Two key contributors to the Stanwood boys basketball team’s recent success plan to continue their careers at universities in the Pacific Northwest.
Seniors Karsten Chaplik and Skout Roberson have committed to Central Washington University and Lewis &Clark College, respectively.
“Both of them have just been incredible,” Stanwood head coach Zach Ward said. “We were pretty young this year. It was nice to have those guys. We’re going to miss them for sure. Not just their points and rebounds, but their leadership.”
Roberson and Chaplik were instrumental in helping Stanwood (19-5) win its second district championship in three years this past season and advance to the regional round of the Class 3A state tournament. Both were first-team All-Wesco 3A North selections.
Roberson announced during the early-signing period — prior to the start of his senior season — that he would be headed to Lewis and Clark.
Chaplik, meanwhile, took a little longer to finalize his college plans. He waited until after the season— and after a trip to Central — for the 6-foot-4 wing to know where he was headed.
“I wasn’t too focused on talking to schools during the season,” Chaplik said. “I was just trying to go out there and do the best I could for my team and get wins. I felt like when the wins came, the rest would come. And it did.”
In Chaplik’s three-year varsity career Stanwood was 50-15, including a 39-1 mark in league games. The Spartans won three league titles and two district titles. As a senior, he averaged 17 points per game and was named the Wesco 3A North Co-Player of the Year.
“He’s won a lot of games,” Ward said. “He lost one league game in three years. That’s crazy. … He hit huge shots. He lives for those moments.”
At Central, Chaplik will play with former Arlington star Terry Dawn. Arlington and Stanwood have a strong sports rivalry, known as the Stilly Cup, but Chaplik insists an Eagle and a Spartan can play on the same team.
“He’s definitely a rival, but he’s definitely a great guy,” Chaplik said of Dawn. “I talked to him a bit on my visit. It’s going to be fun getting to know him.”
Another school Chaplik considered was Lewis and Clark, the Portland, Oregon-based school that landed Roberson. A 6-foot-5 post, Roberson was a two-year varsity player who averaged 12 points and six rebounds per game this past season. At Stanwood, he never got to play on the varsity with his older brother: former Spartans star Cannen Roberson.
It’s no coincidence that one of Skout’s new teammates at Lewis and Clark will be Cannen, who will be a junior next season.
“It’s pretty cool having my brother down there, too,” Skout said. “He’s really excited for me to come down there. And so am I.”
“I think that was definitely part of it,” Ward said. “He wasn’t on that team, Cannen’s senior year. I think playing with his brother is something he’s really interested in.”
Skout said he’s been around the Lewis and Clark coaches, who recruited Cannen a couple years ago, and has a good relationship with them. When he attended his older brother’s games, the Lewis and Clark coaches hinted it would be nice to add a second Roberson.
“For a while, the coach joked about coming down there, even two years ago,” Roberson said. “I’ve known the coach for as long as Cannen has. I’m close to him. Going in, I feel like I already know the coach and the players.”
Ward said the Spartans are going to have huge holes to fill with the departures of Roberson and Chaplik, who signed his letter of intent at a ceremony in the Stanwood gym Monday afternoon.
“With Karsten, it’ll be tough to replace that mid-range pull-up shooter from a kid that you can count on getting a shot off,” Ward said. “We really enjoyed that this year and were spoiled. We knew he would get it and, at 6-4, get a shot off.
“With Skout, we’re definitely going to notice from the bench or the stats, ‘Oh gosh, it feels like we’re getting out-rebounded tonight.’ We’re going to miss his presence.”
Likewise, Chaplik and Roberson will miss being part of the Stanwood program, but they’re looking forward to playing basketball at the next level.
“It’s crazy thinking that it’s over now and I won’t be playing any more games under Ward and (assistant coach Harlan Roberson),” Chaplik said. “The last couple years have been crazy. Been some big ups and downs. It’s sad that it’s all over but I’m excited to move on to the new chapter of my life and play at Central.”
Added Roberson: “I just want to keep on getting better and give that program as much as I can give it and work as hard as I can every day. We’ll see where that takes me.”
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