player_tooltip player_id='1312949' first='Nora' last='Hudson'] has put in work over the summer, developed her physicality and passing ability, and should see more of the court this year as an upperclassmen. Incoming freshman [player_tooltip player_id='1264971' first='Maggie' last='Puent'] could make an impact on both ends from the jump. La Salle is in a similar position as conference fellow Wilsonville, returning their star player but changing up the supporting cast. La Salle lost in the first round of the playoffs to Redmond last season. Making it to the state tournament this year isn't out of reach, but the Falcons will have to work for it.