While Mesquite High School's very talented 5-foot-9 senior guard prospect Cohenj Gonzales is smaller in stature, this young man had a terrific high school basketball career for himself - leading his Mesquite High School basketball program to a 21-9 overall record during his senior season, and putting up very impressive numbers throughout his high school career, which resulted in a 4A State Championship during his junior season. Recently, Gonzales made his college decision - giving a verbal commitment to Pima Junior College and Head Coach Brian Peabody and his coaching staff.
The commitment by Gonzales to the Pima Aztecs was a big one for the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference (ACCAC), as local junior colleges have consistently tried to keep Arizona's best basketball talent in state. Peabody and his staff's signing of Gonzales is another big step in that direction, as Gonzales is another top-rated local high school product to commit to the Aztecs. Recently, Pima also signed Liberty's 6-foot-5 senior Caden Hunter, and last season, the program signed Gilbert High School's Nikko Pentelute. The Pima JC coaching staff has done an excellent job of signing some of the state's top senior prospects, which is helping build the ACCAC with local talent from the state.
Gonzales is a big signing, as he averaged very impressive numbers as a senior - pouring in 25.1 points, 2.2 assists, 4 rebounds and 2.5 steals per/contest. Gonzales is one of the elite guard prospects in Arizona's 2023 senior class. The signing of Gonzales at Pima will definitely make a statement that local Arizona junior colleges are a good fit for Arizona's top high school prospects - a trend that could help the conference land more top-rated talent from the state, or atleast Pima JC.
Gonzales has been one of our staff's favorite players and prospects over the past two seasons. After watching him develop over the past two years, I have been very impressed with his play and development as a player. He has become one of my favorite prospects to watch perform, and our staff absolute loves him. Through my consistent evaluations of him as a player, I am assured that this young man will be very successful in college and in life. I have become a complete fan of this young man, on and off the court. He is an excellent example for younger players today, that it does not matter what size you are, but rather the size of your heart and determination. Work hard and good things will happen. No one works harder than Cohenj, and it shows in his play and preparation.
Congratulations to Gonzales and his family, as well as the Mesquite basketball program, on his recent commitment to Pima Junior College, and we look forward to watching him play collegiately at Pima in the ACCAC next season. This young man has a very bright future ahead of him.
