Monday, June 4, 2007 - 12:00 AM
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KEN LAMBERT / THE SEATTLE TIMES
Cougars recruit Riley Tubbs from Tahoma of Maple Valley was All-SPSL 4A North in three sports.
THOMAS JAMES HURST / THE SEATTLE TIMES
Eric Greenwood of Edmonds-Woodway's talents in football, basketball and track and field elevate him to the top.
MIKE SIEGEL / THE SEATTLE TIMES
Cody Atkinson was captain for Bothell's playoff football and baseball teams.
DEAN RUTZ / THE SEATTLE TIMES
Kellen Kiilsgaard of Auburn will carry his football and baseball talents to Stanford.
KEN LAMBERT / THE SEATTLE TIMES
Rainier Beach's 330-pound Alameda Ta'amu throws his weight around in football and track.
Profiles of boys player of the year finalists
Thousands of games involving thousands of athletes come down to five finalists for The Seattle Times' sixth-annual Male High School Star of the Year Award. Riley Tubbs of Tahoma and the four other finalists profiled in this story were selected by Times editors, reporters and freelancers covering high-school sports because of their all-around accomplishments for the 2006-07 school year. Finalists must attend schools in King or Snohomish counties, or in Metro, WesCo and SPSL 3A leagues, and must excel in more than one sport.
Riley Tubbs, Tahoma
Class: Senior
Age: 18
Height: 6 feet 2
Sports: Football, basketball, baseball
Football recap: Big-play guy led Tahoma to third straight SPSL 4A North Division title. Had 24 catches for 485 yards and eight touchdowns during the regular season and also led the Bears in tackles with 64 while snagging four interceptions. First-team wide receiver and SPSL North Defensive Back of the Year.
Basketball recap: Shooting guard led Tahoma in scoring average (14.0) and contributed in every category with 4.4 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 3.7 steals. Three-year starter was All-SPSL North first-team selection.
Baseball recap: Versatile player moved from third base to outfield early and helped Tahoma reach 4A state semifinals for the second straight year. Hit his sixth homer of season and 14th of his three-year career in final game at Safeco Field. Led SPSL North with 28 RBI while batting .480 with .940 slugging percentage. First-team all-division choice and selected to Star Times all-area team.
Betcha didn't know: Tubbs is a role model for his three nephews and especially enjoys playing catch with the oldest, who is 8.
Quick quote: "People think I'm a gifted athlete, but I think I've had to work harder than anyone else because of playing three sports. I didn't get a chance to concentrate on one sport."
Favorite athlete: A tie between Derek Jeter ("Just the effort he puts in, day-in and day-out") and Michael Jordan ("I love the intensity he brought and the determination he had to win those six championships").
Most admires: His parents "for the way they've supported me in anything I do." They never missed one of his high-school games.
Family matters: Father Russ; mother Connie; brothers Nathan, 32; and Nick, 30; and sister Suzie, 27. All three siblings played sports at Kentridge.
Favorite class: Sports medicine. He plans to study physical therapy in college.
Hobbies, interests: Enjoys camping and water sports, such as wakeboarding.
DVDs or video games? DVD. "I like sports movies. One of my favorites is 'Coach Carter'."
"Lost," "24" or "American Idol"? "None, I'm a 'CSI' guy."
Future plans: Will attend Washington State on a baseball scholarship. Hopes to someday play in major leagues.
Sandy Ringer
Eric Greenwood, Edmonds-Woodway
Class: Senior
Age: 18
Height: 6 feet 6
Sports: Football, basketball, track and field
Football recap: Greenwood was the go-to receiver for a Warriors team that went to the Class 4A semifinals and finished 12-1. He had 44 receptions for 837 yards and caught 14 touchdown passes. First-team All-WesCo South Division and a Star Times all-area selection.
Basketball recap: Playing wing, Greenwood led the Warriors in scoring with 11.1 points per game and helped the team win the Northwest 4A District title. Edmonds-Woodway won a game at state and finished 19-7. He was voted to the All-WesCo South second team.
Track-and-field recap: His high jump of 6 feet, 7 inches in a regular-season meet set an Edmonds-Woodway record. Greenwood also won Northwest 4A District title in that event for second straight year and qualified for state.
Betcha didn't know: Eric's late father Scott was the tight end on Washington's 1978 Rose Bowl team. Eric likes to cook and make smoothies.
Quick quote: "Not a lot of people play three sports in high school. It makes me feel like I'm something special."
Favorite athlete: Reggie Williams, former Washington wide receiver now with the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars. "I grew up watching him."
Most admires: "My whole family."
Family matters: Mother Nancy, stepfather Jeff Vehrs; sister Erin, 19, plays volleyball for UNLV.
Favorite class: P.E. "Because we get to play a bunch of different sports."
Hobbies, interests: "I'm really into my car," a silver Chrysler 300. "I spend a lot of time washing it."
DVDs or video games? Video games all the way. Plays Madden and NCAA '07 on his Xbox 360.
"Lost," "24" or "American Idol"? "24." "I've seen it from Day 1."
Future plans: Received a scholarship to play football at Idaho.
Zach Landres-Schnur
Cody Atkinson, Bothell
Class: Senior Age: 18 Height: 6 feet
Sports: Football, baseball
Football recap: Two-year captain and second-team KingCo 4A quarterback passed for 1,712 yards and 14 touchdowns. Also ran for a TD in the thrilling nine-overtime playoff win against Pasco, and led Bothell to 12-2 record, conference title and state championship game.
Baseball recap: After hitting team-best .406 in regular season, two-year captain and first-team KingCo 4A shortstop hit two home runs during state playoffs to lead team to semifinals and 20-7 record.
Betcha didn't know: Atkinson was born with a bright red birthmark that travels the length of his right arm from the tips of his fingers up to his shoulder.
Quick quote: "I usually get the, 'Hey is your arm OK? It looks sunburned.' "
Favorite athlete: Shortstop Khalil Greene of the San Diego Padres.
Most admires: Bothell football coach Tom Bainter. "We weren't a bunch of Division I guys, but because of him, we were a great team. He has the ability to make kids want to play together."
Family matters: His dad, Ray, was All-Metro quarterback at Roosevelt and played shortstop on two NAIA baseball World Series winners at Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston, Idaho; mom, Tracy; brother, Tyler; sister, Jessica.
Favorite class: Advanced Leadership, where he helps plan school events and raise money for charities.
Hobbies, interests: Sports, delivering pizzas for Thrasher's Corner Papa John's.
DVDs or video games? Video games (NCAA Baseball 07, Madden 07).
"Lost," "24" or "American Idol"? " Lost." "We all talk about it at football practice."
Future plans: Will go to Occidental College in Los Angeles, where he will play quarterback and shortstop. Wants to become a high-school teacher and football coach.
Michael Ko
Kellen Kiilsgaard, Auburn
Class: Senior Age: 18 Height: 6 feet 2
Sports: Football and baseball
Football recap: All-state quarterback rushed for 903 yards and 21 touchdowns and passed for 1,001 yards with 13 TDs as the Trojans reached Class 3A state semifinals. Times' All-State defensive back and two-time Star Times all-area selection.
Baseball recap: Outfielder earned first-team all-league for the third straight year and helped Auburn to second runner-up finish in a row. Batted .447, with 19 runs and 18 RBI. Star Times selection.
Betcha didn't know: Wears a size 8 cap. .
Quick quote: On losing two consecutive state-title games in baseball: "It was a real disappointment ... But then you have to be mature about it and realize you did accomplish something, placing second two years in a row."
Favorite athlete: Seahawks legend Steve Largent and the late Reggie White.
Most admires: President George W. Bush "for the strength he's shown not backing down from what he originally stood for, even while he's been under fire."
Family matters: Father Kjel, mother Leslie, sisters Elise, 27, and Linnea, 24, former All-American volleyball player at Northern Colorado. Kjel was an All-Big Sky linebacker at Idaho and teaches at Auburn; Leslie is a counselor at Auburn.
Favorite class: Lifesaving, taught by his father. It helped him save two drowning swimmers in Hawaii in March.
Hobbies, interests: "Hard-core inner-tubing" behind boats.
DVDs or video games? Video games. His favorite is Halo 2.
"Lost," "24" or "American Idol"? "24" hands down." After having his wisdom teeth extracted in January, he watched 18 episodes in one day.
Future plans: The 3.95 student accepted a football scholarship from Stanford, where he plans to play football and baseball.
Sandy Ringer
Alameda Ta'amu, Rainier Beach
Class: Junior Age: 16 Height: 6 feet 3
Sports: Football, track and field
Football recap: The 330-pounder was the Metro League Sound Division Defensive MVP and Offensive Lineman of the Year on a 7-4 team that finished second and won its first-round Class 3A playoff game. Starred on offense and defense and is one of state's top prospects.
Track-and-field recap: Won Metro League shot-put title, finished fourth at 3A state championships. His season-best throw was 54 feet, 4 inches.
Betcha didn't know: Ta'amu loves to play volleyball and sing. His father is a pastor. Alameda was named after the California county because his father was pastor of an Oakland-area church when he was born.
Quick quote: "When you're a preacher's kid in the Samoan community, you have to watch everything you do. ... Discipline is big in Samoan families."
Favorite athlete: Jerry Rice, former NFL wide receiver. "I liked his finesse and the way he played."
Most admires: His parents.
Family matters: Father Feagai and mother Savali were born in American Samoa. He has three older sisters, Elizabeth, 49; Idaline, 45; and Savali, 19; and two older brothers, Feagai, Jr., 37; and Maaka, 43.
Favorite class: Choir.
Hobbies, interests: Hanging out with his extended family of cousins and other relatives. "We call each other brothers."
DVDs or video games: Video games. Likes Madden NFL '07.
"Lost," "24" or "American Idol"? "American Idol." "I like to see people who come up from nothing to be something."
Future plans: One more year at Rainier Beach, where he will be a major football recruit. He has special interest in USC and will attend a summer football camp there. So far, he has received offers from Washington, Hawaii, Oregon State, Portland State and New Mexico State.
Craig Smith