Oregon’s best high school boys basketball players: Meet the top stars in the 6A Mt. Hood Conference

Defending league champion Clackamas is led by the backcourt of junior point guard Garrett Strube and senior shooting guard Jackson Jaha.

We’re taking a conference-by-conference look at some of the state’s top high school basketball players. Here’s the Mt. Hood Conference boys list.

Every league has numerous standout players, and these lists are not intended to be comprehensive. Let us know which other players you think should be added to the list.

Eysah Pippa-White (Gresham) photo by Dave Ball

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CENTRAL CATHOLIC

One of the state’s top prospects transferred midseason with Rams senior Luke Johnson moving across the country to finish his prep career at Huntington Prep (WV) — a perennial team in USA Today’s Super 25.

Central Catholic is leaning on 6-foot-7 junior Riley Williams to bring a presence in the paint. A standout in the Rams’ run to the state football title, he is the No. 4-ranked tight end in his class.

“He’s one of those guys who can do it all,” Central Catholic coach David Blue said. “He’s a good passer and finisher. He’s getting his bearings and coming into his own.”

The Rams feature freshman Isaac Carr at point guard. He's coming off a stellar summer season with the Nike-sponsored Rose City Rebels.

“He’s a flat-out player with great poise and a high basketball IQ,” Blue said. “He came in with the billing as a top shooter, but he does a lot more than that.”

Carr already has a scholarship offer to the University of Portland, where his older brother, David, also played.

Senior Jordan King, an all-state receiver, gives the Rams another football standout on the basketball court. He earned a spot in the starting lineup as a sophomore but chose to sit out last year’s COVID-adjusted basketball season.

“He has great instincts, and his physicality is really leading us defensively,” Blue said. “He’s a great leader on our team.”

GRESHAM

The Gophers return explosive guard Eysah Pippa-White for his junior season. He put up 23 points per game during Gresham’s inaugural showing at the Les Schwab Invitational.

“When he is in attack mode he is as dangerous as anyone in the state,” Gresham coach Erik Lyslo said. “Teams are throwing multiple guys at him, and he has the ability and the maturity to make the right decision.”

The Gophers’ backcourt includes another prolific scorer in junior Scotty Riddle, a transfer from Reynolds, who is putting up 18 points per game.

“He’s really calm — nothing rattles him,” Lyslo said. “Teams are keying so much on Esyah that we have been spreading the floor, and Scotty can attack the basket and finish.”

Riddle had the winning free throw with 20 seconds left in the Gophers’ 55-54 win at David Douglas.

Sophomore R.J. Alexander gives the Gophers a deep threat. The lefty is hitting almost 50 percent of his three-point tries.

“He spends a lot of time on the shooting machine,” Lyslo said. “Teams are running him off the three-point line now, but he put in the work in the offseason to create off the dribble.”

BARLOW

Senior point guard Connor Hills was an all-league player at point guard last year, averaging 14 points per game.

“He does a great job managing the game and setting us up offensively,” Barlow coach Tom Johnson said.

The Bruins also look to get production from senior brothers Nathan and Jesse Jones, who combined to put up 23 points per game last season. Nathan Jones connected on 72 percent of his shots as a junior.

“Nathan is our leading scorer, while Jesse can score inside and leads us in blocked shots and rebounds,” Johnson said.

Freshman Jalen Atkins spent the offseason as a member of the elite Rose City Rebels eighth-grade squad and put up 14.5 points per game during the Bruins’ stay at the Les Schwab Invitational.

CLACKAMAS

The defending league champion Cavaliers are led by the backcourt of junior point guard Garrett Strube and senior shooting guard Jackson Jaha.

“Garrett has a strong basketball IQ and gets to all the right angles,” Clackamas coach Cameron Mitchell said. “Jackson is a prototypical three-level scorer. He’s extremely strong physically, and that allows him to get to the hoop and score.”

The Cavaliers rely on 6-foot-10 center Nathan Senatra in the paint. One of his season highlights came in a 33-point loss to South Medford and Division I prospect Devon Malcolm.

“Devon had been dunking all over us and was going for another breakaway, but Nathan sprinted down and blocked one at the rim,” Mitchell said. “He has those long arms and a high motor around the rim.”

NELSON

The Hawks are led by junior captain C.J. Borin at power forward. (Read more about Borin here.)

“He’s aggressive off the dribble with a good touch inside, which makes him a tough matchup for most bigs,” said Nelson coach Alex Edwards, the JV coach at Sprague the previous four seasons.

The Hawks are also getting scoring from junior Parker Harrison, who put up 23 points in a 79-36 win over McKay during a holiday tournament.

“He’s crafty with the ball, and when we need something done, we like to put the ball into his hands,” Edwards said.

At 6-foot-7, junior Vanndon Heard gives Nelson a post presence.

“We are able to play aggressively on the ball, because we know we can funnel action to him and he can be a game-changer for us,” Edwards said. “He forces people to change their shot and to think twice before driving it in.”

DAVID DOUGLAS

The Scots are led by senior guard Josiah Collins, who is pacing the team with 16.5 points per game this season.

“The main thing is that he is just competitive — he’s always the hardest-working kid in the gym,” David Douglas coach Chad Reeves said. “He’s excellent in transition and explosive getting to the rim. He plays both ends of the floor well.”

David Douglas relies on 6-foot-3 Jay’Vanni Sarchi to make an impact in the paint.

“He can be a matchup challenge with his quickness, and he changes shots on defense,” Reeves said.

CENTENNIAL

The Eagles are led by junior point guard Parker Poetsch, who at midseason ranked 11th in the state in scoring with his 19.0 average. He put up 27, including eight in overtime, during a 65-59 win at Sandy.

“He’s able to score at all levels,” Centennial coach John Poetsch said. “We want to play a little more up-tempo and that favors him. He’s pretty skilled with the basketball and out in the open court.”

The Eagles look to 6-foot-5 junior Isaiah Turner to produce in the paint. He had a couple of double-doubles before a sprained ankle sidelined him for most of the holiday break.

SANDY

The Pioneers feature senior forward Joseph Wagner, who put up 26 points against Centennial.

“He has good strength, and with his ball-handling, he is able to get himself some good looks,” first-year Sandy coach Paul Henderson said.

Sophomore point guard Marcos Ramirez directs Sandy’s attack, while senior Angel Tello Tello is the team’s top stopper.

“Marcos is a heady sophomore with good court vision, who sets people up well,” Henderson said. “Angel is quick at 5-foot-5, and he disrupts a lot of opposing teams’ guards.”

REYNOLDS

Senior guard Jovany Guzman is leading the Raiders at 20.4 points per game this season.

“He’s a playmaker who can handle the ball, can shoot and can score from anywhere on the floor,” Raiders coach Terrence Dickens said. “He’s a team leader who is also feisty on defense.”

Reynolds also features senior Alex Hendrickson at forward.

“He’s the glue of the team — a scrappy player who gets to the offensive boards and is a hard-nosed defender,” Dickens said.