Oregon’s towns, high schools, and universities have delivered top athletes in recent years many making their mark at national and international levels. There are also a handful of young stars that have promising careers ahead of them.
Baron Naone from West Linn High School is a promising football tight end who has made his mark on the football field, helping West Linn reach 11-1 and the Oregon 6A Open State Championship. He signed with Washington in June 2024, despite offers from Arizona, Arizona State, Oregon State, San Diego State, Tennessee, UNLV, Washington State, and California. Although he decided to leave his home state, many football fans across the country are keeping a close eye on his upcoming performances. Naone is a favorite among sports bettors, with even California betting sites considering him a rising star, predicting that he will take home the Heisman Trophy Entering Spring Football. These sites also offer fast payouts and a wide range of betting options, allowing you to win big when placing a bet on Naone.
Ryan Crouser, from Boring in Clackamas County, has become a household name in many Oregon homes. He is a track and field star, specializing in shot put, and a three-time Olympic gold medalist, standing on the top tier of the podium in Rio, Tokyo, and Paris. He has also won the outdoor World Championships twice and holds the world shot put record for indoor (22.82 m) and outdoor (23.56 m) events. Ryan is the first-ever shot putter to become a consecutive three-time gold winner, and he is not slowing down yet. It is no surprise that Ryan is such a powerhouse, coming from a family of Olympic throwers, with his dad and uncles competing in discus, javelin, and shot put.
Zac Stascausky, class of 2025, is yet another high school student from Oregon who is one to watch. He plays offensive tackle for the Central Catholic High School and recently signed with the Oregon Ducks. He received 11 other offers, including from big schools like UCLA, Washington, California, and Arizona. He showed interest in the Michigan Wolves and Washington Huskies before de-committing to these teams. According to his scouting report, he shows enough balance and length to play successfully at the college level. National recruiting analyst Greg Biggins said, “When you look at the frame, athleticism, and skill set, Stascausky is an easy high Power 4 prospect and someone we think could be a multi-year starter at the college level as well.”
Sophia Olivia Wilson (née Smith) is a professional soccer player, playing forward for the Portland Thorns FC. She also plays for the US women’s soccer team and the National Women’s Soccer League. Sophia showed her true skills during the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, where she, along with fellow Portland Thorns player Sam Coffee, helped the team win gold, beating Brazil 1-0 in the finals. Sophia also scored the winning goal in the semi-finals against Germany; she scored a total of three goals at the Olympics. Her skills have not gone unnoticed, securing her the National Women’s Soccer League Golden Boot in 2023.
Nate Bittle from Central Point has been selected to the All-Big Ten third team, along with fellow Oregon basketball player Jackson Shelstad. Bittle was also named as part of the Big Ten All-Defensive Team. He signed with Oregon University in 2021 where he plays as Center on the team. He was considered a five-star recruit by ESPN and 247Sports and turned down offers at UCLA, Arizona, and Gonzaga. He is showing a lot of promise, which is being recognized. He is a top-five finalist for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award, along with Ryan Kalkbrenner (Creighton), Vladislav Goldin (Michigan), Maxime Raynaud (Stanford), and Dawson Garcia (Minnesota).
