Five Players Poised for Strong Summers — and Senior Seasons

We've officially reached the summer, which means "out with the old and in with the new." The class of 2027 has now become our new class of rising seniors, gearing up for the biggest seasons of their young careers.   It's been a while since I've put out an article, but I'm still here, and I'm here to stay! You'll be hearing from me much more throughout the club season as we learn more about incoming freshmen and other breakout stars. I wanted to get my feet wet again by highlighting some favorite slept-on seniors that I expect to see reach the college level. I also feel like the 4A and 5A prospects deserve some extra love, because there is more talent spread out across the lower classifications this season than ever.    Can Samek and the Stayton Eagles make it a three-peat in Forest Grove next March? It feels like a real possibility because coach Tal Wold has built a hard-nosed and consistent basketball team that returns most of its talent. Kathryn is the head of this snake, and she showed her versatility last season by sliding inside to play center. Whether she's locking down the paint or using her foot speed to keep up with guards on the perimeter, she is a lockdown defender who racks up blocks and rotates with intention. Anyone questioning her ability to translate to the next level should keep in mind that she is rapidly improving her post-up game and outside jumper. Whatever college lands her is going to get a winner and a worker.     When it comes to pure polish, Pepperling is up there with any big in any OSAA classification. You get the sense that she played plenty of guard during her youth days and switched to the post as her frame filled out. She now possesses a unique blend of ball-handling, shooting, size and power. She makes quick decisions and has a great understanding of spacing, positioning and transition play. There is no awkwardness or clumsiness that you see in other bigs that are asked only to camp out in the paint — Pepperling is a complete player that may even succeed as a small forward at the college level. Pardon the men's comparison, but she has some Karl-Anthony Towns in her (the Finals are still fresh on my mind).     Warren is a miniature microwave that cannot be stopped when she is on a roll. As a junior, she served as Putnam's captain and offensive engine, scoring 20+ points on multiple occasions, including a 30-point effort against North Eugene. She is an opportunistic driver who can slither through tight openings, and she has a quick trigger on her catch-and-shoot jumper. When the play breaks down, she possesses a rare ability to score in isolation late in the shot clock. She could be in store for an even bigger scoring season as a senior. She plays with Oregon Overtime over the summer with fellow highly-ranked senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1229051' first='Livie' last='Carns']. I am very excited about seeing that pair go to work.     Heiken won the 4A Player of the Year award as a sophomore in 2025, the year Philomath advanced to the title game. 2026 may have been a bit of a disappointment for the Warriors in comparison, but that might just set up an even hungrier bounce-back in 2027. Heiken can essentially play any position and is involved in almost every play as a scorer or initiator. She brings the ball up, runs the pick and roll, and can throw her weight around in the post, on the boards, or as a screener. She has many skills and doesn't have to rely on just one — she can affect the game based on whatever is working best for her on any given night. Defensively, she has active hands and has the ability to average close to three steals per game.     This player lives up to her name, as her pesky defense was a major reason why Cascade achieved an unlikely fourth-place finish as the no. 7 seed in the 2026 state tournament. She played close to starter-level minutes as the main wing/big hybrid coming off the bench last season, and every time she subbed in, she gave the team a spark. She has great timing when blocking shots with her long wingspan, and she hustles for boards and loose balls as well. She was often matched up against bigger post players and never backed down. She figures to start next year alongside fellow senior [player_tooltip player_id='1229063' first='Pearl' last='Pruett'], which should be a fun undersized-but-over-talented frontcourt.

We've officially reached the summer, which means "out with the old and in with the new." The class of 2027 has now become our new class of rising seniors, gearing up for the biggest seasons of their young careers.