The Portland Interscholastic League’s boys basketball program for the 2024–25 academic year was examined by The Oregonian/OregonLive last week.
It’s time to quickly review the league’s best players.
Junior Robert Acelar, Benson
Acelar will be on varsity for the third time this season. The all-league honorable mention wing, who excels as a shooter and defender, is expected to have a successful junior campaign. As a sophomore, Acelar scored 10.6 points per game on average.
Benson sophomore Richard Hudson
Hudson, a transfer from Grant, is expected to start as point guard for the Astros right away, according to assistant coach Page Mesher. He described the sophomore as a playmaker and dynamic athlete.
Benson, freshman Dreison Niko
Despite being one of the newest teams in the Portland Interscholastic League, the Astros have plenty of talented underclassmen. Mesher believes that Niko will be among the best freshmen in the state. He will start and is anticipated to score in the double digits on average this season.
Senior Finn Cooper of Cleveland
Cooper is the only starting player the Warriors have returned. According to coach Sam Glasgow, the honorable mention all-league player from the previous season took some time this offseason to think about his basketball future and is now back and ready for a fantastic senior campaign. Cooper is a forward with three different scoring tiers. At his size, his wiry athleticism makes him an excellent rebounder and defender.
Senior Brady Ryan of Cleveland
Ryan cracked the Warriors rotation as a junior and produced in some big moments. According to Glasgow, he took over as the team’s captain, leading scorer, and defender this offseason. He will provide many wow moments on offense, and (brings) hard-nosed defense, added Glasgow.
Senior Shea McKenzie of Franklin
McKenzie, a 6-foot-4 forward, transferred in this offseason from Central Catholic. Coach Marc Grassman called him a versatile offensive threat who can score at all three levels, adding that he can score in transition. Expect him to inundate the Lighting offense with creation in all facets.
Senior Zach Smith, Franklin
A defensive-minded guard, Smith spent the offseason working on his half-court offense, and the early returns are promising. The 6-foot-2 senior attacks the paint well and generates high percentage shots for himself and his teammates, Grassman said.
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Emiliano Lazcano-Villanueva, sophomore, Franklin
Lazcano-Villanueva can play, and guard, multiple positions with his 6-foot-4 frame. He uses that length, as well as great speed, quickness and courvision to open things up on both sides of the court for his team. It s hard at times to justify taking him off the court because he usually finds a way to impact the game in a positive way for our team, said Grassman.
Quincy Scott, senior, Grant
Scott brings 6-foot-6 six on the wing for the Generals, complete with the ability to handle the ball and facilitate. His coach Sean Brownhill called him the team s best all around defender, adding he has made a big leap in the offseason offensively. Scott made the all-league honorable mention last last season.
Mekhi Muhammad, senior, Grant
Another all-league honorable mention from last year s team, Muhammad will be looked to to help replace the lost production of the graduated Vashon Hardges. Brownhill said the 6-foot-3 guard can score in bunches. He s also a standout on-ball defender.
Zhalei Van, senior, Grant
Van came on strong towards the back half of last season, his success coinciding with Grant s stirring in-season turnaround. The point guard has carved out a role for himself due to his excellent playmaking ability, but make no mistake, Brownhill said he s more than capable of getting his own. Van s floater in the lane is particularly dangerous.
Keion James, junior, Grant
James, in Brownhill s words, does all the little things that contribute to winning. He s a great on-ball defender that, at 6-foot-2, can guard positions one-through-five. James big-game experience from last season ensure he ll be a key part of a potential league champ this season.
Jahiel Brown, senior, Jefferson
Brown is one of four new transfers on the Democrats roster. The senior wing/forward played minutes for the state runner ups last season at Roosevelt. His versatility will make him a player that is hard to deal with this year, coach Robert Smaller said.
D ryus Dent, senior, Jefferson
Dent is another name to know for the Democrats this season. His versatility and competitiveness will set him apart, said Smaller. Dent will be relied on to help produce in the wake of several graduations and transfers out of the program.
Miles Novy, junior, Lincoln
Novy returns as the Cardinals most experioned post player. He has grown taller, said coach Heather Seely-Roberts, stronger and really worked on his game during the offseason. Lincoln continues to prooritizie working through the post on offense, making Novy one of the team s top scoring threats.
Thomas Carney, junior, Lincoln
Carney is a returning varsity member who played significant minutes last season. He plays both point guard and wing for the Cardinals and, according to Seely-Roberts, is an excllent three-point shooter.
Owen Nathan, senior, Roosevelt
Last season s PIL Defensive Player of the Year, Nathan does it all, said assistant coach Ben Teese. The senior, who averaged 12.5 points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals per game last season was named to the State Tournament all-tournament first team.
Adrian Montague, junior, Roosevelt
Montague comes to the Roughriders from the league-rival Democrats. The guard averaged 14 points, seven assists and five rebounds as s sophomore en route to an all-league second team selection. He s a great playmaker, highly coachable, challenges teammates, (and has a) high basketball IQ, Teese said.
Sirius Owens, junior, Roosevelt
Owens played big minutes as a sophomore for the Roughriders. Now he ll be the team s go-to presence down low with lengthy frame and ability to impact the game in a variety of ways. He averaged seven points and four rebounds last season and was an all-league honorable mention.
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