When the 2024-2025 junior college basketball season began in the ACCAC this season, it was very clear that Pima College (27-0, 15-0) and Head Coach Brian Peabody would put the best team on the floor that I have seen in a long time. While Pima has had many strong teams under Peabody, and also won the ACCAC Division-II Conference Championship last season, this year's team simply looked very different. The Aztecs have been truly amazing this season, and have turned in one of the best junior college seasons in the history of the NJCAA. Pima is currently ranked as the nation's #2 overall team in the country for Division-II programs, and they do not look to be slowing down anytime soon.
This summer, when star 5-foot-9 sophomore guard Cohenj Gonzales decided to return to Pima for his sophomore season, it was widely apparent that this team would be very tough to beat, especially with the return of other top-rated performers from last season - 6-foot sophomore Kota Benson, 6-foot-8 sophomore Wes Ball and 6-foot-8 sophomore Gabe Oldham. Pima also received a huge transfer, when 6-foot-4 sophomore Max Majerle decided to join the program, after transferring from Central Michigan. It was obvious before the season began that the Aztecs were going to be the pride of the ACCAC this season, and they have more than exceeded expectations.
The Pima coaching staff is terrific and has done an excellent job consistently of recruiting some of the top prospects in the state. Basketball in the state of Arizona is completely on another level these days, and so there are loads of prospects in the state that can help local juco's annually. Pima has focused on these Arizona prospects, and have landed numerous top performers over the years. The addition of 6-foot-6 freshman Mason Hunt this season has been tremendous for the Aztecs, as he has had an excellent freshman season - contributing double-digits scoring numbers as a freshman (12 points and 4.5 rebounds per/game, while shooting 46% from the field).
Gonzales has been terrific this season, as he is posting excellent numbers on the season - currently ranking 4th in the conference in scoring with 19.1 points per/game. He also ranks 3rd in assists in the conference with 5.5 assists per/game, and is shooting a high percentage from the field and the free-throw line. Gonzales is on pace this season for another post-season honor, but this season the ACCAC D-II Player of the Year honor.
The production from Max Majerle, Gabe Oldham and Wes Ball has made the difference for this team, as each of these top performers rank among the op individual producers in the ACCAC. This Pima team will certainly win this year's ACCAC D-II Conference Championship again, and also could win a Division-II National Championship. This is an amazing fact. As an alumni of the Pima program, I am personally very proud of Coach Peabody and his staff and team's accomplishments this season. Go Aztecs!
When the season began, it was also very clear to me that Eastern Arizona would be the team to beat in our conference, although Cochise and Arizona Western are always in the mix to win a conference title annually as well. Eastern Arizona (24-3, 13-2) started off the season super hot, but then lost back-to-back conference games to College of Southern Nevada and also Arizona Western. Eastern Arizona returned right back to form, and currently has won their last (9) games on the season - standing in first place in the ACCAC D-I standings. Eastern Arizona has been ranked among the nation's top 25 programs throughout the season, and currently are sitting just outside of the national Top 25 NJCAA tam rankings.
Eastern Arizona is absolutely loaded with talent on their roster and Head Coach Cameron Turner and his staff have done an excellent job of recruiting some of the nation's top talent to their program. 6-foot sophomore guard Armari Carraway has been terrific this junior college season, and his college recruitment is heating up as a result. Carraway is averaging 14.3 points, 3.7 rebounds and 4.4 assists per/game. Carraway ranks among the ACCAC leaders in scoring, assists, field goal percentage, 3-point field goal percentage and free throw percentage. Carraway is having a big season.
Eastern has a very well balanced team, and the play of 6-foot-4 sophomore guard Kaden Ericksen, 6-foot-2 sophomore guard Tarrance Warren and 6-foot-6 sophomore JT Elder (San Jose State signee) have been tremendous for this year's group - one of the more talented groups of prospects in the country. Eastern Arizona is primed to win another ACCAC D-I Conference title this season.
The ACCAC does not get the respect it deserves nationally, and we still have a lot of work to do to help all of the programs in our conference get to the level of these two programs, but Pima and Eastern Arizona are certainly bringing a lot of respect to the ACCAC this season.
