Editor’s note: The Player of the Year and All-Area team were chosen by the Herald sports staff based on coaches recommendations, season statistics and first-hand observations.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Cam Hiatt, sr., G, Edmonds-Woodway
(Click here for the full player of the year story)
ALL-AREA FIRST TEAM
(in alphabetical order by last name)
Cam Hiatt, sr. G, Edmonds-Woodway
In his lone season with the Warriors, Hiatt propelled his team to the WIAA 3A State Championship game while averaging 21.8 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists. The 6-foot-4 combo guard posted scoring lines of 37, 33 and 28 in the state regional, quarterfinal and semifinal rounds, respectively, before dropping a double-double (15 points, 12 rebounds) in Edmonds-Woodway’s title game loss to Rainier Beach. The Wesco 3A South MVP is committed to Dartmouth.
Jo Lee, sr., G, Glacier Peak
The Grizzlies reached the 4A state semifinals this season for the second year in a row, and once again, Lee was the driving force. The 6-foot-2 guard’s lethal fadeaway jumper helped him average 22.1 points per game while chipping in 3.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 2.1 steals per game. En route to Glacier Peak’s third-place finish, Lee scored 26 points in the Round of 12 against Leyton Martin and Arlington and 18 in the semifinal loss to eventual 4A champion Gonzaga Prep. The Wesco 4A First-Teamer is committed to Le Moyne (NY).
Leyton Martin, sr., G, Arlington
Martin followed up a stellar junior campaign, in which he was named the 2023-24 All-Area Player of the Year, with eye-popping numbers as a senior. The 6-foot guard averaged 23.3 points, 10.5 rebounds, 6.8 assists and 3.0 steals while leading the Eagles to the state tournament. Perhaps his best performance was a 45-10-5 stat line in Arlington’s 92-90 overtime win against Lynden Christian on Dec. 23. The Wesco 4A MVP is committed to Biola (CA).
Arion ‘Bubba’ Palacol, sr., G, Marysville-Getchell
A 5-foot-11 guard, Palacol capped a legendary career with the Chargers as the Wesco 3A North MVP. He averaged 22.9 points on a team with no other scorers averaging double figures and also led his team in rebounds (5.0), assists (4.2) and steals (3.2). He leaves the program as the all-time leading scorer (1,941 points) as well as the leader in assists and steals.
Chayce Waite-Kellar, jr., F, Monroe
The 6-foot-7 post headlined a deep Bearcats team that made a run to win the District 1 3A Championship and qualified for the state tournament for the first time since 2011. Averaging 11.7 points, 10 rebounds and 1.2 steals, Waite-Kellar commanded the low post for Monroe at both ends, shooting 67 percent from the field while making life hard for opposing players driving to the basket. He delivered a 14-point, 13 rebound performance in the District 1 semifinals, then posted 16 points and seven rebounds in the championship against Hiatt and Edmonds-Woodway to seal the title.
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