Chemeketa men lead preseason basketball rankings

NWAACC Men's Basketball

Preseason rankings are usually a complete shot in the dark, as nobody really has a very good idea of how teams will be late in the upcoming campaign. These rankings are exactly that. Updated rosters are out, and a few preseason tournaments have been played, but we have yet to get a good grip on what teams will look like. On the immediate horizon are three preseason tournaments - Skagit Valley Turkey Tournament, LCC Red Devil Classic, and the Pierce College Tournament. Once those tournaments have been played, things will shake out a little more. That lack of rating material noted, here's how I stack things in the early going.

Quick note: Coaches rankings will most likely not be out for a few weeks.

                                                                                                                        

1. Chemeketa Storm

2012 Finish:
2nd in Southern Region
Runner up at NWAACC Championships

Expected Impact Players:
Sophomore G Gavin Kauffman, Sophomore G Johnny Howard (#respect)

Chemeketa, after advancing to the NWAACC final last year, may be more loaded than any other team in the league coming in to this season. They are returning seven experienced players, including their top five scorers, all of whom averaged double figures in 2011-12. Gavin Kauffman made a splash at last year's tournament, but the Storm can get offense from any one of about six different players.

                                                                                                                         

2. Clackamas Cougars

2012 Finish:
3rd in Southern Region
Did Not Place at NWAACC Championships

Expected Impact Players:
Sophomore G Kirby Hawkins, Freshman G Michone Hopkins

The Cougars came in to the tournament with high expectations, but failed to produce. This year, they return without high scoring star guard Taylor Dunn, but with more experience at point guard and a more varied offensive attack. Along with adding the perimeter scoring freshman guard Michone Hopkins, Clackamas is bringing back Kirby Hawkins, who redshirted in 2011 after finishing the second leading scorer in 2010.

                                                                                                                         

3. Spokane Sasquatch

2012 Finish: 
1st in Eastern Region
Did Not Place at NWAACC Championships

Expected Impact Players:
Sophomore G Brady Bagby, Sophomore C Luke Evans

Few teams valued a player like Spokane did Preston Wynne. Averaging 23 points a game and having hit 144 treys in 2011-12, Wynne played nearly 1000 minutes and was the go-to guy each and every night. The Sasquatch will have to replace  Wynne's impact with a combination of sophomores Brady Bagby and Luke Evans, who averaged around 20 points collectively a season ago. Evans also led the team in blogs and rebounds.

                                                                                                                         

4. Tacoma Titans

2012 Finish: 
2nd in Western Region
2012 NWAACC Champions

Expected Impact Players:
Sophomore G Josh Lord, Sophomore F Damani Coley

Tacoma lost a brilliant offensive star in Mark McLaughlin, who led the nation in scoring at the Juco level last season. TCC waved goodbye to their top four scorers, and won't feature a lineup with much experience. However, if there's one thing that's a constant, it's the ability of head coach Carl Howell to bring the best out of the talent he has. They might struggle at first, but Tacoma will finish strong.

                                                                                                                         

5. Walla Walla Warriors

2012 Finish: 
3rd in Eastern Region
Did Not Place at NWAACC Championships

Expected Impact Players:
Sophomore G Jordan Klebaum, Freshman 6'2 Post Kim Tillery


Walla Walla had two close losses at the 2012 tournament, one to open the games at the hands of eventual champion Tacoma, and the other a narrow defeat to 7th place Shoreline. This year, the Warriors will welcome back their leading scorer and assist leader Dylan Radliff, along with four other sophomores who saw playing time in 2012.

                                                                                                                         

6. Yakima Valley Yaks

2012 Finish: 
4th in Eastern Region
6th at NWAACC Championships

Expected Impact Player:
Sophomore G Tomas Ogbaslassie, Freshman F Joel YellowOwl

Just six games into the season last year, Yak guard Tomas Ogbaslassie was benched for the rest of 2012 with a hip injury, after figuring to be YVCC's best player. He was already averaging over 17 a game, along with leading his team in assists and steals. Even without Ogbaslssie, Yakima managed to make it into the playoffs and upset No. 1 Clark on the first day, eventually finishing 6th. Just two other players will be back from last year, but Yakima has been consistent of late: they hold the longest current streak for top six finishes in the league.

                                                                                                                         

7. Peninsula Pirates


2012 Finish: 
2nd in Western Region
4th at NWAACC Championships

Expected Impact Players:
Sophomore G Djuan Smith, Freshman G TreShawn King-Dunbar

Coming in to last year, 2011 NWAACC Champion Peninsula was the talk of many a locker room. Their starting lineup boasted former Wake Forrest guard J.T. Terrell, as well as standouts Dudly Ewell, DeShaun Freeman and Sam Waller. Packed with talent, they seemed like an early favorite to repeat as champions. This year, however, they are only returning three players, but have a host of transfers, and a flashy new point guard from Alaska, freshman TreShawn King-Dunbar.

                                                                                                                         

8. S. Puget Sound Clippers


2012 Finish: 
4th in Western Region
Did Not Place at NWAACC Championships

Expected Impact Players:
Sophomore G Scotty Ewing, Sophomore G Jamey Smith

The Clippers will miss their scoring and rebounding leader Ayne Turner, but they welcome back second leading scorer and assist leader Scotty Ewing, one of  five sophomores on the 2012 roster. With Clark starting from scratch and most of Tacoma leaving for Central Washington, S. Puget Sound could find their way a little easier in the West this year, but it depends on how well they are able to bring their freshmen up to speed.

                                                                                                                         

Lane women lead basketball preseason rankings

NWAACC Women's Basketball

Preseason rankings are usually a complete shot in the dark, as nobody really has a very good idea of how teams will be late in the upcoming campaign. These rankings are exactly that. Updated rosters are out, and a few preseason tournaments have been played, but we have yet to get a good grip on what teams will look like. Coming up is a huge opportunity - the Clackamas Thanksgiving Invitational, which will include six NWAACC programs pitted against one another over three days, Nov. 23-25. Also on the horizon is the Bellevue Tournament, which includes seven NWAACC teams. That lack of rating material noted, here's how I stack things in the early going.

Quick note: Coaches rankings will most likely not be out for a few weeks.

                                                                                                                        

1. Lane Titans

2012 Finish:
1st in Southern Region
Did Not Place at NWAACC Championships

Expected Impact Players:
Freshman G Simone Thompson, Sophomore 6'1 Post Megan Shields

The message regarding Lane to end last season? Full of freshman talent. That message is the same coming back, as they now have a roster packed with brilliant sophomores, including their two top scorers in Kersey Wilcox (15 ppg) and Megan Shields (12.4 ppg), as well as a dose of freshman who should be able to contribute, including one of the league's tallest, Madeline Hedshaw, who stands at 6' 3". 

                                                                                                                         

2. Clackamas Cougars

2012 Finish:
3rd in Southern Region
5th at NWAACC Championships

Expected Impact Players:
Sophomore G Jenny Johnson, Sophomore 6'1 Post Megan Feldman

One of the best teams in points, assists, and steals last season, Clackamas has lost one of their leaders both defensively and offensively in Sam McLoud, and their big three-point threat Makesha Bizon. However, they are returning their two top scorers in Jenny Johnson (16.5 ppg) and Ashleigh Anderson (12.9 ppg), as well as the Feldman twins, Jordan and Megan, who measure up to 6'1" and saw vast improvement last season.

                                                                                                                         

3. Skagit Valley Cardinals

2012 Finish: 
1st in Northern Region
6th at NWAACC Championships

Expected Impact Players:
Sophomore G Sophia Baetz, Sophomore PG Brittany Wilson

After winning the NWAACC North, Skagit Valley came into the tournament and smashed Umpqua in the mouth by 20 points before barely falling to Walla Walla in overtime. SVC then went and beat out a rising Lane team by one, and hung tough with Clackamas for a half. The Cardinals are returning leading scorer Sophia Baetz, good for more than 19 points per game last season, as well as bigs Allison Johnson and Laken McLelland, both of whom saw meaningful minutes off the bench last year.



                                                                                                                         

4. Walla Walla Warriors


2012 Finish: 
2nd in Eastern Region
3rd at NWAACC Championships

Expected Impact Players:
Sophomore F Hailey Felgenhauer, Sophomore G Michelle Seitz

Walla Walla did lose their leaders in points, rebounding and assists when their sophomores moved on, but with a few returning experienced players and a host of sophomore transfers, Walla Walla has the potential to go either way this upcoming season, just a few months removed from beating out Yakima Valley for the No.2  in the East. WWCC's biggest returning name is Hailey Felgenhauer, who put up 10 ppg in 2012.

                                                                                                                         

5. Chemeketa Storm

2012 Finish: 
2nd in Southern Region
4th at NWAACC Championships

Expected Impact Players:
Sophomore G Jordan Klebaum, Sophomore 6'2 Post Kim Tillery


Despite losing their offensive leader in Janelle Weiss (14.5 ppg) and leading rebounder Lauren Codling (11.3 rpg), Chemeketa has reason to expect success this year. One of three returning starters, Jordan Klebaum, led the team in three pointers made and attempted a year ago, and the Storm are getting back a number of players with solid playing experience from 2011-2012. Also looking to make a powerful impact is 6'2" returning sophomore Kim Tillery (formerly Van Dyke), who averaged 12 points a game last season.

                                                                                                                         

6. Bellevue Bulldogs

2012 Finish: 
2nd in Northern Region
7th at NWAACC Championships

Expected Impact Player:
Sophomore G Brittany Barrington

A team that very nearly knocked off eventual 5th place winning Clackamas in the first round, Bellevue waved farewell to a star-studded starting lineup, retaining only point guard Brittany Barrington from the 2011-2012 roster. Barrington led the team in assists and steals, and should assume a decent portion of the scoring for this year's team.


                                                                                                                         

7. Centralia Blazers


2012 Finish: 
1st in Western Region
Did Not Place at NWAACC Championships

Expected Impact Players:
Sophomore G Sabra Spoul, Sophomore G Shenae Sauls

Last year's Blazer's team saw the resurgence of a program that had been good for several years before the 6-17 season in 2011. This season, they will have to win without nightly double double threat Ali Campbell, but they are returning second leading scorer Sabra Spoul and guard Shenae Sauls, who saw a lot of minutes and was second on the team in assists.

                                                                                                                         

8. Umpqua Riverhawks


2012 Finish: 
4th in Southern Region
8th at NWAACC Championships

Expected Impact Players:
Freshman G Kyndal Charleston, Freshman G Christal Jeff

Umpqua lost a rock in the post with the finish of the 2012 season. 6'2 Sophomore center Pua Kailiawa led the NWAACC in blocks in both of her seasons, amd was third in total blocks in 2012. They don't have many players returning with much experience, but they've added some new talent, most notably Kyndal Charleston, a constant threat from beyond the  three point line.