The Area Codes Frosh/Soph Showcase took place on the campus of Mesa High School this weekend and was filled with many of the state's elite freshman/sophomore prospects in the state. Organized by hard working tournament director Chad Groth, this event is always loaded with top-rated talent for the future, and one of my favorite events of the year to evaluate.
Here are my top overall prospects from this weekend's event. The Arizona Preps' staff was in full force for the action this weekend, but these are the top overall performers that I witnessed on the day (In no particular order) . . .
Area Codes Frosh/Soph Showcase Top 2020 Prospects
Kimani Holt 6-3 SOPH Rancho Solano Prep - 2020 Class
Holt was a highlight reel performer on the day - throwing down numerous dunks that caught the attention of everyone in attendance. A high-energy guard prospect with an advanced offensive skillset that allows him to make plays for himself and others off the dribble. He has a good shooting stroke with range and can make shots off the dribble or from the stand-still position on the floor. He is an elite finisher at the rim for his size and strong slasher in the open floor, where he thrives. A very good ball handler that can create. A good passer, although he needs to continue to develop this area of his game to make players around him better. An active rebounder. Pushes the ball up the floor. A good defender with very good lateral quickness and quick hands. A capable lock-down defender over time, if he continues to focus on this area of his game.
Hunter Ruck 6-8 SOPH Rancho Solano Prep - 2020 Class
Ruck has grown since the last time I saw him, and it was nice to see him against other prospects his age, which proves just how good this young man will eventually become. He is a superb young talent with nice size and an ability to run the floor like a guard. He is an excellent finisher in the open floor, and a strong finisher at the rim. Ruck had one of the best dunks on the day in the event over a defender. A good shooter with range and a soft touch as well. A good low post player with good footwork and an ability to pass very well out of the post to the open man or cutter. An active rebounder and a capable shotblocker. A good low post defender. Has a very bright future ahead of him and the potential to become a high-major division-I prospect over time with continued hard work.
Dalen Terry 6-5 SOPH Corona Del Sol HS - 2020 Class
It was also very nice to see Terry competing against players his age, since he always looks so young physically. Terry is an ultra-long, rangy guard prospect that likes to have the basketball in his hands and make plays, either from the perimeter or off the dribble at the basket. Terry made shots from almost everywhere on the day, and showed his versatility and nice overall skillset on the day. He is still growing a great deal physically, so his athleticism will definitely come over time, but he reminds me of a young Paul George (NBA). Terry has an excellent feel for the game and makes players around him better already. A very good ball handler and passer. An active defender that plays passing lanes. A good rebounder. Has a terrific future ahead of himself, and a big-time young prospect with loads of upside.
Chance Garland 6-3 SOPH Sunnyslope HS - 2020 Class
Garland is a very fluid offensive talent with an excellent feel for the game and unlimited range on his pure shooting stroke. He has a superior handle of the basketball and excellent body control already, while possessing a bouncy vertical leap that allows him to dunk the basketball in a variety of ways and in traffic, if the opportunity presents itself. A superb offensive talent. He is an excellent passer of the basketball as well, and enjoys finding an open teammate on the floor - capable of playing both guard positions on the floor. An active rebounder and a good defender that plays passing lanes. A complete offensive talent that has a long, lengthy body for his size and a very bright future ahead of him.
Anthony Garza 6-7 SOPH Shadow Ridge HS - 2020 Class
Garza was very impressive this weekend against other prospects his age, which proved why I consider him to be one of the best rising 2020 prospects in the state. Garza is a superb talent with excellent length, athleticism and a feel for the game. He runs the floor like a guard and is a very good finisher at and around the rim. A very good shotblocker also that has excellent timing and contests shots consistently. He has excellent activity and an overall high motor. A nice looking prospect, that as he adds some size to his thin frame, watch out. Still growing a great deal and has excellent upside.
Evan Skeech 6-7 SOPH Perry HS - 2020 Class
Skeech is a very good, two-sport athlete that is also an excellent swimmer. He is a very skilled wing prospect that is able to make plays, either while shooting the basketball from the perimeter or off the dribble while attacking the basket. He can make plays for himself and others and is a good finisher in the open court. He is a good shooter with range on his shot, and is also very effective off the dribble. He has excellent size for his position and is still growing physically. Fundamentally sound. A good rebounder. A solid defender. Has a bright future ahead in either sport he chooses.
Jaquan Moore 5-11 SOPH Shadow Ridge HS - 2020 Class
Moore is a big-time athletic talent from the guard position that plays with excellent confidence on the floor. He has excellent energy on both ends of the court and is a high-wire athlete that plays well above the rim. One of the best overall dunkers in the event. Plays much bigger than his size suggests. A good shooter with some range, but at his best while slashing to the basket. An excellent finisher in the open floor or in traffic. A very good ball handler and creator off the dribble. An active rebounder. An excellent defender with exceptional lateral quickness. Has a high motor. Has excellent toughness mentally. Has excellent work ethic.
Seye Madior 6-9 SOPH Bella Vista Prep - 2020 Class
Madior is a long, rangy post prospect with excellent length physically, but is still very raw offensively and thin physically. He has loads of upside though for the future and has a high motor. He runs the floor and is a solid finisher at the rim. He has good potential for the future, and as he adds some more post moves and a perimeter shooting stroke, he will develop into a much better post player. An active rebounder and shotblocker. A good low post defender.
AJ Rozier 6-1 SOPH Boulder Creek HS - 2020 Class
Rozier is a bigger point guard prospect that has a very good overall feel for the game, and also has a nice ability to make plays for himself and others off the dribble. Rozier is a skilled PG with an ability to see the floor and makes plays. He is very crafty. Has a nice perimeter shooting stroke with range and is capable of scoring off the dribble as well, or creating while penetrating through the lane. He pushes the ball up the floor to the open man and allows players to make plays - getting the ball to them early in the process. A good penetrator and finisher. A good rebounder with very good physical size already. A good defender. Has a high basketball IQ.
Tyson Legner 6-2 SOPH Rancho Solano Prep - 2020 Class
Legner is an excellent shooter of the basketball with unlimited range on his shot and superb form and a quick release. He has a strong, compact body which looks great and should really develop over time. He is a specialist as a shooter and also can make plays off the dribble when he needs to - fundamentally sound. A good ball handler and passer. A good rebounder. Great looking kid.
Tanner Poeschl 6-5 SOPH Mesa Mountain View HS - 2020 Class
Poeschl is a very skilled wing prospect with nice size and length and a nice overall offensive skillset. A good shooter that has range. At his best off the dribble and making plays at the basket for himself, while being able to make plays for others as well - his best attribute. Has a good handle of the basketball and is a good passer that sees the floor. A good finisher. An active rebounder. Good defender.
Area Codes Frosh/Soph Showcase Top 2021 Prospects
Rauishun Wilson 5-8 FR Vista Grande HS - 2021 Class
A tough and well-built physical guard prospect with a nice motor and work ethic. Accepts challenges on every play and guards the opposing team's best player - enjoys it. Has an excellent physical frame for his size. An excellent defender that is capable of being a lock-down defender. A good shooter that has some range, but will need to add more range over time to stay effective. A good creator off the dribble and an excellent finisher at the rim. An excellent athlete - dunked the basketball easily in the event in the open floor. A floor general. A strong rebounder. Has a bright future ahead as a result of his overall toughness as a player.
Zay Freeney 6-0 FR South Mountain HS - 2021 Class
Freeney is a big-time young guard prospect with an excellent feel for the game and a unique ability to make plays off the dribble. One of the elite freshman prospects in the event. Has a quick and superb handle of the basketball, with very good explosion off the dribble, which allows him to finish plays in the lane and also create scoring opportunities for others. He has a nice shooting stroke with range and a quick release on his shot. A good finisher. Has good lateral quickness defensively and quick hands and feet. Pushes the basketball up the floor and likes to find the open man. A serious guard prospect for the future.
Coleman Fields 6-2 FR Millennium HS - 2021 Class
A skilled prospect with a good overall skill level and feel for the game. A good scorer in the open floor. A good shooter but at his best from mid-range, where he is able to stop and pop, and also slash to the basket off the dribble. A good finisher. A good ball handler and passer. Plays with very good energy. An active rebounder. A good defender that plays passing lanes.
Jose Miguel 6-4 FR Maricopa HS - 2021 Class
Miguel has good size and length already and is still growing into his lengthy frame, so it will be very interesting to see how much he continues to develop. Has a good knack and feel for scoring the basketball. A good shooter with range on his shot and a good slasher and finisher in traffic. A ball handler and passer. An active rebounder. A solid defender. Very good in the open floor and has good overall versatility. A good sleeper prospect.
Bryant Washington 6-4 FR Dysart HS - 2021 Class
Washington is a skilled guard prospect with a good handle of the basketball - able to create for himself and others. He has a nice handle of the basketball and get to where he wants to on the floor, while also being able to make shots from mid-range. He is a good finisher in traffic. A good slasher and finisher. Very good in the open floor. A good ball handler and passer. An active rebounder. A very good defender.
Riley Fornerette 5-11 FR Dysart HS - 2021 Class
A very skilled and athletic guard prospect with a superb motor and a unique offensive skillset, which allows him to make plays for himself and others, at a high rate. Plays much bigger than his size suggests. Excellent off the dribble. Has a very good shooting stroke with range. A very good mid-range player. A strong ball handler and passer. Excellent in the open floor. Plays much bigger than his size suggests. Excellent defender that plays passing lanes. A high-powered young guard prospect with an excellent future.
Zayn Kimbrough 5-11 FR Mesa HS - 2021 Class
An excellent shooter with range and a quick release on his shot. Has a good overall skill level. A good ball handler and passer that is capable of playing both guard positions on the floor, but will need to grow to play the off-guard position over time. Has an excellent feel. A fundamentally sound prospect. A good rebounder for his size. A good defender.
Grady Lewis 6-4 FR Sunnyslope HS - 2021 Class
A skilled post player that can score inside and out, but is still developing a great deal. Proved that he can shoot the basketball from the perimeter and also play with his back to the basket. Has a soft touch. Has excellent upside and is still growing physically a great deal. Has a long wingspan. A good rebounder. A solid finisher. Good low post defender. Runs the floor.
