Now, as we wind up the busy month of June high school basketball and have gone through another exciting spring of club basketball, I have realized that it is definitely an entirely new day for basketball across the country, and also in the state of Arizona. The game has completely changed for everyone in the industry, including the coaches, players, parents and all student-athletes that desire to be recruited by college programs. With the emergence and growth of the NCAA Transfer Portal, the development of NIL money for today’s student-athletes, and the recruitment opportunities and competition created by prep schools,…
Author: Anthony Ray
The mission is now complete. This is how I personally felt this week after covering Arizona basketball for (29) years and entering my 30th and potentially final high school basketball season covering the state of Arizona’s basketball. When I started in the industry at the ripe young age of (22) years old in 1995, my mission was to create major recruiting opportunities for Arizona’s top basketball prospects, while also establishing and developing an Arizona basketball culture that could compete with other dominant basketball states such as California and Texas in the West, and to make Arizona a hotbed for basketball…
The amazing Section 7 event featured many of the top high school programs in the West last weekend. There was certainly a lot of out of state talent in action last weekend, but Arizona basketball enthusiasts were focused on determining, as we do annually, which Arizona high school programs would emerge as the clear favorites next high school season to win the Open Division State Championship. After a season last year that was one for the ages, it proved to be one of the most competitive seasons ever, as numerous programs would look to compete for an Open Division state…
No Arizona prospect had a better spring performance, combined with a stellar performance in the Section 7 event last weekend, other than Millennium High School’s talented and athletic 6-foot-7 rising versatile senior forward Kingston Tosi. After a strong spring performance for himself, where he received numerous offers for himself, as a result of his strong play on the club circuit, Tosi was on full display in this year’s Section 7 event, as he put college coaches on notice with his play. As a result, Tosi has become hotter than fish grease – receiving a large number of scholarship offers for…
One of the top overall prospects that college coaches worked hard to catch a glimpse of at last weekend’s Section 7 event was Sandra Day O’Connor High School’s 6-foot-8, 215-pound rising senior forward Michael Simcoe. Already possessing numerous offers for himself, Simcoe drew loads of attention throughout the weekend, and, as a result, has now received many more offers to his credit as a result of his performance in the event. Sandra Day O’Connor will be one of the state’s elite teams to watch for next high school season, after a season this year where the program emerged as one…
In a major move, after recently re-opening his college recruitment, Notre Dame Prep’s strong and athletic 6-foot-4, 195-pound athletic senior guard Anthony Batson has now given a verbal commitment and signed with Stanford University. Batson previously gave a commitment to Rice University, but decided to re-open his college recruitment after former Head Coach Scott Pera was released from his duties after the college season. Batson instead went looking for another college program for himself this spring, and now has landed at Stanford University, where he will now begin his college career. Highly successful Head Coach Kyle Smith and his staff…
The Section 7 Boy’s Event will take place this weekend, June 21-23rd, Friday through Sunday @ State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona and will feature (12) different courts of basketball action. Arizona Preps will be in attendance throughout the weekend to bring you coverage of the event and our top performers throughout. Here is some more information on this weekend’s event . . . WHAT: Section 7 Boy’s Weekend Schedule and Credential Reminder Elite high school event held on 12 courts at State Farm Stadium WHO: 184 high school teams will compete in the fourth annual Section 7 Boy’s Weekend in front…
More than a year ago, I previewed my top Breakout Performers for the high school season, and Perry High School’s talented 6-foot-5, 190-pound rising senior D’Andre Harrison more than backed up my claim, as he would go on to have a big junior season for himself, and help lead his Perry High School basketball program to a third consecutive State Championship, and a second consecutive Open Division State Title. Harrison came up big all season for Head Coach Sam Duane Jr., and then continued his strong play on the club circuit this spring – becoming one of the top overall…
Highland Prep High School’s 6-foot-4, 190-pound senior guard Presley Ibeh is now officially off the recruiting board, as he has made his college decision – giving a nice commitment to Northwest Missouri State this weekend. Ibeh soared under the recruiting radar for some time, before recently receiving two different offers for himself, which he ultimately chose from. Ibeh is a very nice athletic talent that plays both ends of the floor at a high level, and is coming off an excellent senior season for himself. He is an absolute steal for Northwest Missouri State and new Head Coach Matt Keeley. Former Ottowa University Head…
Dream City Christian Prep’s 6-foot-4, 190-pound rising junior guard Ikenna Alozie is a special talent in the nation’s 2026 Class, and the national basketball community is now beginning to take serious notice of this young man’s talents for the college level and beyond. After recently receiving a Top 20 national ranking by ESPN for America’s 2026 Class, and having a big spring performance for himself, Alozie is now consistently receiving loads of Division-I offers for himself, and is on the way to national stardom. Alozie made a nice splash in the national rankings recently, as he is now regarded as a…