This past summer was a successful one for the Arizona Rebels program on both fronts of the guys and girls.
Our boys hit Long Beach twice and ended in Vegas and competed and got great exposure. Our girls had big time performances in Portland by winning their division at the Nike tourney, and had opportunity to show their stuff in front of many division-I's in Oregon, Vegas, Anaheim and San Diego.
I coached the 17u Elite Team. We were led by All-Scottsdale selection Calvin Outlaw (2014 Arcadia) and Kris Lamberson (2014 Arizona Lutheran) - both Top 50 2014 guys', according to Richard Obert and AZ Central. We also got big performances from Bailey Stephens (Flagstaff 2014) and Calvin Schlenker (2013 O'Connor), Stefan Gajic (2014 Goldwater), Grant Rees (2014 Desert Mountain), Matt Bear (2014 North Canyon) and Ajey Villegas (2014 Boulder Creek).
All of my guys (starters to role guys) will contribute at their respective high schools, and will continue to generate college interest. I had a blast with these guys - really appreciate their support and effort during my first full club season as a head coach of a club team.
Our 16u were coached by former Westview HS star and 4 year USD performer Dana White. He has a very talented and underrated group of 16u boys(2015). Led by Horizon's own Brandon Burke and Abraham Sesay, and Brandon Dixon (Liberty) - accompanied by two powerful posts down low in Ben Wahlberg (Pinnacle) and Edward Hardt (Deer Valley), and the sharp-shooting of Jagger Spacy (Pinnacle), these group of 16u Rebels are poised to have a big spring/summer in 2014.
15u was coached by our Program Director Mike O'Guinn. They are a special group of kids who really can make some noise in AZ, and nationally by the time they are on their final club season. They are led by varsity PG for Mtn Ridge Dustin Bankowski and PV's Dominic Rogiers. The team received big boosts from Greenway's Bryce Martin and Boulder Creek's pure shooting Nick Johnson, and the dirty work down low by Malik Simmons (Greenway) and Mo Archer (Liberty), and got a lot out of outstanding bench guard play from Matt Downey (Boulder Creek) and Johnathan Bales(Horizon) and Chauncey Voohires (Horizon). This group will continue and develop into some of our best talent we have seen in years, if they put in the work.
AZ Lady Rebels Elite were successful nationally as normal. Coached by Mike O'Guinn and led by Horizon's sister duo of Rachael Goodman (2014) and Leah Goodman(2016), along with big performances all July by Mariah Kempf (2013 Joy Christian), Noell Kellers (2014 Desert Mountain), Zoe Ruff (2014 Mtn Ridge), Corrina Terrano (Pinnacle 2014) and Julia Cordova (2014 Westview). The future is still bright with our younger girls developing and our role players adjusting to new roles for next spring/summer.
Arizona Rebels 2013's moving on to next level:
Keegan Hansen (Shadow Mtn) - Colorado College
Troy Conley (Chaparral) - Phoenix College
Isaiah Cota - Scottsdale Community College
Calvin Schlenker (O'Connor) - Glendale CC (Possible Walk on) - still looking for solid JUCO
Michael Hauser (Saguaro) - Concordia Irvine
Eddie Little (North Canyon) - Rainey River Community College
Savannah Bix (Flagstaff) - Western New Mexico
Madie Rinehart (Pinnacle) - Cornell College
Britta Nordstrom (Pinnacle) - University of Illinois-Chicago
Alexa Jacobs (Mtn Ridge) - University of Hawaii-Hilo
Mariah Kempf (Joy Christian) - Saint Mary's(CA)-WalkOn
Even though July period comes to a close, "basketball never stops", we are always in the gym with our Precision Hoops Training Academy. Kids to pro's from around the state are always coming in a putting in work with us. On the club side of things, our teams (3rd-8th grade) are always playing and developing, and our HS kids are still coming in and working hard as well with their HS's preseason activities and our training program.
Shoutout to AZ club coaches/trainers/writers/evaluators all over the state - keep up the good work and doing it for the kids. Exactly what it is all about and AZ is being represented well. I enjoy chatting with all of you guys and learning from you.
Till next time...
See you in the gym.
