Here's 7 things to watch for in Portland high school basketball's 2026 league season
The new year is here which means one thing for Portland high school basketball season:
It’s league season!
The PIL, Mt. Hood, NWOC and so many more begin league play this week or soon, so with that in mind, we take a look at seven storylines to keep track of as the year rolls on.
1. Benson girls ready to dominate
The Oregon girls basketball scene is at an all-time high in 2026 with four teams that I think could be deserving of not just state recognition, but national.
Tualatin is nationally ranked, but South Medford, West Linn and Benson have all proved they are on a similar level as the Timberwolves.
So with that being said, what’s about to be said next isn’t a knock on the rest of the PIL, but rather the level the Astros are at.
And that statement is: No one is coming within 20 points of Benson in league play.
The Astros are in another stratosphere when it comes to the rest of the PIL, led by senior Samarah Massey and sophomore Jayla Lackey.
The two were connecting on another level in their close loss to Etiwanda at the POA Holiday Classic, and I don’t see anyone slowing them down.
Plus, the Astros have strong shooters in Kemara Phillips, Londyn Dyton, Kelyn Johnson and Kyoko Solis-Beasley.
Expect a perfect 16-0 mark from Benson when the league season wraps at the end of February.
2. The rest of the girls PIL standings can be wild
After Benson, it’s really anyone’s game for that second and third spot and the automatic bid to the state tournament that comes with it.
Lincoln has emerged as the possible favorite for second after a big upset win over West Salem to close out the POA Holiday Classic.
The Cardinals returned quite a bit of talent, led by senior Siri Lindsey who should be a shoe-in PIL first-teamer.
Despite the 0-7 start for the Jefferson girls, the Democrats can still be dangerous behind twins Mackenzee and Mylee Lawrence.
Grant and Franklin are younger and still returned a handful of talented players that could be ready to make the next jump. And Cleveland has proven their new-look crew has come together quickly.
Even McDaniel and Roosevelt have picked up early season wins to get their nonleague records around .500.
The race for spots 2-9 in the PIL will be a close race, and we’re excited to see who takes control.
3. Grant boys are the new PIL favorites
I said what I said in the subhead. This Grant team, despite starting four sophomores and a freshman, looks like the team to beat in the PIL.
Sophomores Jacob Harper-Grant and Jamarea Sanders are two versatile wings who can score and defend at all three levels. Sophomore Malik Mason and freshman Abraham Cogan aren’t far off either.
Those young Generals proved themselves at the LSI where they took out a top 10 team in Clackamas and handled business against a banged up Nelson team that could be a top 10 squad if healthy.
Benson was largely looked at as the favorites back at the start of December, and they’ve played well still. But what Grant has done in the nonleague slate is impressive and has won me over to give them the edge.
Still, the Astros boast one of the top freshmen in Kendall Hopkins-McGlothen and one of the best players overall in the PIL in senior Dache Acelar. JP Parnell-Patton, Malu Niko and Richad Hudson all combine to make a dangerous starting five.
The two matchups between Grant and Benson should be the ones to decide the league crown. The first one is Tuesday, Jan. 13 at Grant and the rematch is Tuesday, Feb. 10 at Benson.
4. PIL boys standings unpredictable as well
Similar to the girls side, things after Grant and Benson could get a little wild for the PIL boys.
Ida B. Wells has the most underrated guard in the state in senior Ahmad Surur and one of the best big men in the state in junior Muhammed Carter. They have the potential to upset really anyone in this league.
Lincoln and Cleveland are similar with a bunch of new faces, but have a talented senior forward who can get buckets down low in Miles Novy-Hildesley for the Cardinals and Andrew Haas for the Warriors. Both are strong enough to guide their respective teams to some PIL wins.
And of course you can’t forget Roosevelt and Jefferson. Both sides are working with some young/inexperienced talent into the fold.
The Roughriders do have Lucas Moreira and Jayden Metcalf as some senior standouts, and the Demos brought back senior Q Gresham and sophomore Victor Jackson. Those two duos will certainly decide some games in the PIL.
McDaniel and Franklin are expected toward the bottom, but Mountain Lions senior Weiming Zhu can score with the best of them and the Lightning have some unmatched size in senior Benjamin Nimo and freshman Roman Gerts.
There’s plenty of different ways this thing can shake out, but the battle for that third spot and at-large bids will be fierce.
5. Mt. Hood boys conference race could be interesting
Leaving the LSI, Southridge might have had the most impressive win, but Central Catholic walked away as the 6A favorite in my mind.
After all, the Rams avenged their 76-72 loss on the road to the Skyhawks with a 62-43 drubbing to close out the tournament.
Robbie Long III, Jalen Nicholson and Bam Paschal have all raised their level of play for their senior season. And junior Jesuit transfer Isaac Bongen is a still microwave scorer coming off the bench who can change games in a hurry.
But the Mt. Hood is stacked this year.
Barlow has proven its reloaded, Nelson can still be a final eight team once Braylon Gaines is back, Clackamas has scoring and size to match with anyone, Gresham is another year older and another year better, Reynolds has possibly the best freshman in the state in Jordan Smith.
Any of these matchups could result in an unexpected L for the Rams, so getting through the MHC slate unblemished will be difficult.
If you want to see some high-level hoops for the next two months, go check out any Mt. Hood game.
6. Parkrose boys no longer a mystery
We all knew who ended up at Parkrose, the next question was how could they all play together?
After competing in the LSI, the Broncos look to not only be the NWOC favorite, but the 5A favorite.
And there's a good reason for it. It’s hard for any team in the state to match the athleticism the Broncos have in starting five of Fuzzy Montague, Varryk Hardges, Jayden Hall, Victor Norris and Keion James. Then you have Keone Gates off the bench who can spell any one of those guys.
It’s a deadly six-man rotation that will likely also see senior Corinthian Littleton mixed in at times too.
This lineup is a versatility dream with what each guy can do beyond the arc, in the paint, making plays or playing defense.
The NWOC is talented without a doubt, but not many teams can say they go six players deep in potential all-league first-teamers.
So what to watch is how many league wins can this Broncos team get? A perfect 16-0 mark is definitely not out of the question.
7. Portland Christian boys another run
The Portland Christian boys had a few holes to replace coming off back-to-back state championship game appearances, but they certainly found ways to plug them.
The Royals are 9-0 after their nonleague slate, which includes wins over 2A No. 6 East Linn Christian (by 40 points), 3A No. 10 De La Salle North Catholic, 3A No. 5 Oregon Episcopal and 3A No. 1 Westside Christian.
This team has been tested and is expected to glide through league play with only Knappa posing much of a threat.
Seniors Josiah Harris-Skidmore and Ethan Larner, along with junior Keylon Kittleson stir the drink for them and make up one of the best trios in the state.
Add in junior Zane Ozier from Parkrose and the Royals are a little smaller this season, but Ozier is a versatile wing who can score inside and knock down the three.
Senior Graham Calhoun provides some toughness inside as well to make this PC squad a threat for the state title once more.
