He has done it again, but this time he is academically qualified and ready to go. Saturday afternoon became the best day of the young career for Westwind Prep Academy 6-foot-2, 190-pound prep guard Larry Lewis, as he gave a verbal pledge to the University of Texas-San Antonio and head coach Brooks Thompson and his basketball staff. “It felt great,” said Larry Lewis. “I have waited a long time for this day. I have waited since February of 2012 when I knew I wasn’t going to be eligible. I really worked hard and so it feels good.” Lewis had given an early verbal…
Author: Anthony Ray
Nogales High School has one of the state’s best basketball programs and has been very success over the years – playing a very fundamental brand of basketball that has led to many wins and a state championship in 2011. Gone are household names Cesar Solis and Joseph Monreal, but picking up where they left off, and then some, has been 6-foot-1 senior point guard Andres Marquez. Marquez is a very well known prospect by other top performing basketball prospects around the state of Arizona, as he has competed against the state’s best for some time, and is no stranger to being…
The last time these two teams met it resulted in a one-point win for Mesa High School. The game took place last season on Nogales High School’s home floor and a loaded Mesa team was much younger. Now, a year later, the Mesa Jackrabbits are much more developed as a team and sport possibly the state’s most talent-filled team of players. Nogales (21-5), led by the superb play of 6-foot-1 do-it-all senior guard Andres Marquez, came into Thursday night’s contest amongst the leading scorers in the state – having scored 40+ points in several different games this season. Mesa would show just how good they can be…
Both teams came into Wednesday’s night exciting match-up on a major roll for the season, as Highland High School (26-2) had won their last 10 games in a row, and Dobson (20-5) had won 12 games in a row on the season. With both teams among the very elite girl’s programs in the state and both riding big win streaks, this game was set to be as exciting of a game as we have seen during the 2012-2013 season. Both teams were also loaded with college prospects, so I had my popcorn ready for this match-up. Highland High School was the host school for…
Chandler High School’s girl’s basketball team has produced many of the state’s top players over the years and has fielded an elite basketball program since the hiring of head coach Zon Thompson. This year’s team though has been up and down, behind some injuries, recent illnesses and an intense game shedule this season. Chandler (15-7) has had arguably the toughest game schedule of any team in the state this season. While having 7 losses on the season, the Wolves has played the state’s best high school programs. Their seven losses have come at the hands of top-ranked local and out-0f-state competition – Pinnacle, St.…
Westwind Prep’s skilled 6-foot-4, 210-pound senior guard Josh Braun has recovered nicely from a knee injury that he suffered last spring – an injury that caused him to miss the remainder of the spring and also the summer evaluation period. Braun returned to basketball action over the winter months, now a senior guard at Westwind Prep Academy and playing for Westwind’s National Team. After playing three seasons at Boulder Creek HS, and helping lead the school to a state championship, Braun decided this summer to change programs and finish at Westwind Prep. Since returning to action during his senior season, Braun…
This weekend at Inspire Courts, Westwind Prep Academy and Tournament Director Jeff De Laveaga hosted the Southwest Prep Showcase – a prep team tournament filled with the majority of the top prep school programs in the West. With such programs as Rise Academy (PA), Athlete Institute (CANADA), High Desert Prep (CA), Prime Prep Academy (TX), IMG Post Grad-1 (FL), IMG Post Grad-2 (FL), LA Prep (CA), Impact Basketball Blue (NV), Impact Basketball White (NV), Future College Prep (CA), La Jolla Prep (CA), CCSE Prep (CA), Planet Athlete (AZ), On Point Hoops Academy (OK), Beacon Prep (TX), Spire Institute – White (OH), Spire Institute -…
When 7-foot, 215-pound senior post player Namdi Okonkwo traveled to the state of Arizona this fall from Dallas, Texas, he was as raw a basketball talent as there is – a long, gangly athletic post with very little organized basketball experience. A lot has changed in a short period of time for this young man. As a senior post player for Westwind Prep Academy’s National Team, Okonkwo has developed a great deal physically and mentally this basketball season – going from a defensive-minded post player with very raw offensive skills, to a now capable offensive talent with excellent defensive timing and athletic prowess. This has…
The future was very unclear for Arcadia High School 2012 graduate and current Westwind Prep post-graduate guard prospect Larry Lewis. Recently still uncleared by NCAA academic standards, Lewis had considered his basketball future. As a non-qualifier and frustrated, Lewis had wondered whether he would attend a junior college or even quit playing basketball all together. Well, this week his future looks much brighter for himself, as Lewis received a passing test score on his recent ACT college entrance examination. According to the Westwind Prep coaching staff, the talented 6-foot-3 prep combo-guard prospect received a score good enough to qualify him per NCAA academic…
Recently, it was reported that Westwind Prep Academy 6-foot-9, 235-pound junior post Connor MacDougall (Arizona State commit) had left school – leaving Westwind Prep for undisclosed reasons. While we are unable to report the reasons for MacDougall leaving Westwind’s basketball program at this time, in fairness to he and his family, MacDougall will now look to pick up his academic and athletic future again next year and another program. MacDougall’s desire to leave the Westwind program had nothing to do with Westwind Prep’s academics or basketball program – in fairness to the school and their coaching staff. According to MacDougall’s father, Lonnie MacDougall,…