Many basketball enthusiasts in the state considered former Sunnyslope High School 6-foot-3 senior guard Sammy Barnes-Thompkins as the state’s best individual player early in the high school season, as he torched his opponents with numerous scoring outbursts. But Thompkins’ career would take a winding twist early in the season, when he was released from the Vikings’ basketball team by head coach Ray Portela. As a result, Thompkins has had to pick up his basketball career with Planet Athlete Academy this season, a local prep school in the valley. And the move has not slowed down Thompkins one bit in his college recruiting.…
Author: Anthony Ray
Boulder Creek High School (15-10) has returned to their winning ways this high school season, after having a drop off last season (10-17). Second-year head coach Ryne Holstrom has implemented a fun offensive style, which allows for his team to spread the floor and shoot the basketball. The Jaguars have been very competitive this season, and are playing their best basketball of late – winning 8 of their last 9 games on the season. A big reason for the program’s resurgence has been the play of 6-foot-4 junior guard Nick Johnson. Johnson is the team’s leading scorer this season and…
The 2014-2015 junior college basketball season in the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference (ACCAC) is now in full swing. Here are this week’s Players of the Week in men’s basketball in the conference . . . ACCAC D-I Player of the Week: Arell Hennings, Cochise Arell Hennings led Cochise to two ACCAC league wins this past week – averaging 19 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists per contest. For the week, Hennings shot 50% from both the field and the 3-point line. ACCAC D-II Player of the Week: Devin Nelson-Foster, Scottsdale Devin Nelson-Foster led the Fighting Artichokes to two league road…
With all of the recent talk about just how good Corona’s star freshman prospect Marvin Bagley has been this season as a freshman, another top-rated freshman prospect has flown relatively below the radar by most basketball enthusiasts in the state. While every club team in the state seems to be jockeying for position for this young man’s future, St. Mary’s High School’s 6-foot-9 freshman skilled post prospect KJ Hymes is rising onto the Arizona basketball scene at his own pace. That pace will not be a slow one, it just won’t be as fast as Bagley’s. Instead, Hymes will take…
After witnessing the best girls high school crowd I have ever seen at a girls game in the state of Arizona last week, I was not prepared on Tuesday evening for what I would find at Corona Del Sol High School. The home of the three-time defending state champion Aztecs was an absolute mad house as Corona Del Sol fans and Desert Vista fans completely filled the gymnasium to capacity. Fans were halted by security and Corona’s staff 30 minutes before the game even began – as no more spectators were permitted to enter the gymnasium – something I have…
One of the elite boy’s basketball prospects in Arizona’s 2016 class is Gilbert Christian High School’s 6-foot-3, 175-pound junior guard Cameron Satterwhite. One of the most athletic prospects in the state, Satterwhite has come into his own this high school season. We recently reported that Satterwhite has developed quickly into one of the most sought after recruiting targets in the state, and we were right on target as this young man has decided to end his college recruitment almost before it began – becoming the second prospect in Arizona’s talented 2016 class to give a verbal commitment to a division-I…
Friday evening’s match-up between two of the top girl’s basketball programs in the state was a very rare night in girls basketball in the state of Arizona, as West Valley rivals, Valley Vista High School (17-6) and Liberty High School (18-3) faced off with one another in front of a packed house of fans. With the most basketball fans I have seen at a high school game, boys or girls, this high school season, these two teams faced off in an exciting contest that would not disapppoint. The girl’s basketball program and faculty at Valley Vista High School had promoted…
Phoenix College improved their record to 10-2 on Wednesday evening at home with a nice home win over Arizona Western Junior College (4-8), 78-63. This game would not be very much of a contest, as Phoenix College would jump out to a big 43-20 halftime lead over AWC. In the second half, Arizona Western would try to make it a contest behind the play of guard Andre Chetverikoff, who would finish with a game-high 27 points. Arizona Western would get the game to within 12 points of Phoenix College in the second half, but sophomore point guard Brandon Brown would…
The 2014-2015 junior college basketball season in the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference (ACCAC) is now in full swing. Here are this week’s Players of the Week in men’s basketball in the conference . . . ACCAC D-I Player of the Week: Khari Holloway, Mesa Khari Holloway led Mesa to 2 wins this past week by averaging 19 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists. I n doing so, he shot 53% from the field and made all 5 of his 3-point field goal attempts and all 17 free throw attempts. ACCAC D-II Player of the Week: Ben “Murphy” Gershman, Pima Ben…
Arcadia High School’s gifted and high-scoring 6-foot-6 senior wing Connor Nichols has had a terrific senior season for himself and his high school program – pouring in numerous scoring outbursts this season. On Tuesday evening, in a rivalry match-up with Paradise Valley HS, the Trojans would overcome a big game-high 35 points by Nichols to win the contest on the road and improve their terrific record this season to 18-2. Paradise Valley HS quality head coach Mark Macgowan is known for game preparation, and early in the game Paradise Valley would build a quick and large advantage – leading Arcadia,…