The Olympian’s 2020 All-Area boys basketball team
Each year, with input from local coaches, The Olympian selects its All-Area boys basketball team.
This year, seven high schools from the Olympia area are represented by players and coaches selected to the first and second teams.
The 12 spots, broken down by leagues, are 2A Evergreen Conference (six), 3A South Sound Conference (four) and 4A SPSL (two).
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
JACKSON GRANT
Olympia
Power forward/center, 6-10, junior
Olympia’s big man towered above the competition and was the focal point of a Bears team that took fourth in the Class 4A state tournament. The UW commit saw his stock rise in AAU during the offseason and carried that momentum into the high school season, averaging 17 points and 11 rebounds for the Bears, while constantly drawing double and triple teams from defenses. Led Olympia to a fourth-place finish in the Class 4A state tournament — the program’s best finish since 2011 — and was named the 4A South Puget Sound League MVP.
COACH OF THE YEAR
Jeff Gallagher
Black Hills
Coached Black Hills to a 22-7 record, the best mark in program history and back-to-back titles in the Class 2A Evergreen Conference. Was the 2A EvCo coach of the year and guided the program to its first-ever state placement, with the Wolves taking fourth in the 2A state tournament in Yakima.
FIRST TEAM
KAI JOHNSON
Olympia
Guard, 6-3, senior
While much of the attention from opposing defenses went to Grant in the post, Johnson was just as dangerous a scoring threat, averaging 17 points per game and five assists for the Bears. Coach John Kiley called him a “gifted offensive force,” with the senior guard being named to the Class 4A South Puget Sound League.
BRANDIN RIEDEL
Capital
Center, 6-7, senior
Riedel was the top player for the Cougars, the best post player in the league and was a presence in the paint on both ends of the floor, earning defensive player of the year honors in the Class 3A South Sound Conference. And he was Capital’s go-to player on the offensive end, averaging 16 points per game, 10 rebounds and two blocks. Has college interest from locals Puget Sound and Pacific Lutheran.
AVERY ARMIN
Black Hills
Guard, 6-1, senior
Class 2A Evergreen Conference first-team selection was the straw that stirred the drink for the league champion Wolves, averaging 12.21 points, 4.5 rebounds, two assists and two steals for Black Hills, leading the team to a fourth-place finish in the 2A state tournament in Yakima, the program’s best-ever state finish. Was named to the 2A state all-tournament second team after shooting 19-21 from the free-throw line during the tournament, averaging 16.8 points during the four days and pouring in 27 points in the final game against Toppenish to seal Black Hills’ fourth-place finish.
DAMON GAITHER
Tumwater
Center, 6-7, senior
Tumwater coach Josh Wilson calls Gaither the “best rebounder to ever come through Tumwater” and the stats bear that out. The 2A EvCo MVP averaged 11.4 rebounds per game and school records for career rebounding (637), single-season rebounds (296) and rebounds in a game (25). Also averaged 12.5 points for the T-Birds, which advanced to the 2A state tournament in Yakima.
BROOKLYN HICKS
Timberline
Guard, 6-2, freshman
It was a rebuilding year for the Blazers, who lost their first 10 games of the season, before bouncing back to win eight of their final 14 games. At the heart of that impressive turnaround was Hicks, a freshman, who averaged 17 points per game, six rebounds, five assists. He was a Class 3A South Sound Conference first-team selection in his first high school season.
SECOND TEAM
Spencer Halstead, Capital, sr.
Ty Thompson, Shelton, sr.
Justin Hicks, Black Hills, jr.
Ethan Dillon, Tumwater, sr.
Tyler Speck, W.F. West, sr.
