On Monday the Utah State High School Basketball Tournament begins for the boys’ classifications of 4A and 5A. In the past, this event would be met with little interest unless you were a student of one of the competing schools, were a parent of one of the players, or perhaps just enjoyed watching mediocre basketball. In recent years, however, this is no longer the case as Utah has been receiving national recognition both of individual players as well as teams. Lone Peak High School (Highland, UT) achieved national recognition last year for their 5A championship winning team and also brought home the national championship from several of the major ranking outlets.
That Lone Peak team alone had three Cougar basketball players in the starting lineup (Nick Emery, T.J. Haws, and Eric Mika) while adding another Cougar football player (Talon Shumway). While Emery (currently serving a mission in Germany) and Mika (started for the Cougars as a freshman this season) are no longer there, Haws joins three other future Cougars competing in this week’s basketball tournament.
After being held at Weber State University for more than a decade, the 4A and 5A tournaments will be held at the Huntsman Center at the University of Utah this year. While on any other week going to the U willingly would not be advisable, at least you don’t have to watch any Ute sports. So swallow your pride this week and head up the hill to see some of the best talent in the state, including the following future Cougars:
T.J. Haws: Lone Peak High School (Highland, 5A)
Perhaps the best all around player on 2013’s national championship season, Haws returned this season as a senior and has been one of, if not the most, dominating player in the state in leading the Knights to a 19-3 record. The Knights enter the tournament as the top ranked team in 5A and are the clear favorite to win their 4th straight 5A state championship. Haws, the younger brother of current Cougar star Tyler Haws, has been the clear leader of the team. His 24 ppg scoring average makes him the sixth highest scorer in the state (though 1-5 are from small town schools, making Haws the highest score in 4A or 5A.) Featuring “in the gym” range, And1-esque ball handling and penetration moves, and a basketball IQ rivaling that of top NCAA players, some say that T.J. is an even better player than his brother. While not perhaps as easily as the past three seasons in which Lone Peak has decimated opponents by over 22 ppg in the 5A tourney, look for Haws to win his 4th state championship and further cement his legendary status.
Haws, who has already received his mission call, has committed to join his brother Tyler and his father Marty (1986-90) in playing for the Cougars.
Frank Jackson: Lone Peak High School (Highland, 5A)
While 2013-14 marks the first season that sophomore Frank Jackson has shared the floor with T.J. Haws, they will have many more years to play together as Jackson has also committed to play for the Cougars. Jackson transferred to Lone Peak after playing for nearby Lehi High School last season. Committing to BYU in September, Jackson looks to be a very intriguing prospect for the Cougars. He averaged nearly 18 points per game this season as an underclassman on a team that has plenty of other scoring threats.
Scary to think that in 2018 Jackson, Haws, Emery, and Mika will all be through with their missions and play on the court together. I can’t think of another team in the country that would attempt a starting lineup with 4-5 players from a single high school, but when that high school is Lone Peak you maybe take that chance.
Zac Seljaas: Bountiful High School (Bountiful, 4A)
The Bountiful Braves have decimated opponents and enter the playoffs as easily the top ranked overall team in the state. Their leader is forward/center Zac Seljaas (junior) who has committed to play for the Cougars. His 19.3 ppg are scored in a variety of ways. He averages nearly three 3-pointers per game, including a career high seven in a 31-point performance in the final game of the regular season. While Seljaas’ scoring average is impressive, it would probably be higher had the Braves not beaten their region opponents by an average of 32.1 points per game. Included in that average is a 64 point victory over Cyprus in the final game of the season. 64 points??? Keep in mind that a high school game is just 32 minutes long, meaning that Seljaas was part of a scoring onslaught that outscored its opponent by two points per minute!
Like Haws, Seljaas also has BYU basketball bloodlines. His sister, Nancy, was a Bountiful Brave as well and a four year starter for BYU. His father, Gary, played basketball for BYU-Hawaii and is an assistant coach on the Brave’s staff.
Ryan Andrus: American Fork High School (American Fork, 5A)
Center Ryan Andrus may be the perfect replacement for Eric Mika when he leaves on his mission next season. At 6’10”, Andrus has used his size and post moves to lead the Cavemen to a 15-8 record. Andrus averaged over 15 ppg and nearly 8 rebounds. Andrus should fit right in at BYU, another team that will look to make their basketball tournament this year but won’t be expected to go far.