Higley High School will have an excellent chance to win it all next high school season in the state's 5A Division, and will certainly be an Open Division Playoff team for sure, as the team returns loads of talent for next season - giving hard-working Head Coach Kenny Drake his best chance to do so in some time. A big reason for the excellent potential for this team next season, will be the continued terrific play of 5-foot-10 sophomore guard Noah Gloor. Gloor has had a terrific high school career thus far for himself, and is coming off an excellent spring performance for himself - capped off by a Tournament Most Valuable Player performance on Saturday in this year's Mesa Summer Hop event.
Gloor has been on an absolute tear since entering the high school ranks as a freshman, where he became an immediate starter for Higley - putting up strong numbers as a mere freshman. Last season as a sophomore, Gloor exploded and put up some of the state's best numbers in the process - averaging 19 points, 4.4 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 1.5 steals per/game. Gloor led Higley to a 19-11 overall record last season, but this team will be expected to compete for it all next season.
Gloor has not slowed down one bit since the end to the high school season either, as he went to another level on the club circuit with his Arizona Gremlins 16U club program all spring. Gloor posted some impressive numbers throughout the spring, while being coached by former professional player Willie Shaw, who has done an excellent job with the talented group. While being coached by Shaw, Gloor has flourished also, which was capped off by a big performance last weekend in the Magic Memorial event in Anaheim, CA. Gloor was one of my top overall performers from the spring.
This weekend, Gloor retuned to his Higley team and it was plug-and-play, as he was terrific again in leading his Higley team to a Tournament Championship at the Mesa Summer Hop basketball event. In the event, Gloor shot the lights out throughout the tournament, but brought his team back from behind against a tough Gilbert Christian High School team, to win it all. In the final, Gloor made numerous big shots down the stretch off the dribble and through dribble drives to the basket - proving that he can score at all (3) levels. An imporessive attribute and fact for a guard that is definitely on the rise in our Individual Player Rankings for the 2026 Class.
Gloor is quickly proving that he will certainly become a Division-I prospect over time, as he is such a steady guard prospect that is fundamentally sound with a high basketball IQ. He makes shots from anywhere on the floor with a pure shooting stroke with serious unlimited range on his shot, and has the understanding and feel for the game to make plays for himself and his teammates, as needed. Gloor can also be a floor general with the ball in his hands and simply needs to continue to focus on creating off the dribble for his teammates, against quicker and better defenders, as he matures and plays against better competition over time. Gloor has what it takes though, and whether he ultimately lands at the Division-I level or not, will weigh heavily on the programs that consider recruiting him. He is definitely becoming worthy of the recruitment.
I will continue to follow Gloor and his Higley team throughout this busy summer, as they look to build a championship caliber team for next season. Behind the play of Gloor, who is on the rise, they will certainly have a chance to get it done.
