The Arizona Power Basketball Academy program is in their first year of operation for club basketball within the state of Arizona. Behind the leadership of East Valley-based trainer Sundance Wicks and major financial support, the program launched this spring with numerous teams at different age groups - competing on the regional club circuit this spring and summer.
After several strong performances this spring already, the program is coming off their best weekend of the program's young history after seeing many of their teams finish very strong in this weekend's Adidas Area Codes Elite 8 Invitational held in Phoenix, Arizona.
The event was organized by local tournament director Chad Groth and Etop Udo-Ema of the Compton Magic (CA) club program and also the Full Court Press. The event featured many of the state's top club teams and also some top-rated club programs from southern California, Nevada and Colorado.
Finishing very strong for the Arizona Power program was Arizona Power Black 17U, as they would win the top 17U Super Pool Division for the event - defeating Compton Magic Select (CA) in the championship game of the event. Coached by Sundance Wicks and led by Tournament MVP, star 6-foot-3 junior Casey Benson of Corona Del Sol HS, Power Black would cruise to the championship of the event, before wining it all.
The Power program would also receive very strong play in the event from Highland HS 6-foot-6 junior guard/forward Jake Toolson (BYU commit), Corona Del Sol HS 6-foot-9 junior post Connor MacDougall (Arizona State commit), Gilbert Christian HS 6-foot-4 junior guard Roberto Reyes, Dobson HS 6-foot-5 junior guard/forward Ryan Richardson, Catalina Foothills HS 6-foot-6 junior forward Chaz Mack and Desert Mountain HS sharp-shooting 6-foot-3 junior guard Will Goff in the event.
The Arizona Power program would also win the 17U Open Championship of the event, as Arizona Power White 17U, coached by new Mountain Pointe HS head coach Hoseah Graham, would win the division championship. Led by a strong team performance of some of the state's top junior prospects, the team would win it all. The team would be led by the play of Highland HS 6-foot-2 junior guard Austin Witherill, Desert Mountain HS 6-foot-4 junior Remy Smith, Corona Del Sol HS 6-foot-1 junior Jarrett Givens, 6-foot-4 junior Russ Davis and 6-foot-4 junior forward Adam Gleave and Paradise Valley HS 6-foot junior guard Brandon Williams.
Also finishing strong in the event for the program were Arizona Power 16U Black and Red, as both teams reached the final-four of the event's 16U Division. Arizona Power 15U Black would also finish as a runner-up in the championship game of the 15U Division, as 5 out of the 7 Arizona Power teams made it to the Final 4 or better in this weekend's event.
The Arizona Power program states on their program's website that "Hard work during the week produces results over the weekend."
Congratulations to the Arizona Power program on a fine performance by each of their teams in this weekend's event, as the program looks strong and headed for good things as we head into the summer months of recruiting and more exposure events.
