Mesa Mountain View High School (12-6) lost some games over the holidays in this year’s VisitMesa.com Basketball Challenge – dropping three games to out-of-state opponents in the event. The Toros would return to action in state – losing another home game to Red Mountain HS, 54-45. Without the strong leadership of head coach Gary Ernst who is out with health issues (blood clot in his leg), Mountain View would turn to the direction of long-time assistant coach Jason Palmer. Under Palmer, Mountain View would win three games this week, including two blowout home wins over Mesa rivals – Skyline HS…
Author: Anthony Ray
Former Arizona high school basketball coach David Grace has worked extremely hard over his many years in his basketball career to overcome adversity and obstacles to reach his dreams. A native of Aberdeen, Maryland, Grace began his coaching career in the state while a part of Boo Williams’ basketball program in Virginia. Grace would serve in the Air Force for 20 years, undertaking many operations in Turkey, Georgia, Iraq and in the United States. While serving in the armed forces, Grace continued to pursue his love of basketball and eventually became stationed in Arizona. While in Arizona, Grace would pick…
Tuesday evening saw two of the top boy’s teams in the Division-II Class face off as Sunnyslope HS (13-4) hosted Paradise Valley (16-2). Both teams have been very good this season and also very well coached. Long-time successful head coach Mark MacGowan has his best team in years, while second-year head coach Ray Portela has done an excellent job in continuing the excellent basketball tradition left by former head coach Dan Mannix. Paradise Valley entered the game as winners of their last three games – led by the top junior prospect in Arizona’s 2013 class, 6-foot-6 junior forward Paul Watson.…
Brophy Prep (13-3) saw some difficulty early in the high school season after back-to-back losses, but since has been on a tear. Brophy Prep would win their first three games of the high school season, before losing in the championship game of this year’s Arrowhead Desert Classic to tournament champion Peoria HS (53-40). The Broncos would then lose their next game on the road at Mountain Pointe HS, 58-54. Since then, the Broncos, led by former division-I head coach Tony Fuller, have been playing very well. The Broncos would win this year’s McClintock Holiday Shootout by default last week with…
Two of the top basketball prospects in the state are also widely recognized as two of the top football prospects in the state. Corona Del Sol High School’s 6-foot-5, 245-pound senior post Avery Moss and Chandler HS 6-foot-5, 235-pound senior forward Kisima Jagne have both given verbal pledges to division-I football programs. While both top-rated basketball prospects were recruited heavily by numerous college basketball programs, both student-athletes decided to be smart about their athletic futures and give verbal commitments for football – both will be signing with BCS programs. Moss recently decided to end his college recruitment at the Semper…
One of the top overall performers in the state of Arizona that many have either not seen or even not heard about is Sunnyslope High School’s 6-foot-2, 165-pound senior combo-guard Bryce Gosar. While not a household name like many other prospects, this young man is maong the state’s best basketball talents. Gosar has been absolutely on fire this high school season – leading his Sunnsylope HS team to a 13-3 record this season in the Division-II standings. Gosar’s numbers have been more than impressive, averaging 27.3 points, 2.4 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 2.7 steals per/game this season. The majority of…
The #1 ranked St. Mary’s Knights (12-0) are fresh off a championship performance in this year’s Nike Tournament of Champions in December. On Friday evening, they would face a tough Chandler HS (9-4) team. Here is a report on the game from the Arizona Republic.
With the junior college version of the event set for Janury 14th, the MLK Basketball Classic for high school basketball programs across the state will take place on Monday, January 16th at three different exciting locations. Arizona State University will be hosting their 9th Annual event, while University of Arizona will be hosting their sixth annual event. Grand Canyon University will be hosting games at their new arena this year as well. The goal of the event is to bring attention to the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. through the recognition and celebration of those in the community.…