Preseason Top 25 High School Basketball Rankings: No. 21 Federal Way

Rising 5-star Jaden McDaniels will look to lead Eagles back to state title, national prominence.

Thumbnail image of this articles writer: Jordan Divens
By
Oct 17, 2018, 12:00am
Video: Preseason Top 25 Basketball Rankings
Breaking down the national contenders heading into the 2018-19 season.


Head Coach: Jerome Collins
Last Season: 27-2 (WIAA Class 4A finalist)
Head coach Jerome Collins
Head coach Jerome Collins
File photo by Vince Miller
Players to Watch:
Pierre Crockrell Jr. (6-foot-0, Sr., G)
Tari Eason (6-8, Jr., F)
Eloheim Johnson (6-2, Jr., W)
Jaden McDaniels (6-11, Sr., F)
Jishai Miller (6-4, Sr., W)
Jalen Womack (6-0, Sr., G)

Key Games/Events:
Dec. 9 - vs. Woodmere Academy (Woodmere, N.Y.) — Battle in the Apple (Brooklyn, N.Y.)
Dec. 16-20 - Tarkanian Classic (Las Vegas, Nev.)
Jan. 21 - vs. University (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) — Spalding Hoophall Classic (Springfield, Mass.)
Forward Jaden McDaniels
Forward Jaden McDaniels
File photo by Paul Caldwell
Season Preview:
Federal Way has gone 105-8 over the last four seasons, with back-to-back state title runs in 2014-15 and 2015-16.

Last year, the Eagles came up just short of capturing their third state title in the last four seasons, falling 54-52 to unbeaten Gonzaga Prep (Spokane, Wash.) in a thrilling WIAA Class 4A title game.

In 2018-19, Federal Way will again be led by their quickly rising 5-star forward McDaniels, who has developed into a top 5 player in the Class of 2019 and is set for a monumental senior season in the Evergreen State.

Alongside their 5-star senior leader, the Eagles return their starting point guard Womack and add talented Garfield transfers Eason and Crockrell Jr to a loaded roster.

Federal Way is set for a special season, with a strong likelihood of running into Gonzaga Prep again in the state title quest.

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