Preseason Statewide Boys Basketball Coaches Polls
OSAAtoday is thrilled to present its preseason statewide Boys Basketball Coaches Polls in all classifications. Thanks to all the coaches who took the time and had the expertise to contribute their opinions to this endeavor.
Look for the polls every Tuesday during the fall season.
Please note: these polls are for generating interest and discussion only and have no impact on the OSAA’s RPI and Colley ratings that form the basis of the OSAA’s rankings for playoff purposes.
Boys Basketball
6A
1. Jefferson (23) 257
2. Grant (3) 208
3. Lake Oswego 179
4. West Linn 154
5. Barlow 144
6. Jesuit 108
7. Central Catholic 88
8. Southridge 66
9. Tigard 58
10. Lincoln 23
First-place votes in parentheses
Others receiving significant votes: North Medford (17); Sheldon (15)
Notes: Grant defeated Portland Interscholastic League rival Jefferson 63-62 in the final last year. The Generals return two starters in seniors Ty Rankin and Aaron Deloney, the team's two leading scorers in the championship game. ... Jefferson beat Clackamas for the title in 2017. ... Barlow, a semifinalist last year, has a third-year starter at point guard in junior Jesse White, who averaged 19 points last season. ... West Linn returns four starters from a 17-9 team, including 6-4 junior guard Micah Garrett.
5A
1. Wilsonville (3) 87
2. Churchill (3) 84
3. Silverton (3) 82
4. Thurston (2) 78
5. Crater 49
6. Springfield 35
7. Pendleton 28
8. La Salle Prep 27
9. Willamette 25
10. Parkrose 22
First-place votes in parentheses
Others receiving significant votes: West Albany (15), Crescent Valley (11)
Notes: Wilsonville has played in the last four championship games, winning titles in 2016 and 2017. Thurston won the title last year, defeating the Wildcats 54-36. ... Wilsonville brings back two starters in senior point guard Jack Roche and junior wing/post Dakota Reber. ... Thurston's two returning starters are 6-2 senior guard Isaac Lange and 6-8 senior forward Mason Miller. ... Churchill and Crater were semifinalists last year.
4A
1. Seaside (13) 130
2. Marshfield 108
3. Stayton 84
4. Valley Catholic 79
5. Banks 76
6. Marist Catholic 46
7. Philomath 42
8. Newport 30
9. Henley 21
9. La Grande 21
First-place votes in parentheses
Others receiving significant votes: Woodburn (16), Sisters (13)
Notes: Seaside has played in the last three finals, winning the last two. The Seagulls return all five starters from last year's team, which went 22-5 and beat Valley Catholic 48-44 in the final. ... Marshfield returns its top seven players from a quarterfinal team, including two 6-7 seniors in Grant Webster and Cory Stover.
3A
1. De La Salle North Catholic (4) 118
2. Dayton (3) 101
3. Santiam Christian (5) 99
4. Horizon Christian, Tualatin 75
5. Catlin Gabel 61
6. Salem Academy 49
7. Cascade Christian (1) 41
8. Pleasant Hill 37
9. Portland Adventist 23
10. Blanchet Catholic 19
First-place votes in parentheses
Others receiving significant votes: Rainier (15), Amity (15), Oregon Episcopal School (13), Umatilla (12), St. Mary’s, Medford (12)
Notes: De La Salle North Catholic has senior guard Kareem Nelson, who scored 19 points in a 68-55 win over Dayton in last year's final. ... Dayton beat De La Salle North Catholic in the championship game in 2017.
2A
1. Columbia Christian (14) 158
2. Western Christian (3) 152
3. Kennedy 135
4. Toledo 113
5. Knappa 92
6. Monroe 41
6. Coquille 41
6. Santiam 41
9. Oakland 24
10. Jefferson 19
First-place votes in parentheses
Others receiving significant votes: Grant Union (18), Lost River (17), Portland Christian (16), Stanfield (16), Vernonia (15), Pilot Rock (14), Heppner (13), East Linn Christian (10)
Notes: Reigning champion Columbia Christian has one of the state's top college prospects in 6-8 sophomore Ben Gregg, who made the state tournament first team as a freshman, breaking the tournament rebounding records. Gregg had 23 points in a 65-61 win over Western Mennonite in the final. ... Kennedy is led by 6-3 junior point guard Emorej Lynk, who was second-team all-state.
1A
1. Nixyaawii (1) 66
2. Trinity Lutheran (5) 58
3. Prairie City (2) 54
4. St. Paul 41
5. Hosanna Christian 38
6. Horizon Christian, Hood River 37
7. Crosshill Christian 36
8. Pacific (1) 35
9. Triad (1) 28
10. Sherman 22
10. Jordan Valley 22
First-place votes in parentheses
Others receiving significant votes: Joseph (17), Damascus Christian (13), Umpqua Valley Christian / Melrose Christian (13), Powder Valley (10)
Notes: Pacific beat Prairie City in the championship game last year. Triad and Jordan Valley were semifinalists. ... Sherman won titles in 2015 and 2016.