Mercer Island High School boys basketball coach Gavin Cree (front row, third from right) was selected as the Washington State John Wooden Award winner by the Washington Interscholastic Basketball Coaches Association (WIBCA) at its Hall of Fame Banquet on July 17 at the Cowlitz County Event Center in Longview. “It is a great honor and very humbling to receive this award from WIBCA,” said Cree. “To me, this is a community award. The student-athletes, assistant coaches, families, administrators have all played a major role in building a program that is a true brotherhood across generations.” The recognition seeks to honor scholastic basketball coaches around the country who are educators and have achieved excellences on the floor, in the classroom and in the community that further embody the characteristics and legacy of former University of California, Los Angeles basketball coach John Wooden. The criteria for this award are rooted in the ideals of education, longevity, character, service and excellence. Photo courtesy of the Mercer Island School District
Cree nets Washington State John Wooden Award
![Mercer Island High School boys basketball coach Gavin Cree (front row, third from right) was selected as the Washington State John Wooden Award winner by the Washington Interscholastic Basketball Coaches Association (WIBCA) at its Hall of Fame Banquet on July 17 at the Cowlitz County Event Center in Longview. It is a great honor and very humbling to receive this award from WIBCA, said Cree. To me, this is a community award. The student-athletes, assistant coaches, families, administrators have all played a major role in building a program that is a true brotherhood across generations. The recognition seeks to honor scholastic basketball coaches around the country who are educators and have achieved excellences on the floor, in the classroom and in the community that further embody the characteristics and legacy of former University of California, Los Angeles basketball coach John Wooden. The criteria for this award are rooted in the ideals of education, longevity, character, service and excellence. Photo courtesy of the Mercer Island School District](https://www.mi-reporter.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/36899424_web1_CLOCree-MIR-240724-w-cree_1.jpg)