The Area Codes Spring Showcase took place recently at Mesa High School with more than 60 different prospects in participation - each looking to gain exposure to college coaches, scouts and media in attendance. Organized by tournament director Chad Groth, the Arizona Preps' staff was in attendance for this year's event to bring you our top individual performers from this annual event.
Here are my top individual performers from this year's event . . .
Top Senior Performers - 2016 Class
Myles Thompson 6-0 SR PG American Leadership Academy - 2016 Class
Thompson (pictured) is a big-time athletic talent that would also have a terrific career in football, if he chose to. He has the body and the physical gifts of a prototypical defensive back or wide receiver. Thompson can really play basketball though and he excels in the open floor, where he is able to play above the rim and finish strong dunks. A highlight reel dunker. Also can score the basketball from the perimeter with nice range on his shot or off the dribble. He has really improved his ability to make plays off the dribble, which has opened up his overall game. A good ball handler and passer that sees the floor. Pushes the basketball. A good rebounder for his size. An excellent overall athlete. A big-time sleeper this spring for a smaller division-I program or a nice division-II program looking for immediate guard help.
Dominic Rhymes 6-4 SR SG/SF Student Choice Prep - 2016 Class
Rhymes is a very nice looking prospect with nice length and size. He has a nice range of offensive skillsets and has the potential to grow into a very serious player over time. He is not able to fully put it all together as of yet, but when he does, some college program will be very happy. Rhymes is very athletic and thrives in the open floor, where he is able to handle the basketball and make plays off the dribble - for himself or others. After sitting out his senior season this year due to AIA rules, Rhymes will do a year of post-grad next season. He should develop a great deal physically with another year and become a nice recruiting target as a result. Among the top overall sleeper prospects in the state.
Nick Potthoff 6-7 SR PF Cactus Shadows HS - 2016 Class
Potthoff is an underrated four-man prospect with good size and a solid skill level - allowing him to play the 3 or 4 positions on the floor. He will be at his best as a four-man for a smaller college, until his perimeter skills continue to develop for the next level. A solid low-post scorer with good footwork. A capable shooter with some range on his shot. An active rebounder and shotblocker. Capable shotblocker. Good finisher. Runs the floor very well. Sleeper prospect. Has excellent grades but may need to spend some time in the juco ranks before moving on to a four year college.
Kaleb Hagerman 6-9 SR C Flagstaff HS - 2016 Class
A solid low-post prospect with good potential for the future, with much more development as a player. A lengthy post prospect with good size. Still raw offensively, but has solid low post skills. Capable scorer from mid-range. Runs the floor. Solid rebounder and shotblocker. Sleeper prospect.
Adonis Arms 6-4 SR SG Desert Vista HS - 2016 Class
Each time I see Arms perform, I come away impressed with this young man's activity on the basketball court. He gets a lot done, although he could get a lot more done with more activity on both ends of the floor. Has the potential for a high motor, which would increase his overall production over time. A good scorer, slasher and open court player. A good overall defender with long arms - plays passing lanes. Good shotblocker. Sleeper prospect.
Antwan Baker 6-2 SR SG Desert Vista HS - 2016 Class
Left handed guard prospect that is a capable combo-guard. OK shooter. Good ball handler. Slasher and open court player. Solid defender.
Top Junior Performers - 2017 Class
Alec White 6-7 JR PF Linfield Christian HS (Temecula, CA) - 2017 Class
White is a wide-bodied four-man that was one of the surprise performers of the event. A nice post prospect with good low-post footwork. An excellent offensive rebounder for his size - rebounds the basketball with two hands and keeps the ball up high on put-backs. Good low-post scorer. Good finisher. Enjoys physical contact. Runs the floor well. Has a 4.7 CUM GPA.
Sam Kabamba 5-11 JR PG/SG Sandra Day O'Connor HS - 2017 Class
A good looking compact combo-guard prospect with a good overall feel for the game. Capable of playing both guard positions on the floor. A good shooter with range on his shot. A good driver of the basketball and finisher in traffic. Fundamentally sound guard prospect. A very good defender with excellent lateral quickness and quick hands. Plays passing lanes.
Seun Talabi 6-4 JR SG/SF Corona Del Sol HS - 2017 Class
Good sized 2/3 prospect with a good shooting stroke, although his range on his shot is limited. A good mid-range shooter at this point in his young career. Solid ball handler and passer. Solid defender. Good rebounder.
Zachary Dougherty 6-5 JR SF/PF Temecula Preparatory School (CA) - 2017 Class
An athletic and tough combo-forward with a good motor that plays all over the floor. An active defender and rebounder. Raw still offensively, but gets a lot done on the floor, as a result of his tenacity as a player. Solid low post player. Runs the floor.
Top Sophomore Performers - 2018 Class
Bryce Meadows 6-2 SOPH PG Aspire Academy Prep - 2018 Class
Meadows has very good size for a guard prospect already and a strong, well-built body. He is a very good ball handler and passer that sees the floor very well. A good finisher in the lane and a good penetrator. A good mid-range shooter and scorer. Still developing perimeter shot from longer ranges. Overpowers smaller guard prospects with his physicality. A good defender with quick hands that plays passing lanes. A very good prospect over time with a bright future. After missing his sophomore season and transferring from Coronado HS, Meadows will attend a new local prep program next fall.
Elijah Burden 6-3 SOPH SF/PF Sabino HS - 2018 Class
A very athletic and strong frontcourt player with a knack for the basketball. Overpowers most players his size and definitely his age around the paint area. Strong and active rebounder. Excellent finisher and does not mind physical contact. Explosive dunker when he makes up his mind to throw it down. OK ball handler and passer. Will need to develop perimeter skills over time to maximize his potential as a player.
Diego Diaz-Colwell 6-2 SOPH SG Corona Del Sol HS - 2018 Class
A nice looking young prospect with an excellent shooting stroke and unlimited range on his shot. Has a quick release. Capable combo-guard. A good ball handler and passer. Fundamentally sound. An up-and-coming prospect.
Top Freshmen Performers - 2019 Class
Grant Ward 6-4 FR SF Buena HS - 2019 Class
Ward is an excellent looking young prospect with a bright future ahead of him. A very talented young prospect with a nice feel for the game. A good shooter and ball handler. Solid passer. Active rebounder and defender. Simply needs maturity to develop, but an excellent young prospect for the future.
Malachi Rogers 5-7 FR PG/SG Fort Thomas HS - 2019 Class
A big-time shooter with unlimited range on his shot and a quick release. Moves very well without the basketball and is a fundamentally sound guard prospect with a high motor and an excellent feel for the game. A combo-guard prospect that will only benefit with physical growth and natural maturity. A good ball handler and passer. Mature beyond his years mentally. Very good in the open floor where he likes to push the ball and make plays for himself and others. A good defender with good lateral quickness and quick hands. A nice guard prospect for the future.
