The Doug Lange Network 

April 3, 2019 

​

Whatcom County prep hoop stars Cole Bajema and Clayton Whitman continue to rake in the honors even after the basketball season has long since finished. Both were named Washington state Players of the Year in their respective classifications by the Associated Press on Wednesday. 

​

Bajema took the 1A honors for the second straight year after leading Lynden Christian to a 26-and-1 record and a 4th place finish at state. The senior earned 1st team state tournament honors in the process. The University of Michigan bound swingman also won his second straight Northwest Conference MVP award this season.

 

Whitman who helped lead Lynden (26-1) to their second straight state championship last month is the 2A Player of the Year. He was named 2A state tournament MVP and first team All-NWC. The forward will play at Seattle Pacific University next season. 

​

Bajema and Whitman are joined by 4 other Whatcom County players honored by the Associated Press, all hailing from Lynden.  

 

After a runner-up finish at state, Isabela Hernandez of Lynden Christian was named to the 1A girls first team. Her teammate Grace Sterk was named Honorable Mention. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

​

​

​

​

​

​

Lynden's Keylie Hershey earned a spot on the 2A girls first team after the junior helped guide the Lions to a 4th place finish at state. Whitman's teammate Christian Zamora, who became Lynden's all-time leading scorer and top career three-point shooter this season, was named 2A boys Honorable Mention. 

​

MORE: Full list of The Associated Press Washington state teams

​

Overall the boys state player of the year for all classes was Gonzaga Prep senior Anton Watson. Kamiakin senior Oumou Toure took that honor on the girls side. 

​

- Doug Lange