Gilbert High School (3-1) is among the most talented teams in the state of Arizona, once again, this season. Loaded with the state’s top front-line, which includes three serious division-I prospects and led by the state’s most physical point guard prospect, Gilbert will be very tough to beat this high school season. But on Tuesday evening on their home floor, the Tigers would need to first get past a very game and much-improved Queen Creek High School basketball programs that has really developed over the past year. Gilbert has been without the services of talented 6-foot-8 junior post Truman Moore (wrist…
Author: Anthony Ray
The Paradise Valley High School Invitational is one of the bright spots for me every year. I really enjoy attending this annual event, as it kicks off the start to the basketball season and always includes good teams in the event. Most importantly, the event is always well organized and operated by Paradise Valley High School’s staff, led by hard working and successful head coach Mark Macgowan. Macgowan is a class act and is coming off leading the program to last year’s Division-II state title. It was also very enjoyable on Saturday afternoon to have an opportunity to speak with legendary and former Paradise…
Sunnyslope High School (3-0) is making their first introduction this season into the Division-I Class in the state, and has immediately become a strong contender on the season to compete for a state championship. Behind the strong play and star potential of 6-foot-10 senior post Michael Humphrey (Stanford signee) and 6-foot-3 junior combo-guard prospect Sammy Thompkins, the Vikings will have their best chance to win it all this season. Sunnyslope breezed through their first two games in this year’s Arrowhead Desert Classic pre-season tournament – knocking off Verrado High School and Thunderbird HS by an average of 30.1 points in the two wins. On…
With the end to the fall signing period this month, there will be numerous top-rated prospects in the state still available this spring for the late signing period. One top-rated prospect that decided to wait until the spring to make his college decision is Westwind Prep Academy big 6-foot-11 prep post Kingsley Okoroh. Okoroh has quickly developed into the state’s premier unsigned post prospect and now has also become the state’s top unsigned overall prospect in Arizona’s 2014 class for the spring. While recently just turning 18 years of age, Okoroh is a large post talent that spent last season at the nation’s…
“They are what we thought they were,” – famous words by former Arizona Cardinals head coach Dennis Green. Also words used to describe this year’s version of the 2-time defending Division-I state champion Corona Del Sol Aztecs, as they begin the 2013-2014 high school basketball season. After winning two consecutive games in blowout fashion at this year’s exciting Hoop Hall Tournament held on their campus this week, this year’s version of the Aztecs is better than ever and looks to be the clear favorite, once again, to win it all this season. Led by the play of a number of…
Mesa Junior College (6-2, 5-0) is off to a great start this junior college season – winning their last 5 games in a row on the season and posting some very good perf0rmances already as a result. Led by the overall play this season of gifted 6-foot sophomore point guard Shy McClelland, the Thunderbirds are rolling and looking to win the conference this season. They will definitely have their work cut out for them if they are to finish as the top team in the ACCAC when it is all said and done, but, behind the play of McClelland this season, it will…
Mesa Junior College (6-2, 5-0) is once again looking like a dominant team this season in the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference (ACCAC) – winning their last 5 games on the season and currently standing in first place in the conference with an undefeated 5-0 record. Mesa is currently tied for first place in the conference with Arizona Western (9-2, 5-0). Led by Arizona legendary head coach Sam Ballard and his experienced staff, the Thunderbirds have a very talented lineup this season and are playing their usual Ballard brand of basketball – tough defense and hard work. Led by the overall play this season of…
With the start to this year’s exciting 2013-2014 high school basketball season upon us, let’s take a hard look at some of the players to watch this season. These are players that I expect to have breakout seasons this year and develop into breakout performers among the state’s top overall prospects. Another senior top performer that is on the rise in the state is Chandler High School’s (2-0) talented 6-foot-1 senior combo-guard prospect Marco Morales. This senior combo-guard prospect has worked hard over the years and has paid his dues to become one of the state’s top overall guard prospects. While playing consistently…
With the start to this year’s exciting 2013-2014 high school basketball season upon us, let’s take a hard look at some of the players to watch this season. These are players that I expect to have breakout seasons this year and develop into breakout performers among the state’s top overall prospects. One rising junior top performer is Pinnacle High School’s hard working and dedicated 6-foot junior forward prospect Allison Munoz. After emerging in this year’s recent Arizona Preps Fall Showcase, this young lady looks prepared to develop into a serious player and a prospect in the state. While she is not currently considered amongst the state’s top…
With the start to this year’s exciting 2013-2014 high school basketball season upon us, let’s take a hard look at some of the players to watch this season. These are players that I expect to have breakout seasons this year and develop into breakout performers among the state’s top overall prospects. One rising senior top performer is Deer Valley High School’s talented 6-foot, 160-pound senior combo-guard prospect Deron Kyle. This young man proved recently that he is among the top guard prospects in the state. Even though he has flown well below the recruiting radar for some time now, Kyle is now…