With the NCAA spring evaluation period upon us next month, there are still many available senior prospects in Arizona's 2015 class for college coaches at all levels to take a hard look at this spring. With several new smaller college programs now popping up in the state, there will now be more college basketball opportunities for Arizona's top available student-athletes.
Here are my top available uncommitted prospects from Arizona's 2015 class. This is a nice group of talented prospects - making for an exciting spring of college recruiting . . .
TOP AVAILABLE HS SENIORS IN ARIZONA (CLASS OF 2015)
Craig Randall 6-4 SR PG/SG Shadow Mountain HS (Phoenix, AZ) – Randall is currently the best available prospect in the group and is receiving serious division-I attention as a result. Randall, a native of Ohio, is coming off a strong senior season for the Matadors, after leading the program to a 23-7 overall record on the season, while averaging 21.2 points, 5.6 assists, 4.7 rebounds and 2.5 steals per/contest. Randall would help lead the team to a strong finish in the Division-II state tournament, and would also earn All-Arizona First Team honors by the Arizona Republic newspaper. Currently, Randall holds many scholarship offers, which include St. John's, Minnesota, New Mexico State, La Salle, UC-Davis, Louisiana Tech, Portland State, Florida International and UNCW. Randall does not have a clear leader at this point, and is still unclear as to when he will make his college decision. Look for many more offers to begin to pour in for this talented prospect as we near and complete the spring evaluation period. Look for Randall to continue to reel in much more division-I interest this spring.
Nate Renfro 6-6 SR SF/PF Sahuaro HS (Tucson, AZ)
- Renfro recently was released from his scholarship at Grand Canyon University, so this young man is currently among the hottest unsigned prospects in the group. Renfro should see a nice share of college recruitment now this spring. He previously chose Grand Canyon over offers from Cal Poly, Northern Colorado and Northern Arizona University. He was also receiving interest from Harvard due to his high academic abilities. Renfro is a nice looking small forward prospect, although he saw his time for Sahuaro HS as a post player, due to his length and ability to score around the basket. He will have his best success as a 3 in the college ranks – depending on the level his decides on for college. The best attribute of Renfro is that he has glaring upside, and will see his best years of basketball well ahead of him.
Famoun Miller 6-6 SR SF/PF Central HS (Phoenix, AZ)
- Miller is a very good looking prospect that will be headed the juco route due to academics. Coming off an excellent junior season, where he led Central to a strong finish in the state tournament, Miller is a very nice talent. Miller is as talented a prospect as there is in the state of Arizona. He actually might be the best individual basketball talent there is in the class. A versatile prospect that has many college programs showing interest. If he can continue to work hard on and off the basketball court, this young man will have a very bright future.
Isaiah Wilson 6-7 SR SF/PF Cesar Chavez HS (Phoenix, AZ)
– Wilson is a big-time talent that came on big time during his senior season. A prospect with loads of potential, skills and athleticism, Wilson is a nice sleeper prospect that also looks to be head the juco route. He has the potential to really develop over time, and after a stint in the junior college ranks he could become a high-major prospect. Wilson has very good size and has worked hard on his game individually to become a skilled talent. A nice, gifted prospect that should have top-rated junior college programs on him hard.
Kaveon Moore 6-4 SR SG Independence HS (Glendale, AZ)
– Moore is coming off an excellent senior season where he was selected as the Player of the Year in his Region. A very athletic guard prospect that likes to slash and play in the open floor. Moore is an active and high-energy wing prospect that is capable of playing either as a shooting guard or as a small forward. He has a knack for scoring the basketball and is capable of scoring in bunches. oore is an active rebounder is also a strong on-the-ball defender, making him an asset on the basketball floor for his team. He has excellent lateral quickness and a nose for the basketball. His ability to defend is his most attractive attribute as a player.
Connor Nichols 6-5 SR SG/SF Arcadia HS (Phoenix, AZ)
- Nichols is also coming off a big senior season - leading his Arcadia High School team to a final-four finish in the state playoffs. Nichols is among the very best individual scorers of the basketball in the state. Nichols possesses a nice, fluid approach to the game on the offensive end, as he has a variety of offensive skillsets that set him apart from many high school prospects in the state. Nichols' ability to make plays on the offensive end with or without the basketball in his hands are attractive attributes that he has, and when he has the basketball he has a nice approach to the game that allows him to make plays off the dribble or from the wing position. Nichols has soared well below the recruiting radar, as he is currently hearing from some smaller college programs, but is well-deserving of much higher college recruitment.
Rashaad Goolsby 6-6 SR SF/PF Cesar Chavez HS (Phoenix, AZ)
- Goolsby has really developed over the past several years, and while he is just really beginning to realize his potential, he still has tremendous upside for the future. A long and rangy 3/4 prospect that likes to slash and play in the open floor. An active reboundr and a capable shotblocker. Goolsby is capable of making perimeter shots, but is at his best from mid-range and in the low post where he is able to utilize his left-handed prowess to create match-up problems for opposing defenders. Goolsby is receiving some smaller college interest, and would be a smaller programs dream. May decide to go the juco route as well. It will be very interesting to see where he lands this spring. A year of post grad at a prep school would be very beneficial in his college recruitment.
Rees Plummer 6-5 SR SF Deer Valley HS (Glendale, AZ)
– Plummer is a skilled 3/4 forward prospect that is able to play both forward positions on the floor. His skill level allows him to play with his back to the basket and also to go out on the perimeter and make plays for himself as well. Plummer is a mis-match for most opposing forwards, as he can score around the basket with a nice, left-handed touch and also shoot the basketball effectively from the perimeter with a quick release. He is also able to put the basketball on the floor and make plays for himself and others - a nice attribute. He is also a very good athlete for his size and gets off the floor well. He is also a very good finisher around the paint and against bigger defenders. A good-looking smaller college prospect that should get some attention this spring.
Dakota Kordsiemon 6-4 SR SG/SF Catalina Foothills HS (Tucson, AZ)
– Kordsiemon is one of the state's most underrated prospects, but is also one of my top sleeper prospects in the class. Kordsiemon had a very good spring and summer last club season, and is worthy of serious recruitment from a smaller college program. As a college prospect, Kordsiemon attacks the basket with his strength off the dribble, and can shoot from the outside with nice range on his shot as well. He has a chiseled body, unlike many prospects his age, which allows him to be a strong contributor on the glass - allowing him also to play much bigger than his stature suggests. He is also very tenacious on the defensive end of the floor, and often times will be seen guarding the opposing team's best player. He has an excellent motor and does not take plays off. He is the heart and soul on every team he plays on.
Tarion May 5-10 SR PG Cesar Chavez HS (Phoenix, AZ)
– May is among the top pure-point guard prospects in Arizona's 2015 class. While he is a big-time scorer as well, May has the ability to handle the basketball and distribute the ball to the open man on the floor. A very quick ball handler that pushes the basketball up the floor. He has excellent lateral quickness and quick hands defensively. A very good finisher against bigger defenders, that is also capable of getting into the lane almost at will. May looks to be headed the juco route.
Quincy Taylor 6-3 SR SG Desert Vista HS (Phoenix, AZ)
– Taylor is a unique prospect in Arizona's 2015 class, as he has high-major athleticism. While Taylor may not be an excellent shooter he is a scorer, and is able to make plays for himself in many different ways, as a result of his tremendous bounce off the floor and high motor. Taylor plays well above the rim - playing much bigger than his size suggests. He has improved the range on his shot over time, but continued work on his jump shot will open up his full offensive repertoire., which will serve him nicely at the collegiate level. Where Taylor can really excel over time is in his ability to defend. He possesses excellent lateral quickness and has quick hands and feet. This young man has the ability to become a lock-down defender at the next level, which would make him much more attractive as a player for any college program. Looks to be headed the juco route.
Coby De Laveaga 6-3 SR SG Perry HS (Chandler, AZ)
– After developing as a college prospect over the past two years, De Laveaga has grown physically and now has become a serious recruiting target for many smaller college programs. Coby comes from a long family bloodline of serious basketball prospects, and while he has not received the press of other members of his family before him, his time has now come to be regarded as another top-rated member of the family. Coby's cousins, Tate De Laveaga and Kye De Laveaga both play for Northern Arizona. Coby is a nice-looking combo-guard prospect with an ability to play both guard positions on the floor - able to make plays for himself or others off the dribble and possesses a nice ability to make players around him better. He has a very nice feel for the game and sees plays often before they happen. He has an excellent basketball IQ. He is also ambidextrous and is able to score, pass or dribble the basketball with either hand - making him very difficult to defend. De Laveaga is also an excellent shooter with a nice release and unlimited range on his shot. Natural maturity and physical development will only continue to benefit Coby over time, and as he adds physical strength and size to his thin frame he should really blossom as a player.
Avonte Nelms 6-4 SR SG/SF Arcadia HS (Phoenix, AZ)
– This hard-working and skilled 6-foot-4 senior wing prospect has emerged as a very good looking prospect for Arizona's 2015 class. Nelms has refined his overall play - adding a better inside, outside repetoire, while also becoming more assertive in his overall approach to the game. Nelms has improved the consistency on his jump shot and also his range, while also becoming quicker off the dribble. He is a good finisher inside the paint and also can create for himself off the dribble - making him difficult to defend for opposing defenders. Nelms has the size and strength to post-up smaller defenders, and the skillset to shoot over smaller defenders on the wing. As he embraces this fact, he will really develop at the collegiate level into a nice asset. Nelms should see his future at the small forward position in college. Currently, Nelms is hearing from some different smaller college programs for his services, so it will be very interesting to see where he lands at for college. Phoenix College looks to be the current leader.
Carter Aby 6-7 SR SF Combs HS (San Tan Valley, AZ)
- Aby is one of the top sleeper prospects in the class, and is coming off a very good senior season for himself. He has also played very well in a couple showcase events since the high school season ended. Coming off a strong senior season where he led his high school program to a state championship runner-up finish, Aby is a good looking wing prospect with a nice overall feel for the game. He likes to have the basketball in his hands, and enjoys making plays for others. He is a good ball handler and passser. Good finisher. Good mid-range shooter, but struggles in his consistency from longer ranges. Has very good upside. With hard work, Aby could really develop over time. Has received numerous offers from smaller college programs since the end to the high school season.
Luke Reynolds 6-6 SR SF/PF Buena HS (Sierra, Vista, AZ)
– While a lesser known prospect in the class, Luke Reynolds is one prospect that has been well-coached and is a skilled forward prospect with very good size and a passion for the game of basketball. Reynolds has very good size on his 6-6 frame and a strong, thick body which allows him to score inside and out. He is at his best around the basket area where he is able to overpower defenders, and has very good footwork, which allows him to score effectively around the paint with a variety of up-and-under moves and jump hooks. He is also able to score from the perimeter and has a good jump shot with range, which will suit him nicely over time as he is able to make the transition to a small forward over time. To do so, he will need to get quicker and more athletic but he could do so with natural maturity and physical training.
Other Very Good Available Senior Prospects
Montrail Johnson 6-2 SR SG Precision HS (Phoenix, AZ)
Jordan Lane 6-5 SR SF Sahuaro HS (Tucson, AZ)
Jordan Lee 6-1 SR PG Skyline HS (Mesa, AZ)
Ben Arqueros 6-0 SR PG Scottsdale Prep HS (Scottsdale, AZ)
Brandon Brooks 5-9 SR PG Millennium HS (Goodyear, AZ)
Max Kufel 6-3 SR SG Brophy Prep HS (Phoenix, AZ)
