How good has high school basketball in the state of Washington been since the turn of the century? Undefeated state championship teams from
Mount Vernon in 2001 and
Federal Way in 2016 – both viewed as juggernauts at the time – didn't crack our list of top 10 teams over the past 22 seasons.
It was a tough list to crack considering the consistent excellence of programs like
Garfield (Seattle) and
Rainier Beach (Seattle), who have combined for 12 state titles in the 2000s. Both Seattle schools placed multiple teams on our list.
Evaluating resumes, national rankings and talent on the roster, we put together a list of the top teams in Washington since 2000. See the complete breakdown below.
DeAngelo Casto celebrates the second of back-to-back state championships at Ferris in 2008.
Photo: Juliann Tallino
1. Nathan Hale (Seattle), 2016-17Record: 29-0, Class 3A state champions
National ranking: No. 1
Notable players: Michael Porter Jr., Jontay Porter, P.J. Fuller, Tre'Var Holland, Keegan Crosby, Freddy Brown III
Rundown: Prior to the arrival of head coach Brandon Roy and senior transfer Porter Jr. before the 2016-17 season, Nathan Hale hadn't reached the state tournament since 1994. Porter Jr. took the state by storm and was on another level than any other high school player in Washington before or since, averaging 37 points and 14 rebounds per game, earning MaxPreps National Player of the Year honors.
2. Rainier Beach (Seattle), 2013-14Record: 28-1, Class 3A state champions
National ranking: No. 5
Notable players: Dejounte Murray, David Crisp, Shaqquan Aaron, Dujuan Piper, Elijah Foster
Rundown: Beach's only loss came against basketball factory Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.) at GEICO Nationals. The Vikings beat Whitney Young (Chicago) and Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) to win the Les Schwab Invitational in December of the 2013-14 season. Current NBA guard Murray was the catalyst for a team that topped 100 points eight times.
3. Ferris (Spokane), 2007-08Record: 29-0, Class 4A state champions
National ranking: No. 23
Notable players: DeAngelo Casto, Jared Karstetter, Shawn Stockton, Erick Cheadle, Jeff Minnerly
Rundown: The second of back-to-back state championship teams that won 58 games in a row. The Saxons won by an average of more than 25 points per game, beating a Bellarmine Prep team featuring Avery Bradley in the state semifinals and dominating Federal Way by 24 in the championship game.
4. Rainier Beach, 2001-02Record: 28-1, Class 3A state champions
National ranking: No. 7
Notable players: Nate Robinson, Lodrick Stewart, Rodrick Stewart
Rundown: These Vikings were the first team in state history to top the national rankings in December of 2001. The lone loss of the season came in December against Cedar Hill (Texas) at Slam Dunk to the Beach in Delaware, an event where Beach also knocked off teams from California and New York. Robinson was the state tournament MVP after sparking a dominant championship game win over Mercer Island.
5. Garfield (Seattle), 2017-18Record: 28-2, Class 3A state champions
National ranking: No. 19
Notable players: Jaylen Nowell, J'Raan Brooks, P.J. Fuller, Daejon Davis, Ed Turner, Tari Eason, MarJon Beauchamp
Rundown: A year after winning the national title at Nathan Hale, Roy moved to his alma mater and assembled a stacked roster. After beating Rainier Beach for the 3A title, the Bulldogs received an invite to GEICO Nationals, where they fell in the first round to storied Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.).
6. Gonzaga Prep (Spokane), 2018-19Record: 25-2, Class 4A state champions
National ranking: No. 21
Notable players: Anton Watson, Liam Lloyd, Jacob Parola, Carter Sonneborn, Noah Drynan
Rundown: Prep's only losses came to state champions from Florida and Nevada. The Bullpups were rolling by the time the state tournament came around, thrashing Mount Si by 26 in the championship game behind 33 points from Watson.
7. Ferris, 2006-07Record: 29-0, Class 4A state champions
National ranking: NR
Notable players: DeAngelo Casto, Shawn Stocketon, Jared Karstetter
Rundown: With something to prove and minus the pressure of defending a title and extending a long win streak, the 2006-07 Saxons may have been even more dominant during the regular season than they were a year later. Ferris announced itself to the entire state in the 4A semifinals when it slammed defending champ Franklin featuring Peyton Siva and Venoy Overton 100-79.
8. Franklin (Seattle), 2008-09Record: 28-1, Class 3A state champions
National ranking: No. 12
Notable players: Peyton Siva, Chris Holmes, Vonchae' Richardson, Freddy Wilson, Dominique Wilson
Rundown: Before leading Louisville to a national title at the college level, Siva led Franklin to a dominant run that included a pair of state championships. The Quakers tore through the state tournament in 2009, winning by an average margin of 21 points per game.
9. Gonzaga Prep, 2017-18Record: 26-0, Class 4A state champions
National ranking: No. 15
Notable players: Anton Watson, Liam Lloyd, Devin Culp, Sam Lockett, Jamaari Jones
Rundown: The Bullpups grinded out a 54-52 win over Jaden McDaniels and Federal Way in the state final. While Watson provided the star power, defense was the calling card for Prep all season, allowing just 42.4 points per game.
10. Garfield, 2014-15Record: 27-2, Class 3A state champions
National ranking: No. 17
Notable players: Jaylen Nowell, Alphonso Anderson, Jashaun Agosto, Terrell Brown
Rundown: This young Bulldogs team avenged a regular season loss to Rainier Beach in the state final, getting 23 points from Nowell to win impressively, 66-51.
Also considered: Mount Vernon 2000-01, Franklin 2002-03,
Kentwood (Covington) 2003-04, Rainier Beach 2007-08, Garfield 2013-14,
Federal Way 2014-15, Federal Way 2015-16,
Auburn 2021-22
