Again, the state of Arizona's basketball talent has gone to another level with the emergence and development of numerous prep basketball programs around the state. AZ Compass Prep, located in Chandler, Arizona, has recently decided to build a national basketball program, and has attracted some top-rated talent to the program under the leadership of Ray and Angela Weathers.
Last week, the school received an enrollment from one of the nation's top 2018 sleeper prospects, Minnesota's 6-foot-6 senior combo-guard Both Gach. Known as "Booth" by his teammates, Gach is a superb basketball talent with loads of athleticism and a tremendous offensive skillset, which allows him to be very productive at a high level on the basketball court. He also has excellent work ethic and loves the game, and also enjoys putting in the time to develop as a player.
Gach came from a small town in Minnesota, and was very under rated, as many had not seen him play. Many close to the basketball culture in Minnesota claim that Gach was among the top 5 overall prospects in the state's 2018 class. He has the potential as a player and ability that suggests that he is as good a prospect as there is currently in Arizona's 2018 class, almost immediately.
You can put Goch among the top overall talents in the state effective immediately, as this young man possesses an excellent handle of the basketball and a pure shooting stroke, with unlimited range and an ability to create his own shot. He has a very soft shooting touch and an advanced feel for the game. He also has unique athleticism, which allows him to get out on the break and make plays in transition - finishing above the rim in a variety of ways, which will bring the crowd to their feet this high school season.
Ray Weathers is a former NBA player and had a 14-year professional basketball career overseas, while wife Angela Weathers is a former WNBA player and overseas-professional player herself. Angela is the school's dean of students and also worked for Dallas Mavericks' owner Mark Cuban for some time before moving from Texas to Arizona. Husband Ray will coach the team at the program, and is coming off winning a Division-I Conference title last season. Ray played for legendary head coach Tom Izzo at Michigan State in the early 1990's.
Gach currently has an offer from Eastern Washington, and is hearing from Oklahoma and Nebraska, while such schools as Grand Canyon, LSU, Marquette, Georgia Tech and Missouri look to be closing in on Gach with their recent interest in the talented performer.
Look for Gach to become one of the state's hottest recruiting targets this fall, as college coaches begin to get a good look at him in workouts in September. Gach will become one of the state's hottest prospects in the spring, late signing period.
I will continue to follow his recruitment and progress as a player closely, and bring you any updates as they continue to develop.
3 Comments
First of all Austin MN is not a small town in MN. 23,000 people. Austin has a great basketball program with many State appearances. With many players moving on to play college basketball. Second is AZ Compass a prep or Charter School? Both left a great program in Austin and I believe he got sold a bill of goods that’s not in his best interest.
Where is Both on the Compass Roster? Don’t see him listed and my family there in Chandler do not even see him registered at the school?
I am from Austin and we have a very RICH tradition of basketball here and are ( even without Both ) favorites to compete for the state championship! He was very high on Minnesota’s watch list with other D1 Commits ( last listed as the #5 recruit for 2018 ). Someone is feeding you as big line of b.s. when it comes to Both and surely hope he comes to his senses about the direction he was coursed into taking!
Both is definitely at the AZ Compass Prep school and seems to be doing very well. He has received one offer thus far from Southern Utah, and many schools like him and want to continue to watch him progress this season. University of Oklahoma advised me that they are interested in offering him as long as he makes it academically.