The start to the 2024-2025 high school basketball season officially got underway on Wednesday evening around the state with numerous games kicking off the regular season. A very nice early season match-up on Wednesday between host Basha High School and visiting Canyon View High School took place in exciting fashion, as we normally do not get to see such a nice match-up this early in the season. Basha is one of the elite programs in the state's 6A Division, while Canyon View is one of the elite programs in the state's 5A Division. This would make for a very exciting contest, filled with some very talented performers.
Basha is coming off another excellent season last year behind the strong continued leadership of Mike Grothaus, as the program finished with a 22-7 overall record, and a semi-final finish in the state's Open Division State Playoffs - falling at the hands of State Champion Perry High School. Basha is a very deep and athletic group, but a much smaller team after losing the services of 6-foot-8 junior Elijah Summers-Livingston to a transfer to AZ Compass Prep this summer.
Canyon View is one of the state's top programs and is on the rise in our state. The program has consistently won now at a high clip annually, and is coming off a strong 25-7 season last year, where they reached the 5A State Semi-Finals, before falling to Casteel High School. Head Coach Ramon Marks has been a very successful coach for many years, and this program is on another level under his leadership. The team is very talented and will make a lot of noise this high school season.
Basha also has the services of one of the state's elite overall individual talents in 6-foot junior point guard Mason Magee. Magee has been among the hottest overall prospects in the state as of late, as he has received numerous high-major Division-I offers to his credit over the past several months. Magee is a tremendous individual talent and is on the rise. Assistant coaches from the University of Arizona (TJ Benson) and also the University of Iowa were in to see Magee on Wednesday evening.
The game's fist half was very exciting as Basha would get a terrific offensive performance from their rising stud freshman guard Kingston Montague. Montague is projected as one of the elite 2028 prospects in the state, and he more than proved it in his first varsity outing on Wednesday evening - exploding for 17 first half points. Montague hit just about every shot he took in the first half, displaying a nice perimeter shooting stroke with range, and also a strong ability to score off the dribble in traffic. Montague was extremely efficient, and also made several very nice passes with his left hand to open shooters on the wing. He would finish with a game-high 27 points for Basha.
Basha High School's 6-foot-6 senior Cullen Schreiner was the recipient of many passes from Montague and Magee, and he consistently made shots for the Basha team - finishing with 16 points and (4) three-pointers in the game.
The backcourt for Basha of Montague and Magee would combine for 46 points in the game, which was just too much for Canyon View to keep pace with down the stretch. Magee allowed the game to come to him on the evening, and also had a very efficient performance. With 6:29 left to play in the first half, Magee went down the middle of the lane and dunked the ball over two defenders in exciting fashion - bringing the crowd to their feet. Magee would finish the contest with 19 points, 7 assists and 5 rebounds.
Basha would also get a tremendous performance from another freshman in the contest, as 6-foot-4 freshman Lleyton Leonard would finish the contest with an impressive 18 points and 15 rebounds. Leonard is a very athletic prospect with a high motor. He will be counted on big this season for Basha.
Both teams would make for a very exciting game, but Basha would lead for the entire game. Canyon View would play from behind the entire game, and could not make up the difference, eventually falling on the road to Basha, 93-80.
Canyon View would be led in the game by 6-foot-3 senior guard Denali McNeal, who would finish with 16 points and a nice dunk over a defender in the game's first half in transition. McNeal will have a huge season for Canyon View, and is one of the state's best sleeper prospects in the 2025 Class. 6-foot-2 senior guard Quincy Kirk is also a nice talent and finished with 11 points and 9 assists for Canyon View in the loss.
Canyon View's 6-foot-6 junior AJ Harris is definitely one to watch this season for the Canyon View team as well. He is a long, rangy prospect that is just scratching the surface of how good he can be. A very intriguing prospect for Arizona's 2026 Class.
Both teams will have excellent seasons this year. The 2024-2025 high school basketball season is officially underway!
Notes: Basha High School's talented 6-foot-4 junior Desean Middlebrook was not in action due to transfer rules, but will be another amazing addition for a very talented Basha High School team this season. Looking forward to seeing him suit up with the talented group at Basha.
