The 1st Annual Arizona All-Star Game Shootout took place @ Phoenix College on Friday evening and featured some of the best basketball talent from around the state for high school and junior college. The evening hosted two exciting all-star games in a post-season format that showcased some of the top available prospects for both high school and junior college. The all-star games attracted some top-rated scouts and college coaches, and also provided courtside seating for attendees to get an up-close and personal experience of the game. This event allowed for each student-athlete an opportunity for athletes to showcase their talents, and for fans to witness some of the best basketball talent in the state.
In the high school all-star game for the event, the Black Team, led by AZ Compass Prep's gifted 6-foot-4 senior guard EJ Scroggins, won the event in an exciting contest, 74-73. Scroggins was selected as the Most Valuable Player of the contest, as a result of his exceptional play in the event, where he led his team to a come-from-behind victory - showcasing his offensive skillset and ability to make plays for himself and his teammates. Scroggins is a very versatile performer that loves to create opportunities for his teammates, and it was on display in the all-star game at a high level.
Currently, Scroggins is very well under recruited, but has offers from Hampton University and Point Loma. This young man is very well deserving of much more recruiting interest for himself, as he is a tremendous athletic talent. Scroggins is one of my favorite overall prospects to watch perform in the state of Arizona, and is a joy to watch play. Scroggins has flown well below the recruiting radar for some time.
Scroggins played his first three seasons at McClintock High School, but decided to change high school programs for his senior season. This season, Scroggins has competed for the AZ Compass Prep Black team, coached by Eric Hood and his experienced staff. Scroggins has continued to flourish with his play. College programs need to take serious interest in this talented prospect.
Scroggins is a superior athletic talent for his size, and is physically very strong and able to overpower much of his opposition. I have marveled for some time now at the individual talents of Scroggins, and have been championing him as a Division-I prospect for some time. This young man deserves serious college recruitment, as Scroggins is a true and unselfish talent that college coaches need to take a very hard look at. He is that good and deserves the opportunity.
As a college prospect, Scroggins has superior physical size and strength and an ability to dunk the basketball with extreme authority around and over defenders. Scroggins is a very compact, well put together physical presence that is an undersized power forward in the Arizona high school ranks, and especially since he is so dominant against prospects his age. He is also able to play on the wing and make shots and also create scoring opportunities for himself off the dribble. He is also very unselfish and a creator for others on his team. He sees the floor very well and can facilitate. He is a bull with the basketball and overpowers opposing defenders around the paint with his physicality. Reminds me also of a young Michael Craig, who previously played for South Mountain JC and has went on to have a nice professional career for himself.
Scroggins is a true sleeper prospect in Arizona's 2023 Class. I will continue to follow Scroggins' college recruitment this spring, and bring you any recruiting updates as they continue to develop.
