Each year since 2006, MaxPreps has recognized outstanding
performers in high school basketball. The tradition continues to close
out the 2025-26 season by naming the top player in each state.
Selections are based on team success and individual excellence in
addition to local and state accolades.
Jemai Lake of
Tualatin is the 2025-26 MaxPreps Oregon High School Basketball Player of the Year. The 6-foot-2 senior guard led the Timberwolves to a 24-5 record and their third state championships in the past five seasons.
For the season, Lake averaged 20.8 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game while shooting 46.3 percent from the field and 85.8 percent from the free throw line.
MaxPreps Oregon Player of the Year Jemai Lake helped Tualatin erase a five-point deficit in the final 9.6 seconds of the state championship game to knock off Central Catholic. (FILE PHOTO: Troy Tsuma)
In a 70-69 victory over Central Catholic in the state title game, Lake scored 27 points while connecting on 8 of 15 shots from the field and 9 of 9 shots from the free throw line.
Surpassing the previous mark of 1,464 points, Lake became Tualatin's career scoring leader with 32 points in an 83-69 win over West Linn in early February.
Lake signed with Montana over offers from California Baptist, Illinois-Chicago, Idaho, Montana State, Northern Colorado, Seattle and Weber State.
Each
state's MaxPreps Player of the Year will be considered for inclusion in
the MaxPreps All-America Team, which is scheduled to be released in
April. Past selections include 2026 NBA All-Stars Karl Anthony-Towns
(2014), Scottie Barnes (2020), Devin Booker (2014), Jaylen Brown (2015),
Jalen Brunson (2014, 2015), Cade Cunningham (2019, 2020), Kevin Durant
(2006), Jalen Duren (2021), Anthony Edwards (2019), De'Aaron Fox (2016),
Chet Holmgren (2020, 2021), Brandon Ingram (2015), Jalen Johnson
(2019), Tyrese Maxey (2019) and Norman Powell (2011).
Past MaxPreps Oregon Players of the Year
2019-20 – Nate Bittle, Crater (Central Point)
2020-21 – Lamar Washington, Jefferson (Portland)
2021-22 – Jackson Shelstad, West Linn
2022-23 – Jackson Shelstad, West Linn
2023-24 – Pearson Carmichael, Summit (Bend)
2024-25 – Jalen Atkins, Barlow (Gresham)
