Even with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on recruiting and the evaluation of the state’s top basketball prospects of the 2021 rising senior class, many of the state’s top prospects are still getting it done, as several prospects in the class have now given commitments to college programs. Last last week, Ironwood High School’s talented 6-foot-4 rising senior guard Bailon Black became the next in line – giving a big verbal commitment to a member of the Big Sky Conference. Northern Colorado just hired new Head Coach Steve Smiley to replace previous successful Head Coach Jeff Lindner, who took…
Author: Anthony Ray
AZ Compass Prep surging 6-foot-11 rising junior post Adrame Diongue is a big-time talent that the nation does not yet clearly know about yet, but they are learning fast after the young man’s recent performance in last month’s Pangos Best of Arizona League. In the league, Diongue showed off his serious upside, length and athleticism – leading to a recent offer from a program in the BIG-12 Conference. After college coaches around the country observed the talented prospect in action on Ballertv.com during the event, Diongue, who did not then have any scholarship offers to his credit, received an offer from Texas Christian University (TCU) and their basketball…
Over the past month, the Arizona Preps’ staff has grown a great deal as the group has added some serious talent to an already very talented staff of writers, scouts and interns. As part of the group’s development and new focus on covering the state’s best girl’s basketball talent, we are proud to announce the addition of Travis Armstrong to our staff. A former high school Head Coach for girl’s basketball at Florence High School, Travis Armstrong will join the Arizona Preps’ staff as the organization’s lead girl’s basketball scout – covering girls basketball in the state, high school and junior college. Armstrong will join…
While college programs have turned their full attention towards the 2021 and 2022 recruiting classes for prospects, one prospect from the 2020 Class still remains unsigned, and is worthy of serious recruiting attention late. Paradise Honors High School’s 6-foot-6, 200-pound ultra-athletic wing Jerry Lliya is the best unsigned Arizona prospect still on the recruiting board from the 2020 Class, and he is considering all of his options still for the fall. It was thought that Lliya had made his decision to go to Chipola Junior College (FL) as of late, but Lliya is still considering his options for the future.…
After sitting out last high school season, due to AIA Transfer Rules, athletic 6-foot-8 rising junior forward Foune Doucoure is now ready to pick up where he left off a year ago in his progress and development at St. Mary’s High School, after transferring high school programs. Arizona’s 2022 Class is absolutely loaded, and Doucoure is another major reason for the depth in the class. Foune Doucoure started his high school career at Liberty High School, after first coming to the United States to play for a local and former prep program in the state. After spending a season at…
Not every prospect is a finished product, especially when they are bigger post prospects that conveniently take much longer to develop. This is definitely the case for Estrella Mountain Foothills High School’s rapidly developing 6-foot-11 rising senior post Jeff Goodere. While Goodere posted modest numbers last season as a junior, he is working very hard on his game, body and approach to the game to become a serious college post prospect. There is a very limited list of true bigger post players around the country, but the state of Arizona seems to be absolutely loaded with them – a very…
Recently, former Millennium High School’s gifted 6-foot-9, 200-pound rising senior forward DaRon Holmes, our 2020 Arizona Preps Player of the Year, gave an announcement that would take the state’s basketball community by complete surprise, as he announced that he would be leaving the state of Arizona for his senior season, and playing for national power Montverde Academy (FL). The national exposure gained from playing a superb national schedule with Montverde Academy will add immensely to his ability to become a strong candidate for the 2021 McDonald’s All-American Game. Holmes’ emergence on an ultra-loaded Montverde roster next season, will almost guarantee his pursuit to become…
The National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) issued a proposal on Thursday calling for the permanent elimination of the SAT and ACT as requirements for NCAA eligibility. The proposal originated from the group’s Committee on Racial Reconciliation, formed last month to address social justice concerns. “The NABC Committee on Racial Reconciliation believes that the SAT and ACT are longstanding forces of institutional racism, and no longer have a place in intercollegiate athletics or higher education at large,” the committee co-chairs said in a joint statement. “This is an important step towards combating educational inequality in our country.” Currently, the NCAA balances…
Recently, the Division-I Men’s Basketball Oversight Committee proposed a temporary fall recruiting calendar. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, recruiting in the sport was disrupted. To adjust in these unprecedented times, the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) collaborated with stakeholders throughout the sport to establish a plan that was endorsed by the oversight committee. The Division-I Council, must approve the proposal. Under the recommendation, a quiet period would continue for most of August, which would allow only in-person recruiting contacts on the school’s campus (recruiting visits). No in-person, off-campus contacts or evaluations may occur. Teams would be allowed to send…
In case you missed it when we reported these signings over the past couple months, there have been numerous signings this year by prospects in the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference (ACCAC), as many of the top prospects in the conference look to move on to their respective four-year college programs. Here are some of the top recent signings that have taken place recently by members of the ACCAC Conference . . . Jake Lieppert 6-3 FR SG Pima Junior College (Tucson, AZ) – Rice University Signee Lieppert led the ACCAC in scoring this past season with a tremendous scoring…