The News Tribune’s 2023 all-state boys basketball team

Jon Manley, Lauren Smith
·4 min read

Every year, the state of Washington produces exceptional basketball talent at the high school level.

Here is The News Tribune’s 2023 all-state boys basketball team, as selected by our high school sports staff.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Curtis’ Zoom Diallo flies to the basket against Federal Way defender Isaiah Afework during their state semifinal game at the WIAA state basketball tournament in the Tacoma Dome in Tacoma, Washington, on Friday, March 3, 2023. Curtis won the game, 56-43.
Curtis’ Zoom Diallo flies to the basket against Federal Way defender Isaiah Afework during their state semifinal game at the WIAA state basketball tournament in the Tacoma Dome in Tacoma, Washington, on Friday, March 3, 2023. Curtis won the game, 56-43.

ZOOM DIALLO

Curtis

Guard, 6-4, jr.

TNT state player of the year led Curtis to a second consecutive 4A state championship this winter in the Tacoma Dome, and earned back-to-back tournament MVP honors. Two-time 4A SPSL North MVP averaged 20.2 points, 5.5 assists, 4.4 rebounds and 1.3 steals this season, also pacing the Vikings to back-to-back 4A SPSL tournament and 4A West Central/Southwest district championships. Has scored 1,405 career points in three seasons at Curtis. Five-star guard is the top-ranked recruit in the state in the 2024 class, has offers from several high-major programs, and was this year’s state Gatorade Player of the Year and MaxPreps state player of the year.

COACH OF THE YEAR

BRIAN ROPER

Lynden

Guided the Lions to back-to-back 2A state championships, and their fourth state crown in the past five tournaments. The championship was the 12th in program history and sixth with Roper leading the way. The WIBCA 2A coach of the year is one of four boys basketball coaches in state history to win six state titles, per WIAA records. Roper, who has also coached at North Mason and Sequim, now has 525 wins in his 30-year career, which ranks 19th in state history.

FIRST TEAM

Olympia’s Parker Gerrits slips to the basket between Curtis defenders Cinque Maxwell and Zoom Dialo (5) during Saturday night’s 4A SPSL boys basketball tournament championship game at Tacoma Community College in Tacoma, Washington, on Feb. 4, 2023.
Olympia’s Parker Gerrits slips to the basket between Curtis defenders Cinque Maxwell and Zoom Dialo (5) during Saturday night’s 4A SPSL boys basketball tournament championship game at Tacoma Community College in Tacoma, Washington, on Feb. 4, 2023.

PARKER GERRITS

Olympia

Guard, 6-2, sr.

The engine of an Olympia team that reached the 4A state championship game — the program’s first appearance in a state title game since 1998. Two-time 4A SPSL South MVP averaged 19.3 points per contest, and paced the Bears to a 4A SPSL South regular season title this season, and appearances in the 4A SPSL tournament and 4A West Central/Southwest district championship games. Washington State commit also earned all-tournament first team honors in the Tacoma Dome, and was the WIBCA 4A player of the year.

Mount Si’s Miles Heide pulls down a pass over Olympia defenders Parker Gerrits (22) and Andreas Engholm during their state semifinal game at the WIAA state basketball tournament in the Tacoma Dome in Tacoma, Washington, on Friday, March 3, 2023.
Mount Si’s Miles Heide pulls down a pass over Olympia defenders Parker Gerrits (22) and Andreas Engholm during their state semifinal game at the WIAA state basketball tournament in the Tacoma Dome in Tacoma, Washington, on Friday, March 3, 2023.

MILES HEIDE

Mount Si

Forward, 6-9, sr.

Unanimous 4A KingCo player of the year was a matchup issue in the paint all winter, and averaged a double-double with 17.4 points and 13.4 rebounds for the Wildcats this season. Added 2.7 assists and 2 blocks per game for a Mount Si program that placed fifth at the 4A state tournament, earned a share of the 4A KingCo regular season title, and won 4A KingCo tournament and 4A Northwest/SeaKing district championships. San Diego State commit.

Timberline guard Brooklyn Hicks (4) goes in for a layup as Bellevue guard Brady Kageyama (10) tries to block him during an opening round game at the WIAA state basketball tournament in the Tacoma Dome in Tacoma, Washington, on Wednesday, March 1, 2023. Timberline lost the game 49-52.
Timberline guard Brooklyn Hicks (4) goes in for a layup as Bellevue guard Brady Kageyama (10) tries to block him during an opening round game at the WIAA state basketball tournament in the Tacoma Dome in Tacoma, Washington, on Wednesday, March 1, 2023. Timberline lost the game 49-52.

BROOKLYN HICKS

Timberline

Guard, 6-4, sr.

Finished a historic career at Timberline as the program’s all-time leading scorer in a single game (51 points), season (749) and career (2,049). UNLV-bound guard also reset Thurston County’s career scoring record this winter, averaging 32 points per game his final season, and became a member of the 2,000-point club. Three-time 3A SSC MVP led the Blazers to an undefeated 3A SSC title and 3A state tournament appearance at the Tacoma Dome. Named this year’s “Mr. Basketball” by WIBCA.

O’Dea guard Mason Williams (2) draws a charge on Garfield forward Jaylin Stewart (3) as he drives toward the baseline during the first quarter of the Class 3A championship game on Saturday, March 4, 2023, in Tacoma, Wash.
O’Dea guard Mason Williams (2) draws a charge on Garfield forward Jaylin Stewart (3) as he drives toward the baseline during the first quarter of the Class 3A championship game on Saturday, March 4, 2023, in Tacoma, Wash.

JAYLIN STEWART

Garfield

Forward, 6-6, sr.

UConn-bound forward is the state’s top-ranked recruit in the 2023 class and lived up to the hype this season, averaging a team-leading 19.8 points per game for the Bulldogs, who won the 3A state title this winter. Four-star recruit all-tournament first team honors in the Tacoma Dome, and was named the WIBCA 3A player of the year. Four-star recruit was also the Metro League Mountain MVP.

Federal Way’s Vaughn Weems flies to the basket in front of Skyline defender Willy Heise during their state quarterfinal game at the WIAA state basketball tournament in the Tacoma Dome in Tacoma, Washington, on Wednesday, March 1, 2023. Federal Way won the game, 69-53.
Federal Way’s Vaughn Weems flies to the basket in front of Skyline defender Willy Heise during their state quarterfinal game at the WIAA state basketball tournament in the Tacoma Dome in Tacoma, Washington, on Wednesday, March 1, 2023. Federal Way won the game, 69-53.

VAUGHN WEEMS

Federal Way

Forward, 6-5, sr.

Led Federal Way to an undefeated 4A NPSL title this winter, earning league MVP honors for the second time in his career. Ultra-athletic forward averaged a double-double with 17.6 points and 10 rebounds per game, and added a team-leading 3.1 steals. Paced the Eagles to a third-place finish at the 4A state tournament in the Tacoma Dome, and was named to the all-tournament first team.

SECOND TEAM

F Jacob Cofie, Eastside Catholic, 6-9, jr.

F Yanni Fassilis, Union, 6-5, sr.

G Tennessee Rainwater, Davenport, 6-6, sr.

F Maverick Sanders, Mount Spokane, 6-6, sr.

G Mason Williams, O’Dea, 6-5, sr.