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).

FBC Tropics 5-foot-11 forward/center Hazel Pepperling Hazel Pepperling 5'11" | PF Lebanon | 2027 State OR was a strong presence inside at the HoopSource Memorial Day Championships. The Lebanon sophomore (2027) consistently ran the floor, scored in transition, and powered her way to the cup in the half-court. Pepperling has a strong frame and went to work in the paint, posting up and flashing. When no one picked her up on the perimeter, she attacked the lane on the bounce and beat everyone to the rim. She’s an efficient scorer around the basket and doesn’t miss bunnies. When she missed a contested shot, she stuck with it, got her own rebound, and finished the second-chance turnaround fadeaway through contact and the foul. She makes crisp passes out to perimeter shooters. She can step out and knock down the catch-and-shoot three herself. Pepperling protects the paint and the rim with her length. She blocks shots and deflects passes inside and out. She can defend 1-5, contain the guard on the perimeter, and shut down the big on the inside.

Valley Tropics 5-foot-11 power forward Hazel Pepperling Hazel Pepperling 5'11" | PF Lebanon | 2027 State OR continues to impress. Pepperling is a strong and mobile big who takes care of the ball. The sophomore is an efficient scorer in the paint. She has a soft touch and can comfortably hit a fadeaway jumper from the baseline or a kick-out wing three. She rebounds on both ends. She’s a tough defender, bodying to win position and poking away the inside pass for the steal. She runs the court and scores in transition.

Lebanon sophomore Hazel Pepperling Hazel Pepperling 5'11" | PF Lebanon | 2027 State OR can do a little bit of everything at the 3 and 4 positions. The 5-foot-11 forward is athletic on the post-up down low and can finish with a soft touch at the rim. She makes quick cuts and finishes strong with tough takes to the basket to draw the foul. If no one closes her out on the perimeter, she can drain the three. Pepperling creates open looks for her teammates with quick-decision kickouts. She’s effective on the pick-and-roll. She makes deliberate entry passes inside. Pepperling fights for rebounds on both ends. She can get the steal and drive full-court to the basket for the layup. Pepperling averaged 13.9 points, 7.4 rebounds, 4.4 steals, 1.6 blocks, and 1.2 assists per game and was named to the First Team in the Mid-Willamette, Oregon’s most competitive 5A conference. She rose to No. 9 in the Prep Girls Hoops Oregon class of 2027 rankings.

Lebanon 5-foot-11 sophomore forward Hazel Pepperling Hazel Pepperling 5'11" | PF Lebanon | 2027 State OR can do a little bit of everything at the 3 and 4 positions. Pepperling is athletic on the post-up down low and can finish with a soft touch at the rim. She makes quick cuts and finishes strong with tough takes to the basket to draw the foul. She’s got great form at the line. If no one closes her out on the perimeter she will drain the three. Pepperling creates open looks for her teammates with quick-decision kickouts. She’s effective on the pick-and-roll. She makes deliberate entry passes to the big inside. Pepperling fights for rebounds on both ends. She can get the steal and drive full-court to the basket for the layup.