PORT ANGELES — Wyatt Dunning was many things for the Port Angeles boys basketball team on its march to the program’s first state tournament trophy since 1997.
Dunning was a deadeye shooter from deep, tall enough and strong enough to get to the rim for buckets or spot up for a mid-range jumper, all the while able to rebound on both ends and hold his own against guards, forwards and centers defensively.
A double-double machine averaging 25 points and 10 rebounds per contest, The 6-foot-5 Dunning led the Roughriders to a sixth-place finish at state, earned All-Olympic League first-team honors and scored 13 points for the Washington Interscholastic Basketball Coaches Association’s Class 2A All-State Team in an all-star game last month.
For all his accolades, Dunning has been selected as the All-Peninsula Boys Basketball Player of the Year for 2021-22 by the sports staff of the Peninsula Daily News.
Seniors leave mark
“Our whole thing was leaving a legacy, doing something that hasn’t been done in a long, long time,” Dunning said of his and his team’s season goal.
“We were focused on leave our mark as a team and myself as a player. I’m definitely proud.”
Dunning did so many things well, Ulin had to take a minute to think of where he shined brightest.
“He really grew as a leader this year. He was always a leader by example but he put so much time in this offseason. He got into better shape, great condition and became a really great vocal leader this year which was important for us as we had to replace [graduated seniors] Chase [Cobb] and Dru [Clark],” Ulin said.
“This was kind of the culmination of him growing as a person and a player. From his sophomore year to his junior year during COVID, he lost 40 pounds and really developed as an athlete and as a player to play at a really high level and also become an excellent leader.”
Dunning can do it all on the floor.
“So versatile, a great shooter, maybe the first player we’ve ever had to shoot 50-percent from the floor, 40-percent on 3s and 90-percent from the free-throw line,” Ulin said. And that’s pretty elite company when you realize other teams were gameplanning and focused on stopping him.”
He cracked the 1,000-point mark for his high school career, finishing with 1,015 points — a heck of a feat for a four-year player in normal times, but Dunning was a reserve as a sophomore and had his junior season trimmed to 15 games due to the pandemic.
“He had the green light offensively, but he was really efficient,” Ulin said. “He never took bad shots. He hits the midrange shot, he can catch and shoot from anywhere, can put it on the floor and able to get to the free-throw line. He provides the four levels of scoring.”
And with his length, size and speed, Dunning can defend.
“He really grew as a defender this year, there were times when he guarded the other team’s best player. He took on [Jonas] La Tour [North Kitsap’s Olympic League MVP and an all-state pick] and shows good instincts. He’s smart and understands where he needs to be and he covers a lot of space.”
League title shared
Beating North Kitsap at home for a share of the Olympic League title in front of a rocking and rolling home crowd thrilled Dunning.
My favorite moment was definitely beating North Kitsap at home,” Dunning said. “The atmosphere, the gym was packed, we played really well and beat our main rival.”
When his stats and impact are added up, Ulin said Dunning may be the best Rider he’s coached in his seven seasons at the helm.
“He might be the best, really. Average a 25 and 10 with his leadership, efficiency, how well he knows the game,” Ulin said.
“And he’s a winner. On the varsity for three years and our league record was 49-5 and we won three league championships and overall something like 66-18 or 66-19 and capped it off with a state trophy.”
Next stop college
Dunning is expected to sign to continue his playing career at the collegiate level.
“He projects as the perfect three [small forward],” Ulin said. “Whoever gets him is going to be so lucky. He’s only 17, technically could be a junior. With his frame, broad shoulders, his skill set, ability to shoot, the way he’s defending, you get him into a great program and he’ll stretch the floor and post up smaller guys and he can guard 6-7, 6-8 guys inside or out on the perimeter.
“Wyatt is just going to have to pick the right path for him. He’s got a lot of interest from junior colleges and small four years. But ultimately, Wyatt’s journey is just starting basketball-wise.”
2021-2022 All-Peninsula Boys Basketball Team
• MVP: Wyatt Dunning, sr., Port Angeles: Roughriders’ best overall player led team in scoring and also improved defensively on his way to first-team All-Olympic League and Class 2A All-State team honors.
• John Vaara, sr., Port Angeles: Old-school, back-to-the basket post protected the rim at 6-foot-9 and dominated the boards on his way to a first-team All-Olympic League selection.
• Xander Maestas, sr., Port Angeles: Frenetic and energetic guard’s thrilling style earned him a second-team All-Olympic League pick.
• Quanah Wheeler, sr., Port Angeles: Port Angeles’ point guard’s passing and defensive intensity was rewarded with honorable mention All-Olympic League honors.
• Isaiah Moore, jr., Sequim: Wolves’ top player earned honorable mention All-Olympic League honors.
• Riley Pursley, sr., Forks: First-team All-Pacific League selection had to stand tall for a Spartans’ team lacking in size.
• Logan Olson, sr., Forks: Spartans best outside shooter earned first-team All-Pacific League selection.
• Julian Carrick, jr., Neah Bay: North Olympic League MVP guided Red Devils to Class 1B state regional round appearance.
• Conner Ferro-May, jr., Crescent: Loggers’ post had some huge nights to lead team in scoring and rebounding and earn first-team All-North Olympic League honors.
• Lonnie Kenney, sr., East Jefferson: Rivals’ guard earned second-team all-league honors in a stacked Class 1A Nisqually League.
• Coach of the Year: Kasey Ulin, Port Angeles: Guided Riders to share of Olympic League title and sixth place at Class 2A state tournament, first state finish since 1997, while sticking to his program’s core principles.
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Sports reporter Michael Carman can be contacted at mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
