Northern Arizona Basketball is on the rise! The players and teams are continuing to get better annually, and our staff in Northern Arizona is very excited about the up-and-coming 2024-2025 high school basketball season. Let's take a look at some of the top teams and players in the northern region of the state, to watch this high school season.
We will start in the Grand Canyon Region with the most talented team in Northern Arizona, the Prescott High School Badgers. Prescott is coming off an undefeated region title, the program's first in (20) years, and is also bringing (6) seniors back from last season. Prescott is led by the state's leading scorer and Division-I commit to UC-San Diego, Uriah Tenette (pictured). The program also returns promising 6-foot-10 senior post Zane Gaul. Gaul is primed for a huge senior year. Josiah Peoples, Cooper Magnet, Danian Bernardo, and Culley Fundalewicz each will also play a major role this season for the team and look to contribute. Prescott could win a game or two in the Open Division state playoffs, and also has a legitimate shot at winning this year's 4A State Championship.
Coconino Head Coach Cooper Elliott has his team playing hard and competing. Coco should win a lot of games this year with a solid point guard in 5-foot-8 junior guard Hashke Nelson, and 6-foot-4 junior big Oryon Huayhualla, who gets better every time I see him play. Coco will make some noise this season, but watch out for them next year!
Bradshaw Mountain has went from the Final Four to a coaching change in two years, but a couple things remain the same. They arguably have the region's best shooter in 6-foot-3 senior guard Preston Raniker, and they have an athletic big in 6-foot-10 senior Jayden Blasczyk. They also have a solid point guard in Michael Crawford, and will get excellent support this season from Kylin Jackson and Cam Raniker. Senior Mason Brambilla will be counted on heavily as well. Lee Williams is a prospect with the highest ceiling, and 6-foot-7 Devan Christian is an a athlete and a match-up nightmare. Lee Williams has gotten better and better a break through could be coming soon for him.
Flagstaff High School Head Coach Martin Reyes is a Moran clone, so you know the defense will be on point. Flagstaff is strong, as they live in the weight room. Flag will rely heavily on the play of seniors Tayshawn Bahe, Colten Anderson, Angel Guerrero and Harry Fritschy this season.
Mingus High School is young and rebuilding, but with a coach like Austin Hudson and a group of underclassmen that have bought into Coach Hudson’s system, it won’t take long until the wins show up on the court.
Keep in mind, these are not the order of my predictions, as I believe Prescott will again go undefeated in the region, with the rest of the conference fighting for the final spots in the state tournament. Any one of the region teams can earn those spots.
Other top players and schools from the area include 1A's Seligman High School, who I got to watch play at this year's Arizona Preps Fall Showcase. Led by the dynamic duo of Martae Walker and Carmelo Manakaja, who both averaged a ridiculous 24 points per game last season, and ranked among the state's scoring leaders, look for these two to lead Seligman on a deep tournament run.
Up in 3A country, Page High School has Second-Team All-Conference forward Tyree Stingley, and Holbrook High School returns First-Team selection Tyler Tapaha.
It is going to be another exciting high school basketball season in Northern Arizona.
