One of the top high school basketball players in Oregon is headed north.
On Saturday afternoon, Tualatin guard Jemai Lake announced on social media that he is verbally committing to Montana.
Last year, Lake was part of one of the top backcourts in Oregon. Lake and Pat Vialva, who are both back this winter, were a dynamic mix of attacking the basket and midrange shots for Tualatin.
Lake was a first team all-Three Rivers League selection last year and was a second team all-state honoree.
Lake has been an important part of the Timberwolves’ lineup since his sophomore season. In the 2023-24 season, Tualatin went 22-7, won the Three Rivers League and finished third in the state championship tournament.
Last winter, the Timberwolves went 22-7, tied for first in the Three Rivers League and finished sixth in the state tournament.
Last year, the Montana Grizzlies went 25-10 and won the Big Sky Conference Championship with a 91-83 win over Northern Colorado. Montana lost 85-66 to No. 3 Wisconsin in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Lake is the younger brother of former Tualatin standout Josiah Lake, who has become a regular contributor at Oregon State over the past couple of years.
Jemai Lake had also had offers from Idaho, Weber State, Cal Baptist, Montana State and Seattle.
— Nik Streng covers high school sports in Oregon. Reach him at nstreng@oregonian.com or @NikStreng
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.