Top post players in Washington high school boys basketball 2021-22: Bang down low, step outside — these bigs did both

The center and post positions are consistently being re-defined. 

In Washington, the most dangerous high school bigs could do a little bit of everything offensively — bang inside, score off the dribble, shoot from outside and patrol the middle of the defense — and, in turn, defend those same traits.

As the calendar turns toward live evaluation periods and grassroots ball, SBLive is continuing series of watch lists looking at the state's most impactful boys and girls basketball players by position in the 2021-22 Washington high school season.

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

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

Want to weigh in? Reach out to @SBLiveWA on social media or leave a reply in the comments:

TOP POST PLAYERS IN WASHINGTON

(Names are in alphabetical order)

Stephen Behil, Camas (4A), sr.

The 6-foot-6 senior’s development into a long, athletic shot-blocker and secondary scorer was crucial to the Papermakers’ run to grab a share of his first league title since 2011. Camas fell shy of the state tournament, but Behill was a first team all-4A Greater St. Helens League pick and averaged 12.9 points and 5.9 rebounds per game.

Dhantaye Bennett-Joe, Davis (4A), sr.

Four-year starter was a feature interior piece for the 4A Columbia Basin Big 9 champ Pirates, who made a run to the 4A state tournament, averaging 15 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. The 6-6 center gave opponents — especially smaller teams — fits down low. “Without him, they don’t beat a lot of teams in league," said one opposing coach.

Tyler Bilodeau, Kamiakin (4A), sr.

The most polished big in the state, the 6-foot-9 Oregon State signee has a smooth touch around the rim and with his back to the basket and can step out and hit from 3-point range (39 percent). The. SBLive all-classification all-state first team selection averaged 23 points and 10.3 boards on 57 percent shooting and helped lead Kamiakin to a fourth place 4A state finish.

Connor Chalich, Sumner (4A), sr.

Standout defensive end is also a strong, fluid presence down low. Earned an all-4A SPSL first team selection and shot 52 percent from the field on the season.

Cooper Church, Tahoma (4A), sr.

Defensive force and versatile center at the heart of the Bears on the defensive end. Averaged 10 points, 9.5 rebounds, three assists and two blocks per game — and held his own against the state's top bigs.

Jacob Cofie, Eastside Catholic (3A), soph.

A physically imposing big with fluid movement inside and a nice touch on offense. After fielding several Pac-12 offers, the 6-foot-9, strong-bodied, athletic Cofie helped the Crusaders reach the 3A state quarterfinals. Posted 16 points and nine boards per game.

Josh Conerly Jr., Rainier Beach (3A), sr.

Top o-lineman in the nation (who committed to Oregon last week) wreaked havoc on the basketball court, too. Averaged a double-double (10 points, 11 boards per game) and led a run to the 3A state title game, serving as an extension of head coach Mike Bethea, who has coached multiple NBA all-stars, on the court: “He was the closest thing to a coach on the floor I’ve ever had — always on the same page as me, some of the stuff he does on the floor you can’t teach,” Bethea said.

Soren Dalan, W.F. West (2A), jr.

The 6-foot-11 center broke a 37-year old school record for rebounds in a season, posted a 20-point, 18-board, five-block outing to send the Bearcats to regionals, averaging 14.2 points, 13.9 rebound and there blocks per game. Posted 23 boards in a game on two occasions.

Andreas Engholm, Olympia (4A), jr.

The first team all-4A South Puget Sound League selection helped lead Olympia to a third place 4A state finish, averaging 15 points and seven boards per game. Made strides as a big and came into his own to form one of the state's top high-low duos with guard Parker Gerrits.

Seth Horn, The Northwest School (1A), jr.

The potential in the 6-9 forward has been evidence since he stepped foot on campus as a freshman. And he made his impact felt, starting his junior season with 14.9 points, 10.4 boards and three blocks per game before an ankle injury sidelined him for the second half of the year — and allowed for his front court mate to shine.

Yanni Fassilis, Union (4A), jr.

Scary presence in the center of Union’s 2-3 zone emerged as one of the state’s top bigs, averaging 18.2 points, 9.8 boards, 3.1 blocks and 2.9 steals to lead Union to the Class 4A semifinals.

Devin Gilbert, Cascade (3A), jr.

The 6-5 junior helped the Bruins go from 1-9 in 2021 to 10-11 this past season, averaging 22.5 points, 10.3 boards, 1.7 steals and more than a block per game, which earned him first team all-3A/2A Wesco honors.

Chase Haynes, Life Christian (2B), sr.

Hulking interior presence helped Life Christian Academy reach the 2B state title as a sophomore and averaged a double-double establishing himself as perhaps the most dominant big in 1A.

Miles Heide, Mount Si (4A), jr.

He came into the program as a scrawny big with a nice touch and sky-high potential. As a junior, he put together his most dominant year for the 4A state runners up — 14.5 points, 10.1 boards and 2.3 blocks per game — and fielded several Division I offers along the way (both parents played for Oregon State). Could he be the state's top big next year?

Grayson Hunt, Pullman (2A), sr.

Creative interior scorer and a beast on the glass. Helped Pullman win the 2A Greater Spokane League, district 8 title and reach the 2A state title game, averaging 14 points and 9.6 rebounds.

Reece Isaak, Almira-Coulee-Hartline (1B), sr.

The 6-foot-3 Isaak was 1B's most imposing big. The four-year impact player, also a standout two-way lineman on a state title team, led ACH to a state runner-up finish in March, averaging 19 points and 12 boards per game.

Gavin Marrs, Ellensburg (2A), jr.

After missing most of his junior season with a back injury, the junior flashed the offensive toolkit at 6-foot-11 that has attracted Division I offers — 10 points, eight boards and three blocks per game in eight games. His best playing days are ahead of him.

Sherrell McCullum, Garfield (3A), jr.

He’s imposing with his back to the basket and a load going downhill. Smaller teams struggled for much of the season keeping the 6-6 junior, third team all-Metro League selection off the glass and out of the lane. 

Kamal Muhammad, Lakeside (Seattle) (3A), sr.

The versatile 6-8 forward has established himself as a high-motor two-way contributor. Helped Lakeside of Seattle finish 9-9 in the vaunted Metro League. Multi-year standout and a leader on and off the court. Second-team all-league selection.

Miles Nelson, The Northwest School (1A), jr.

When standout 6-9 junior Seth Horn missed the second half of the season, Nelson stepped up. The 6-5 forward and two-year captain posted 15.6 points, 7.0 boards and 2.9 assists per game — and upped the scoring to around 20 per game sans Horn — to earn first team all-Emerald Sound Conference selection.

Aaron Ofstun, R.A. Long (2A), sr.

Was a senior leader and a tough matchup for opposing teams as a 6-8 forward with a strong back-to-the-basket game. Led the Lumberjacks to a massive program year with a 2A Greater St. Helen’s title, district title and run to the 2A state semifinals.

Keith Olson, Napavine (2B), sr.

Averaged a double-double and led the Tigers to the 2B state tournament. Napavine played through Olson on the inside, and he anchored the team on both sides of the ball.

Maverick Sanders, Mt. Spokane (3A), jr.

He grew up playing on the wing, until he moved to Mt. Spokane from Mead for his junior season and coaches asked the 6-foot-6 forward to play center. Honed an arsenal of post moves in one summer and averaged 14.7 points on 57 percent shooting and 7.8 rebounds per game.

Josh Salguero, Morton-White Pass (2B), jr.

After becoming eligible midway through the season right around when the team hit its stride, coincidence or not. The 6-foot-7 forward excelled, averaging 14 points and 10 rebounds per game.

Jayden Stevens, Gonzaga Prep (4A), sr.

It’s not just Stevens’ athleticism that makes the 6-foot-8 forward who found success inside and from 3-point range (21 points per game on 71 percent shooting) effective. The SBLive second team all-classification all-state selection was the Bullpups’ backbone through a rocky start to the season — “the nucleus, the core component holding it all together,” Gonzaga Prep coach Matty McIntyre said.

Jaylin Stewart, Garfield (3A), jr.

The top 2023 prospect in the state and SBLive 3A all-state first team selection finished a strong junior campaign, establishing himself as a scorer off the dribble and back-to-the-basket, a strong 6-foot-7 presence down low defensively and helped Garfield win the Metro League and post an undefeated regular season.

John Vaara, Port Angeles (2A), sr.

Imposing presence behind the plate as a standout catcher, Vaara may have been the single most physically imposing player in 2A at 6-foot-9. Averaged 17 points and 9.9 rebounds per game leading PA on a state run.

Chase Wilson, Okanogan (2B), sr.

The versatile 6-foot-8 forward dropped 40 in his first game of the season and averaged a team-high 18 points, 11.2 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game for Okangan, a top-five team in SBLive’s power rankings all year before missing state.

Will Woodward, Eastlake (4A), sr.

A pitching commit to Washington, the 6-foot-7 post dominated in his senior basketball campaign, averaging 25 points, 13 rebounds and two assists per game — a double-double for the second straight season. Won 4A KingCo MVP and led the Wolves to a 12-9 record.

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