After his senior season, Lynden High School star guard Anthony Canales’ prep accolades became too abundant to pass up.
The three-time 2A state champion won tournament MVP honors with each of his titles, and he received an offer from Western Washington University men’s basketball on March 12.
Canales announced his commitment to the Vikings on Friday, May 3.
“We do put a heavy premium on success. It’s not always a measuring stick, but I think with Anthony, it was a pretty large one,” Western head coach Tony Dominguez said. “It was pretty glaring how successful he’s been, and we just didn’t want to pass on that.”
Canales (6-foot-4) became the all-time leading scorer and single-season points record holder for Lynden’s 13-time state champion boys basketball program in 2023, amassing 1,701 points in his career. He surpassed 2019 Lynden graduate Christian Zamora’s previous record of 1,620.
“I honestly thought I could make an immediate impact,” Canales said of why he chose Western. “For a guy like me, that’s always motivating … I can go in and make a name for myself in the GNAC. I’m ready for any challenge that is thrown my way.”
Lynden piled up a 71-10 overall record over the three state championship seasons, with an 82-13 four-year record — including the shortened 2020–21 COVID season — during Canales’ career.
As a senior, Canales averaged 23.4 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game.
Canales played a major role in leading Lynden to the first three-peat in Class 2A history, and he was named 2A Co-Player of the Year last season by the Washington Interscholastic Basketball Coaches Association (WIBCA).
He led all scorers in each of the three state title games he played in, topping out at 29 points in their latest championship win over Grandview.
“[Canales] can play both sides of the ball. He plays extremely hard. We just like how tough he is and how great he is,” Dominguez added. “It just seems like he has the right mentality to be successful on the basketball court.”
Western began zeroing in on Canales as a recruit around the time his senior season was nearing a close in late February, Dominguez said. After winning a third state championship, that recruiting ramped up.
Central Washington University and Seattle Pacific University, other Great Northwest Athletic Conference schools, were also recruiting him. Western’s offer was the most attractive, Canales said.
Canales noted he is most excited to continue playing in front of Whatcom County’s basketball fans and his family. In the same vein, staying local keeps him connected to Lynden.
“It’s been a blessing. The last four years were the best four years of basketball in my life,” Canales said, reflecting on his high school career. “On paper you can see all my accolades, but that’s really not what matters the most to me. It’s about just the whole family, the community, the team, the students — everyone who is involved in it.”
Off the court, Dominguez believes Canales is also a great fit for the program’s culture.
“He’s just got a lot of moxie, so I think he’s just going to add to our team, however it fits, a tremendous player [and] culture guy that I think adds a substance to your program,” Dominguez said.
The commitment helps shore up a Western roster that was decimated this offseason by the transfer portal. Canales is the second high school senior to announce a commitment to the program, following guard Aidan Rice from Beaverton High School in Oregon.
“I mean, it’s a Whatcom County kid going to play at the Whatcom County school,” Canales added. “Who wouldn’t want to do that?”
Connor J. Benintendi is a former CDN sports reporter, send tips and information to newstips@cascadiadaily.com.
