The Learning Foundation and Performing Arts Academy (LFPA) proudly hosted its first-ever Holiday Tournament as the year came to a close. This inaugural event brought together eight competitive teams from the Canyon Athletic Association, including the host LFPA, Sequoia Charter, Eduprize, Ridgeview, Heritage Academy Gateway, West Phoenix, EVAC, and Academy with Community Partners. The tournament was a showcase of talent, teamwork, and sportsmanship, culminating in an intense championship game. The host team, LFPA, faced off against a determined Sequoia Charter squad and emerged victorious with a hard-fought 61-58 win. Throughout the tournament, several players stood out with their impressive performances.…
Author: George Courtney
One of Pinal County’s most cherished holiday traditions is the Central Arizona Holiday Classic, hosted by Casa Grande Union High School. This tournament has become a hallmark event for the local community, and I’m proud to have been part of its origins. Back when I was coaching, I served as an Assistant Coach at Casa Grande Union High School. During that time, I collaborated with Athletic Director Randy Robbins, who gave me his blessing to help organize a tournament that would bring the Central Arizona community together through the love of basketball. Our vision for the event was clear: to…
Eduprize has long been recognized as one of Arizona’s premier basketball programs, consistently setting a high standard for excellence. Under Christian Polk’s leadership, the program reached new heights, competing on a national stage as part of the prestigious Grind Session. When Polk passed the torch to current Head Coach Ashton Thomas, the program underwent a rebuild while maintaining its tradition of success. Coach Thomas revitalized the team, finding achievements in the Canyon Athletic Association’s Open Division, and competing against top prep schools from across the country on a challenging national schedule. Most recently, Coach Thomas and his son, AJ Thomas,…
It seems that teams are finding their groove. A few new prospects have emerged as “under the radar” prospects who are deserving of publication. Here are the few that caught my attention on Week 2’s action . . . Landry Carlos 2029 5’9 Guard Casa Grande Carlos is a highly skilled and versatile guard with an exceptional basketball IQ. His ability to seamlessly switch between both guard positions makes him a valuable asset on the court. Whether he’s running the offense as a facilitator or stepping into a scoring role, Carlos excels at creating opportunities for himself and his teammates.…
The Stellar 6 Boys Fall League opened in spectacular fashion, featuring three intense and highly competitive matchups that highlighted teams on a promising upward trajectory. Among the standout performances was Ben Franklin, which proved to be a team to watch in the 3A Conference. Often overlooked in previous seasons, they displayed significant growth, hinting that they could be the league’s dark horse. Their development over the offseason was unmistakable, as they played with cohesion and energy, showing the results of hard work and dedication. This early glimpse suggests that Ben Franklin could surprise many as the season unfolds. Here are…
The 7th Annual Southwest Basketball Showcase, organized by Gregg Rosenberg, is a premier event in the Arizona basketball community that highlights some of the top talent from around the state. The event took place at the PHHacility here in Phoenix, Arizona. Some of the top scouts on the West Coast were in attendance, which included Dinos Trigonis (Pangos All-American Camp), Ronnie Flores (BallisLife), Chad Groth (Area Codes), Anthony Ray (Arizona Preps), Gregg Rosenberg (Prep Hoops), and more. Here are some of the prospects who caught my attention in the short time I was in attendance: Jamal Ali 2025 6-7 SR…
I had a busy Spring, Summer, and Fall traveling around the West Coast to evaluate talent on both the women’s and men’s side. One of the guards who I came across is 2028 Guard Gianni McGhee out of Las Vegas, NV, while at the New Balance Circuit stop here in Phoenix, AZ. McGhee had all the charisma and skill set to catch my attention. McGhee wowed me with his scoring versatility by scoring effectively from both inside and outside the paint – demonstrating proficiency on mid-range jumpers, three-point shots, and finishing at the rim. He possesses good athleticism with a…
ALA-Gilbert North’s Cezer Sotomayor picks up his first college offer from Arkansas Little-Rock who competes in the Ohio Valley Conference. Sotomayor is a great looking combo-guard who is a good facilitator. Besides being able to facilitate the offense, he can score from all three levels. Sotomayor has the intangibles to be a good guard prospect at the college level. He has a great understanding of the game, blue collar work ethic, and plays with a lot of heart. I also like his ability to defend. He is just an all around team player. Sotomayor transferred to ALA-Gilbert North, which has…
1Q – The game was energetic as both Hamilton and Mesa brought their best game. Both teams measured each other out, trading half court possessions. Mesa displayed a gritty lock up man-to-man defense, where Hamilton used their athleticism and length to clog the lanes with a stifling 3-2 zone defense. Ultimately, Mesa converted more field goals than Hamilton, resulting in the Jackrabbits leading 15 to 10. Both teams had balanced scoring with Mesa’s AJ Seumanu with 3, London Haskell with 3 also and Hamilton’s Davion Harris with 3. 2Q – The Huskies came out of the gate with intensity and…
In a battle of two of the premier programs in the Chandler-Gilbert corridor, Hamilton High School went toe to toe with Mesquite High School in the semi-finals of the 20th Annual Mesa Fear The Hop Tournament, in what was featured as the Arizona Preps Game of the Night. The Huskies and Wildcats traded back and forth. Ultimately, the first quarter ended in a tie, 13-13. Both teams used a scoring-by-committee approach. It seems that this semi-final game will be decided late in the second half. In the second quarter, the Huskies started the second quarter with possession. The first field…