By Mark Gilman
MaxPreps.com
Oregon High School basketball promises to be intriguing for the 2006-07 season as early 6A favorites Lake Oswego and South Medford - featuring Division I signees Kevin Love (UCLA) and Kyle Singler (Duke) - look to return to the state title game won last year by Love's Laker team.
The latest Associated Press basketball poll, not surprisingly, ranks Lake Oswego and South Medford one and two, respectively. The 6-10 Love, who has committed to play for top-ranked UCLA next year, is considered the dominant post player in the state and is the focus of the Lake Oswego offense. Singler, a silky-smooth 6-8 forward, will play for powerhouse Duke. He is complemented by the ball handling skills of junior point guard Michael Harthun, a second team All-State selection as a sophomore.
Other blue-chip players at the 6A level include 6-11 junior Andy Poling of Westview, and the Oregon City duo of 6-8 senior post Jared Cunningham, who just withdrew his commitment to Atlantic 10 power George Washington, and junior guard Brad Tinsley, who was a third team All-State standout in 2005-06.
Lake Oswego and South Medford have a chance to meet early in the season, as both are entrants in the prestigious Les Schwab Invitational Tournament Dec. 27-30 at Liberty High School in Hillsboro.
Here are the latest AP boys basketball polls for both the 6A and 5A levels:
Class 6A
1. Lake Oswego
2. South Medford
3. Westview
4. Oregon City
5. Jesuit
6. Grant
7. Canby
8. South Salem
9. Sunset
10. Lincoln
Class 5A
1. Jefferson
2. Hillsboro
3. North Eugene
4. Mountain View
5. Corvallis
6. Silverton
7. Churchill
7.(tie) Klamath
9. West Albany
10. Wilsonville
