While our Arizona Preps' staff did not make the first day of events at this year's 2015 McClintock Holiday Shootout, we more than made up for it on the second day of the event, as we took in every game on the day - (8) total games. The day was filled with some very good performances and, as always, some exciting games for the fans in attendance.
The game of the day was turned in by Apollo High School, as they defeated a very well coached Boulder Creek team in amazing fashion - winning the game 64-42. The game was a rematch to an earlier game in the high school season, when Boulder Creek defeated Apollo in the championship game of the Paradise Valley Invitational. In that win by Boulder Creek, Apollo would come up just short after a missed three-point attempt at the buzzer. On Monday evening, Apollo would win the game from start to finish, and this time with a depleted squad.
With talented 5-foot-11 junior guard Dre Marin and several other Apollo players suspended for the tournament (disciplinary reasons), Apollo (11-2) would rely heavily on the play of 6-foot junior point guard Holland "Boo Boo" Woods to defeat Boulder Creek. Woods would turn in the best performance of the day, and his best performance of his young career - pouring in a game-high 22 points and 12 assists in the win. Woods would absolutely control the tempo of the game and orchestrate his team's offense to perfection - making his teammates around him better in the win.
Apollo would also get an inspired performance from 6-foot junior guard Jeff Perez, who would finish with 18 points of his own in the victory. Perez has a nice left-handed stroke and he was on fire in the win. Perez made shots from the perimeter and also created for himself off the dribble.
Next Apollo will face their biggest test of the high school season, as they will meet a very well- coached Mesa HS team in the semi-finals. Mesa (9-2) has been very good this high school season, and they are big and structured. Their size and ability to run their stuff should create immense problems on Tuesday evening for Apollo. On Monday evening, Mesa proved to be too much for Brophy Prep, as Mesa cruised to victory behind a well-balanced offensive attack. 6-foot-4 senior Darius Goudeau scored a game-high 15 points in the win, while 6-foot-4 senior guard Drew Hatch, 6-foot senior guard Davis Cummard and 6-foot-4 junior forward DJ Henderson provided excellent support.
DJ Henderson is the program's best prospect. He has very good size on his frame, which has very good muscularity and girth. He has good quickness overall and is a very good finisher around the basket - an intriguing prospect.
Desert Mountain is also very well coached by Chris Satterlie, and much of their team has been together since their freshman season. It showed in their quarterfinal match-up with host McClintock, as Desert Mountain would build a quick and large lead early, and not look back. 6-foot-4 senior forward Antwann Antonio would score inside and out for his team in the win - finishing with a team-high 24 points and 10 rebounds in the win. Desert Mountain is very well-balanced as a team. 6-foot senior guard Grant Fogarty is as tough as they get from the point guard position, and he plays with a fiery attitude. His leadership makes this team go.
McClintock came up just short in the loss to Desert Mountain, but was led by the play of 5-foot-11 senior guard Amiri Chukwuemeka (Hawaii-Pacific University signee). Chukwuemeka finished with a game-high 30 points in the loss. Chukwuemeka and 6-foot senior guard Malique Washington both are on pace to finish as their school's #1 and #2 top individual career scorers of all-time this season.
In the final winner's bracket game of the evening, a very talented Desert Ridge HS team would overcome a slow start to Chandler HS - defeating Chandler in fine fashion. Desert Ridge (7-5) is as talented as any team in the state, and is led by the superb play of 6-foot-6 sophomore forward Timmy Allen. Allen scored a cool 22 points in his team's win on Monday evening. Allen is as versatile a player as there is in the state, and also as skilled a player as there is also. Allen is a true mis-match for opposing defenders, as he can score inside and out and has very good size. Allen is fresh off an offer from Arizona State, and he showed why in his performance on the evening - making his teammates better just with his presence on the floor.
Desert Ridge also received strong play on the evening from 6-foot-2 junior guard Keith Holmes, who finished with 17 points and 8 assists. Holmes is a bigger guard prospect with a nice handle of the ball and an excellent feel for the game. He pushes the ball up the floor and makes the game almost look easy when he is in a rhythm. 6-foot-7 junior wing Billy Jordan continues to improve and is a glaring talent with major upside for the future. A solid mid-major prospect over time.
Other top performers on the day included Dobson HS 6-foot senior guard Kendrick Williams, who led his team to a 87-75 win over Campo Verde. Williams is a definite sleeper prospect for a good smaller college program. He has a nice body for his size, and pushes the basketball up the floor with a nice command presence. He is a very good passer of the basketball and also has a very good shooting stroke with range.
Tempe HS 6-foot sophomore guard Naseem Vigil proved to be one of the better 2018 guard prospects in the state Monday, as he pumped in a game-high 26 points in his team's win over Arcadia HS. Vigil is the son of former Tempe HS standout and nationally ranked performer Doug Vigil, a 1997 graduate. Naseem looks very similar as a player, as he is an excellent ball handler and passer with a nice shooting stroke and an ability to create his own shot. A very nice looking young guard prospect with division-I potential.
Stud 6-foot-6 senior forward Elijah Thomas (Saint Mary's College signee) overcame early foul trouble to lead his team to a nice win over Cienega HS. Thomas has tremendous size as a player and proved to be just too talented for Cienega. Cienega was led in the loss by 6-foot-4 senior wing Isaiah Murphy. Murphy is a very long and athletic wing prospect with a high motor.
Marcos De Niza would defeat Westview HS in their consolation match-up on Monday, behind a game-high 20 points from 6-foot junior guard Mason Stark and 17 points from 6-foot-2 senior forward Daviaughn Reagan. Stark started the game 8-for-8 from the field in his team's win.
