The first annual Bobby Hurley Basketball Camp took place this weekend on the campus Arizona State University, and was a big success as the team's and participants that competed over the weekend emjoyed the campus and the basketball tournament. The Arizona State basketball staff put on a great event and brought back the excitement that this annual camp formerly brought to the state of Arizona.
The camp had close to 30 different teams in participation this weekend and also had teams from outside of the state of Arizona throughout the weekend. Arizona State head coach Bobby Hurley and his entire basketball staff were around the camp games all weekend as well - making for an exciting event throughout the weekend. Hurley also held a nice clinic for the participants on Saturday morning - showing the camp participants how practices are held at ASU and in the PAC-12 level.
The camp's top division was eventually won by Desert Vista High School on Sunday, whom defeated Pinnacle HS in the campionship game of the event. Desert Vista was led by new head coach Gino Crump, while Pinnacle included the state's top incoming freshman prospect - Nico Mannion.
Desert Vista HS, led by new head coach Gino Crump (our Arizona Preps coach of the year last year), looked ultra-talented in the event - filled with talented prospects for the future and playing much more like we would have thought last high school season. The Thunder are loaded with talent for next year, led by the play of rising 6-foot-6 senior guard/forward Caleb Simmons, 6-foot-7 rising sophomore forward Walter Talley, 6-foot-6 rising junior forward Wesley Harris and 6-foot-10 rising junior post Steele Bennett. This team would win their biggest event to date together this weekend, but only after winning in overtime over a tough, gritty Liberty High School team in the semi-finals in overtime.
Mannion was on fire all weekend long, proving that he will be a force to be wreckoned with this up-and-coming high school season. Mannion is currently one of the nation's Top 20 overall prospects in the 2020 class, he proved why this weekend - helping lead Pinnacle HS to the camp's final game. As a result of his play this weekend, Mannion would earn a big offer from the Arizona State staff at the completion of the camp.
Fountain Hills High School would win the Small School Division in the camp, with a 78-71 championship victory over Florence HS.
Overall, this year's camp was a really nice showing for the new Arizona State basketball staff, and also their team - connecting with the camp participants and the fans in attendance. While it is still very early for the ASU coaching staff here in Arizona, they are making great strides and headed in the right direction.