It was another amazing high school basketball season in the state, where there were many more top-rated teams and players in action in a growing state. After our staff's relentless hard work in covering many of the state's games this high school season, we have compiled our list of top players and coaches of the year.
Here are our selections for this year's Boy's Basketball All-State Teams, led by our Player of the Year, Hillcrest Prep Academy's 7-foot-1 senior post DeAndre Ayton. Ayton has led his Hillcrest Prep team this season to a very competitive record on one of the toughest travel circuits in the country. Amidst terrific competition all season long, Ayton led a talented group and dominated his opponents.
Ayton also gave the nation's biggest pledge in the country on national television (ESPN) in the fall, at the beginning of the high schoo lseason, when he gave a verbal commitment to play for the University of Arizona and head coach Sean Miller and his staff. Ayton has given every indication that he will attend Arizona next fall, and play his freshman season for the program before moving to the NBA ranks.
Ayton is the best talent our state has ever seen, other than Marvin Bagley, and he proved just how good he is the last two high school seasons in the state, making this year, his final season, one to remember. Ayton has changed the state's basketball culture forever, as he changed the level of talent in the state - raising it to completely another level, and bringing a lot of recruitment and respect to the state. For his unique level of talent and size, and everything he has done for Arizona basketball in his high school career, DeAndre Ayton is definitely our 2017 Arizona Preps Player of the Year.
Our 2017 Arizona Preps Co-Coaches of the Year include Basha High School's head coach Mike Grothaus and Mike Bibby of Shadow Mountain.
Grothaus put it all together this season - leading Basha to this year's 6A Division state title and a 31-1 overall record on the season. Grothaus, a former college coach, finally found a team that bought in to what he was preaching. Grothaus' excellent coaching job, combined with a very talented group of players, was just too much for the state this season.
Shadow Mountain's Mike Bibby again led his program to another state title - winning this year's 4A State Championship in fine fashion and going undefeated this high school season. Bibby has proven that he has been just as successful as a high school head coach in the state, as he was as a player - completely dominating the state annually. This season, after losing a lot last season to graduation, Bibby regrouped and led a young team of Matadors to an undefeated season. Shadow Mountain was the best team in the state overall this high school season, regardless of classification.
Here are our selections for our 2017 Arizona Preps All-State Teams . . .
2017 Arizona Preps Player of the Year
DeAndre Ayton 7-0 Senior Hillcrest Prep Academy - 2017 Class
2017 Arizona Preps Co-Coaches of the Year
Mike Grothaus - Basha High School Head Coach
Mike Bibby - Shadow Mountain High School
2017 Arizona Preps CAA Player of the Year
Nigel Shadd 6-8 Senior Tri-City Christian High School
2017 Arizona Preps CAA Coach of the Year
Jace Romero - Skyline Prep Head Coach
2017 Arizona Preps Offensive Player of the Year
Holland "Boo Boo" Woods 6-1 Senior Apollo High School
2017 Arizona Preps Co-Defensive Player(s) of the Year
Jaelen House 6-0 Sophomore Shadow Mountain High School
Trey Wood 6-9 Junior Anthem Prep High School
2017 Arizona Preps All-State Teams
2017 Arizona Preps First-Team All-State
Alex Barcello 6-2 SR Corona Del Sol HS - 2017 Class
Saben Lee 6-2 SR Corona Del Sol HS - 2017 Class
Jaelen House 6-0 SOPH Shadow Mountain HS - 2019 Class
Gabe Mcglothan 6-5 SR Basha HS - 2017 Class
Nigel Shadd 6-8 SR Tri-City Christian HS - 2017 Class
Nico Mannion 6-3 FR Pinnacle HS - 2020 Class
Holland Woods 6-1 SR Apollo HS - 2017 CLass
Marcus Shaver 6-1 SR Shadow Mountain HS - 2017 Class
Jovan Blacksher 5-10 SOPH Shadow Mountain HS - 2019 Class
Trey Wood 6-9 Junior Anthem Prep HS - 2018 Class
2017 Arizona Preps Second-Team All-State
Nick Rosquist 6-0 SR The Gregory School - 2017 Class Colten Kresl 6-1 SR Chaparral High School - 2017 Class
Majok Deng 6-5 SOPH Tucson Salpointe HS - 2019 Class
Dre Marin 5-10 SR Apollo HS - 2017 Class
Tevian Jones 6-6 JR Chandler HS - 2018 Class
Wesley Harris 6-5 JR Desert Vista HS - 2018 Class
Terrell Brown 6-4 SR Basha HS - 2017 Class
Timmy Allen 6-5 JR Red Mountain HS - 2018 Class Chris Orozco 6-5 JR Sunnyslope HS - 2018 Class
Nikc Jackson 6-6 JR Sunnyside HS - 2018 Class
2017 Arizona Preps Third-Team All-State
Kyle Fisher 6-4 JR Apollo HS - 2018 Class
Bryce Fowler 6-6 SR Agua Fria HS - 2017 Class
Tre Mitchell 6-2 SR LaJoya HS - 2017 CLass
Elijah Mead 6-1 SR Camelback HS - 2017 Class
Lucus Elliott 6-9 SOPH Pusch Ridge Christian Academy - 2019 Class
Max Moses 6-1 SR Arcadia High School - 2017 Class
Caleb Simmons 6-6 SR Desert Vista HS - 2017 Class
Darion Spottsville 6-4 SR Shadow Mountain HS - 2017 Class
Sam Beskin 6-4 JR Catalina Foothills HS - 2018 Class
Cameron Miller 6-0 SR Salpointe Catholic HS - 2017 Class
Jared Martin 6-4 JR Scottsdale Saguaro HS - 2017 Class
KJ Hymes 6-10 JR St. Mary's HS - 2018 Class
