Prep boys basketball: Five to watch

Collin Kane | Snohomish

Senior | Guard/Forward

Not many 6-foot, 7-inch high-school players can do what Kane can on the basketball court. His ability to score inside and make the perimeter jump shot make him virtually unguardable for opponents. Last season, he averaged 14.6 points and seven rebounds per game for the Panthers.

“Collin can really score inside,” Snohomish head coach Ken Bone said. “He has a knack for finding space and being patient and creative.”

Kane, who Bone said thinks more like a guard than a big man, spent the offseason before his senior year working on his speed and strength. He will be a key piece on a Snohomish team that has aspirations for a league championship this season.

Trey Pavitt | Lake Stevens

Sophomore | Forward

Pavitt made a name for himself as a freshman, averaging 9.3 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game for the Vikings.

“We asked a lot of Trey last year as a freshman on a young inexperienced team,” Lake Stevens head coach Mark Hein said. “We thought he could be a factor going into the season and he proved to be a go-to scorer, tough rebounder and a physical presence. He grew a lot in his play and maturity as the year progressed.”

Pavitt has put in the work in the offseason to develop his game even further. Hein said his sophomore forward is a more versatile offensive player and his defense and rebounding are both improved as well. Hein expects another great year from Pavitt this season.

Skout Roberson | Stanwood

Senior | Forward

Roberson averaged 9.4 points and six rebounds per game while shooting 63 percent from the field as a junior, helping his team place sixth at the 3A state tournament.

Roberson managed to get his points even though head coach Zach Ward said he doesn’t think the team ran one play for him a season ago. That will change this season. Roberson, who was an All-Wesco honorable mention a year ago, might have been a role player on last year’s team that featured guard Josh Thayer and center Drew Stang, but the Spartans offense will largely run through him this season.

“He’s such a hard worker and smart player,” Ward said. “He always seems to find the right spot. He’s got great footwork and great hands and runs the floor very good for his size and position. I think that’s one of his best attributes.”

Brandon Mar | Shorewood

Senior | Guard/Forward

As a senior, Mar will be the captain of a Thunderbirds teams that has aspirations for a Wesco 3A South championship.

Mar’s game improved quite a bit as a junior as he developed an elite mid-range jump shot and first-year head coach Corey O’Hayre said Mar has worked even harder this past offseason to improve other aspects of his game. Mar’s strength and ability to penetrate to the basket have both improved and should be two of his greater assets this season.

“He is everything you want in a player,” O’Hayre said. “His attitude, attention to detail, and energy make everybody around him better.”

Ryan Alford | Lakewood

Senior | Guard

Alford returns for his senior year as one of the premier point guards in the Cascade Conference. He averaged 16 points and five assists per game last season as a junior.

Lakewood first-year head coach Anthony Wiederkehr said he expects Alford to be an even better leader this season by being more vocal, staying poised and actively communicating with his teammates.

For Wiederkehr, Alford’s unselfishness stands out as perhaps his best on-floor quality.

“He is a very humble and unselfish person in general and that part of his personality shows in how he plays the game,” Wiederkehr said. “He would rather win and score no points than lose and score 30.”

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