Arizona Preps' staff writer Derek James attended the Judy Dixon Holiday Basketball Tournament at Greenway High School last week, and was able to catch several games at the event. Here are some more top performers that stood out for James in the event . . .
Josiah Jackson 6-0 JR Valley Vista HS - 2019 Class
A very smooth player. I really like his style of play and what he brings to his team. He brings energy, consistency, discipline & basketball IQ to the court. I don’t think he can play at a high level, but he can for sure play. He just sees the floor in a unique way while being aggressive, and keeping his team involved. He has good ball control and is very solid with the ball. The team they played against threw a trap at the guards to keep the ball out of their hands. He did a great job at reading that. He retreated with the dribble and found the open man on the court. He has a really smooth jump shot. He can hit his shots, use the screen decently and get to the paint. His team played zone, so I’m not too sure on his ability to defend, but this kid was a standout to me at this tournament. This kid can play at a good NAIA or D-3 program, in my opinion.
Sidney Thomas 5-6 JR PG Valley Vista HS - 2019 Class
A strong solid guard who can control the tempo of the game pretty well. He has a nice jump shot. He is the type of guard that will go through the plays to get the ball where it’s supposed to be, then take the open shots. Defensively he’s not bad at all. Not really a show-boat type player, but more solid doing what the coach asks for. If a coach wants him to make 10 passes before a shot, or just get to the paint to find someone, he will do that as well. Has a decent basketball IQ.
JJ White 6-0 FR Ironwood HS - 2021 Class
A young guard who seems to have a lot of upside. Already a good shooter as a freshmen. Probably went 4-6 from three-point distance i nthe game I watched. He has really good ball control. There was a time when he was on a fast break, and he saw a guy hawking him down. He put the ball between his legs for the defender to bite on the move. Once the defender tried to recover, he did a spin move the opposite way to finish at the basket. It was a really good move and basketball play for a freshmen. He looks very comfortable and poised with the ball in his hand. Very confident with his jumper. He has a really good upside.
Dominic Gonzales 6-2 Sophomore Ironwood HS - 2020 Class
A long, lanky guard that has a huge upside to his game. He’s on track to being a D-I player for sure. He’s still learning the game and needs to play more aggressive, but he has all the tools and mechanics to be special. At 6-2, he’s a good shooter. He isn't a great ball handler, but he can put the ball on the ground. He sees the floor very well and is a poised player. He gets to the paint very well. He’s just not a fancy type player at all - just pure solid moves. He’s a good basketball player all around. Not really fast with his feet, but has long strides. Has a good basketball IQ. He just needs to keep working and developing through his journey.
Shaun Wahlstrom 6-7 JR Estrella Foothills HS - 2019 Class
A strong post player who is a really good passer. Soon as he gets the ball in his hand after a rebound, the first thing he does is look up to outlet the pass. Reminds me of a poor man's Kevin Love (NBA) in the way he outlets the ball. He can hit the open shot, but can also protect the paint really well. He has a good size to him as well. He likes to take three point shots on a pick and pop. He makes his presence known in the paint, rejecting penetration from the other teams. He seems to have good court awareness on both ends of the court. He’s a D-I prospect in my opinion.
Grant Greabell 6-3 SR Estrella Foothills HS - 2018 Class (pictured)
A lanky guard who is pretty aggressive. Has all of the confidence in the world. You can see it in his game when he plays. He will come down and pull up for a 3-pointer. He shoots good enough to do so as well. He will come down and create for his teammates as well. A very good passer. He looks for his teammates as much as he looks to create his own shot. He has really good ball control, and has a nice spin move with the ball in his hand. He also possesses a good basketball IQ.
