Fresh off an Open Division State Championship, Sunnyslope High School is not just celebrating their tremendous success, they are now looking to build a potential dynasty. Under the leadership of terrific Head Coach Ray Portella, Sunnyslope has firmly established itself as one of the premier programs now in the country. Known for producing Division-I talent consistently and competing at the highest level year after year, the program has once again made a major statement this offseason. Recently, Sunnyslope announced the addition of two of the top young prospects in the state’s 2028 class - 6-foot-9, 215-pound sophomore post Donovan Palmer and 6-foot-5, 200-pound versatile sophomore Bentley Elrod, two impactful transfers that immediately elevate the program heading into next season.
The Sunnyslope basketball program has consistently developed high-level talent, produced Division-I prospects and competed for state championships. Now, with a fresh Open Division State Championship banner already secured, the addition of Palmer and Elrod signals that Sunnyslope is not slowing down anytime soon. Instead, they are reloading and doing so with elite-level talent.
Donovan Palmer arrives at Sunnyslope as one of the most intriguing young prospects in the state. The 6-foot-9 sophomore transferred from Chandler High School, where he helped lead the program to a strong 20-9 overall record in Arizona’s highly competitive 6A Division last season. Palmer is coming off his most productive high school season to date. His ability to produce consistently, combined with his size and developing skill-set, has already made him one of the top young prospects in Arizona, and college coaches have taken notice. Palmer is already being pursued by numerous Division-I programs, and will be playing for the heavily-Adidas sponsored Compton Magic (CA) club program this spring and summer.
Joining Palmer is another highly regarded prospect in Bentley Elrod, a 6-foot-5, 200-pound sophomore transfer from Scottsdale Saguaro High School. Elrod helped lead Saguaro to an 18-11 overall record in the state’s 4A Division last season and showed excellent versatility. Due to the program's lack of size, Elrod was often forced to play in the post. Still, he produced solid numbers, averaging 10.4 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game. Now at Sunnyslope, Elrod is expected to return to his more natural perimeter-oriented role, where his full skill-set can shine. He is a multi-dimensional player capable of handling the basketball, scoring, and making plays for others, and is widely viewed as a prospect who is just scratching the surface of his long-term potential. Like Palmer, Elrod is already attracting attention from college programs across the country, and his best basketball is clearly ahead of him. He also joins Palmer this spring and summer with the Compton Magic.
While Palmer and Elrod arrive at Sunnyslope under different circumstances, both moves ultimately help the Sunnyslope program immendsely for next season. Each player brings a unique skill-set and background, but together they form a powerful addition to an already loaded roster. With the addition of Palmer and Elrod, Sunnyslope now features one of the most talented rosters in the state.
These two will also join forces with with returning standouts gifted 6-foot-11 junior Darius Wabbington and 5-foot-10 junior point guard Delton Prescott, one of the most dynamic guards in Arizona. The combination of size, skill, and depth makes Sunnyslope a legitimate powerhouse, and likely the team to beat heading into next season.
In today’s ever-changing high school basketball landscape, sustained success is difficult to achieve, but Sunnyslope High School is proving that elite programs don’t rebuild, they just reload. And as the rest of the state looks ahead to next season, one thing is becoming increasingly clear: Sunnyslope isn’t going anywhere.
