Prep basketball players returned to the court this week for their first game action of the 2022-23 season.
Here’s a look at some of the area’s top returning players:
BOYS
Parker Baumann, sr., W, Shorecrest
Shorecrest’s Parker Baumann. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Baumann tallied 20 points, nine rebounds and four assists per game while helping the Scots reach the Class 3A state play-in round last season. The 6-foot-6 forward received first-team All-Wesco 3A/2A honors and was named to The Herald’s All-Area second team.
John Floyd, jr., G, Stanwood
Floyd averaged 12.5 points and four rebounds for the Spartans last season. He was an All-Wesco 3A/2A honorable mention. The sharpshooting guard connected on five 3-pointers and netted 25 points in Stanwood’s season opening win over Kamiak.
Devin Gilbert, sr., F, Cascade
Cascade’s Devin Gilbert. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Gilbert averaged 22.5 points, 10.3 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 1.2 blocks during a breakout junior season. The 6-foot-5 forward eclipsed 30 points three times, had numerous double-doubles and helped the Bruins earn their first wins at the district tournament since 2016. He was named first-team All-Wesco 3A/2A and selected to The Herald’s All-Area second team.
Steve Kuhnle, sr., G, Monroe
Kuhnle shot 37% from beyond the arc and averaged 16 points for the Bearcats as a junior. He was a second-team All-Wesco 3A/2A selection. The sharpshooting guard poured in 20 points in a quarter during a game against Snohomish last season.
Jailin Johnson, sr., PG, Mariner
Johnson averaged 15.4 points, 4.5 assists and 2.3 steals per game while helping the Marauders win the Wesco 4A title and reach the Class 4A Hardwood Classic last season. The 5-foot-8 guard was an All-Wesco 4A honorable mention and is a four-year varsity starter. Johnson netted 28 points against 2A power Lynden last season.
Zaveon Jones, jr., F, Mountlake Terrace
Mountlake Terrace’s Zaveon Jones. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Jones posted 14.3 points, 7.1 rebounds and 2.0 assists for the Class 3A sixth-place Hawks last season. The high-motor, 6-foot-2 forward had an especially strong run at the state tournament, averaging 18 points and 6.3 rebounds while earning a first-team selection on the 3A all-tournament team. He was named to The Herald’s All-Area second team and received second-team All-Wesco 3A/2A honors.
Jo Lee, soph., G, Glacier Peak
Lee averaged 10.5 points, three rebounds and three assists per game for the Grizzlies as a freshman. The 6-foot-1 guard helped Glacier Peak reach the 4A state regionals and was an All-Wesco 4A honorable mention.
Bubba Palacol, soph., G, Marysville Getchell
Palacol posted 16.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.4 steals and 2.7 assists per contest during a breakout freshman campaign for the Chargers. He garnered a second-team All-Wesco 3A/2A selection and was the only freshman to be selected all-league by either of Wesco’s two boys basketball leagues. Palacol poured in 36 points in a game against Snohomish last season.
Josiah Pierre, sr., G/F, Kamiak
Kamiak’s Josiah Pierre. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Pierre shot 55% from the field and averaged 18 points, five rebounds, two assists and one steal per game for the Knights last season. The 6-foot-5 swingman’s junior season included a 37-point effort against Kent Meridian. He earned first-team All-Wesco 4A honors.
Maddox Preder, sr., G, Lake Stevens
Preder shot 55% from the field, 40% from beyond the arc and 80% from the free-throw line while averaging 15.5 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.6 assists for the Vikings as a junior. The sharpshooting guard earned a first-team All-Wesco 4A nod and was named to The Herald’s All-Area second team. Preder was also a second-team All-Wesco North pick as a sophomore.
Daniel Savovic, sr., PG, Everett
Savovic averaged 16.4 points, five rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.1 steals as a junior while helping the Seagulls break a run of four straight losing seasons. The sharpshooting guard connected on 48% of his attempts from the field, 38% from 3-point range and 85% from the free-throw line. He was a first-team All-Wesco 3A/2A pick.
Keegan Williams, sr., F, Lynnwood
Williams averaged nearly a double-double with 18.4 points, 8.2 rebounds, two steals, 1.7 blocks and 1.4 steals for the Royals last season. The 6-foot-5 forward was a Wesco 3A/2A honorable mention and is committed to Evergreen State College.
Sylas Williams, sr., W/F, Jackson
Jackson’s Sylas Williams. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Williams was a double-double machine during a stellar junior campaign, averaging 18 points and 14 rebounds per game. The versatile 6-foot-7 playmaker received first-team All-Wesco 4A honors and was the only non-senior selected to The Herald’s All-Area boys basketball first team. His efforts last season included a 23-point, 22-rebound game against Meadowdale. Williams was also a second-team All-Wesco North pick as a sophomore.
GIRLS
Jada Andresen, sr., G, Snohomish
Andresen averaged 12 points and 2.9 3-pointers while helping the Panthers to a fourth-place finish at the 3A state tournament last season. The sharpshooting guard set Snohomish’s single-game record with eight 3-pointers against Shorecrest. She earned first-team All-Wesco 3A/2A honors.
Stanwood’s Vivienne Berrett. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Vivienne Berrett, sr., C/F, Stanwood
Berrett shot 55% from the field and averaged 14.5 points, eight rebounds and 1.5 blocks for the 3A sixth-place Spartans last season. The imposing 6-foot-4 post recorded a pair of double-doubles on her way to being named to the 3A Hardwood Classic all-tournament second team. She’s a two-time first-team all-league pick and one of three returning players from The Herald’s All-Area first team. Berrett is signed to play for the University of Hawaii.
Nayella George, sr., G/F, Kamiak
George posted 12.7 points, nine rebounds, two steals and 1.7 assists per contest for the Knights as a junior. The 5-foot-11 swingwoman was a second-team All-Wesco 4A selection. She netted 25 points in Kamiak’s opener against Mount Vernon.
Bella Hasan, jr., G, Kamiak
Kamiak’s Bella Hasan. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Hasan delivered 17 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.3 steals and 2.7 assists per contest for the Knights as a sophomore. The 5-foot-5 guard is a two-time all-league pick and was named to The Herald’s All-Area second team last season. Hasan dropped 40 points in Kamiak’s season opener against Mount Vernon.
Aniya Hooker, jr., PG, Lynnwood
Hooker shot 51% from the field and tallied 13.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.9 steals per game for the Royals last winter. The 5-foot-9 point guard is a two-time all-league selection
Adria Lincoln, sr., G, Monroe
Lincoln shot 56% from the field and averaged 19 points, 10 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.5 blocks for the Bearcats last season. The talented 6-foot-1 guard is a three-time all-league selection and a University of Montana signee. She was named to The Herald’s All-Area first team as a junior. Lincoln set single-game school records with 43 points and 17 made field goals in the Bearcats’ opener against Ingraham. She also tied the school record with 25 rebounds.
Kayla Lorenz, jr., G/F, Lynnwood
Lornez connected on 40% of her 3-pointers and 83% of her free throws while averaging 15.9 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.4 assists per contest for the Royals as a sophomore. The 6-foot swingwoman earned first-team All-Wesco 3A/2A honors.
Ava Marr, soph., G/F, Archbishop Murphy
Marr averaged 14.9 points, five rebounds, two assists and 1.7 steals while helping the Wildcats to a fourth-place finish at the 2A state tournament last winter. She was named to the 2A Hardwood Classic all-tournament second team after posting 15.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game. Marr was the only freshman named to The Herald’s All-Area teams (second) and an All-Wesco 3A/2A honorable mention.
Gia Powell, jr., W, Meadowdale
Powell netted 15.9 points per game and scored at least 20 points in six games for the Mavericks last season. She was a first-team All-Wesco 3A/2A selection. The 5-foot-8 guard’s sophomore campaign included a 27-point effort against Lynnwood in the 3A District 1 tournament.
Brynna Pukis, soph, G, Glacier Peak
Pukis finished just six 3-pointers shy of the Grizzlies’ single-season program record with a 73 triples as a freshman. She shot 36.7% from beyond the arc, 80.8% from the free-throw line and averaged 14.1 points, 3.5 assists, 3.1 rebounds and 1.6 steals. The sharpshooting guard was a first-team All-Wesco 4A pick.
Kylani Rookstool, sr., G, Glacier Peak
Rookstool shot 38% from beyond the arc and averaged 14.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.3 steals for the Grizzlies last season. The 5-foot-8 guard earned first-team All-Wesco 4A honors.
Jenna Villa, sr., G, Arlington
Villa stuffed the stat sheet while posting 21 points, nine rebounds, three assists and three steals per game for the 3A third-place Eagles last season. The versatile 6-foot-2 guard reached at least 20 points 11 times and set Arlington’s single-game record with 10 3-pointers against Mountlake Terrace. Villa, who was named to the 3A Hardwood Classic all-tournament second team as a junior, was The Herald’s 2021-22 Girls Basketball Player of the Year. She’s signed to play at Washington State University.
Alana Washington, jr., Everett
Everett’s Alana Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Washington averaged 9.6 points and 4.8 rebounds while helping the Seagulls reach the 3A state regionals for the first time since 2013. The 6-foot-1 guard also played a key role in Everett’s full-court press defense, which held Wesco 3A/2A opponents to a league-best 37.4 points per game last season. She was a second-team All-Wesco 3A/2A selection.
Mae Washington, jr., Everett
Washington posted 7.3 points and 5.6 rebounds per game while helping the Seagulls reach the 3A state regionals for the first time since 2013. The 5-foot-11 guard also played a key role in Everett’s full-court press defense, which held Wesco 3A/2A opponents to a league-best 37.4 points per game last season. She was a second-team All-Wesco 3A/2A pick.
Note: Check back in the coming weeks for our boys and girls basketball season previews with coaches polls, and teams and storylines to watch.
Talk to us
- You can tell us about news and ask us about our journalism by emailing newstips@heraldnet.com or by calling 425-339-3428.
- If you have an opinion you wish to share for publication, send a letter to the editor to letters@heraldnet.com or by regular mail to The Daily Herald, Letters, P.O. Box 930, Everett, WA 98206.
- More contact information is here.
Gallery
