It has been an exciting fall signing period for top-rated Arizona prospects already this pre-season, as numerous prospects have made their college decisions already, and will look to sign with their respective college choices during the NCAA Fall Signing Period, also known as the early signing period for the NCAA. Now with the focus heavily centered on the NCAA Transfer Portal, it has become much more difficult for top-rated high school prospects to receive college offers, especially early in the recruiting process.
Central High School's terrific senior point guard John Mattingly has changed Arizona basketball since entering the high school ranks several years ago. Mattingly immediately became one of Arizona's elite high school prospects as a mere freshman for Sunnyslope High School, and since has taken Central High School to new heights as a basketball program - leading the program to an amazing 5A State Championship last season. Mattingly is also coming off another impressive showing this spring and summer on the club circuit with his loaded AZ Select team, and also exploded in this summer's Section 7 tournament when he poured in 50 points in a game in the event.
For all of his impressive exploits over the many years, since I have watched this amazing guard prospect perform at a very high level and make the game look so easy, it gave me pure joy when Mattingly announced recently that he had given a big verbal commitment to the University of Nevada and longtime successful and legendary Head Coach Steve Alford. This was a huge commitment for Mattingly, and it proved his value to Division-I college programs around the country, as he will now be signing early.
Head Coach Steve Alford and his coaching staff have recruited the state of Arizona heavily over the years, and now the recruitment and future signing of Mattingly, is another big piece for the Nevada program - a move that should really help their program attract more top-rated basketball talent. All top- rated prospects should want to play with a player like Mattingly, as he gets the ball consistently to the open man, has an elite basketball IQ and is a winner. He has won at a high level all of his life, and should be in store to have an excellent college career over time.
John Mattingly is set to absolutely explode this senior season, especially with his college recruitment now behind him. While Mattingly will look to prepare for high level Division-I basketball next year, look for Mattingly to lead his Central program to another state championship, and this year he will eyeing an Open Division State Championship, with his talented teammates that play so well and efficient together. Fellow guards 5-foot-8 senior Dom Rojas and Mattingly's younger brother, super sophomore Grant Mattingly will be back for another season to dominate the state's competition.
Mattingly is one of the state's elite overall guard prospects, and one of my top overall prospects in Arizona's very strong 2026 Class. Congratulations to him and his wonderful family on this amazing accomplishment, as well as the Central High program, and of course John Ortega and his AZ Select program on another big commitment from their program.
Arizona Preps Scouting Report: Mattingly is an excellent guard prospect for college programs to begin recruiting early in the process, as he has an excellent feel for the game - one of the best I have ever seen. He possesses an excellent shooting stroke with a very quick release and unlimited range. Every shot he takes looks like it is going in. He is also a strong ball handler and can get to where he wants on the floor, although his quickness is deceiving. He plays with a high level of confidence and makes his teammates better, as a result of his playmaking skills. He is an excellent passer that sees the floor, and pushes the basketball up the court. He can be a floor general or a strong scorer of the basketball, when he decides to. Mattingly is as fundamentally sound a prospect as there is in the state of Arizona, and he has a bright future ahead of him.
