Top point guards in Washington high school boys basketball in 2021-22: These floor generals were one step ahead

They're the floor general, the quarterback and an extension of the coach's eyes and ears on the court.

There were many point guards, spanning all corners of the state of Washington and every high school classification, who put together standout performances in the 2021-22 boys basketball season.

SBLive scoured the state throughout a full season of coverage and spoke with coaches, media members and sources from every corner to compile the most impactful point guards. This is the first of a series of articles looking at the state's most impactful, must-watch basketball players by position, both boys and girls. 

Full watch lists

BOYS: POINT GUARDS | BIGS | OFF-BALL GUARDS | WINGS

GIRLS: POINT GUARDS | BIGS | OFF-BALL GUARDS | WINGS

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TOP POINT GUARDS IN WASHINGTON

(Names are in alphabetical order)

Jeffrey Anyimah, Mountlake Terrace (3A), sr.

The all-Wesco guard led Mountlake Terrace in scoring throughout the season (15 points per game), and elevated his play in the state playoffs (19.3 ppg), with a 23-point outing in a regional elimination game and 26 in the first round of state, leading the Hawks back to the Tacoma Dome and to a sixth place finish.

Maleek Arington, Auburn (3A), sr.

Auburn’s 3A state title-winning offense was a high-scoring blur with Arington running the show. Averaged 13 points, 4.8 assists and 3.6 steals per game and showed the strength to often guard opposing teams’ bigger players.

Trayce Atkins, Ferris (3A), sr.

First team all-Greater Spokane League selection was the maestro on a Saxons team that played with pace and made the 3A state tournament. Atkins helped establish Ferris near the top of a competitive league and dropped a career-high 40 on Gonzaga Prep in league play.

Tayshawn Colvin, Liberty of Spangle (2B), sr.

A proven volume scorer, Colvin excelled as a floor general and kept defenses off balance on his way to leading the Lancers to a Class 2B state title. Colvin was an SBLive 2B first team all-state selection.

Dylan Darling, Central Valley (4A), sr.

SBLive’s all-classification state player of the year set the Greater Spokane League single-game scoring record (58 points), surpassed Adam Morrison’s league scoring average and willed the Bears to the Tacoma Dome, averaging 33.2 points, 8.5 boards, 5.8 assists and 4.4 steals per game — a season that attracted a late Washington State offer, which Darling took over his prior commitment to Idaho State.

Clay Delp, Zillah (1A), sr.

Three-year starter and the school’s standout quarterback controlled the game as well as any point guard in the state. The co-1A SCAC MVP is tough, unflappable and reliable on both sides of the ball, especially late in games.

Zoom Diallo, Curtis (4A), soph.

Led Curtis to a Class 4A state championship, beating top-seeded and undefeated Mount Si in an overtime title thriller. The NCAA Division I prospect averaged 18.8 points on 55 percent shooting, 5.2 boards and 5.1 assists, earning 4A SPSL North MVP honors and a spot on SBLive’s all-classification all-state first team.

Ty Edwards, Sumner (4A), sr.

Sumner’s offense ran through the 6-foot-7 Edwards, a senior and first team all-4A SPSL North selection. At times he flirted with triple-doubles, averaging 16 points, 10 boards and six assists per game.

Jackson Esary, Kalama (2B), sr.

The multi-sport standout was still recovering from a shoulder injury he quarterbacked Kalama in the Class 2B state championship football game, defeating Napavine in December. The bruising point guard was 2B Central player of the year - again.

Giovanny Evanson, King’s Way Christian (1A), jr.

The leader of the 1A Trico League regular season champs turned his game to another level in the postseason, dropping a career-high 35 points in a regional elimination game to lead the Knights back to the Yakima SunDome.

Robert Galindo, Davis (4A), sr.

Steady-handed floor general experienced a breakthrough in mentality and approach as a junior, accordingly to coach Eli Jaurez, backed up by a season-ending 41-point outing to tie the program single-game scoring record. As a senior, he led Davis to league and district titles, as well as a Class 4A state appearance.

Parker Gerrits, Olympia (4A), jr.

4A SPSL South Division MVP led the Bears to a third place Class 4A state finish, averaging 18 points, five boards, four assists and three steals per game and excelled as a facilitator and gifted scorer who can step back and shoot from deep and break defenses down off the dribble.

Twazae Gladney, Richland (4A), sr.

He’s earned his keep on the defensive end and became a reliable scorer (15.9 points per game) getting to the rim and as a 3-point shooter as a senior. Gladney was a natural leader and his team’s captain, as describes Richland coach Earl Streufert: “He plays so hard, knows what we’re doing and plays with confidence.”

Miles Gurske, Timberline (3A), jr.

Blazers point guard enjoyed a breakout season, earning first team all-South Sound Conference selection by helping Timberline to the 3A state tournament. The 6-foot floor general asserted his ability to take over a game as a scorer, too, when he dropped 37 points on Kelso in a district semifinal game.

Cam Hiatt, King's (1A), fr.

The most impactful freshman in the state, Hiatt earned the nod in spades. The 6-foot-4 freshman emerged King's No. 2 option with a versatile scoring arsenal, deep understanding of the game and defensive prowess. "He’s our hardest worker, our best defender, our best teammate, most coachable kid," Knights coach Rick Skeen said in January. "That tells you a lot."

Brooklyn Hicks, Timberline (3A), jr.

Bouncy junior, a target of Pacific-12 Conference teams, was the 3A South Sound Conference player of the year and led Timberline to the Class 3A state tournament, averaging 23 points, 10 boards, three assists and two steals per game.

Cavin Holden, R.A. Long (2A), jr.

jThe two-time 2A Greater St. Helen’s League MVP helped build R.A. Long into a state contender, and capped a standout junior season with 19.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 2.8 steals and a 2.5/1 assist-to-turnover ratio by helping the Lumberjacks win the district IV title, a Class 2A state semifinal appearance and fifth place state finish.

Elijah Johnson, Shorecrest (3A), sr.

Undersized guard has eye-popping burst, finishes well at the rim and was one of the top overall players in the 3A Wesco over the last several seasons (three-time first team all-Wesco pick). Led Shorecrest to a regional play-in game, averaging 22 points, 10 assists, three boards and three steals per game. Matched Ethan Martin with 37 points in an early season showdown.

DeMar Johnson, Rainier Beach (3A), sr.

A high-volume scorer at Bothell as a sophomore, the 6-foot point guard moved back to his father's alma mater and carved out an invaluable role as a tough-nosed ball-hawk defender. Scored 17 points and recorded eight steals in a 3A state semifinal win over Mt. Spokane, tying Jason Terry's all-time tournament single-game steals record. Averaged 10 points and five assists per game.

Raphiel Justice, Garfield (3A), sr.

In Garfield’s run to a Metro League title, they had a stopper. Justice turned a breakout football season at defensive back into a senior basketball season where he was named Metro League defensive player of the year, taking many of the state’s toughest guards head on.

Ryan Lafferty, Mt. Spokane (3A), soph.

As Mt. Spokane reloaded as a 3A state contender, Lafferty stepped into a two-point guard lineup next to senior Xavier Kamalu-Vargas seamlessly. He garnered second team all-Greater Spokane League honors, averaging 11.3 points, 4.6 boards and 3.3 assists, hit a game-winning 3 to beat league foe Gonzaga Prep and was instrumental in the team's run to the 3A state semifinals.

John Lustig, Colfax (2B), sr.

Lustig placed a cherry on top of a masterpiece of a season in the Spokane Arena in early March. The Lewis-Clark State pledge, SBLive’s 2B state player of the year, averaged 36.7 points on 71 percent shooting in the Class 2B state tournament, on top of his 30.2 points, 10.3 boards, 4.6 assists and 2.6 steals per game on the season.

Xavier Kamalu-Vargas, Mt. Spokane (3A), sr.

In a strong senior campaign, Kamalu-Vargas showed the many ways he can impact a game, averaging 10.9 points, 3.5 assists, more than a steal per game. The Second team all-GSL pick helped Mt. Spokane reach the 3A state semifinals for the second time in three seasons and shined on the tournament stage, scoring 16 points on 8 of 10 shooting in the state quarters.

Ethan Martin, Arlington (3A), sr.

If his early 37-point outing against Shorecrest didn’t make it clear, Martin’s final season put a stamp on a standout high school career. Wesco 2A/3A league MVP and WIBCA all-state 3A selection averaged 24 points, 6.5 boards and four assists per game, set a single-game program record with 42 points against Marysville-Pilchuck in January and led the Eagles to a league title and the 3A state regional round.

Brent Maldonado, Sunnnyside (4A), jr.

The 4A CBBN defensive player of the year disrupted the league's best players and averaged 18.7 points, 6.0 assists and 5.0 boards per game and shined inn big moments. Dropped a season-high 32 points against league champ Davis and beat Prosser on a buzzer-beater. Not overly tall, but has long arms and has learned to disrupt passing lanes. Head coach Bruce Siebold praised him for his feel for the game and willingness to be coached.

Bryson Metz, Union (4A), sr.

After building a reputation as a one-man press break who will  make you pay from mid-range, Metz’s senior season stood tall in a standout prep career. The senior averaged 17.9 points, 4.3 assists and 2.3 steals per game and was an extension of Titans’ coach Blake Conley on the floor in its way to the 4A state semis and a fifth place finish.

Eamon Monahan, Eastmont (4A), jr.

The steady-handed 6-0 junior excelled as a scorer and showed a willingness to hit big shots. Was named league MVP of the 4A CBBN.

Bennett O’Connor, Mount Si (4A), sr.

Established himself as an underclassman on a Class 4A state title team as a sophomore in 2019-20, and led the Wildcats back to the title in March, two years later, averaging 11.3 points and 7.1 assists (opposite 1.2 turnovers) per game.

Cade Orness, North Kitsap (2A), soph.

The future is bright for Orness, but so is the present. After turning heads as a ninth grader, the 6-foot-3 guard stepped up as a standout primary ball-handler and passer, averaging 15 points, 7.0 assists and 2.2 steals per game, helping the Vikings reach the Class 2A state semis and finish third in state.

Joshua Perez, Toppenish (1A), sr.

Opposing coaches praise Perez, also the school’s quarterback, as the ultimate competitor. There may not be a better example of how he elevated his play during Toppenish’s run to the Class 2A state semis. His numbers (14 points, seven rebounds, five assists per game) shot up in the SunDome, as he averaged 21 points per game and hit big, timely shots.

Boen Phelps, Freeman (1A), jr.

A first team all-league pick as a freshman, Phelps is among Class 1A’s toughest, well-rounded guards. Coach Kyle Olson calls Phelps, also the school’s standout quarterback, the most competitive athlete he’s coached in his 12 years at Freeman.

Maddox Preder, Lake Stevens (4A), jr.

The 6-foot-1 junior earned all-Wesco first team honors, averaging 18 points (42 percent shooting from 3), five assists, four rebounds and two steals per game, helping the Vikings disrupt an already competitive Wesco, beating Glacier Peak and Jackson (twice) in the second half of the season.

Tayon Sessoms, West Seattle (3A), sr.

Gifted with the ball in his hands and excellent court vision. Sessoms moved in from Colorado and formed one of the state's most potent back courts alongside Isaiah Watts. Averaged 17.6 points, 5.4 assists and 4.1 boards per game.

Colton Seymour, Cusick (1B), sr.

Step out beyond the arc to face-guard him? The five-year starter will just take another step back. The hot-shooting senior, SBLive's 1B first team all-state selection, led the Panthers to a 1B state championship and approached the 2,000-point career scoring mark.

Jeremiah Sibley, University (3A), sr.

Two-time first team all-Greater Spokane League is a three-year starting point guard and was the steady-handed leader on a team with state tournament talent-level potential. Averaged 19.9 points, seven boards and four assists per game.

Tyler Sipma, Lynden Christian (1A), jr.

A fiery competitor, Sipma is the floor general on a Class 1A state title-winning team with four double-digits scorers that prides itself on sharing the ball. He can get you a bucket in high-pressure situations.

Braeden Smith, Seattle Prep (3A), sr.

If he’s leading a double-digit-seeded Colgate team to an NCAA Tournament upset in the next few years, don’t be surprised. Smith capped a stellar high school career by leading the Panthers to a third place Class 3A state finish, averaging 18.9 points, 6.9 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game.

Bradley Swillie, Life Christian Academy (1A), sr.

Transitioned to shooting guard as an underclassmen, forming one of the state’s most dynamic back courts. When point guard Omari Maulana graduated, Swillie moved back to floor general, his natural position, and led the Eagles to the Class 1A state semifinals, averaging 26.3 points, 7.1 boards, 4.6 assists and 3.1 steals per game.

Jaden Turner, Ilwaco (2B), sr.

Gifted passer orchestrated the Fishermen's offense and constantly found ways to jump-start it when it sputtered. Said coach Bob Enos: "He's the one that the other kids look to to get us going." Averaged a team-high 17 points and five assists per game and fueled a Pacific 2B League title run and state regional round appearance. Turner will play point guard at Puget Sound next year.

Joshua Wood, Graham-Kapowsin (4A)

His vision and passing ability as a Fresno State-bound quarterback translates to excellent court vision, a recent example being his 13 assists in the WAVOR all-star game. But the 6-foot-3 guard was interchangeable as an off-ball guard, averaging 15.2 points, 6.7 assists and 5.0 rebounds per game to help Graham-Kapowsin mount a historic run to the 4A state tournament.