It was a big weekend for AZ Compass Prep's 6-foot-9, 200-pound senior forward Zayden High, as he helped lead his terrific AZ Compass Prep program to a runner-up finish in the GEICO Top Flight Division for the Border League event in Las Vegas, Nevada. AZ Compass Prep would come up just short to winning the championship of the event, falling in overtime to #1 nationally ranked Montverde Academy (FL), who played as the Florida Eagles in the event. The game was the most exciting game of the year, from my standpoint, as AZ Compass had the game won, but fell late in the contest. High though would highlight the weekend - announcing his big college decision to play for the North Carolina Tar Heels.
A native of Texas, where he attended Smithson Valley High School (TX), High transferred to AZ Compass Prep late last spring. He was a standout at this summer's Pangos All-American Camp, where he played well against top-rated national competition, and had a good overall spring and summer performance for himself overall. High came to AZ Compass Prep as one of the highest recruited 2023 prospects in the country - possessing a long list of offers from North Carolina, Arizona State, LSU, Arkansas, Houston, Missouri, Notre Dame, Texas, Michigan, Oklahoma, Wake Forest, Texas Tech, Alabama, Creighton, TCU, Kansas State, Colorado, Texas A&M, Texas Rio-Grande Valley, Western Kentucky, SMU, Oral Roberts and UTSA.
High decided to take his biggest offer in the end - giving University of North Carolina Head Coach Hubert Davis and his coaching staff his commitment this weekend. North Carolina assistant coach Sean May was in attendance this weekend for High's commitment, and also the game between AZ Compass Prep and Montverde.
I have watched High play also over the past (6) months, and I have been most impressed with his effort and overall motor, as he competes hard and shows very good effort in each game I watch him play. His game will truly develop over time with natural maturity and physical strength, but his nice motor is what will allow him to reach his maximum potential as a player. He has a good overall skill level for a lengthy forward prospect, and is a solid shooter with range - a stretch-four man that likes to play like a wing, but can also post up and take advantage of mis-matches. As he embraces the 4-position, I believe his game will really take off. He runs the floor hard and is a strong finisher. He is able to play inside and out, and is a very active rebounder and is also a capable shot-blocker.
High, over time, could develop into a prospect similar to former UNC standout and current Phoenix Suns' performer Cam Johnson, as he has good overall versatility as a bigger forward prospect. He just needs to become tighter in his handle of the basketball, and become much more consistent from longer ranges on his shot.
High will sign his national letter of intent with the University of North Carolina during the NCAA's Early Fall Signing Period.
Congratulations to High and his family from our Arizona Preps' staff, as well as the AZ Compass Prep basketball program on another impressive commitment from their terrific basketball program.
