The annual Southwest Showcase Summer Championships took place this past weekend at the Avondale Sports Complex. Organized by Ron Coleman, this event brought out more than 80 different teams from age groups 15U through 17, and was a very exciting event with many Arizona basketball enthusiasts in attendance.
With a loaded field of local teams in this year's event, the Arizona Magic Elite would win this year's 17U Tournament Championship behind the well balanced play of a strong, athletic team. Coached by local basketball aficionado's Kenny Mullins and Gino Crump, who have been developing some of the state's best basketball talent for many years now, the Arizona Magic Elite continued their strong play this spring in this year's event. Recently, the Arizona Magic Elite also finished among the Elite 8 at this year's Pangos Spring Spectacular in Las Vegas.
Led by the play of top-rated unsigned 6-foot-9 senior post Andre Adams and 6-foot-3 junior combo-guard Sammy Thompkins, the Magic Elite would bring home their second consecutive SWS Summer Championships in a row - also winning the 2013 tournament title in the same event. The Magic Elite also received strong performances from Maryvale HS 6-foot-7 senior Jorge Cano, Westview HS 6-foot-5 senior Isaiah Bellamy and Grand Canyon HS 6-foot-5 senior forward Joey Bankston, three of the premier unsigned 2014 prospects still available in the state. 6-foot-7 junior forward Deion James of Empire HS in Tucson, AZ was also very impressive in this weekend's event, while two more unsigned senior prospects, Amphi's Yusef Shehata and Peoria's Brody Sharkey both provided strong backcourt support for the team.
With many of the prospects from this group still looking to land a college home, look for many of these unsigned prospects to make college decisions very soon, as there are many prospects on this team well-deserving of college attention.
