Program Preview: Factory
The Factory has consistently been one of the top teams in Arizona dating back quite some time to when they were known as the Magic. Coach Mullins has two teams that are loaded with potential, once again. While both teams have experienced success early, their ceiling is higher than the vast majority of Arizona club teams.
Program Preview: Factory 16U
Factory 16U has started the club season strong. They have lost two tournament games, with both coming in the semifinals of the respective tournaments. The group is led primarily by Dominic Gonzalez Dominic Gonzalez 6'3" | SG Ironwood | 2020 State AZ . Gonzalez has demonstrated that he is far more than just a shooter. As a sophomore, he averaged nearly 16 points per game for the Ironwood Eagles. However, he is showing improvement in decision making and scoring abilities.
In addition to Gonzalez, Marcus Libman and Zeke Thomkins have been featured guards. Libman has provided the team with a pass first point guard who has a high basketball IQ. He is a capable shooter who is also a tough on ball defender. With that said, his biggest attribute is that he makes his teammates better due to putting them in the right spots offensively where they can be productive. Thompkins is long and capable of creating for himself around the rim.
Factory is also extremely long with prospects who have extremely high upside. Specifically,
Sunday John
Sunday
John
6'3" | SG
Phhoenix Prep Post Grad | 2021
AZ
, Basil Ribikare,
Curtis Nichols
Curtis
Nichols
6'4" | PF
Phhoenix Prep Post Grad | 2021
State
AZ
, and
Opulley Taban
Opulley
Taban
6'5" | SF
Apollo | 2020
State
AZ
; are prospects who stand out. They are athletic and have good length. While this Factory team is good right now, they have a lot of upside as these prospects are capable of being highly sought after college players. Further, they have a couple of younger prospects on the roster who are intriguing in
Miles Guliford
Miles
Guliford
6'1" | SG
Liberty | 2021
State
AZ
and
Jeffrey Goodere
Jeffrey
Goodere
6'9" | C
Taylor Made Prep | 2021
State
AZ
.
Factory 16U Roster
Zeke Thompkins Zeke Thompkins 6'6" | SF Apollo | 2020 State AZ 6’3 PG/SG 2020 Apollo
Marcus Libman 6’1 PG 2020 Pinnacle
Dominic Gonzalez Dominic Gonzalez 6'3" | SG Ironwood | 2020 State AZ 6’3 PG/SG 2020 Ironwood
Sunday John Sunday John 6'3" | SG Phhoenix Prep Post Grad | 2021 AZ 6’4 SG/SF 2020 Willow Canyon
Basil Ribikare 6’6 PF 2020 Brophy
Curtis Nichols Curtis Nichols 6'4" | PF Phhoenix Prep Post Grad | 2021 State AZ 6’4 SF/PF 2020 Valley Vista
Opulley Taban Opulley Taban 6'5" | SF Apollo | 2020 State AZ 6’4 SF 2020 Apollo
Jefferey Goodere 6’7 C 2021 Estrella Foothills
Miles Guliford
Miles
Guliford
6'1" | SG
Liberty | 2021
State
AZ
6’1 SG 2021 Liberty
Program Preview: Factory 17U
The Factory has a strong history of talented teams. This should continue despite the teams slow start at their first live period. With recent changes to the roster, some of the players are having to take on new roles and bigger responsibilities. With that said, there is plenty of talent on this roster.
The most sought after prospect on this roster is Emmanuel Taban, who has multiple NCAA Divison-I offers. His attraction is quite simple: He is a 6’7 guard who has an extremely high IQ and moves well. His versatile skill set mixed with his ability to shoot the basketball at an extremely high rate makes him quite valuable to next level suitors.
In addition to Taban, Factory possesses lengthy prospects in Cameron Katal, Ajang Aguek, and Cedric Bridges. Bridges has been the most consistent of the prospects as he is strong and plays with a lot of confidence. With that said, Aguek and Katal have the highest upside of the 3, in that order. That is saying a lot as Bridges as good of an athlete as there is in AZ. Aguek has shown spurts of being a low to mid NCAA Division-I prospect. He is a capable shooter who has good length and feel for the game.
As far as guards are concerned, Josh Holloway has led the group thus far. He pushes the ball well in transition, is a good athlete, and is shoots the basketball well off of the dribble. Further, Tyrese Eugene and KJ Patrick have played strong in spurts for the group. Eugene has not shot the ball well from deep, but has been solid defensively and does a great job of making help side pay with his on time and on target passing. Patrick, at this point, is a score first guard who shoots the basketball well from deep.
As the guard play continues to improve, this team has the pieces to be a problem on the nation level.
