The spring period is here and got off to an excellent start this weekend with this year's Southwest Showcase Main Event taking center stage for Arizona's top players and basketball enthusiasts to feast on over the weekend.
With many fans in attendance and many players in participation over the weekend at numerous gymnasiums across the valley, one player that really vaulted his play this off-season and got off to an excellent start in his campaign for a higher level of college recruitment was Desert Vista High School's 6-foot-1 junior point guard John Marshall.
Marshall led his Arizona Magic Pump N' Run-2013 squad to the tournament championship of this weekend's event, after his team defeated the Compton Magic's Arizona squad, The Magic, 67-44, in the championship game. As a result, Marshall was selected by tournament organizer Ron Coleman as the Tournament's Most Valuable Player - sponsored by Muscle Milk.
After helping lead his Desert Vista HS team to a 22-9 overall record during the 2011-2012 season and a Division-I semi-final finish, Marshall stepped up his play in this weekend's Main Event and proved why he has been regarded as the state's top pure-point guard prospect in Arizona's 2013 class.
Marshall's extreme toughness on the defensive end and ability to get into the lane and finish made his team go this weekend. Marshall is a quality point-man that also sees the floor very well and likes to push the basketball up the floor as much as possible. His confidence while running his team was glaring this weekend, and he looked to be on another level throughout the competition.
It will be very interesting as the spring and summer continue to develop to see just what schools will look to get involved with Marshall, as he is a throw-back point guard that looks to pass first and shoot second, while excelling on the defensive end of the floor. Only time will tell for Marshall, but this young man's excellent leadership and attitude on the floor are contagious.
Congratulations to Marshall on an excellent weekend and good luck to him the remainder of the spring and summer from our Arizona Preps' staff.
