With our Whatcom high school seniors graduating in the next couple of weeks, it’s the perfect time to honor them one last time and see where your favorite players are planning to attend college next year to play basketball.
Here are members of the Class of 2026 who have announced where they will be going this fall. And good luck to all of them.
ASPEN BARGE
WHATCOM COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Sehome’s 6-foot-1 post will take her elite defensive and rebounding skills a couple of miles down the road to play for the hometown Orcas. After a 6-20 season, WCC is looking to bounce back under the guidance of former Mount Baker and Bellingham girls coach Ken McLendon (head coach) and former Meridian standout Kadance Blankers (assistant).
GRACE DEHOOG
EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
The Nooksack Valley all-league post heads east of the mountains to Cheney, where she will be on scholarship and use her exceptional inside moves and rebounding for the NCAA Division I Eagles, who finished with a 15-18 record last season and reached the second round of the Big Sky tournament. For more on Grace’s, click on Whatcom Hoops Top 30.
ELLA FRITTS
BIOLA UNIVERSITY
The Lynden Christian do-everything guard, who was named the Class 1A state player of the year, earned a scholarship to the Los Angeles school. The NCAA Division II Eagles finished 13-14 last season, just missing a berth in the PacWest tournament. For more on Ella, click on Whatcom Hoops Top 30.
TY JORGENSON
GREEN RIVER COMMUNITY COLLEGE
The Lynden dunk machine, who overcame a broken leg to help the Lions reach the 2A state tournament, has committed to play for the school in Auburn, Wash. The Gators finished 23-7 and after winning the Northwest Athletic Conference West Region, placed in the top 16 in the conference tournament. For more on Ty, click on Whatcom Hoops Top 30.
XAVIER KELLEY
WHATCOM COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Sehome’s smooth, all-conference guard will be staying in Bellingham to play for the Orcas, who will be looking to rebound from a 6-21 season and a seventh-place finish in the Northwest Athletic Conference North Region. Kelley will be playing for head coach Damek Mitchell and assistant coach Josiah Westbrook, both of who starred at Squalicum and Lewis-Clark State College. For more on Xavier, click on Whatcom Hoops Top 30.
PAYTON MILLS
UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII
The cornerstone of Lynden’s four-year state dynasty and 2A player of the year her senior season, the 6-foot-2 all-state post accepted a scholarship to play for the NCAA Division I Rainbows. Hawaii finished the season 22-11, coming up one game short of reaching the NCAA tournament after losing in the Big West tournament championship game. For more on Payton, click on Whatcom Hoops Top 30.
AILINA RABANG
SKAGIT VALLEY COLLEGE
Lummi Nation’s athletic guard is planning to head south to play for the Mount Vernon community college. The 1B state player of the year will join a Cardinals squad that finished 15-14, placing second in the Northwest Athletic Conference North Region and reached the first round of the conference tournament. For more on Ailina, click on Whatcom Hoops Top 30.
MANTAJ SINGH
EVERETT COMMUNITY COLLEGE
The Ferndale swing man will take his all-conference talents down Interstate 5 to Everett, where he will play for the alma mater of Golden Eagles coach Luke Duchesne. The Trojans finished the season with a 12-17 record and ended up fifth in the North Region of the Northwest Athletic Conference. For more on Mantaj, click on Whatcom Hoops Top 30.
CHAYCE WAITE-KELLAR
CENTRAL WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
The powerful Lummi Nation center committed to the Ellensburg school even before helping the Blackhawks win their second straight Class 1B state title. The NCAA Division II Wildcats finished 16-15, tying for fourth in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference and reaching the second round of the conference tournament. For more on Chayce, click on Whatcom Hoops Top 30.
