Coaches and players from across the state, welcome to the 21st Annual Arizona Preps Fall Showcase, where the road to championship begins! As a coach, it is important to learn about your team and what you can overcome when facing adversity. It is about not giving up and playing with heart, until the end and treating every game as a playoff elimination. Players this is a special opportunity to grow as a team and build towards your ultimate goals of being a leader on and off the court. You are role models to younger student-athletes. Even if you don’t think so, they are watching you closely on how you act - not just coaches and parents.
In this event, it is about how to push each other in a positive way - showing high character representing your school and community. Don’t worry about the score focus on how to get better every possession and respecting your opponents. I’ve been fortunate to win state titles in Arizona, and being a part of basketball history, but these pre-season games help your team find your strengths and weaknesses - ultimately helping players and coaches get better. This is why you are here today to push yourselves to new limits - not just scoring, but defending and listening closely, communicating and respecting other programs, because when it comes playoff time ONE possession can make history! The smallest details matter, having self –awareness and mindfulness of your current situation will be required.
Lastly, it is an honor to have such respected coaches and players in this event creating the new legacy for Arizona basketball. The goal is to help each other achieve success in high character ways to represent your program.
Best of luck competing. This is a great opportunity to learn a lot about yourselves and team. Thank you coaches for all that you do and sacrifice! Thank you Anthony Ray for helping the Arizona basketball community for twenty years!
Respectfully,
Coach August Mendes M.Ed.
4x AZ State Champion
Former Shadow Mountain High School assistant coach August Mendes will be a contributing member to the Arizona Preps website throughout the high school season, and will feature stories and write ups from a coach's perspective. We are very proud to have his insight, as he is one of the state's elite top up-and-coming young coaches.
