Kyle Wiltjer to play for world team at Nike Hoop Summit

Featuring Jesuit High School senior Kyle Wiltjer representing Canada and playing for the World Team, the 2011 Nike Hoop Summit will take place on Saturday, April 9 at the Rose Garden in Portland.

After 13 years of the contest, the U.S. holds a 10-3 edge. More than 100 Nike Hoop Summit alumni have been drafted into the NBA.

Wiltjer, a 6-9 forward, has signed with Kentucky. He led Canada to a third place finish in last year's FIBA Americas U-18 Championship in San Antonio. He was named to the All-Tournament second team after averaging 19.4 points. His father, Greg, was a second round draft pick of the Chicago Bulls in 1984. Greg played for Canada in the 1984 Olympics.

Along with Wiltjer, other World Team players include:
• Dario Saric (6-9, Croatia);
• Davis Bertans (6-7, Latvia);
• Mateusz Ponitka (6-5, Poland);
• Kevin Pangos (6-1, Canada),
• Evan Fournier (6-6, France);
• Raul Neto (6-2, Brazil);
• Lucas Nogueira (7-0, Brazil);
• Przemyslaw Karnowski (7-0, Poland).

The USA Team, coached by Kevin Sutton (Orlando, Fla.), includes:
• Brad Beal (6-4, St. Louis, Mo.);
• Rakeem Christmas (6-9, Philadelphia);
• Quinn Cook (6-1, Bowie, Md.);
• Anthony Davis (6-10, Chicago);
• James McAdoo (6-9, Norfolk, Va.);
• Michael Gilchrist (6-7, Somerdale, N.J.);
• Austin Rivers (6-3, Winter Park, Fla.);
• Marquis Teague (6-2, Indianapolis);
• Adonis Thomas (6-7, Cordova, Tenn.);
• Tony Wroten (6-5, Seattle).

THREE FROM JESUIT TO LEAD OREGON IN NORTHWEST SHOOTOUTS
State 6A champion Jesuit/Beaverton will have three players suited up for the 2011 Northwest Shootout All-Star Game to be played at the University of Portland's Chiles Center, Saturday, April 2.

Jordan Akwenuke and Jack Grodahl will play for Oregon's all-star boys squad and Elizabeth Brenner will play for the Oregon girls. Both Jesuit boys and girls won 6A State titles in 2011. Brenner has signed to play volleyball at Oregon.

Other members of the boys team include Washington-bound Andrew Andrews (Benson/Portland), Oregon signee Austin Kuemper (Westview/Beaverton) and Central Catholic's David Carr, who has signed with the University of Portland.

The Oregon girls will be led by Jen Reese (Clackamas headed to Colorado), Emily Ben-Jumbo (Tualatin and headed for Loyola Marymount) and Jude Schimmel (Franklin of Portland and undecided), who averaged a state-leading 28 points per game as a senior.

Oregon boys team, coached by Jim Fryback (Springfield):

• Jorden Akwenuke, Jesuit/Beaverton
• Andrew Andrews, Benson/Portland
• Andy Agvi, Woodburn
• David Carr, Central Catholic/Portland
• Dominique Ditlefsen, Sunset/Beaverton
• Miles Gatewood, Westview/Beaverton
• Seth Gearhart, Wilsonville
• Jack Grodahl, Jesuit/Beaverton
• Gavin Hoffman, Lincoln/Portland
• Austin Kuemper, Westview/Beaverton

Washington boys team, coached by Nalin Sood (Mountlake Terrace):

• Christian Behrens, Tahoma
• Gary Bell, Kentridge
• Alex Weber-Brader, Olympia
• Kevin Henderson, Auburn
• DaVonte Lacy, Curtis
• Tana Pritchard, Clover Park
• Jordan Russell, Lincoln
• Riley Stockton, Ferris

Oregon girls team, coach by Bill Priester (Sunset):

• Elizabeth Brenner, Jesuit/Beaverton
• Ellen Cook, South Eugene
• Allison Greene, Southridge/Beaverton
• Emily Ben-Jumbo, Tualatin
• Kelsey Kaelin, Tigard
• Elise Nelson, Thurston/Springfield
• Brittaney Niebergall, LaSalle/Milwaukie
• Jen Reese, Clackamas
• Alicai Scafidi, Barlow/Gresham
• Jude Schimmel, Franklin/Portland

Washington girls team, coached by Duane Hodges (Edmonds-Woodway):

• Shelby Cheslek, Pullman
• Kat Cooper, Auburn Riverside
• Sarah Hartwell, Bell Prep
• Erika Johnson, Holy Names
• Jordon Loera, Moses Lake
• Kari Luttinen, Seattle Prep
• Shaniqua Nilles, West Valley
• Tia Presley, Gonzaga Prep
• Talia Walton, Federal Way
• Aminah Williams, Kennedy Catholic.

OREGON PAIR LEAD FINDLAY PREP TO NHSI TOURNAMENT
Led by a pair of Oregon players - sophomore Nigel Williams-Goss and Landen Lucas - Findlay Prep of Henderson, Nev., has been chosen to participate in ESPN Rise National High School Invitational.

Also included in the three-day tournament to be held at Georgetown Preparatory School in Bethesda, Md., are Montrose Christian (Md.), Oak Hill Academy (Va.), Winter Park (Fla.), Dwyer (Fla.), United Faith Christian (N.C.), and John Carroll (Md.).

Williams-Goss is a 6-4 guard who attended Clackamas High School prior to transferring to Findlay. He has committed to UNLV.

Lucas is a 6-9 forward-center who attended Sunset/Beaverton as a freshman and sophomore before transferring to Findlay for his junior season. On most D-1 recruit lists, Lucas has yet to pick a college.

Both Lucas and Goss-Williams are highly rated college prospects by MaxPreps.com and Findlay Prep is ranked No. 18 in the Xcellent 25.

BARLOW/GRESHAM BEGINS QUEST FOR TITLE
Led by seniors Ryan Crouser and Arthur Delaney, Barlow (Gresham) opens the 2011 track and field season as a heavy favorite to win the State 6A boys title.

Crouser has gained his share of national headlines this winter after setting the prep indoor shot put mark of 77 feet, 2 3/4 inches. Now, the Texas-bound thrower is going after national outdoor prep records in the shot put and discus.

The 6-7, 245-pound Crouser also plans to throw the javelin at the state meet, where a victory would put him as only one of three to accomplish such a task at the large school level. He's related to the other two, both Crousers - cousin Sam, and uncle Brian.

Oregon-bound Delaney has an eye on Ryan Bailey's state records in the 100 and 200 meters. The returning state champion, Delaney has sprint bests of 10.59 and 21.28. In addition, Delaney is a threat to win titles in the 400 and long jump.

After winning the title in 2008, the Bruins were runner-up finishers in 2009 and 2010. Due to a broken foot, Crouser did not compete at state in 2010.

EARLY BASEBALL, SOFTBALL POLLS
Southridge (Beaverton) (5-0) is the top-ranked 6A baseball team. Other No. 1 squads (by classification) include:

• 5A = Pendleton (8-0)
• 4A = Hidden Valley (Grants Pass) (1-0)
• 3A = Bandon (3-0)
• 2A = Stanfield (4-1)

South Salem (4-1) topped the 6A softball poll. Other top-ranked squads include:
• 5A = Putnam (Milwaukie) (6-2)
• 4A = Cascade (Turner) (4-0)
• 3A = Pleasant Hill (5-0)
• 2A = Lost River (Merrill) (3-0)

TOP PERFORMANCES FROM AROUND OREGON
• Corvallis collected 16 hits and stole eight bases March 24, but it wasn't enough as the Spartans lost a nonconference baseball game to Grant (Portland) 14-13. Galen De nevers had three hits and seven RBIs for the Generals, who won it in the bottom of the seventh.

• Pendleton (5A) improved to 8-0 with an 8-3 baseball win over 6A Roseburg. It was the Buckaroos' sixth win over a 6A school this spring.

• Kip Pearson threw a 51-pitch no-hitter as North Marion (Aurora) blanked Marshfield, 10-0. Pearson struck out five and allowed one baserunner. He added two hits and three runs.

• Central/Independence pitcher Emily Kenyon tossed a perfect game for the Panthers as Central cruised to an 11-0 win over Tillamook. Kenyon struck out 11 and helped her own cause by going 3-for-4 with four RBIs.

• Trailing 10-3, North Salem combined six singles, two doubles and a triple to score eight times in the top of the seventh inning to take an 11-10 lead against nationally ranked Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas). BG loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh with two walks and a hit batter before a two-run single ended the baseball slugfest, 12-11.

• Newport's Oshay Dunmore scored 6,360 points to win the boys decathlon/heptathlon at the annual Sweet Home Decathlon/Heptathlon event. Teammate Kacie Hargett scored 3,612 to win the girls division. Dunmore, a junior, has been offered football scholarships from Oregon, Oregon State, Washington and Duke.

RECRUITING
• GOLF - Ashlee Pickerell of West Salem has committed to play golf at the University of Tennessee.