Kylee Griffen
Lake Stevens | Jr. | Guard
The fact Griffen at 6-foot-2 is Lake Stevens’ tallest player and starts along the perimeter speaks to the junior’s outstanding versatility. Griffen can do a bit of everything, but when she’s hitting her jump shot from 15 to 18 feet, she really makes life tough on defenses. She’s added some physical strength this offseason, and is garnering interest from Pac-12 schools.
“I think it is really challenging,” Lake Stevens coach Randall Edens said in regard to game-planning for Griffen. “She can knock down the 3, can post up and it really makes for a tough guard.”
Jadynn Alexander
Monroe | Sr. | Guard
Monroe coach Ashley Tuiasosopo has seen Alexander add dimensions to her game in each of the past three seasons. The first-team All-Wesco 4A selection and University of Hawaii commit is quick off the dribble, can also knock down a 3-pointer and at 6-foot has the size to rebound against all types.
“She’s an explosive player and really fun to watch,” Tuiasosopo said. “She has a lot of tools she can use, and defensively she has quick feet and quick hands.”
Alexander averaged 18 points per game a year ago and certainly will be filling up stat sheets again this winter.
Kaitlin Larson
Stanwood | Jr. | Forward
Larson established herself as one of the top players in the Wesco 3A North last winter, earning first-team all-conference honors.
“She can play inside-outside and can shoot the 3 and post up and is strong around the basket,” Stanwood coach Dennis Kloke said. “The biggest area she has improved is her man-to-man defense.”
One of the junior’s most underrated traits is her calmness under pressure, Kloke said. Expect Larson to engineer another impressive season alongside an experienced group of Spartans.
Paisley Johnson
Glacier Peak | Sr. | Guard
Pick the superlative: penetrating ability, outside shooting, tough defense, hustle, speed. Johnson covers them all and showcased her ability during a standout junior season in which she earned All-Wesco 3A/2A South first-team honors.
“She is 100 percent go 100 percent of the time,” Glacier Peak coach Brian Hill said. “I’ve seen her take out the bench during the game because she thought she could get a ball, and I knew she couldn’t.”
Johnson has improved her shot during the offseason, and the Brigham Young University commit will form quite a formidable trio with fellow Division I recruits Kayla Watkins and Samantha Fatkin.
Taryn Shelley
Shorewood | Sr. | Forward
A first-team Wesco 3A/2A South selection a year ago, Shelley has established herself as one of Snohomish County’s premier forwards.
“Taryn is a very solid player,” Glacier Peak coach Brian Hill said. “She doesn’t try to play outside of what she is capable of doing. She is very fundamentally sound. She is a load on the inside and a solid all-around player.”
The Washington State University commit will be paramount in helping the Thunderbirds take another step forward this winter.
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