Now that the 2011-2012 high school basketball season is officially over, here are our selections for this year's 2012 Arizona Preps' Boy's All-Arizona Team. This year's selections were made by our basketball staff, and while it took some time in making these selections, we believe that these are the right selections for the honor.
These selections will be forwarded to all of our current subscribers from our Arizona Hoop Review Scouting Service, which includes more than 300 different college programs across the country. We also will forward these selections to media and scouts across the country.
Here are our 2011-212 selections for boy's high school basketball this season in the state of Arizona ...
Casey Benson 6-2 Sophomore Point Guard Corona Del Sol High School (Arizona Preps Player of the Year)
Benson is coming off an excellent sophomore season where he led his Corona Del Sol High School boys basketball team to this year’s 2012 Division-I State Championship, after a big 66-53 championship win over Cesar Chavez HS. Benson also helped lead his Aztecs to the 2012 Section-I Championship, as the Aztecs only lossed one game on the season – compiling a very impressive 32-1 record on the season in the state’s top division. Benson averaged 15 points, 4 assists and 4 rebounds per/game on the season. Benson is among the top overall talents in the state and is regarded as the state’s top prospect in Arizona’s very talented 2014 class. Benson's ability to make other players around him better was a glaring attribute this season.
Dewayne Russell 5-11 Senior Point Guard Peoria High School
The former USC commit Russell had an excellent senior season - leading his Peoria HS team to a strong 27-3 record on the season, and the Division-II State Championship after a big 50-48 championship victory over defending state champion, Amphitheater HS. Russell was almost unstoppable this high school season - averaging 27 points, 5.4 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 3.8 steals per/game. Russell is currently undecided as to which college he will attend, but this young man is a true warrior and will have a great college future.
Jonathan Milligan 6-2 Senior Point Guard Casa Grande High School
Milligan was almost unguardable this high school season. While his team would lose in the first round of the Division-II state playoffs, Milligan kept his team in every game and led the Cougars to an 18-12 record on the season. Milligan put up impressive numbers this season - averaging 24.2 points, 4 assists and 3 steals per/game on the season. Milligan, a native of Florida, took the state of Arizona by storm in his two varsity seasons at Casa Grande. While he still has some work to do in the classsroom before he decides on a college home, this young man is a sure-fire talent and has a bright future ahead of him.
Larry Lewis 6-2 Senior Point Guard/Shooting Guard Arcadia High School
Lewis, also a former USC commit, had another terrific high school season for himself. Lewis led his Titans to a 25-7 overall record on the season, and also to the semi-finals of the Division-II Class state playoffs. Lewis averaged 23.6 points, 3.5 assists and 4.8 rebounds per/game on the season. He also poured in close to 40 points on two separate occassions late in the season - helping his team advance to the final four. Still undecided on a college, Lewis looks to be headed the prep school route next season. A talented performer that had a terrific high school career.
Calaen Robinson 6-2 Senior Point Guard/Shooting Guard Corona Del Sol High School (Arizona State Signee)
Robinson had his best high school season to date as a senior - helping lead his Corona Del Sol High School boys basketball team to this year’s 2012 Division-I State Championship, after a big 66-53 championship win over Cesar Chavez HS. Robinson also helped lead his Aztecs to the 2012 Section-I Championship, as the Aztecs only lossed one game on the season – compiling a very impressive 32-1 record on the season in the state’s top division. Robinson's ability to play both guard positions, while scoring effectively against oposing defenses made the Aztecs almost unbeatable this season. Robinson signed with Arizona State and will play for the Sun Devils head coach Herb Sendek next season.
Sami Bzai 6-3 Senior Shooting Guard Mesquite High School
Bzai had a strong senior season, his best of his high school career - averaging 21 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2 assists per/game. Bzai led his Mesquite team to a 14-12 record this season in the Division-I Class. Bzai was terrific this season for head coach John Burns at times, and is the best pure shooter of the basketball in the state. Still undecided as to where he will attend college next season, Bzai is instant offense for a college program.
Tim Derksen 6-4 Senior Shooting Guard/Small Forward Tucson Amphitheater High School (University of San Francisco Signee)
Derksen is a flat-out winner, and he capped off an amazing high school career by leading his high school program to another amazing finish, as they lost a nail-biter in the Division-II State Championship game to Peoria HS. Derksen led Amphitheater HS to another impressive 30-4 overall record this season. Derksen put up 22.6 points, 5.5 assists, 11.3 rebounds, 3.5 steals and 1.6 blocks per/outing. He flat out did it all each night for his team to win, and is among the winningest players in the country. Derksen led Amphitheater HS to an amazing 114-16 record over his four seasons on the school's varsity team. Derksen is headed to the University of San Francisco next season.
Drew Bender 6-4 Junior Shooting Guard/Small Forward Pinnacle High School
Bender was themost consistent player on a Pinnacle High School team this season that was absolutely loaded with talent. Bender helped lead his program to an impressive 30-4 overall record on the season, and the Section-III tournament title. While his team would fall just short in their quest for a state championship this season, Bender kept his Pioneers tough all season long - averaging a team-high 14.4 points, 5.2 assists, 7.4 rebounds and 2.1 steals per/game. Bender is currently being recruited by numerous college programs and is among the state's top prospects in the 2013 class.
AJ Hess 6-6 Senior Small Forward Country Day High School
Hess had the best season of his high school career - leading Phoenix Country Day High School to it's best season, a 31-5 overall record and it's first ever Division-IV State Championship. Hess averaged 19.5 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 2.4 steals and 2.8 blocks per/game amidst tough defenses focused on slowing him down all season. Hess is among the best unsigned sleeper prospects in the state.
Stacy Davis 6-7 Senior Power Forward Fairfax High School (Pepperdine University Signee)
After playing his first three high school seasons at Tolleson High School, Davis changed schools in his senior season and led Fairfax HS to a strong 25-5 overall record on the season, before losing in the state playoffs to eventual state champion Peoria HS. Davis averaged 20.8 points and 9.9 rebounds per/game this season - making the Stampede very tough to beat all season long. Davis signed a scholarship with Pepperdine University and will take his game to Malibu, California next season.
Kenny Martin 6-9 Senior Power Forward/Center Kellis High School (Arizona State Signee)
Martin was a force this high school season - leading his Kellis HS team to a 26-3 overall record and the Division-II state semi-finals. Martin was the state's top defensive presence and low-post talent this season, making it very difficult this season for opposing teams to handle him each night. Martin is headed to Arizona State next season and is one of the top post talents in the country. This young man has developed a great deal throughout his high school career and has a bright future ahead of him.
Eric Jacobsen 6-11 Senior Center Hamilton High School (Arizona State Signee)
Jacobsen is the state's biggest low-post presence, and he came up big for head coach Kevin Hartwig this high school season - leading Hamilton HS to a 18-11 record on the season and to the second round of the Division-I state playoffs . Jacobsen averaged 15.9 points, 11.7 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per/outing this season. Jacobsend developed a great deal in each year of his high school career, and will take his game to the PAC-12 next season, as he has signed with the Arizona State Sun Devils. Jacobsen has a very bright future ahead of himself and should develop nicely into a serious post presence for Herb Sendek.
