In last week's Southwest Basketball Camp, there were numerous prospects that really helped themselves with their play in the event. Tucson Sahuaro High School's 6-foot-7, 200-pound senior Jamal Ali was one of the top overall performers in the event, and benefited as much as anyone from his play in the camp. While I had previously seen and evaluated Ali as a college prospect, he has now developed a great deal and looks ready to now have a big senior season.
Ali has made great strides during his high school career, and is just beginning to realize his potential as player and college prospect. While not a big name among basketball circles around the state, he should be and will become one this high school season. After two high school seasons where Ali has seen tremendous improvement in his overall production as a player, this senior season will surely become his best performance, as he should raise his overall numbers a great deal this season - especially after what I saw from him in last week's Southwest Basketball Camp. This young man is ready to blossom this high school basketball season, and is worthy of serious college recruitment as a result.
I first saw Ali two years ago in Tucson during the Arizona Preps Southern Arizona Showcase, organized by Tournament Director and hard-working Arizona Preps staff member John Millyard. Both times I observed Ali as a player, I came away very impressed with his upside and promise for the future. Now he has matured physically and has developed as a player nicely over the past two seasons, and is a nice looking post prospect is very athletic and plays with a strong motor. He gets a lot done and competes hard around the paint on the glass, and is a strong finisher above the rim. He is an active rebounder and finisher, and also a good shot-blocker that has good timing and length on his body. His best attribute is his ability to run the floor and finish in transition, which he does very well and with intensity.
Ali is a prospect that college coaches need to take a hard look at in the 2025 Class. While he is still a big-time sleeper in the class, and an unheralded prospect, he is an excellent looking post prospect for the right college program. I came away very impressed with him after his recent performance, and believe he has the ability and potential to take his game to entirely a new level this year, and have a very good college career ahead of him. While his path is still undetermined, when it is all said and done, Ali has the ability to have a very good and long playing career. I believe he has it, but it will weigh heavily on his continued focus and hard work.
Sahuaro High School had an excellent season last year and Ali was a big part of the team's success. Sahuaro would finish as the 4A State Champion Runner-up to Deer Valley High School, after a narrow 63-61 championship loss. Sahuaro would have an impressive 24-5 overall record on the season, and will look to get it done this year, as the team returns a lot of experience from last season's state title run. Ali will be huge in this pursuit this high school season, as he should become an absolute force for opposing teams have to stop around the basket.
I will continue to follow Ali as a player and college prospect this season, as he looks to lead Sahuaro HS to another very successful season, and gain serious recruiting interest in the process.
