Bulldogs look to re-establish dominance after being denied state championship three-peat in 2015-16.
Video: Breaking down the High School Top 25Can Garfield emerge as big dog in loaded Metro League?11. Garfield (Seattle, Wash.)Head coach: Ed Haskins (189-28 career record)
2015-16 record: 26-3
PLAYERS TO WATCHJ'Raan Brooks (6-9, Jr., F/C) … Top 100 prospect in the Class of 2018
Daejon Davis (6-3, Sr., G) … Committed to Washington
Jamon Kemp (6-5, So., G/F) … Son of former NBA star Shawn Kemp
Jaylen Nowell (6-5, Sr., G) … Committed to Washington
Jaylen Nowell is one of two University of Washington commitments on the roster at Garfield.
Photo by Vince Miller
* Seattle Metro's League is loaded this year. Garfield and Nathan Hale both enter the season ranked in the Top 25 nationally. Rainier Beach is the state's defending 3A state champion and returns several key contributors. Then there is O'Dea, which reached the title game last March under first-year coach Jason Kerr and figures to improve on its 22-8 record.
* Keep an eye on Garfield's trip to Oregon in late December for the Les Schwab Invitational. The Bulldogs crushed three Beaver State teams last year – including eventual 6A champ West Linn – but fell in the semifinals to DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.) in a game they led much of the way. With No. 1 Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.) and No. 17 Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.) in the field, another chance to make a major national statement awaits.
KEY DATESDec. 27-30 – Les Schwab Invitational
Jan. 13 – vs.
Rainier Beach (Seattle)Jan. 17 – vs.
Nathan Hale (Seattle)Jan. 24 – vs.
O'Dea (Seattle)Feb. 3 – vs.
Franklin (Seattle)
