Seatowning 3/2/11: Metro League Dominance

Leadoff: Metro League Dominance


A couple weeks ago, a reader commented our high school player rankings claiming that "metro is NOT the best league, 3 good teams, 2 decent teams and the rest terrible does not count as the best league in the state." There is some ignorance in this statement, but not everyone knows just how good the Metro League is. Let me throw some facts at you.

Three of the final eight teams in the Tacoma Dome tomorrow are Metro League teams: Seattle Prep, O'Dea, and Chief Sealth.

Last year, the 3A state championship game was the first time since 1996 a Metro League team had not been in the championship. It was also the first time since 2001, a Metro team had not won the 3A state championship.

Since 1993, O'Dea has won five championships (7 title apperances), Rainier Beach has won four (6 title apperances), Franklin has won three and Seattle Prep has won two.

Along with its consistent performace at the Tacoma Dome, numerous players in this league have gone on to play at the division one level and the NBA, here are some standouts:

• Steven Gray- Gonzaga (Bainbridge '07)
• Jason Terry- Dallas Mavericks (Franklin '95)
• Aaron Brooks- Phoenix Suns (Franklin '03)
• Venoy Overton- Washington (Franklin '07)
• Peyton Siva- Louisville (Franklin '09)
• Jamelle McMillan- Arizona St. (O'Dea '07)
• Jamal Crawford- Atlanta Hawks (Rainier Beach '99)
• Nate Robinson- Oklahoma City Thunder (Rainier Beach '02)
• Terrence Williams- Houston Rockets (Rainier Beach '05)
• Reggie Moore- Washington St. (Rainier Beach '08)
• Martell Webster- Minnesota Timberwolves (Seattle Prep '05)
• Spencer Hawes- Philadelphia 76ers (Seattle Prep '06)

This league is as good as it gets. Head down to the Tacoma Dome tomorrow to watch O'Dea, Seattle Prep, and Chief Sealth. Prep takes on Kamiakan at 3:45pm. Star Times stand-out Mitch Brewe is a beast down-low and can score at will if he gets position on the block. Freshman forward Josh Martin is also another player to watch for Seattle Prep; he's already garnering some recruiting interest from Pac-10 schools.

O'Dea will face Lakes at 5:30pm. The Irish have a talented backcourt made up of Seattle U commit, Dustin Watts and junior guard Sekou Wiggs. Watts is one of the most fundamentally sound and steady players in the state, while Wiggs is an athletic freak of nature that has a knack for scoring and finishing at the rim. Chief Sealth will take on the red hot Bellevue in the next game at 7:15pm.

Sealth has received a lot of press lately for their inspiring head coach Colin Slingsby and their varisty player/coach Tre'von Lane. Though Bellevue has won 13 of their last 15 games, their two losses have come against Mercer Island and Chief Sealth.

Don't be surprised if all three Metro teams advance past the first round, which would guarantee at least one Metro team in the final; all three teams are more than capable of making it happen.

Check out today's links after the jump!