This weekend many of Arizona's top prospects in the 2012, 2013 and 2014 classes traveled to the state of California to take part in this weekend's 2012 Double Pump Best Buy Challenge Hoop Fest. The event took place at four different locations with the headquarters of the event being hosted by Cal-State University Dominguez Hills in Carson, CA.
I was in attendance for Saturday and Sunday's action at this weekend's event and caught much of the action, including the final day's championship games.
Here are the top individual senior performers from the state of Arizona from this weekend's event.
2012 Double Pump Best Buy Challenge Hoop Fest Top Senior Performers
Talbott Denny 6-6 SF Salpointe Catholic HS
- Denny helped himself this weekend more than any other unsigned senior prospect in the event. Turned in several big games for his Tucson Pump N Run team, and opened the eyes of many college coaches in attendance with his play. Proved that he is able to play inside and out. Shot the basketball very well and also proved that he can put the ball on the floor and make plays at the rim. Possesses an excellent body and frame with a live motor. Tough, gritty rebounder and finisher around the basket. Runs the floor hard. Good ball handler. Fundamentally sound prospect. A nice sleeper prospect that recently received an offer from Lipscomb University. A nice prospect for a low to mid-major division-I program.
Gary Williams 6-6 Prep SG/SF Westwind Prep
- Williams proved why he is regarded as one of the top available talents still available in the West. A very skilled wing prospect with excellent size and strength, Williams is a versatile forward that is capable of playing three positions on the floor at any time in the game. He has a very slick handle of the basketball and can create shots for himself or others, almost at will. Has a high basketball IQ and sees the floor very well. Plays hard and comeptes on both ends of the floor. Among the top unsigned prospects in this weekend's event.
Dalvin Brown 6-8 SR PF/C North HS
- While it is still unclear as to whether Brown will attend a prep school next fall or a junior college, Brown sat out this season while attending North High School. It showed as Brown is still physically out of shape, but his big body and excellent size allow him to overpower most post players inside. Only played sparingly with energy this weekend, for some reason, but still got a lot done. Strong rebounder and a very good finisher inside. Runs the floor, but betetr shape will show just how talented he is and can become. A nice talent with excellent potential.
Tuff Barnes 6-7 Prep SF/PF Westwind Prep
- Barnes had his best performance this weekend, proving that he is able to play inside and out and get it done against top-rated competition. A live-body, Barnes has excellent energy on the floor and very good work ethic. Has a nice looking long, athletic frame with broad shoulders and excellent length of body. Runs the floor very well and scores in transition. Active rebounder and shotblocker. Very good offensive rebounder. Good defender. Plays with a great attitude on the floor and competes. A very good sleeper prospect that is capable of playing at a low to mid-major division-I program. An absolute steal this late in the spring.
Charles Benson 6-6 SR PF Tucson Amphitheater HS
- Benson is a very good looking power forward prospect with excellent length of body and a long wingspan. Rebounds hard on both ends of the floor and competes at a high level. A very good finisher inside that keeps balls in play. Has excellent toughness. Runs the floor hard. A very good low post defender. A good shotblocker. Has a very good attitude and is a team leader. A winner. A very good four-man prospect with off-the-chart academics.
Cesar Solis 6-3 SR PG/SG Nogales HS
- Solis was one of the best finds from this weekend's event. A very skilled and talented guard prospect that plays much older than his age suggests. Plays very mature from the point position, as he does not turn the basketball over and gets the basketball to the open man on the floor. Comeptes at a high level with excellent toughness. Has a very good body with a nice physical build. Overpowers smaller guards with his size and ability to post up. Scores from anywhere on the floor and likes to create off the dribble. Very good defender. Active rebounder that rebounds with good intensity. A nice looking guard prospect that knows how to play the game and is a winner.
Erik Crawford 6-2 SR SG Gilbert HS
- Crawford led his team to the Consolation Championship of the Silver Division of this weekend's event. A definite sleeper prospect that has a very nice body and knows how to play the game the right way. A very good shooter with range and is capable of shooting off the dribble or from the stand-still position on the floor. A very good ball handler and passer. Has excellent athleticism for hsi size and plays much bigger than his size suggests. A nice looking senior prospect that has flown well below the recruiting radar.
Lucas Stivrins 7-0 SR C North Pointe Prep HS
- Stivrins is a rare find at his size, standing 7-feet in heigth and possessing good agility and footwork. Has a good skill level and excellent length of body. While still a project of sorts, Stivrins is coming off his best high school season of his career. Runs the floor very well. Ok hands. Capable shotblocker. Active rebounder for hsi size. Solid finisher. Has solid low post moves and is capable of stepping outside and shooting the basketball with a soft touch. A very good looking prospect for a smaller program late. Has excellent upside for the future. The son of former NBA player Alex Stivrins.
Kevin Davis 6-1 SR PG Westview HS
- Davis is an almost unknown prospect, even in the state of Arizona, but is coming off a big senior season and carried over his strong play this weekend. A talented guard with good size and a nice left-handed shooting stroke. Excellent prenetrator and finisher in traffifc. Made good decisions with the basketball in his hands and made players around him better. Tough defensively with excellent lateral quickness. Pushes the basketball up the floor. Very good sleeper prospect.
Logan Fougnies 6-0 SR PG Gilbert Christian HS (Committed to Vanguard University)
- Fougnies is a tough and hard-nosed point guard prospect that is a leader on the floor for his team. His gritty attitude and play are inspiring for his team, and he competes at a high level. A left-hander, Fougnies is a very good shotoer with range. A good penetrator. A very good ball handler and a solid passer. Sees the floor. Good finisher. Has given a verbal commitment to Vanguard University in California.
Austin Cooke 6-7 SR SG/SF Desert Mountain HS
- Cooke is among the best pure shooters of the basketball still available and with excellent size for a shooter - standing 6-foot-7 in heigth. While not overly athletic, Cooke finds ways to score, while being able to knock down shots from anywhere and any distance on the floor. A solid ball handler. A very good passer that sees the floor and likes to make the pass to the open teammate. Competes with good work ethic. OK defender. A nice find for a smaller program this spring since he has very good upside as a prospect.
Alec Savage 5-11 SR PG Desert Mountain HS
- Savage is the state's best pure point guard and makes any team run efficiently. While he does not look for his shot much, and would rather find the open man on the floor, Savage is a capable scorer and has a nice left-handed shooting stroke. Excellent penetrator and ball handler. Sees the floor very well and pushes the basketball up the floor to the open man. Very good on-the-ball defender. Good rebounder for his size. Great teammate with an excellent atititude and is a coach on the floor.
KJ Hoffman 6-7 SR PF Desert Vista HS
- Hoffman is another low-post prospect still available with a very good sized frame and a nice, left-handed shooting stroke. A face-up four man, capable of playing inside and out. At his best around the low block, where he is able to make plays with good low-post footwork. Still developing his perimeter skills, but he is capable from three-point distance. Runs the floor. Good rebounder. Has some upside.
