WA men's basketball players on 2023 NCAA Tournament rosters

title= — Purdue guard David Jenkins Jr. (14) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Dec. 29, 2022, in West Lafayette, Ind. (AP Photo/Doug McSchooler)

Doug McCuller

AP

There are 20 players with ties to Washington high schools who play for Division I men’s basketball programs that have qualified for the NCAA Tournament, including several who are regular starters or play key bench roles.

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Here’s a look at the local standouts on rosters for teams playing in the annual tournament, which begins Tuesday.

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ARIZONA

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G Ben Ackerley, soph. (Eastside Prep)

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Colgate guard Braden Smith (2) drives the ball around Auburn forward Johnny Broom (4) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Friday, Dec. 2, 2022, in Auburn, Alabama. (AP Photo/Butch Dill) Butch Dill AP

COLGATE

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G Braeden Smith, fr. (Seattle Prep) — Has started all 34 games for the Patriot League regular season and tournament champions, and averages 11.8 points, 3.9 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.3 steals for the Raiders. Patriot League All-Rookie Team selection.

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Boise State’s Tyson Degenhart (2) goes for a rebound between St. Louis’ Gibson Jimerson, left, and Javonte Perkins during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Dec. 10, 2022, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) Jeff Roberson AP

BOISE STATE

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F Tyson Degenhart, soph. (Mount Spokane) — Broncos scoring leader averages 14.3 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.8 assists per contest, and has started all 33 games this season. All-Mountain West first-teamer was also the conference’s Freshman of the Year last season. Second career appearance in NCAA Tournament.

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Boise State’s Naje Smith, right, drives to the basket past St. Louis’ Francis Okoro (5) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Dec. 10, 2022, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) Jeff Roberson AP

F Naje Smith, fifth year (Lewis and Clark, Cochise College) — Has started 30 of 33 games played for the Broncos this season, and averages 10.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists and a team-leading 1 block per game. Second career appearance in NCAA Tournament.

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G Sam Winter, jr. (Montesano)

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G Kobe Young, R-fr. (Chiawana)

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CREIGHTON

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G John Christofilis, soph. (O’Dea)

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Gonzaga guard Nolan Hickman controls the ball during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against San Diego, Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023, in Spokane, Washington. (AP Photo/Young Kwak) Young Kwak AP

GONZAGA

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G Joe Few, soph. (Gonzaga Prep)

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G Nolan Hickman, soph. (Eastside Catholic, Wasatch Academy) — Has started 32 of 33 games for the West Coast Conference co-champions and WCC Tournament champions this season, and leads Gonzaga with 3.2 assists per game. Also averages 8.4 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1 steal. Second career appearance in NCAA Tournament.

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F Kaden Perry, soph. (Battle Ground)

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Gonzaga forward Anton Watson (22) drives the ball against Saint Mary’s during the first half of the NCAA men’s West Coast Conference tournament finals Tuesday, March 7, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker) David Becker AP

F Anton Watson, sr. (Gonzaga Prep) — Former state player of the year and two-time state champion for the Bullpups has started all 33 games for the West Coast Conference co-champion and WCC Tournament champion Bulldogs this season. Averages 11.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists and a team-leading 1.8 steals. All-WCC honorable mention selection. Third career appearance in NCAA Tournament.

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FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON

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G Trevon Blassingame, fr. (Auburn)

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Montana State guard RaeQuan Battle (21) drives to the basket against Northern Arizona during the first half of the NCAA men’s basketball Big Sky Tournament championship game in Boise, Idaho, Wednesday, March 8, 2023. (AP Photo/Steve Conner) Steve Conner AP

MONTANA STATE

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G RaeQuan Battle, jr. (Marysville-Pilchuck, Washington) — Scoring leader for the Big Sky Conference Tournament champions pours in 17.4 points per game, while also adding 2.9 rebounds and 1 assist, and has started all 34 contests for the Bobcats this season. Unanimous All-Big Sky first-team selection. Was also one of two players to earn the conference’s Top Reserve honor last year in his first season at Montana State. Second career appearance in NCAA Tournament.

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G Tyler Patterson, soph. (Mount Si) — Former state champion with the Wildcats has started 31 of 34 games for the Big Sky Conference Tournament champion Bobcats this season, averaging 5.1 points and 1.2 rebounds per contest. Second career appearance in NCAA Tournament.

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PENN STATE

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F Michael Henn, fifth year (Bellevue, UC Davis, Cal Baptist, Portland, Denver)

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Purdue’s David Jenkins Jr. (14) drives past Ohio State’s Bruce Thornton (2) during the second half of an NCAA men’s Big Ten tournament semifinal basketball game Saturday, March 11, 2023, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) Charles Rex Arbogast AP

PURDUE

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G David Jenkins Jr., sixth year (Silas (formerly Wilson), South Dakota State, UNLV, Utah) — A key contributor off the bench for No. 1 seed Purdue, Jenkins has appeared in the past 33 games for the Boilermakers, and averages 14.6 minutes, 4 points and 1.3 rebounds for the Big Ten regular season and tournament champions. Was also the Summit League Freshman of the Year at South Dakota State in 2018, an All-Summit League first-teamer in 2019 and an All-Mountain West third-team pick at UNLV in 2021. Second career appearance in NCAA Tournament.

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St. Mary’s center Mitchell Saxen (11) drives against Pacifica during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Moraga, Calif., Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez) Godofredo A. Vasquez AP

SAINT MARY’S

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F Mitchell Saxen, jr. (Ingraham) — Gaels’ 6-foot-10 center has started all 33 games this season, leading the West Coast Conference co-champions in rebounds (7.8) and blocks (1.1) and adding 11.6 points and 1.7 assists per game. All-WCC first-team pick. Second career appearance in NCAA Tournament.

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UC SANTA BARBARA

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F David Pickles, soph. (Mercer Island)

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West Virginia forward Emmitt Matthews Jr. (1) hangs at the rim after a dunk as TCU’s Damion Bowe (10) and Xavier Cork, right, look on during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023, in Ft. Worth, Texas. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins) Ron Jenkins AP

WEST VIRGINIA

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F Emmitt Matthews Jr., fifth year (Silas (formerly Wilson), Washington) — Has started each of the 31 games he’s played in this season, averaging 10.4 points, 4 rebounds and 1.2 assists. Matthews returns to West Virginia, where he played his first three college seasons, following one season at Washington. Second career appearance in NCAA Tournament.

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West Virginia guard Eric Stevenson (10) is defended by Kansas forward KJ Adams Jr. (24) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Morgantown, West Virginia, Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023. (AP Photo/ Kathleen Batten) Kathleen Batten AP

G Erik Stevenson, fifth year (Timberline, Wichita State, Washington, South Carolina) — Leading the Mountaineers in scoring (15.5 points per game) in his first season with the program, and has started all 33 games this winter, adding 3.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1 steal per contest. All-Big 12 third-team pick.

This story was originally published March 12, 2023 at 3:37 p.m.

Lauren Smith is a sports reporter for The News Tribune. She has covered high school sports for TNT and The Olympian, as well as the Seattle Mariners and Washington Huskies. She graduated from UW and Emerald Ridge High School.