For decades, Arizona wasn’t on the national basketball radar. But today, that narrative has changed dramatically. The journey began with the rise of Arizona’s powerhouse prep schools like Westwind Prep, Hillcrest Prep, Bella Vista Prep, Dream City Christian and AZ Compass Prep, and more. These programs put Arizona on the map, attracting top recruits from across the country, and bringing hundreds of college coaches to the state annually. Arizona became known as the top prep basketball destination in the country.
But that was only the beginning. As elite talent flocked to prep schools, Arizona’s high schools had to evolve. The Arizona Interscholastic Association (AIA) introduced the Open Division State Playoffs - creating a stage where the best high school teams battled for an undisputed state title. This move revitalized the high school scene, as fewer athletes left for prep programs, and high school basketball began to thrive. The exposure also created through rule changes by the NCAA, allowing for permissible recruiting periods for high school programs, have helped immensly to even the playing field.
No one did more for the national exposure of Arizona high school basketball than Perry High School graduate and current University of Arizona superstar Koa Peat. Peat transformed the national image and attention received within the state, as his legend consistently grew nationally and he became the most dominant force in Arizona basketball history. His forever lasting legacy on Arizona basketball will transcend time and has catapulted the state's basketball culture to completely new heights.
This season, two Arizona high schools are making history, as Sunnyslope High School (18-1) is currently ranked #4 nationally, and Millennium High School (17-2) is #6. Never before have two Arizona high schools been top-10 nationally. Tonight, Wednesday evening at Sunnyslope, these two powerhouses meet in a showdown. The game, sold out for days, is historic. Arizona high school basketball has never seen two top-10 national programs face off like this. It’s a preview of the Open Division final and a testament to how far the state has come.
St. Mary’s High School has also brought major national attention to the state. On Monday, they faced Paul VI High School (VA), the nation’s #1 team, on ESPN as part of the Hoophall East event. Though they lost 75-69, 6-foot-11 senior post Cam Williams (Duke signee) commit, scored a team-high 31 points in the loss, and showcased his future NBA skillset in front of a large numbers of NBA scouts and media. His performance and their narrow defeat earned Arizona even more respect nationally.
With more than 20,000 people moving to the state of Arizona each month, the state’s growth will only fuel its rise. Arizona isn’t just a prep hotbed anymore; its high schools are now a force. The sky’s the limit for Arizona basketball overall, and Arizona’s basketball future is as bright as ever.
