St. Mary's High School's gifted 6-foot-4 rising senior guard Mick Riordan has quietly become one of my favorite overall prospects in Arizona’s talented 2027 class. The rising senior combo guard from St. Mary’s High School in Phoenix possesses one of the most complete offensive skillsets in the state and is, in my opinion, the best pure shooter in Arizona’s 2027 class, and among the finest perimeter shooters in the country. His combination of size, length and deceiving athleticism are very intriguing, as he prepares for the biggest high school season of his young career. Riordan is a nice recruiting target for Division-I college programs, and I expect him to have a big July performance and reel in numerous Division-I offers for himself, as a result.
Whether he’s spotting up beyond the three-point line, pulling up off the dribble or creating shots late in the shot clock, Riordan has an elite ability to put the basketball in the basket. Although he is best known for his outstanding shooting ability, Riordan is far more than simply a scorer. His basketball IQ and advanced feel for the game allow him to play either guard position on the floor. While he naturally thrives as a scorer, he has continued to develop as a primary ball handler and playmaker, giving him the versatility to run an offense when needed while still stretching defenses with his perimeter shooting.
Riordan is coming off an outstanding junior season, in which he helped lead St. Mary’s High School to a 23-7 overall record and an appearance in the Open Division State Championship Game. Playing alongside former Arizona superstar Cam Williams (Duke University signee) and one of the state's top prospect in the 2028 Class, 6-foot-4 rising junior guard Carter Bagley last season, and other top performers with the Knights, Riordan established himself as one of the state’s most dependable offensive weapons, while helping St. Mary’s remain among Arizona’s elite programs.
The defining moment of his junior season and arguably one of the biggest moments in Arizona high school basketball history, came during the Open Division State Semi-finals against nationally ranked Millennium High School. With the game on the line, Riordan buried a remarkable 35-foot fall-away three-pointer at the buzzer that swished cleanly through the net without touching the rim - giving St. Mary’s a dramatic 66-64 playoff victory. The incredible shot instantly became one of the state’s signature highlights and was featured nationally, including on ESPN’s SportsCenter. It was the type of moment that players dream about.
Now, Riordan enters a much different situation, as he will take the floor without Cam Williams beside him. He will also begin the season under a new coaching staff, following the surprising resignation of longtime Head Coach Damin Lopez, who stepped down after (21) years with the St. Mary’s program. While there will certainly be changes around him, one thing remains certain. Mick Riordan will be a cornerstone that the new coaching staff builds around. I expect Riordan to have a tremendous breakout senior season, and produce some of the best offensive numbers in Arizona.
His ability to score at all three levels, stretch defenses with his elite shooting, and impact winning has already made him one of the state’s top overall prospects. I also expect his college recruitment to accelerate significantly this July, as Riordan will compete with the highly respected AZ Select club program on the Under Armour Circuit, where he should become one of the premier featured guards throughout the evaluation period. College coaches from across the country will have an opportunity to watch one of Arizona’s elite shooters compete against some of the nation’s best talent.
Although Riordan has not yet received a Division-I scholarship offer, I fully expect that to change quickly. In fact, I believe he could become one of the hottest recruiting stories of July. College coaches looking for an elite perimeter shooter with outstanding basketball IQ, positional versatility and proven production should already have him high on their recruiting boards.
Riordan stretch the floor with deep perimeter range, score efficiently, create offense for teammates and play either guard position. His understanding of the game and ability to make winning plays consistently separate him from many prospects in his class. Simply put, he is one of Arizona’s most underrated senior prospects. I fully expect that label to disappear over the coming weeks. As July unfolds and college coaches continue evaluating prospects across the country, Mick Riordan has every opportunity to go from one of Arizona’s best-kept recruiting secrets to one of the hottest senior prospects in the West.
I’ll be following his recruitment closely and bringing you updates as they continue to develop throughout July and into what promises to be an outstanding senior season.
