By Jason Hickman
MaxPreps.com
2006-2007 MaxPreps National Player of the Year
Kevin Love, Lake Oswego, Ore.
In a state that has long been fixated on its beloved Blazers, a high school player has been the center of Oregon's basketball world for the past four years.
When he entered the gym for his first high school practice, a posse of reporters and news crews awaited Kevin Love's arrival - the freshman who many whispered would be the best player in the state the minute he enrolled at Lake Oswego High School.
They weren't far off. Four years later, Love is set to depart the Portland suburbs to play at UCLA, after leading Lake Oswego to three state championship games, earning state player of the year three times, breaking Oregon's career scoring record, and earning MaxPreps' 2006-2007 National Player of the Year honor.
Love was a second team MaxPreps All-American selection as a junior after averaging 28.9 points per game and 17 rebounds. The 6-10 center upped those numbers as a senior, averaging 33.9 points and over 17 boards, breaking Oregon's all-time career scoring mark with 2,628 points. Yet for all the talk of points and rebounds, his passing ability - particularly his outlet passing - always seems to be the first attribute evaluators mention.
The future Bruin may have made his strongest statement of the year in a televised game against California powerhouse and eventual Division II state champion Mater Dei. Reportedly battling a high fever, he powered his Lakers past the Monarchs by racking up 36 points and snaring 16 rebounds. Love powered down not one, but three, statement-making dunks in the final quarter as Lake Oswego pulled away for a 61-52 win.
In addition to putting up incredible individual numbers, Love led the Portland-area school to an unprecedented run of success. Lake Oswego reached the state's 4A title game in 2005 and 2006, defeating South Medford for the title a year ago.
South Medford returned the favor this season, knocking off Love's Lakers in the state's newly-created 6A classification championship game. He averaged 28.3 points per game in three state championship game appearances, including 37 and 15 rebounds in 2007.
Lake Oswego compiled a 73-12 record during Love's final three seasons.
Greg Oden of Lawrence North, Ind., was the MaxPreps National Player of the Year in 2005-2006, marking the site's first national POY honor.
MaxPreps will announce its complete All-American team tomorrow, featuring capsules on the nation's top 75 players of the 2006-2007 season.
