Here we go again. In just as shocking fashion as when he committed to Arizona State last summer, and then also de-committed from the Sun Devils just recently, now Perry High School’s electric 5-foot-10, 165-pound sophomore guard Markus Howard has also decided to leave the state of Arizona. It almost seemed as just a matter of time for the explosive scoring guard prospect, who has been coveted over the past year by those in the state of Arizona, and definitely outside of it. As a result of the pressure to play against the nation’s best in a national schedule, and also the opportunity to…
Author: Anthony Ray
Corona del Sol High School has become a major force in the state of Arizona. In a state that is still developing a feel and understanding for high-level basketball, Corona has given Arizona basketball enthusiasts a nice glimpse into what top-rated basketball talent looks like, and also how the game is played by great basketball teams that share the basketball. Corona captured their fourth consecutive Division-I state championship this year – finishing 33-1 and ranked No. 8 in the nation by MaxPreps. Corona also amazingly enough, went 127-7 during a four-year reign of state championships, and also won 70 consecutive games against in-state opponents. Well, this…
The NCAA evaluation period began this weekend around the country, and numerous Arizona teams this weekend traveled to Las Vegas, Nevada to take part in the Pangos Spring Spectacular. Organized by recruiting expert Dinos Trigonis, the event featured many top-rated club programs from around the West Coast. With more than 120 different club teams from around the West in action this weekend, and loads of division-I college coaches in attendance , the competition was fierce and exciting. The Arizona Magic Elite 17U team came up big this weekend – blowing out much of their tournament competition, before finally losing their…
The NCAA evaluation period began this weekend around the country, and numerous Arizona teams this weekend traveled to Las Vegas, Nevada to take part in the Pangos Spring Spectacular. Organized by recruiting expert Dinos Trigonis, the event featured many top-rated club programs from around the West Coast. With more than 120 different club teams from around the West in action this weekend, and loads of division-I college coaches in attendance , the competition was fierce and exciting. The Arizona Magic Elite 16U team is loaded with top-notch talent for the future, and this weekend they would put it all together…
With so much high school basketball being played in Las Vegas this weekend, the Las Vegas Shootout also took place this weekend in Las Vegas for unsigned junior college and high school prospects in the West. Organized by legendary top-rated national basketball scout Jerry Mullen and Area Codes’ organizer Chad Groth, this event was very good and involved many unheralded prospects that helped themselves this weekend. Here are my overall prospects from the day. Each of these prospects improved their college recruitment on the day, and earned some serious college interest as a result of the event. Mufaro Murinda 6-7 …
Recently, the NJCAA selected their national junior college Division-I and Division-II All-Americans for the 2014-2015 season. As a result, several members of the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference (ACCAC) were selected as part of the teams. This year’s members of the Division-II All-American teams were led by Phoenix College star 5-foot-10 sophomore guard Brandon Brown (Loyola Marymount commit). Brown earned First-Team All-American honors for his efforts this junior college season. Brown was also selected as the ACCAC Player of the Year this season as well. Also joining Brown as All-Americans were Ben Gershman of Pima Junior College (Colorado School of…
While we had reported this week that 6-foot-3 senior combo-guard Sammy Barnes-Thompkins was considering his options this spring, whether or not to re-open his college recruitment, the talented guard prospect has decided that he will instead hold on his commitment to the Big East program – signing this month with St. John’s University and new head coach and NBA legend Chris Mullin and his staff. I caught up with Thompkins’ father, Gary Thompkins, on Thursday and he advised me that the opportunity to play for such a legendary coach and an historic program in St. John’s was just too much…
Pima Junior College gifted 6-foot-1 sophomore point guard Andres Marquez has worked very hard to get where he is today. The Nogales High School product is coming off a solid sophomore season where heled his Aztecs to an 18-13 overall record on the season, and now he is planning his next move – to a four-year college program. Marquez was the floor general for a tealented Pima JC program this season that competed all season for the conference title. While the team would fall just short this season, Marquez gave up his own individual statistics to help his team win. …
This spring club season is unlike any before it for the state of Arizona, as Arizona’s top teams and players have prepared for the NCAA spring evaluation period through strong, head-to-head competition in the weekly Arizona Club Basketball League (ACBL), organized by Kenny Mullins, and also the recent Southwest Showcase Main Event, organized by Ron Coleman. These two events have done a great job in preparing Arizona’s top prospects for the club circuit this spring. Each year, Arizona’s top teams and players have almost ducked and avoided top-level competition before the spring evaluation period. As a result, Arizona’s top club…
For many top-rated prospects around the country, the late signing period this month will be a time to make their college decisions. For star 6-foot-3 senior combo-guard Sammy Barnes-Thompkins, the decision has already been made. Now he is thinking over his recent commitment and looking to decide whether or not to re-open his college recruitment, or stick with his recent pledge to a Big East program. Not too long ago, Thompkins gave a huge commitment to St. John’s University and then head coach Steve Lavin and his basketball staff. But just weeks later, Lavin and his staff were fired by the…