The 2023 calendar year has been a long strange trip for Tualatin (OR) prospect Jaden Steppe.

The 6-foot-8, 210-pound hooper from the class of 2024 won a second state title back in the spring in Oregon. Total elation. Understandably so. Then a muscle strain slowed down his progress and production on the EYBL stage in the spring. But the summer came along and his recruitment spiked up.

Now his focus is getting his Tualatin team back to the promised land as they aim for a third straight state championship.

Steppe was outstanding at the Section 7 team camp in Phoenix during the June NCAA Live Period. He helped his team go 3-1 and he recorded 40 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists against Campbell Hall out of California.

Steppe put his full game on display at the summer spectacular in the desert.

“I can guard one through five. I think that’s my main thing,” Steppe said back in June. “I can shoot. I am a mismatch type of guy. I can shoot, drive, I can post up at a really high level. I like to post up, too.”

Steppe is self-aware. He knows what he needs to do to see the floor in college. The Oregonian said he will lean into versatility.

“When you look at the next level, you have to play multiple positions. That will keep you on the floor longer,” he said. “Being able to post up and then be able to get out to the perimeter is big. That’s really important and I’m glad I’ve worked on my game to allow me to be in that position.”

College coaches are agreeing. Prior to Section 7, Steppe held offers from Portland State, Montana and San Fransisco.

Since then, he’s been offered by Cal Poly, Colorado State, Montana State, Pepperdine, Saint Mary’s, UC Santa Barbara, Washington State and Weber State.

What will he be looking for at the next level when it all comes down to it? Steppe keeps it real simple.

“I just want to win,” he said. “The (NCAA) Tournament is just my dream. I’ve always been on a winning team. In high school, we’ve never lost at state. I love to win. I feel like I can go to a program and win. My goal has always been about winning before personal stats. I don’t think about that kind of stuff.

“I’m just excited to see where my senior season goes. We have won two in a row and hopefully, we can do it again at Tualatin.”