Top wings in Washington high school boys basketball 2021-22: Who stood out among the pack?
Positionally, the wing spot may have the deepest pool of talent in the state of Washington, with the least separation top to bottom.
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 in the 2021-22 Washington high school season by position group. After taking a closer look at the state's most impactful point guards, off-ball guards and bigs, here is an examination of the top wings.
This is based on production and impact during the 2021-22 season, as well as observations and conversations with coaches, media and talent evaluators.
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 WINGS IN WASHINGTON
(Names are in alphabetical order)
Isaiah Afework, Federal Way (4A), jr.
Afework (left) guards Gonzaga Prep forward Jayden Stevens in the 2022 Class 4A state tournament in March.
Photo by Vince Miller
Also standout baseball player, Afework's athleticism and versatility separate him. The 6-5 guard/forward defended across multiple positions and was consistently a leader on both sides of the ball. He averaged 10 points, 8.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists and nearly two steals per game.
Trey Arland, Kamiakin (4A), sr.
Trey Arland rises above a Central Valley defender for a jump shot in the first round of the Class 4A state tournament.
Photo by Vince Miller
The two-time all-Mid-Columbia Conference first team and defensive player of the year was a 1,000-point career scorer, averaging in conference play 20.1 points, 8.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. He shot 55 percent from the field and 40.1 percent from 3-point range. The 6-6 forward, who is not yet committed to a college, was a two-way standout in Kamiakin's MCC title, second place district finish and fourth place Class 4A state finish.
Parker Baumann, Shorecrest (3A), jr.
The 6-5 junior wing is poised to be among the state's best as a senior, helped lead the Scots to a 20-4 record, averaging 20 points, nine boards and six assists per game.
Luke Browne, Gig Harbor (3A), jr.
Browne (No. 23) crashes the glass in a 3A state tournament matchup with Rainier Beach.
One of the state's most accomplished shooters — set two Gig Harbor 3-point shooting records for 3s in a season (98) and a game (11) and averaged 20.4 points per game shooting 47 percent from the field and 44 percent from 3. The Tides trounced their way to a 23-4 record, 3A SSC title and a state quarterfinal appearance. The 6-6 junior, a three-time all-league selection, grabbed 7.4 rebounds per game. With two big-impact Tides on this list set to return for another year, watch out.
Anthony Canales, Lynden (2A), soph.
Canales contests a shot against Pullman in the Class 2A state championship game in the Yakima SunDome on March 5.
There was never a question of whether or not he'd rise into a high school standout and college prospect with coach Brian Roper's Lions. Rather, it was more of how long it would take. His sophomore campaign answered: not long. The 6-5 forward emerged as a two-way standout and won 2A state tournament MVP honors as he helped lead Lynden to its third championship in four years.
Rylan Donovan, White River (2A), sr.
Donovan (No. 11) is pictured among teammates after the Hornets' senior night win over Enumclaw.
The 2A SPSL MVP, a 6-5 guard/wing, led the Hornets in scoring, notching two 36-point games to lead White River to a league title and 2A state tournament appearance.
Wyatt Dunning, Port Angeles (2A), sr.
Dunning catches a North Kitsap defender with a pump-fake in a regular showdown with its league foe.
The 6-5 guard/wing could shoot from deep and flat out produce. Led the Roughriders to their first state tournament trophy (sixth place), averaging 25 points and 10 rebounds. Earned first team all-Olympic League and SBLive 2A all-state selection.
Carson Frawley, Camas (4A), sr.
Frawley drives down the lane against Union's Ariyah Briscoe during a matchup between the rival schools during the COVID-condenses spring 2021 season.
A standout forward was named co-4A Greater St. Helens League MVP, capping a two-year run as a standout in the often-strong Southwest Washington big-school league. The 6-5 forward had 43-point and 44-point (school record) games in January, then led the Papermakers to its first share of a league title in 11 years.
Kelson Gebbers, Brewster (2B), jr.
Severely sprained ankle? That wasn't enough to keep Gebbers, a standout junior with Division I interest, from leading the Bears to the 2B state title game, where they fell to Liberty. The 6-7 Gebbers, who helped lead the Bears to a 2B title as a freshman, averaged 18.9 points, 7.2 boards and nearly two steals and two assists per game.
Devin Gilbert, Cascade (4A), jr.
The 6-foot-5 forward's breakout junior season helped the Bruins to their best season (10-10) since 2015-16. The all-Wesco selection averaged 22.5 points, 10.3 boards, 1.7 steals and 1.2 blocks per game.
Quin Goldsmith, Freeman (1A), sr.
Hot-shooting senior averaged 16.3 points and hit more than two 3-pointers per game, leading the Scotties to a 24-3 season, an undefeated run (14-0) to a 1A Northeast League title, the 1A state quarterfinals and a fourth place finish.
Jason Grant, Toppenish (1A), sr.
Grant (right) defends Zillah point guard Claysen Delp during a 1A state tournament matchup in the Yakima SunDome, which the Wildcats won 58-54.
Photo by Sean Carter
Also a standout football player, Grant was a pivotal piece in Toppenish's run to a 1A SCAC league title, district title, 1A state semifinals performance and fifth place state finish. Signed with Eastern Oregon football.
Louis Grante-Halliday, Eastside Catholic (3A), sr.
Grante-Halliday tracks back on defense during a first round 3A state tournament win over O'Dea on March 2.
Photo by Andy Buhler
Big-bodied 6-7 guard/wing led the Crusaders in scoring through an up-and-down season, averaging 18.9 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. Eastside went 20-11 and reached the 3A state quarterfinals.
Jordan Hansen, King’s (1A), sr.
Hansen surveys the Lynden Christian defense in the 1A state championship in the Yakima SunDome on March 5.
Photo by Sean Carter
Nobody in 1A produced quite like the 6-7 Idaho State signee averaged 26.6 points and 8.6 boards per game. An injury kept him less than 100 percent for the state tournament — the Knights finished state runners-up to foe Lynden Christian — but that didn't stop him from playing. Now-former King's coach's scheduled the top teams in the state, regardless of the school size, and Hansen shined against the best of the best.
Andrew Hommes, Lynden Christian (1A), sr.
The 1A/2A/3A Northwest Conference MVP led the Lyncs to its second 1A state championship in four years (third appearance). Committed to Point Loma Nazarene, where his brother Daulton Hommes rose to a Division II All-American.
Amare Jackson, Highline (2A)
The junior 6-4 standout was named 2A KingCo player of the year after averaging 35 points and 10 rebounds per game. Let Highline to a 12-8 record and posted a 50-plus point game.
Zaveon Jones, Mountlake Terrace (3A), soph.
Jones (No. 41, left) boxes out during a Class 3A state tournament game against Mt. Spokane. The sophomore turned many heads with a strong performance in the Tacoma Dome.
Also a standout football player, Jones had a breakout sophomore season on the hardwood, averaging 14.3 points, 7.1. boards and 2.0 assists, leading the the Hawks to a 19-5 season, a 3A Wesco title and a 3A state tournament appearance. Earned first team all-tournament honors.
Dakota Joseph, Mariner (4A), sr.
Standout 6-6 forward earned all-4A Wesco honors and helped Mariner emerge from an injury-filled regular season to win a league title and reach the 4A state tournament.
Martin Kaupanger, Annie Wright (1A), fr.
In Annie Wright basketball's first full season with a boys program, the freshman Kaupinger helped reach the 1A state tournament and win its first state game.
The 6-4 wing had a standout freshman season, leading Annie Wright to its first playoff win in the program's young history. He averaged 18.1 points, 10.1 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 3.6 steals and 2.3 blocks.
Denis Kadiric, Ingraham (3A), sr.
After a breakout junior campaign in the COVID-shortened season, Kadiric led a rebuilding Rams team, averaging 21.4 points, 8.3 boards, 1.8 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.5 blocks. The 6-8 wing/forward shot 53.8 percent from the field, 35.8 percent from 3 and 71.6 percent from the line.
Christian King, Seattle Prep (3A), jr.
King contests a shot by Washington-bound guard Koren Johnson in the Metro League championship in February.
Seattle Prep's big two of Braeden Smith and Tyler Mrus became a big three when King, a 6-7 wing, put together his best season yet, averaging 14.1 points, 4.2 rebounds, shot a team-best 59 percent (effective field goal percentage) and 42 percent from 3 (true shooting percentage).
Jonas La Tour, North Kitsap (2A), sr.
Helped the Vikings win their first 2A state championship as a sophomore and two years later, returned bigger, a more developed offensive toolkit and posted a dominant senior season. SBLive's 2A player of the year, averaging 27 points, 9.5 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game. The Seattle Pacific signee led the Vikings to the 2A semifinals and a third place state finish.
Will Landram, Gig Harbor (3A), jr.
Landram (No. 3) battles for a rebound against Rainier Beach in the Class 3A state tournament in March.
Also the Tides' standout quarterback, Landram's versatility translated to the hardwood, where the first team all-South Sound Conference selection was a three-level scorer who averaged 15.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, four assists as a junior and shot 58 percent from the field, 40 percent from 3, helping Gig Harbor reach the 3A state quarterfinals.
Kenzel Massey, Garfield (3A), sr.
Massey (center) celebrates with teammates after Garfield beat Seattle Prep in the Metro League title game in February.
After transferring from Lakes ahead of the COVID-condensed season, the 6-6 wing appealed and won a fifth year of eligibility mid-season and played a pivotal role as a versatile two-way standout for the Bulldogs, ranked No. 1 all season, including 17 points, seven boards and a pair of key blocks in a thrilling one-versus-two 3A quarterfinal loss to Auburn.
Tyler Mrus, Seattle Prep (3A), sr.
Versatile three-year standout averaged 17.9 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists and more than a steal per game and played his best basketball of the season in the 3A state tournament, leading the Panthers to the semifinals and a 31-point outing to down Mt. Spokane in the third place game.
Luke Navarre, Zillah (1A), jr.
Navarre warms up for a league showdown with Toppenish.
Gifted 6-6 scorer led the Leopards with nearly 30 points per game and also led the team in rebounds. Named to the second all-tournament team after helping the Leopards reach the 1A state quarterfinals and finish sixth in state.
Jaxon Nap, Hazen (3A), sr.
Photo courtesy Jaxon Nap
Long an undersized guard, Nap enjoyed a massive growth spurt during the pandemic — seven inches and a filling-out frame — to win 3A KingCo MVP, averaging 22 points, 15.1 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game. Hazen went 8-12 in 2021-22. Last summer, his combination of size and ball skills attracted an offer from Montana coach Travis DeCuire. Nap signed with the Grizzlies in November.
Quin Patterson, Mount Si (4A), sr.
Patterson, an SBLive all-class all-state selection and 4A KingCo Defensive Player of the Year, scores through contact in a regional round game against Gonzaga Prep.
Photo by Vince Miller
Part of a state title team in 2020, the 6-8 forward is a high-level outside shooter (45 percent) who can do much more. Patterson, a UC San Diego commit, is hard to rattle and has a high basketball IQ, and knew when to deflect on a talent-laden Mount Si team that finished 4A state runners up.
Levi Pepper, Selah (2A), jr.
Nobody in the state filled the stat sheet quite like Pepper, the latest in a line of standouts at Selah. The bouncy 6-6 junior averaged 21 points, 12 boards, four blocks, three assists and two steals per game, earning 2A CWAC MVP and SBLive 2A all-state second team honors. Had a 22-point, 22-rebound (and seven-assist) double-double.
Dace Pleasant, Federal Way (4A), jr.
Pleasant rises toward the hoop during a first round Class 4A state playoff matchup with Gonzaga Prep in the Tacoma Dome in early March.
The 6-5 junior was a second team all-4A North Puget Sound League selection, averaging 12.4 points, 5.7 boards and 2.2 assists per game, leading the Eagles to a Class 4A state tournament appearance.
Bobby Siebers, Glacier Peak (4A), sr.
A 6-5 guard and the emotional leader on a young Grizzlies team, Siebers, the sixth man on GP's state semifinal run in 2020, also led the team in points (21.7), rebounds (7.5), assists (3.3), steals (1.5) and charges taken — a badge he wears proudly.
Logan Stempniak, Kentwood (4A), sr.
4A North Puget Sound League MVP averaged 21 points and 13 rebounds on 53 percent shooting, 39 percent from 3 as a dynamic inside-outside 6-foot-7 lefty scorer with deep shooting range to lead the Conquerers to a 13-7 record.
Evan Stinson, Cheney (2A), soph.
Stinson dribbles up the court during a breakout 2021-22 sophomore season.
Photo courtesy Evan Stinson
The future is bright for the 6-6 sophomore, who was named to the 3A/4A all-Greater Spokane League first team, averaging 23.1 points, 5.5 rebounds and shot 55 percent from the field as Cheney which responded to an 0-12 season by going 4-15.
Carson Talbert, Tahoma (4A), sr.
Photo by Vince Miller
The long, rangy 6-foot-7 forward is a gifted scorer who can rise and hit a shot above anyone. Averaged 19.5 points and 8.5 rebounds per game and helped lead Tahoma to its first state tournament appearance since 1981.
Sylas Williams, Jackson (4A), jr.
Mounted a breakout junior season against tough non-league competition. Once the word got out, he got a crash course on how to fight through extra pressure and counter defenses geared to stop him. The 6-6 forward averaged 18 points and 14 boards per game and had a 20-plus point, 20-plus rebound game.
