Junior college basketball in the ACCAC is off to an excellent start this season, and there have been some major surprises already early into the 2023-2024 junior college basketball season. Chandler-Gilbert Junior College is off to an excellent start on the season, as they currently sit in first place in the conference standings with an undefeated 7-0 record on the season, and a 2-0 record in conference play already, which includes a big 64-55 victory over top-rated Cochise College on Tuesday evening. Chandler-Gilbert Head Coach Steve Silsby has one of his best overall teams in years this junior college season, and his team looks to be in the strong hunt for this year's ACCAC Division-II title.
Chandler-Gilbert JC 6-foot-7 sophomore Andre Harris has been on a tear this early junior college season. After a transfer from the Division-I ranks at Duquesne University (2021), Harris has been terrific thus far this junior college season - averaging 19.3 points and 6 rebounds per/game. Harris scored 17 points and grabbed 9 rebounds in a win over Arizona Christian JV, before scoring 19 points and collecting 8 rebounds in a win over Glendale JC. Harris was selected as the ACCAC Conference Player of the Week last week for his production.
Arizona Western Junior College 6-foot-1 sophomore guard AJ Marmolejos has been terrific to start the season in his play as well - leading Arizona Western JC to a 5-1 start to the junior college season. Marmolejos scored a career-high 31 points in the Matadors’ win over Arizona Christian JV, before totaling 46 points in two games in Las Vegas over the weekend. He also finished with 24 points and 6 rebounds in a nice 77-76 win over College of Southern Nevada.
Pima Junior College is also off to an undefeated 5-0 start on the junior college season, and is coming off a huge 150-82 home win over Phoenix College last night. 6-foot-8 freshman center Gabe Oldham has come up big for Pima in the early season. Oldham went 24-for-29 from the field in three recent Pima wins, totaling 64 points and 27 rebounds. Oldham had a season-best 27 points in a 128-82 win over the #13 ranked D-III Dallas College Eastfield, while also grabbing 12 rebounds. A mere freshman prospect, Oldham is a load and is set to have a really nice season for Head Coach Brian Peabody and his staff.
6-foot-4 sophomore Jaylen Wesley has helped lead his South Mountain program to a 2-0 start to the season. Wesley scored 32 points and made (4) three-pointers to help the Cougars to a 73-66 win over College of Southern Nevada. Wesley finished off a double-double by grabbing 17 rebounds in the win.
