Buckets in the 503

The future of Oregon high school basketball is in the building!

We're live from the Spotlight Invitational, catching up with some of Oregon's rising stars as they prepare for the 2026–27 season.

With expectations rising and the season right around the corner, we put the players on the spot!

Nikko Kalish-Southridge H.S

Richad Hudson & Kendall Hopkins-McGlothen Benson H.S 5:11

Ryder Powell & Max Ainsworth 11:03

Damon Keith & Treyson Hill 15:19

Elijah Thompson 21.32

Darius Andrews & Alarion Scott 26:55

Oregon's next generation of hoopers stepped up to the mic at the Spotlight Invitational!

We caught up with some of the state's top high school talent to talk about the upcoming 2026–27 basketball season, big expectations, breakout players, and who's ready to make a name for themselves.

From friendly debates to predictions, the players gave us their perspectives on Oregon high school basketball.

Max Martinov & R.J. Barhoum Clackamas H.S

Ambrose Gardner III-Willamette H.S 9:13

Gabe Taylor-Summit High School 13:24

Rigdhen Khyungra -La Salle H.S 18.01

Jordan Giles-Willamette H.S 22:12

Roman Gerts-Franklin H.S 25:44

Victor Norris III & Jordan Smith-Park Rose H.S 29.31

Keylon Kittleson-Portland Christian 35:15

Blake Karman-Ida B. Wells 35:15

Oregon Class of 2028 — NEW TOP 10 RANKINGS!

Who's No. 1? Who's underrated? Who's ready to make a jump?

We break down the Top 10 featuring:

Dakari Mitchell | Carter Lockhart | Treyson Hill | Jamarrea Sanders | Malik Mason | Drake Walsh | Jacob Harper Grant | Ter’Rae Foster | Jonah Munns | Jayden Hall

👀 Who's too high? Who's too low? Who got left out?

On this episode of Buckets in the 503, we sit down with Central Catholic head coach David Blue for a conversation about building culture, developing players, and sustaining one of Oregon’s premier high school basketball programs.

Coach Blue takes us through his coaching journey, the lessons that shaped his philosophy, and what it took to help lead Central Catholic to a 6A state championship. We also talk about the pressure that comes with being one of the teams everyone is chasing and how the Rams continue to set a high standard year after year.

we sat down with longtime Oregon basketball coach and educator Marshall Cho for a wide-ranging conversation about basketball, leadership, player development, and the changing landscape of the game.

Coach Cho takes us through his unique basketball journey — from his beginnings as an educator to coaching internationally, learning inside the legendary DeMatha Catholic program, working at the college level, and eventually building Lake Oswego into one of Oregon's premier high school programs.

We also dive into his experience coaching the World Select Team at the Nike Hoop Summit, what he learned working with some of the best young players in the world, and the characteristics that separate talented players from players who truly impact winning.

We’re sitting down with Parkrose Head Coach Kendrick Williams to talk hoops, culture, leadership, and what it takes to build a 5A State Championship program. 🏆

Coach Williams takes us inside the championship journey, building a winning culture at Parkrose, developing players, navigating recruiting, and his thoughts on the current state of Oregon high school basketball.

we sit down with Coach Colby Blaine, the head coach of the College of Idaho men's basketball program and one of the most successful coaches in college basketball today.

Coach Blaine takes us through his journey from assistant coach to leading the Yotes to two NAIA National Championships in three seasons, while building one of the premier winning cultures in the country. We discuss the foundation of the College of Idaho program, what it takes to sustain excellence, and how championship teams are built year after year.

The conversation dives into recruiting, player development, leadership, and the qualities Coach Blaine looks for in prospective student-athletes. He shares valuable insight on basketball IQ, winning habits, accountability, and why culture is the driving force behind long-term success.

Don't miss this conversation with one of the top coaches in NAIA basketball as we explore what it truly takes to build champions—both on and off the court.

In this episode of Buckets in the 503, we break down the newly released Prep Hoops Oregon Class of 2029 Top 10 Rankings and discuss the next generation of players set to make an impact across the state. We take a closer look at the players sitting at the top of the rankings, including Kendall Hopkins-McGlothen, Jordan Smith, Ryder Powell, Victor Norris III, and Southridge's Judah Hardt, while highlighting the programs that are building for the future.

We discuss who has the highest ceiling, which players could make the biggest jump over the next year, and why rankings are only the beginning of the journey. Plus, we give our early predictions on who could be competing for the No. 1 spot by the time this class graduates.

Whether you're a coach, parent, player, or Oregon hoops fan, this episode gives you an early look at the names you'll be hearing about for years to come.

🏀 Top 10 Breakdown 📈 Stock Up Players 🔥 Highest Upside Prospects 🏫 Programs to Watch 🎯 Early Predictions for the Class of 2029

Tune in and join the conversation as we spotlight the future stars of Oregon basketball on Buckets in the 503

“Eight teams. Three days. One champion.

The Chiles Center was electric — overtime battles, statement wins, and a championship that came down to one point.

From Benson’s run… to Jesuit locking teams up… to Central Catholic looking like a machine…

And then Tualatin finishing the job when it mattered most.

We’re breaking down the biggest moments, the top performers, and how it all unfolded on Oregon’s biggest stage.

“Eight teams remain… but only four will make it to the Chiles Center.

A #1 seed just went down on a game-winner in overtime. A double-overtime thriller sent Clackamas through. Grant pulled off a statement upset. And Central Catholic looks like a machine.

Now the matchups are set:

Benson vs Clackamas. Sherwood vs Tualatin. Jesuit vs Oregon City. Grant vs Central Catholic.

The road to the 6A State Championship runs through Portland.

we’re breaking down everything from Round 1 of the 6A playoffs — the biggest wins, the standout performances, and the upsets that shook the bracket.

From Southridge and Central Catholic making statements to players stepping up under the playoff lights — we’ve got it all.

And then we look ahead to Round 2, previewing the matchups and making our predictions on who’s moving one step closer to the Chiles Center.

Tap in — this is Buckets in the 503.” 🏀🔥

Director of PortlandBoyz AAU and SEI Director.

We’re diving into grassroots basketball, building programs the right way, navigating the AAU circuit, and what it really takes to elevate Portland hoops on a national level. We’ll also talk about keeping top talent home, why playing for local programs matters, and his take on the current 6A landscape.

From culture to competition, leadership to legacy — this conversation goes way beyond the game.

Tap in.

“The bracket is set.

No more hypotheticals. No more projections.

Now it’s matchups, pressure, and survive-and-advance.

Who’s making the Final Four? Who’s primed for an upset? Which top seed should be nervous? And who’s cutting down the nets in 6A?

We’re breaking down the entire bracket — region by region — with bold picks, upset alerts, and championship predictions.

March is here.

“This week in Oregon high school hoops? Absolute chaos.

Oregon City survives Lake Oswego in overtime. Southridge puts up 88 in a Metro showdown. Central Catholic keeps rolling. And Benson locks down Lincoln in the PIL.

Overtime games. League shakeups. MVP races heating up.

This week preview 2/24-2/27

Jesuit heads to Southridge in a Metro showdown with playoff seeding on the line.Central Catholic travels to Nelson — can Braylon Gaines shake up the Mt. Hood race?West Linn at Oregon City — that’s a Three Rivers statement game.And Friday? Benson at Roosevelt, plus West Linn at Tualatin — that’s bracket impact basketball.

February basketball just hit another level.

On this episode of Buckets in the 503, we break down the Top Performers of the 1st Week in Febuary — huge scoring nights, clutch overtime buckets, and guys delivering against ranked opponents.

Then we react to the updated OSAA Top 20 — who moved up, who slid, and which teams the numbers love… but the eye test still questions.

League play is tight. Margins are thin. And March is coming fast.

AAU season is right around the corner — and recruiting is already happening.

On this episode of Buckets in the 503, we break down what AAU season really looks like right now. What players and families need to ask… And how to find the right fit — not just the biggest name.

From exposure to development to recruiting reality, this is the AAU conversation everyone needs to hear.

“The OSAA Top 20 is out… but do the rankings really match what we’re seeing on the floor?

On this episode of Buckets in the 503, we'll break down the OSAA top 20 and break the teams into Teirs

We break down contenders ,upcoming big matchup and our take on Player of the year canidates.

League play is officially here

On this episode of Buckets in the 503, we’re breaking down the biggest games of the week: Oregon City vs. Tualatin, Grant vs. Benson, Clackamas vs. Barlow, Southridge vs. Beaverton, and more statement wins across the state.

We highlight the top performers, check in on conference races, and kick off the early MVP watchlists as the season heats up.

A father and son conversation after one of the biggest weekends of the season — the Les Schwab Invitational.

Beating the #1 team in Oregon… Taking down the #1 team in Washington… Facing national talent on the biggest stage… And breaking down what it really feels like when the pressure is on.

This isn’t about stats — it’s about growth, work ethic, trust, and the journey behind the scenes.

“On this episode of Buckets in the 503, we’re sitting down with Eli & Alijah — two guards who showed out when the lights were brightest.

Big games. Big moments. Pressure possessions. And performances that turned heads on a national stage.

We talk about competing against top-ranked teams, trusting your work when the pressure ramps up, and what it takes to stay locked in when everyone’s watching.