For many years, Sunnyslope High School has been one of the top basketball programs in the state of Arizona, and this year is no exception. The Vikings are off to a stellar 9-1 start, with their only loss coming in a hard-fought 68-64 battle against Redondo Union (CA), an out-of-state opponent, back in November. Since then, Sunnyslope has dominated their Arizona competition, racking up (8) straight wins, including statement victories over Mesa High School (71-46), Sandra Day O’Connor (79-45), and a decisive 65-43 rout of a strong St. Mary’s team in front of a sold out home crowd.
Under the guidance of Head Coach Ray Portela, one of top coaches in the country, Sunnyslope has become synonymous with consistent success. Last season, they reached the Open Division State Championship game, ultimately falling to a loaded Perry High School team led by superstar Koa Peat, who now shines at the University of Arizona. With Koa Peat’s departure, Sunnyslope is eyeing the Open Division State Championship once again.
This season, the Vikings are led again by the very versatile play of 6-foot-6 senior guard Rider Portela, who recently signed with the University of Colorado. Rider, the coach’s son, is the heart and soul of the team - a strong scorer and shooter who energizes his teammates. Alongside him, 6-foot-11 star junior Darius Wabbington, a nationally recognized 2027 prospect, has dominated the paint and created matchup nightmares for opponents around the paint.
The team has also seriously benefited from the steady skillset and leadership of 5-foot-11 junior point guard Delton Prescott, whose floor general skills and defensive prowess have made Sunnyslope a tough team to beat. Additionally, 6-foot-7 senior Cristian Simmons and 6-foot-7 senior Nash Parmley have provided valuable contributions for this team each night. Whether it’s Simmons’ defensive performance against top opponents and ability to stretch the floor, or Parmley’s inside-out scoring and confidence, these two prospects have also been big this season in this team's success.
This talented and well-coached team is now heading out of state to compete in the prestigious Damien Classic in California, where they’ll face Roosevelt High School (CA) on December 26th. The second half of the season will bring challenges, with key matchups against Brophy Prep and Millennium High School. Sunnyslope will face Millennium twice—on January 21st and February 10th—in games that could very well determine the Open Division State Championship.
As the season unfolds, all eyes will be on Sunnyslope to see if they can capitalize on their talent and coaching to bring home a state title. They’ve got the pieces in place and a schedule that will test them, but they are absolutely ready this season for the smoke.
