After recently announcing that he was leaving the state of Arizona for his senior season and heading to play for regional powerhouse prep program Prolific Prep (CA), 6-foot-5, 195-pound senior guard Jared Martin has reached a college decision for himself. After taking an official visit to the program this past week, Martin decided to end his college recruitment before the start to the high school season – giving a verbal pledge to Montana State University and head coach Brian Fish and his staff. The commitment is a big one for the Montana State program, and came as a surprise for…
Author: Anthony Ray
The Area Codes Frosh/Soph Showcase took place on the campus of Mesa High School this weekend and was filled with many of the state’s elite freshman/sophomore prospects in the state. Organized by hard working tournament director Chad Groth, this event is always loaded with top-rated talent for the future, and one of my favorite events of the year to evaluate. Here are my top overall prospects from this weekend’s event. The Arizona Preps’ staff was in full force for the action this weekend, but these are the top overall performers that I witnessed on the day (In no particular order)…
The official NCAA Division-I Men’s Basketball Recruiting Period will begin on Saturday, September 9th as division-I college coaches will begin hitting the road in an attempt to recruit the nation’s top basketball prospects at their respective academic institutions. The division-I recruiting period, through the NCAA, will begin on September 9th and run through the month of November – ending on November 5th. During this period, evaluations by division-I coaches will be limited to regularly scheduled high school, prepatory schools and two year college contests/tournaments, practices and regular scholastic activities. There will be many different division-I college coaches and programs venturing…
This past weekend, the Southwest Showcase Labor Day Classic took place with many teams and players in action. While there were many top performances this weekend, Cactus Shadows High School’s 5-foot-11 junior guard CJ Nnorum had a serious performance this weekend – his best performance of his young career. While playing for the Arizona Aces club organization this past weekend, Nnorum exploded for 52 points in a loss by his team in the event. According to Aces’ club coach BJ Letcher, Nnorum went an amazing 12 for 15 from the field in the event – displaying an impressive ability to…
Several years ago, Hillcrest Prep Academy had the nation’s top prospects in both of their respective classes, together at the same time and playing on the same team – Duke’s Marvin Bagley and the University of Arizona’s DeAndre Ayton. Ayton was the nation’s top 2017 prospect, while Bagley was rated as the top overall 2018 prospect nationally, and also regarded as the top overall prospect, regardless of class in America. Both prospects recently gave announcements for their respective college programs on national television on ESPN. Bagley recently gave his commitment in a special format on ESPN’s Sportscenter, and changed the…
Many years ago, the state’s basketball culture was much different, as there was no internet, no social media and no local rankings to get Arizona basketball prospects excited about the process. That has all changed a great deal today, as the state’s top prospects now look to read about themselves on the internet, and also watch superb highlight videos of themselves and also their favorite classmates around the country. Much of this new found enthusiasm for the sport of basketball was created and improved by local entrepreneur Michal Clark. Michael’s development of AZ Finest Mixtape in 2013 took Arizona high…
Our Arizona Preps’ staff and especially myself is extremely proud to announce that my former assistant for the last (5) years, Chris Buchanan, a graduate of Arcadia High School and a member of Arizona’s 2010 recruiting class, has moved on. Recently, Buchanan was hired by University of Portland head coach Terry Porter and his staff as the Assistant Director of Basketball Operations. Buchanan has already moved to the campus in Portland, Oregon and is now working for the Portland basketball staff. Buchanan joined me in 2012 as an intern while attending classes at the University of Arizona. He was able…
Here are the top returning sophomore prospects this year in the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference (ACCAC). While there will definitely be many more top-rated juco sophomore prospects discovered this season, and also at the up-and-coming ACCAC JUCO Jamboree held at Chandler-Gilbert Junior College on Saturday, October 14th, here are the top returning prospects in the conference from last season (In no particular order) . . . Andre Jones 6-6 SOPH SF Arizona Western JC (Yuma, AZ) Jones is a very strong, well-built physical specimen with a nice frame for the collegiate level and very good athleticism. He doesn’t have…
Millennium High School will start a new era in their boy’s basketball program this high school season when new head coach Ty Amundsen takes over the helm, after leaving St. Mary’s High School. While the program lost a lot to graduation last year, they will be introducing loads of new and young talent this high school season. One prospect that will be making his debut as a freshman and will be definitely one prospect to watch for the future will be 6-foot-6 freshman post Daron Holmes, a member of Arizona’s talented 2021 class. Holmes is a big-time young talent with…
Arizona Preps is proud to introduce Derek “DJ” James to the public and also to our basketball staff. James has been working with our staff now for almost 6 months, and began working with our team this spring – covering the Arizona Preps Spring Classic and the events during the NCAA Final Four weekend. James currently is an assistant basketball coach for Sagu University, previously known as American Indian College, and head coach Tarik James. James also is a trainer locally in the valley for many high school and college players, and also is involved with an organization that works…