Leighton Livengood has solely been a Fort Vancouver Trapper since November, however already is a seasoned veteran on the subject of understanding the varsity’s blueprint.
Apart from a northwest hall close to the commons, the junior is aware of his approach across the college.
“Everywhere else,” the 6-foot-6 junior mentioned, “I’ve been to.”
Fairly spectacular for a 6-foot-6 participant who relocated to Vancouver two months into the 2024-25 college yr. He beforehand attended Gresham (Ore.) Excessive, the place he was anticipated to see vital soar in minutes and scoring in his second season of varsity basketball.
Now, he’s an all-league participant at a brand new college in a brand new metropolis and has gained extra notoriety over the previous week for the reason that Trappers (17-7) clinched this system’s first state berth in boys basketball since 1990.
Fort faces Bellevue Christian (18-5) at 6 p.m. Friday at Issaquah Excessive College. The winner advances to the round-of-12 on the Yakima Valley SunDome on Wednesday.
Livengood’s team-best 22 factors in final week’s 1A district semifinal win over King’s Manner Christian helped raise the Trappers to the Class 1A state berth. That included Livengood’s game-winning free throw with 0.4 seconds remaining to interrupt a 60-all tie.
Greater than per week later, that second nonetheless resonates with Livengood.
“Just the amount of people that came up to me in the hallways and people that were talking to me,” he mentioned. “I still don’t know a ton of people at the school. … Over the last few days, it really set in. You don’t get many opportunities to do that when you play at any level of basketball, but especially a game to go to the state playoffs. It was crazy. It was amazing.”
It’s all a part of what Livengood describes as essentially the most fun-filled season of basketball he’s skilled. The 17 victories ties the 2007-08 workforce (17-8) for the second-most single-season victories prior to now 40 years. The state-qualifying 1990 workforce, coached by L.M. Hutchinson, went 19-6.
Livengood mentioned this season is the primary time basketball goes past a sport as a result of he and his teammates perceive they’re enjoying for greater than themselves.
He factors to final week’s electrical environment within the workforce’s winner-to-state victory over King’s Manner Christian as a primary instance, the place the decrease portion of Trapper Gymnasium was standing room solely. Because the season has gone on, home-game crowds grew, too.
“Not very many kids get to have that opportunity to play for something so big,” he mentioned. “This can be a actually massive deal to lots of people, and never simply us. That is actually the complete Fort Vancouver group.
“To have all the support from all these people, it’s a super cool thing to be a part of.”
The junior additionally shines when speaking about what makes Fort particular — and a spot he desires to be.
When Livengood met teammates as a brand new pupil in November, the connections had been prompt. Identical with first-year coach James Jones. The truth is, what Livengood appreciates most was how he and Jones’ introductory dialog wasn’t in regards to the sport they’ve in widespread. That’s when Livengood knew he was on the proper place.
“What I respect about that,” Livengood mentioned, “is we can have that relationship. But when it’s time to get down to it, when it’s time to work hard in practice, he’s going to be on you. He’s as serious about basketball as anybody else, but he doesn’t make your relationship with him.”
Jones, a 2009 Fort alumnus and longtime assistant coach earlier than this season, mentioned Livengood’s coachability is a part of why the junior’s had a giant season averaging 14 factors and 11 rebounds per sport. Not each participant embraces being coachable, however Livengood craves it, the coach mentioned.
“There’s been countless times this year where after practice, we’ve had tough conversations,” Jones mentioned. “He’s probably said five or six times he’s thankful for us coaching him hard. We haven’t been easy on him; he’s probably been our biggest project this season.”
And the outcomes have proven it. He’s averaged 17 factors in three postseason video games.
Fort final received a state sport in 1982 on its solution to inserting fifth in Class AAA.
Livengood is appreciative of a memory-filled season in additional methods than one.
“I’m beyond grateful and blessed to be able to have this opportunity,” he mentioned.