The debate about who is better between North Kitsap basketball stars Harry Davies and Cade Orness may be as tough as arguing about Michael Jordan or LeBron James.

“We (play one on one) often, and I’ve lost track” about who has won more often, Davies said. “Just having that discussion and going back and forth with a guy like this, it’s amazing.”

Their coach, Scott Orness, Cade’s dad, didn’t play favorites. “They are both equally good. Steven Gray is the best player I coached but these two guys are at two and three. They should be inducted into the Kitsap Hall of Fame around here in twenty years.”

The players don’t seem to disagree. “We are the best (backcourt) duo in the state” regardless of classification based on size of the school, Cade said.

Cade likes to compare the duo to Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics. He is a playmaker like Tatum, while Davies is a scorer like Brown.

“They both play very differently,” Orness said. “Harry is the best finisher I have coached around the basket and developed into a knockdown three-point shooter. Cade is a pass-first guard who can score when needed. They have a nice blend to make us successful.”

In addition, the two have the highest respect and trust for each other on the court.

“I’m playing with the best point guard in the state, and it’s been like that all four years,” Davies said. “I know when I am running the court, (Cade) will find me.”

Cade added: “I’m playing with the best scorer in the state. I have full trust in every pass.”

Although Davies played multiple sports, he always followed his three older siblings in basketball since he was 5 years old. Cade began playing recreationally in first grade. The two joined forces at the Total Package AAU organization in third grade.

They remained together in AAU through the years. But Davies followed his siblings’ footsteps in the Central Kitsap School District while Cade was destined for North Kitsap. As the two prepared for high school, they watched North Kitsap win a state title while they were eighth-graders.

Davies began his high school campaign at Central Kitsap, but quickly made the switch to the Vikings.

“I was there for one semester of freshman year,” Davies said. “My dad works out here so it was easier transportation. Plus, my siblings went through the CK system and didn’t enjoy it so my dad wanted something different for me.”

Cade was glad Davies became a Viking as a freshman. “I was excited because I knew my class had a bunch of athletes but having another person who wanted to hoop made it exciting,” he said.

The two knew they meshed well when Davies returned to Central Kitsap last year as a Viking. NK defeated CK 94-50 at home, and Cade shattered the school record for most assists in a single game with 17. “Twelve of my assists were to Harry,” Cade said.

Davies added: “I had a big offensive game. Anytime my hands were up, he hit my hands.”

Davies and Cade have earned several achievements at NK. Davies has 991 career points, averaged 23.6 points per game last season, earned Olympic League Co-MVP and Defensive Player of the Year and is a captain.

Cade has 1,202 career points, 462 shy of Jonas La Tour’s school record. Plus, he averaged 20 points per game last season, holds the school record of 510 assists, was an Olympic Co-MVP and is a captain, too.

“They are the best combo in Kitsap County since Steven Gray and Nick Fling” in 2007, Orness said. “They are not selfish and want each other to be successful.”

Davies and Orness begin their senior seasons as leaders of a state-contending team and as role models for younger athletes in Kitsap County.

“I feel spoiled to have these two guys,” Orness said. “It’s not what you see on the court, it’s the energy they bring to practice, how they treat their teammates and support the younger guys. Somewhere down the road they will be successful people in life.”

Davies said: “The leadership role is a different feeling. The community has put us into a place where we have a lot of influence on younger kids. The leadership role is amazing because all the middle school kids know our names.”

Although Davies and Orness will headline the Vikings, the duo are grateful for the depth on their roster.

“Last year, Cade and I were guarding the best player,” Davies said. “We were getting beat up a lot and played thirty-two minutes a game. This year, I got trust in all my guys.”

Cade added: “We got to take it game by game. We know we have the pieces.”

They also know they are going to keep playing beyond this year. But they are undecided about where to play in college. Both have drawn interest from Division II schools within the region, including Seattle Pacific and Central Washington.

Even though this season is just starting, they still like to reflect back on their time together.

“It’s definitely been a journey from third grade to here,” Davies said. “It’s been a lot. It will hit eventually.”

Coach Orness also likes reflecting back already. “I was filling out my paper roster and submitted it to a San Diego event and had to switch their year from 11 to 12,” he said. “I got a little choked up. I remember digging a hole in the driveway for Cade’s hoop in second grade, and it seemed like that was yesterday.”

Harry Davies is the reigning Olympic League Co-MVP and Defensive Player of the Year.