Tualatin stars Noah Ogoli and Malik Ross join forces with recent rivals from Summit at WAVOR boys basketball all-star game, now turn attention to college plans
By René Ferrán | Photo by Ken Waz
A month ago, Tualatin senior guards Noah Ogoli and Malik Ross squared off against Summit’s senior tandem of Julian Mora and Caden Harris for the Class 6A boys basketball state title.
Ogoli and Ross walked off the Chiles Center court that afternoon as 66-49 winners, earning the program’s first championship and handing the Storm their only loss of the season.
On Sunday afternoon, the four of them became teammates for a day, joining forces on the Oregon all-star team that took on Washington’s best at the WAVOR The Game series at Liberty High School in Hillsboro.
They had come together the previous day at practice, and Ogoli thought it might be a bit awkward to see the two Summit players, who were former AAU teammates from a couple years ago.
“After the loss, obviously, they didn’t take it that well,” Ogoli said. “But it ended up being all right. They actually talked to us. Some people would get mad and not talk to you again. You never know, that’s just how some people are. But they handled it really well, and I respect them for that.”
While Harris (Chico State) and Mora (Seattle Pacific) have their future plans set, Ogoli and Ross face uncertain paths. Neither has committed to a school, and while Ogoli knows he wants to play basketball in college — Redlands, George Fox, Central Washington, Bushnell and Eastern Arizona JC are options — Ross’ heart is torn between his love of football and basketball.
Ross was the Class 6A offensive player of the year in the fall, when he led the Timberwolves to the state football final, then earned Three Rivers defensive player of the year honors on the hardcourt.
He’s heard from several out-of-state junior colleges, where he could play both sports for two years, and Western Oregon also has broached the option of playing both in Monmouth.
“It’s going to come down to where my heart’s at,” he said. “It’s tough. I’ve played both sports for as long as I can remember. If I get more developed in my basketball IQ and skill, get a better overall game, I think I could go far, and I’ve proved I can go far in football, too.
“To play both, it’d be best to go to a smaller school, but I mean, playing both sports is tough. You’ve got to be built for that. But I believe in myself, and I think I can do anything I put my mind to. I’ve just got to get down, do my research, and see what’s best for me.”
