For their athletic achievements in 2006, local standouts Kyle Singler and Jake Keyser have been recognized with Oregon Sports Awards nominations.

Singler is one of 12 semifinalists for the Johnny Carpenter Prep Athlete of the Year award for men. The five finalists and winner will be announced at the Feb. 11 event in the Tiger Woods Center at Nike headquarters in Beaverton.

Keyser is a finalist for the Nike-Steve Prefontaine Award, with the winner to be announced at the show.

Singler helped lead the South Medford boys basketball team to a runner-up finish at the Class 4A state tournament last March, averaging 20.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and 3.1 assists for the 27-2 Panthers.

South Medford, which lost 59-57 in the state title game to Lake Oswego, defeated its opponents by an average of more than 30 points per game and went over the 100-point mark on three occasions in the 2005-06 campaign.

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The 6-foot-9, 215-pound forward was a first-team all-state selection and second-team Parade magazine All-American last spring, then followed that up by helping the United States win the gold medal in the FIBA Americas U18 Championships in July. As a starter for the U.S., Singler had 13 points, six assists, five rebounds and two steals in a 104-82 victory over Argentina in the championship game.

Singler, who has signed to play basketball at Duke University next year, was a finalist for the Oregon Sports Awards' top male prep athlete in 2005.

Keyser became Crater High's first individual state champion in cross country three months ago when he won the Class 5A boys title in Eugene. His effort also helped the Comet program claim its first team title.

Keyser entered the meet with the state's best 5,000-meter time for all classifications and left it with that status intact. His clocking of 15 minutes, 43 seconds was 19 seconds faster than his closest competitor and 10 seconds better than that of the Class 6A champion.

Prior to his effort, Isaac Stoutenburgh's runner-up placing in last year's Class 4A race was the best by a Comet. Not surprisingly, Stoutenburgh was a finalist for the Nike-Steve Prefontaine Award last year.

Keyser, who also is a standout on the Crater High hockey team, will run for Colorado State University next fall.

The Oregon Sports Awards salute the state's top pro, college, high school and Special Olympics athletes, along with the best coaches and contributors at various levels. Candidates must have an Oregon background or have played for a pro team in the state. The awards were voted on by a statewide media panel.

Reach reporter Kris Henry at 776-4488, or e-mail khenry@mailtribune.com