NWAC Tournament: Former Shadle Park guard Markieth Brown Jr. leads Everett’s offense

Markieth Brown Jr. was a proven scorer at Shadle Park, the third option on a Highlanders roster dotted with college-level talent.

Tanner Groves and Andreas Brown – now at Eastern Washington and Central Washington, respectively – received most of the attention.

Things have changed since that group’s run to the 2017 3A regional playoffs.

At Everett Community College – the site of the Northwest Athletic Conference men’s and women’s basketball championships that begin Thursday – all eyes have been on Markieth Brown.

The 6-foot-3 guard is the second-leading scorer (26.1 points per game) in the 34-team NWAC, helping North Region champion Everett (22-7) earn a No. 1 seed.

Several NCAA Division II and NAIA programs are competing for the services of Brown, whose career high at Shadle Park (25 points) was below his current average.

He’s twice scored 39 points at Everett, where he’s recorded well over 1,000 career points.

“He’s a late bloomer,” Everett coach Mike Trautman said. “He’s added 15 pounds of muscle since he’s been here, so he’s really matured physically.”

Brown credits Trautman’s guard-heavy system – and his trust.

“Here, we run a four-guard offense that is really spaced,” said Brown, who lived in Hillyard near Rogers High but attended Shadle Park. “And coach doesn’t mind when I shoot.”

Everett has had similar success with Spokane-area products, most recently Conner Moffatt (Lakeside-Nine Mile Falls), now a junior at NAIA power Lewis-Clark State College.

Trautman said he liked Brown’s scoring mentality at Shadle Park, which ran more of a half-court system with the 6-foot-8 Groves in the middle and Andreas Brown running the point.

Trautman said Brown’s craftiness, length and ability to shoot from long range has boosted the Trojans.

Brown hit eight 3-pointers last week in a win over Whatcom.

“He’s a leader, too,” Trautman said. “He does everything the right way.”

When Everett signed Brown in 2017, it also brought in his best friend, former Mt. Spokane guard Phalon Maddox.

Maddox initially planned to play at Wenatchee Valley, but a coaching change prompted him to join Brown, his longtime AAU teammate in Spokane.

Maddox redshirted last season and now starts for Everett, averaging 8.4 points and 4.3 rebounds.

“It’s definitely exciting having (Maddox) on the team,” Brown said. “It feels like home.”

Everett begins the 16-team tournament Thursday against Lower Columbia (18-10). Last season, eventual champion North Idaho eliminated the Trojans.

Top-ranked North Idaho (27-2) is favored to repeat, but Brown likes his team’s chances at home.

“We can win it if we stay focused,” Brown said.

NIC, CCS at NWAC Tournament

North Idaho, which faces Clackamas (20-8) Thursday, went unscathed in NWAC play and beat its East Region foes by an average of more than 30 points a game.

The No. 1-seeded Cardinals are led by Washington commit Nate Pryor, Utah State commit Alphonso Anderson and reigning NWAC tournament Most Valuable Player RayQuan Evans, who is being recruited by Utah, Colorado and other Division I programs.

East No. 3 seed CC Spokane (20-9) faces Umpqua (20-9) on Thursday.

The Sasquatch, who split with Everett, are led by former Lewis and Clark guard Dedrick Pakootas (16 ppg).

In the women’s tournament which begins Saturday, East No. 4 seed North Idaho (20-8) faces Umpqua (25-4).

The Cardinals are led by guard Alivia Williams (14 ppg).