BOYS BASKETBALL PREVIEW

Capsule look at East Valley and Northeast Valley schools and smattering of top teams outside the area for 2019-2020 season that begins Monday Nov. 25:

6A

Last year's final four (champ in bold, runner-up in italics): Pinnacle, Chaparral, Perry, Hamilton

Teams to watch: Cesar Chavez, Desert Vista, Pinnacle, Skyline, Perry, Hamilton, Chandler

5A

Last year's final four (champ in bold, runner-up in italics): Gilbert, Millennium, Apollo, McClintock

Teams to watch: Millennium, Ironwood, Gilbert, Paradise Valley, Apollo, Sunnyslope

4A

Last year's final four (champ in bold, runner-up in italics):  Shadow Mountain, Deer Valley, Salpointe, Catalina Foothills

Teams to watch: Salpointe, Shadow Mountain, Peoria, Catalina Foothills, Arcadia, St. Mary's, Desert Edge, Mesquite

3A

Last year's final four (champ in bold, runner-up in italics): Valley Christian, Pusch Ridge, Sabino, Paradise Honors

Teams to watch:  Valley Christian, Paradise Honors, Sabino, American Leadership-Queen Creek, Chinle, Gilbert Christian

2A

Last year's final four (champ in bold, runner-up in italics): Scottsdale Christian, Alchesay, Thatcher, Pima

Teams to watch: Scottsdale Christian, Phoenix Country Day, Trivium Prep, Alchesay

1A

Last year's final four (champ in bold, runner-up in italics): The Gregory School, Ray, Mogollon, Fort Thomas

Players to watch: American Leadership- Queen Creek - Dyson Lighthall, 6-8, Sr. F; Devon Brooke, 6-7 Sr. G. Arcadia - Max Majerle, 6-4, Jr. G;  Arizona College Prep - Nic Chang, 6-2, Jr. PG-W. Basha: Trenton McLaughlin, 6-4,Jr. G.  Brophy Prep: Arnold Dates, 6-3, G-F, Sr. Casteel -  Deven Franks, 5-10, Sr. PG. Chaparral - Jorden Josephs, 6-5, Sr. W. Cesar Chavez - TyTy Washington 6-3 Jr. PG;  Ricardo Sarmiento 5-11, Jr. SG. Chandler - Carson Kelly, 5-9 Jr. PG. Combs - Isaac Lujan 5-11, Jr. G. Corona del Sol: Eric Blackwell,  6-3, Sr. G; Anthony Irvin,  6-3, Sr. G. Desert Ridge -Joe Kelsey 5-11, Jr. G. Dobson: Juhlawnei Stone, 6-6, Sr. F.  Florence - Malik Payton, 6-0, Jr. G. Gilbert: Brycen Long, 6-3, Sr. G; Paul Maldonado 6-1, Sr. G, Griffin Lamb, 6-8, Sr. C. Hamilton - Jamar Brown, 6-4, Sr. W. Highland - Tanner Crandall 5-10, Sr. G. Horizon -  JD Feagles 6-1, Jr. PG. Ironwood - Dominic Gonzalez, 6-3, Sr. G; BAilon Black, 6-4, Jr. PG. Marcos de Niza - Russ Lingruen, 6-2, Sr. G; Tommie Lingruen, 6-2, Sr. G. Mesquite - Ricky Hernandez 5-11, Sr. G; Jordan Wollangk, 5-10, Sr. G. Millennium - DaRon Holmes, 6-9, Jr. F; Justus Jackson, 6-0, Jr. G; Michael Batchelor, 6-2, Sr. G. Mountain View - Nick Valencia, 6-5, Sr. C. Paradise Valley: Anthony Giliberto, 6-8, Sr. F; Kendyl Watson, 6-7, Sr. F; Jordan Hope, 6-4, Sr. G. Perry - Dlyan Anderson, 6-11, So. F. Pinnacle - Tosh Baker, 6-10 Sr. C; Marcus Libman, 6-0 Sr,. G.  Rancho Solano -  Hunter Ruck, 6-9, Sr. F; Tyson Legner, 6-0, Sr. PG.  St. Mary's - Keiren Brown, 6-3, Jr. PG;  Deven Dalke, 6-1, Sr. G. Salpointe: Evan Nelson, 6-2, Sr. G; Grant Weitman, 6-4, Sr. G; Jordan Gainey, 6-4, Sr. G.  Skyline - Dayton Harrs, 6-3, Sr. G; Patrick Herrera, 6-0, Jr. G, Sunnyslope - Paul Hayden, 6-4, Sr. G. Tempe: Michel Milambu 6-1 Jr. G. Willams Field - Montez Taylor, 5-10, Jr. Timothy Cochrane, 6-4, Jr. F.

 

BOYS HOLIDAY INVITATIONALS CONTESTED IN THE VALLEY WEEK OF NOV. 25-30

Fear The Hop hosted by Mesa HS: Competing schools - Saguaro, Casteel, Hamilton, Seton Catholic, Desert Vista, Desert Mountain, Mesa, Westview, American Leadership Academy - QC, Highland Tournment is Nov. 25-27, 30.

Phoenix Union High School Coyote Classic hosted by South Mountain HS Central HS and North HS - Competing schools - Mountain Ridge, Red Mountain, South Mountain, Horizon, Buckeye, McClintock, Centennial, Central, Paradise Valley, Mountain Pointe, Mesquite, Sunrise Mountain, Maryvale, Alhambra, Carl Hayden, Skyline, Marcos de Niza, Cesar Chavez, Trevor Browne, North, Camelback, Arcadia, Betty H. Fairfax, Metro Tech. tournament is Nov. 25-30.

Independence Thanksgiving Tournament hosted by Independence HS: Competing schools -  Cortez, Notre Dame Prep, Independence, Raymond Kellis, Desert Edge, Washington, Campo Verde, Westwood.  Tournament is Nov. 25-27.

Welcome to the Jungle Holiday Tournament hosted by Gilbert HS: Competing schools - Chandler, Basha, Valley Vista, Perry, Gilbert, Williams Field, Desert Ridge and Corona del Sol. Tournament is Nov. 26-27, 29.

Sunnyslope Hoopsgiving Tournament hosted by Sunnyslope HS and Deer Valley HS: Competing schools - Thunderbird, Deer Valley, Ironwood, Sunnyslope, Estrella Foothills, Greenway, Glendale Prep, Liberty, Sandra Day O'Connor, Apollo, Chaparral, Moon Valley, Verrado, Peoria, Rancho Solano Prep, Cactus Shadows. Tournament is Nov. 25-27, 29.

Panthers Hoop Classic hosted by Paradise Valley Honors HS: Competing schools - Trivium Prep, Youngker, Florence, Maricopa, AZ College Prep, Coronado, North Phoenix Preparatory, Gilbert Classical, Apache Junction, American Leadership Academy - Ironwood, and BASIS Phoenix. Tournaments is Nov. 26-27, 29-30.

Benjamin Franklin-Gilbert Christian Thanksgiving Classic hosted by Benjamin Franklin HS and Gilbert Christian HS: Competing schools - Kingman Academy, Poston Butte, Superior, Vista Grande, Holbrook, Gilbert Christian, Marana, Arete Prep, Tolleson, Agua Fria, Miami, Northland Prep, Shadow Mountain, Benjamin Franklin and NFL Yet. Tournament is Nov. 29-30.

Valley Christian Thanksgiving Classic hosted by Valley Christian HS and Horizon Honors HS:  Competing schools - Mingus, Pusch Ridge, Bradshaw Mountain, Boulder Creek, Valley Christian, Globe, Mohave, Kingman, Wickenburg, Sabino, Coolidge, Fountain Hill, Horizon Honors, Sierra Linda, American Leadership Academy - Gilbert North and Tri-City (CA) Christian School. Tournament is Nov. 29-30.

 

 10 players to watch from 3A 

6'7 Sr SF Devon Brooke (American Leadership Academy-Queen Creek)

6'2 Sr SG Cooper Burbank (Chinle)

6'1 Sr CG Trey Donaldson (Gilbert Christian)

6'4 Sr SF Pablo Gutierrez (Sabino)

6'5 Sr SF Jerry Iliya (Paradise Honors)

6'8 Sr C Dyson Lighthall (American Leadership Academy-Queen Creek)

6'7 Sr W Logan Phillips (Valley Christian)

6'1 Sr SG Jackson Risi (Valley Christian)

6'3 Sr SG Cesar Saenz (Sabino)

6'3 Jr PG Jalen Scott (Paradise Honors)

  10 players to watch from 1A-2A:  

6'0 Fr PG Kota Benson (Baboquivari)

5'10 Sr PG Jason Collier (Camp Verde)

5'11 Sr PG Matthew Fan (Scottsdale Christian Academy)

5'10 So PG Chris Floyd (NFL Yet)

6'0 Jr CG Reo Larson (St. David)

6'2 Sr SG Tyson Legner (Rancho Solano Prep)

6'6 Sr C William Mcmenamin (Williams)

6'0 Sr SG Jordan Moody (Scottsdale Christian Academy)

5'8 Sr PG Malachi Rogers (Fort Thomas)

6'9 Sr PF/C Hunter Ruck (Rancho Solano Prep)