A lot has changed about Camas’ Ethan Harris in one basketball season.
So, what’s behind the junior’s ascension from a strong perimeter player to an all-around dominant force on both ends of the floor?
Growing his game began by fueling it right.
Harris, The Columbian’s All-Region boys basketball player of the year, took it upon himself to double down on nutrition and strength training for his junior campaign. Two difference-makers, for why Harris had the season he did in 2024-25.
The 4A Greater St. Helens League’s most valuable player helped the Papermakers tie the program’s best-ever state finish and set a program record for wins in a season.
“I think that’s definitely the biggest jump from last year to this year,” Harris said of his nutrition and strength training, “but that’s going to be the biggest jump from this year to next year, as well.”
Harris’ mother, Carla, works as a nutritionist, which is why her son is knowledgeable about the ins and outs of quality, healthy food.
“I get daily nutrition facts,” he said. “She will tell me I need to eat my body weight in protein. I might not always get there, but I sure do try.”
At 6-foot-8, Harris’ game has grown right along with his height.
Through eighth grade, he primarily played point guard, which explains his standout ball-handling skills.
A lanky freshman off the bench in 2023 became a standout perimeter player in the starting lineup sophomore year.
This season, Harris dominated inside and out. He credits his low-post development to his father, Jason, a first-year Camas assistant coach and former University of Portland player. Harris shot 58 percent on 2-point field goals this season.
“That was purely my dad, right there,” Harris said. “This was my first year really diving into being an actual post player.”
Harris averaged 18.8 points, 8.1 rebounds, three assists, and nearly three steals and blocks per game. The seven blocks in a win over Roosevelt (Ore.) at the prestigious Les Schwab Invitational in December set a single-game program record.
In fact, it was the LSI — an event featuring the nation’s elite teams plus regional top squads — that Harris and the Papermakers helped prepare them for a deep postseason run.
Camas’ sixth-place finish at March’s Class 4A state tournament matched the program’s best state finish from 2023.
After the state tournament, in which Harris earned second-team all-4A tournament honors by media members, coach Brian Witherspoon compared the junior to another standout he coached, Robert Franks, while he led Evergreen from 2012-17. Franks went onto a standout career at Washington State and has played basketball professionally overseas since 2019.
Like Franks, Harris is Clark County’s next big recruit in boys basketball. He currently has scholarship offers from schools in the Atlantic-10, Big Sky, Western Athletic, and West Coast conferences. Wherever he chooses, it’ll be his dream school, he said.
But not before another big jump he’s planning on as a senior in 2025-26.
“My dream school,” he said, “is having a great connection with my coach, having great teammates around me and overall, having just a surreal experience.”
Just like at Camas.
Rest of All-Region Team
FIRST TEAM
Carson Morningstar, Prairie: 3A GSHL MVP (25.7 points, 15.2 rebounds per game) set single-season scoring and rebounding marks leading Falcons to 3A state as a junior.
Ari Richardson, Columbia River: Senior point guard (16 points, 5 assists per game) engineered the Rapids to their first state trophy (fourth place) since 2009.
Dalton Stevens, Mark Morris: 2A GSHL co-MVP guided Monarchs to their 57th consecutive postseason berth and a sixth-place 2A state finish.
Kaiden Wilson, Seton Catholic: Two-time Trico MVP as a sophomore guided Cougars to another 1A state berth behind an undefeated league campaign and a district title.
Malakai Weimer, Skyview: Already the program’s career rebounding leader (604), junior is on pace (17.6 points per game) to be a 1,000-point career scorer.
SECOND TEAM
Josh Crane, R.A. Long: All-around playmaker helped ‘Jacks to one of program’s best-ever seasons with a league, district and third place 2A state finish.
Dez Daniel, Evergreen: Junior’s play (20.3 points, 3 assists, 2.2 steals per game) a big reason for Plainsmen’s late-season surge to the postseason.
Jamison McCann, Ridgefield: Junior helped Spudders back to the 2A state tournament as one of area’s three players to average 25 points or more per game.
Jace VanVoorhis, Camas: Senior point guard powered Papermakers to match the program’s best state finish (sixth place) behind 15.8 points, 5.1 assists, 2.3 steals per game.
Rhet Young, R.A. Long: 2A GSHL co-MVP proved to be a matchup nightmare at 6 feet 9, and dominated on both ends of the floor.
Malcolm Weatherspoon, Mountain View: Flashy and versatile sophomore (16 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists per game) shot 44 percent from the field to help Thunder to the postseason.
