South Mountain Junior College (6-11, 1-8) has had some struggles this season winning games, although the program has lost numerous close contests this season. A major bright spot this season for longtime successful Head Coach Dan Nichols has been the strong play of 6-foot-4 sophomore Jaylen Wesley. Wesley has put up tremendous numbers this junior college season, and has absolutely done all he can this season to keep his team competitive – leading the Arizona Community College Athletic Association (ACCAC) in scoring and rebounding this season. Wesley is having a stellar season, and as a result received his first Division-I…
Author: Anthony Ray
Many of Arizona’s elite prospects for the 2024 Class have signed national letters of intent with their respective college programs this fall, but there are still many prospects available that will receive a lot of college attention this spring. One of these prospects that has emerged this high school season has been Pinnacle High School’s 6-foot-7 senior guard/forward Braylon Johnson. After developing a great deal over the past two seasons under Head Coach Charlie Wilde, Johnson is having his best season to date, and has made Pinnacle a contender in the state’s 6A Division. The younger brother of NBA player…
We are now well in full swing for the 2023-2024 junior college basketball season in the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference (ACCAC), and several college programs in the conference have risen to the top of the standings and been strong in league play thus far this season. Eastern Arizona (15-4, 8-0) continues to lead the Division-I standings in the ACCAC with an undefeated record in conference play. Eastern is loaded with talent from top to bottom, and will be tough to beat all season. 6-foot-7 sophomore Raysean Seamster is the conference’s top overall prospect, and he is having a strong season – averaging 16.9 points and 8.1 rebounds per/contest,…
Dream City Christian Prep’s skilled and promising 6-foot-10, 230-pound versatile junior prospect Alejandro Aviles is among the nation’s top 2025 prospects, and has received his nice share of college recruitment as a result. Aviles has garnered offers from numerous high-major Division-I programs over the past two years and has become one of the elite prospects in the West for the 2025 Class. After a strong junior season on a loaded Dream City Christian Prep program, it is just a matter of time for Aviles to receive a better national ranking among national basketball scouts and media. Currently, Aviles is having…
Sunnyslope High School (12-4) is playing their best basketball of the season now, as they head into the meat of their regular season schedule. As winners of their last (6) games on the season, and only one of their losses this season coming at the hands of top-rated in-state competition, Sunnyslope is now looking to round into top-notch form as a team. With their sights on winning this year’s Open Division State Championship, after a runner-up performance a year ago, Head Coach Ray Portela and his experienced staff definitely know what it takes to win a state championship, as Sunnyslope…
Casteel High School (15-3) has had a nice season for themselves and are among the top programs in the state’s 5A Division. Casteel has the talent this season and the coaching to make a run this season in the Open Division state playoffs. Led by the leadership of longtime successful Head Coach Aaron Windler, and also possessing highly successful Commander King as an assistant coach on the bench, Casteel has made some noise this high school season. After recently winning this year’s McClintock Holiday Shootout, Casteel is now trying to prepare for a nice late season run. 6-foot-5 junior guard/forward…
Glendale Junior College (7-8, 2-5) traveled to Scottsdale Junior College (7-5, 3-4) on Wednesday evening in an exciting match-up of two of the conference’s top Division-II programs. With both programs looking to turn up their performance in conference play this junior college season, Glendale would put up an impressive 54 points in the game’s first half, and take a big 54-26 lead into the half. Glendale would not look back – leading to a nice 76-64 road win. Glendale has several prospects that impressed me on the evening, and have caught my attention this season at prospects that college programs…
Top-rated Desert Mountain High School (12-4) faced off with Casteel High School (14-3) on Tuesday evening at home in an exciting match-up, as Casteel came into the contest as winners of their last (6) games on the season, and also recently won the McClintock Holiday Shootout over the winter break. Desert Mountain had lost two games in a row to out-of-state competition at the recent Visit Mesa Basketball Challenge, and were without three starters in Tuesday evening’s match-up – sophomore guard Kalek House, freshman guard Jabron Bardwell and junior post Jaylen Johnson. Amazingly enough, it would not make a difference…
The Arizona basketball community lost a great one last week in long-time coach, mentor and friend, Keith Greer. Coach Greer was laid to rest on Sunday evening in Casa Grande, Arizona, in front of a large crowd of loved ones. I attended the service and saw so many people, although it was just a small amount of people, compared to the many people that Coach Greer impacted throughout his life. So many thoughts come to mind when thinking about my close friend and brother Keith Greer. He had been a long-time mentor to me since I started involving myself with…
In an exciting match-up of the state’s two elite AIA programs in the East Valley, Perry and Basha High School, it was also an exciting atmosphere on a Saturday evening in front of a large crowd in attendance. Last season this game was sold out (30) minutes early, so I had to get there early, and ended up standing the entire game behind the student section to report this match-up. Perry High School (13-4) came into Saturday’s night contest as winner’s of (7 )of their last (8) games on the season, since a narrow loss on the road at the…