2023-24 NWC All-Conference Boys Basketball Teams

Here are the first and second team honorees as voted on by NWC coaches, and the first thing that comes to my mind about each player.

Head Coach of the Year:  Brett Farrar, Mount Vernon

38-11 record and an NWC title in two years with the Bulldogs.

Assistant Coach of the Year:  Brian Sipma, Lynden Christian

Mainstay on the Lyncs staff that is loaded with LC grads.

Co-Players of the Year:

Davis Fogle, junior, Anacortes                       

Highest scoring average in NWC history.  Dangerous with the ball.  No shot he can’t make.

Quinn Swanson, senior, Mount Vernon   

Exceptional offensive player with extremely high IQ.

1st Team:

Anthony Canales, senior, Lynden

Three state championships and three state tournament MVP awards spells W-I-N-N-E-R.

Dawson Bouma, senior, Lynden Christian

Complete player.  Can create for himself and others, and often defends opponent’s best player.

Gannon Dykstra, junior, Lynden Christian

Also creates offense like his running mate, and will be the focus of opponent’s defenses next year.

Brant Heppner, junior, Lynden

Came on as a tall 3-point shooter last year, added huge inside presence this year. 

Wyatt Stephan, senior, Bellingham

No one on the floor plays harder, and an excellent jump shooter.

Talon Jenkins, junior, Meridian

Tremendous outside shooter with super-smooth release.  At 6-5, tough to get a hand in his face.

Caleb Greenland, sophomore, Lakewood

Swiss Army Knife for the Cougars.  Can rebound it and go.  At 6-2, can play inside and out.

Jeremiah Wright, senior, Lynden Christian

Unstoppable near the hoop and can step out and hit a three.  Great hands and athleticism.

2nd Team

Nolan Wright, sophomore, Sehome

Similar game as Stephan, and excellent QB whether on the field or the court.

Marcus Nixon, junior, Squalicum

Soft touch and can score in bunches.

Xavier Neyens, junior, Mount Vernon

Home run hitter on the diamond and the court.  Basketball skills get overlooked.

Micah Dickison, sophomore, Anacortes

Athletic and aggressive player, who gives the Seahawks a solid inside presence at both ends.

Jaeger Fyfe, junior, Meridian

Long range and can go to the hoop.  Will be part of an even tougher duo to stop next year.

Brady Elsner, senior, Lynden

Back-up point in ’23, to team’s single season assist record holder this year.  Makes teammates better.

Rex Wilson, senior, Burlington-Edison

Smooth and steady scorer for the Tigers.

Ethan DeJong, sophomore, Sedro-Woolley

Averaged 19 points per game, and can score from anywhere.

Evan Stacey, junior, Lakewood

3-year starter for the Cougars and one of the league’s top defender.  Quick hands and anticipation.

Honorable Mention:

This list is not associated with the coaches vote, but my list of others around the league who deserve recognition.

Michael Johnson, junior, Mount Vernon

Gave the Bulldogs another quality outside threat when your focus was elsewhere.

Jack Stapleton, junior, Lynden

Important #3 scorer for the Lions.  Good face-up shooter and Hi-Lo game with Heppner.

Charlie Ayres, senior, Lynden

Hit some clutch shots this season, and became a top defender.

Kayden Stuit, senior, Lynden Christian

Heavy duty rebounder, and can pick a dime off the top of the backboard.

Jake Andrew, junior, Anacortes

Quick and deadly outside shooter.  Was there to beat defenses that focused on Fogle.

Joe Harward, sophomore, Bellingham

Started the year on the JV’s, but finished the year coming off the varsity bench scoring in double-figures.

Ben Rucker, senior, Lakewood

Another great in a long line of Cougar shooters. 

Hunter Calloway, freshman, Squalicum

Smooth player who made a quick impact for the Storm.  Great potential, and three more years.

Brady Ackerman, junior, Nooksack Valley

Improved inside game and has the potential to dominate next year.

Mantaj Singh, sophomore, Ferndale

Good outside shooter that had some big offensive games for the Golden Eagles.

Jonah Brillowsky, junior, Ferndale

Had some big games and his inside presence will be a good combo with Singh next year.

Logan Heigert, sophomore, Burlington-Edison

Tall lefty has many offensive weapons, and scored 15 points a game this year.

Christian Clawson, senior, Meridian

Showed great improvement through the year, and was pivotal in the Trojans late season run.

Abdul-Fattah Kanagie, junior, Blaine

Very raw, but looking forward to the level he can reach next year.

Kell Reardon, freshman, Mount Baker

Another raw player with great athleticism and potential over the next three years.

Xavier Ochoa, sophomore, Oak Harbor

Heady guard will be a key in the Wildcats future.

~ Ted House