Kyle Wiltjer is, without question, the state of Oregon's top Class of 2011 basketball prospect. A power forward at the high school level, Wiltjer excels facing the basket and sports a crafty offensive game. He can put the ball on the back to get his own shot, step out and shoot from the mid-range and find open teammates with excellent vision and passing skills for a big man. Blessed with great basketball intelligence and court awareness, Wiltjer stands to be an impact player on the next level.
Wiltjer is a proven level on the high school level, having won back-to-back state OSAA 6A state championships, and on the AAU level, where he played for the Drew Gooden Soldiers. Wiltjer has also played for Canada during various international youth tournaments owing to his father Greg's Canadian citizenship.
Currently, Scout.com ranks Kyle Wiltjer as a 5 star prospect, the country's fifth-best power forward. Wiltjer is Scout.com's No. 19 overall prospect in the Class of 2011.
When it comes to Oregon preps basketball, nobody does it better than Oregonlive.com's Tim Brown. Here's an interview Brown did with Wiltjer following the 2010 Nike Global Challenge.
| Nike Global Challenge: Kyle Wiltjer assumes a leadership role on Team Canada |
There are disputing reports about who Wiltjer is and is not considering for his college destination. At least three Pacific Northwest teams are said to be in the running, according to Oregonlive.com's Aaron Fentress: Gonzaga, Oregon and Washington. Another list has only Gonzaga in the mix locally.
One thing is clear: whoever lands Kyle Wiltjer on Saturday will be adding a difference-maker in 2011 and beyond.
For everything Gonzaga basketball, head over to SB Nation's The Slipper Still Fits.