With the start to the 2024-2025 high school basketball season upon us, one thing is for sure, Higley High School will be on a mission this high school season. Under the strong and committed leadership of Head Coach Kenneth Drake, this team is primed and ready to make an excellent run in the Open Division State Playoffs, and also compete for a 6A State Championship. The Higley basketball program had an excellent performance this summer and fall, and are one of my favorite programs/teams to watch this high school basketball season. This team has everything it needs to compete for the state's highest honor this high school basketball season, and the play of 6-foot-6 senior Gavin Dabney will be a major reason for Higley's overall success.
Gavin Dabney and his Higley teammates put the state of Arizona on notice in the recent Arizona Preps Fall Showcase, as the team rolled through their high-level competition in the event, and were among the most impressive teams in the event. Gavin Dabney was especially impressive in the event with his play, as he dominated throughout the event - scoring the basketball at a high clip, inside and out, and making plays for his team. Dabney showed the promise and ability that we consistently known he has for many years now, he has just now seemed to put it all together.
Dabney had an excellent performance throughout the summer, and also during the fall in the AZ Compass Prep Fall League, where he proved his unique talent against top-rated competition. I have always regarded Dabney also a serious college prospect, and have believed that he can be as good as he wants to be. I believe he is just scratching the surface of his true talent, and ability to play the game. He will show it this high school basketball season, his final go around in his high school career.
Dabney, and his twin brother, 6-foot-5 senior Donovan Dabney, both committed to Lincoln University in Pennsylvania this fall, a Division-II program. The Dabney brothers were not highly recruited, so this was a good option for both brothers to play together in college. But make no mistake about it, Lincoln University is getting an absolute steal. Not only are they getting a versatile frontcourt prospect in Donovan Dabney, but they are getting the very talented an promising Gavin Dabney in the recruiting process - a move that should pay immediate dividends for the college program next year.
Gavin Dabney is an excellent sleeper prospect for a college program, as he is a versatile front court prospect with excellent size already for college. He is able to play inside and out, and also play as a wing, as a result of his ability to stretch the floor with his perimeter stroke. Dabney also does not mind going inside and punishing his defenders with his back to the basket, or dipping his shoulder and finishing strong around the basket. His ability o play inside and out, combined with a nice mid-range game make him very effective on the basketball court offensively, and also a mis-match for opposing teams and defenders. He is big, strong, athletic and skilled - a serious combination and a problem for opposition.
Dabney will team up with his brother Donovan and skilled and gifted 5-foot-10 junior guard Noah Gloor to give Higley one of the state's elite player trios this high school season. This trio will be very good for Coach Drake and his staff this high school season, once again, after a 19-11 season last year.
This season will be Higley's best chance to win it all, and I believe they will get it done, especially if Gavin Dabney is as good as he has been. Good luck to the rest of the state slowing down Higley this season.
