Nevada H.S Team Preview: Desert Oasis Diamondbacks
Perhaps no team in the valley has a more intriguing collection of talent than the Desert Oasis Diamondbacks. During the grassroots season you can kind of get a feel of how players summers, will translate into their school seasons. Two…
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Continue ReadingPerhaps no team in the valley has a more intriguing collection of talent than the Desert Oasis Diamondbacks. During the grassroots season you can kind of get a feel of how players summers, will translate into their school seasons. Two players that I got a good feel for this summer, form one of the most exciting backcourts in the state. Nathan Van and Dom Ford compliment each other perfectly. One a ballhandling wizard that loves to set his teammates up. The other, an elite bucket – geter, that scores like we breathe. In this article PH takes a look at them, and some of the other key contributors for the Desert Oasis Diamondbacks.
Head Coach:
Joseph Bedowitz 4th Season
Conference: 4A Sunset Northwest
Key Returners:
Dominque Ford 6’3 SG 2020 (#8 PHN 2020) – You can make the argument that Ford is underrated. Last season he went ham on the state putting up nearly 22 a game. As if that wasn’t enough, he decided to snag 8 boards in his spare time. This year he looks bigger, stronger and faster. The 6’3 shooting guard is a powerful athlete and a natural scorer. He’s also one of the top 10 players in our class of 2020. He currently holds an offer from Cal Poly.
Nathan Van 6’2 PG 2020 (#15 PHN 2020) – Nathan the Magician is one of the most exciting players in the Valley. A brilliant passer, with the skill and vision to deliver on time and on target dimes. Great size for the position. Van has a solid handle, and can get to the rim almost anytime he wants. Van and Ford form one of the top backcourts in Nevada. (click here to view PH top 5 backcourts in Nevada)
Cade Savell 6’5 SF 2020 (#23 PHN 2020) – Savell is the epitome of a student athlete. An above average athlete, his skill set includes, knock down shooting and off the dribble playmaking. He does a good job of scoring in transition, and as if that wasn’t enough, Savell rocks a 4.0 GPA. He’s received a ton of interest from several high academic schools including, John Hopkins, George Fox, and SUU. D3 Hiram university in Ohio wants him bad, evident by the fact that they flew all the way out for the day just to watch him play a scrimmage during the recent recruiting period.
Niko Ramos 5’11 PG 2021- Ramos is a tough gritty competitor. The junior guard will provide perimeter defense and additional ballhandling. Look for his production to increase as he moves into his 2nd full season. He received valuable experience, seeing minutes in 27 games last season.
Marcus Conelley 6’4 PF 2020 – Conelly returns to provide, athleticism, length, and leadership. The 6’4 wing has great size, and is a fluid athlete. He can shoot it a little, and plays with a terrific motor. Conelly does a great job of sprinting the floor, forcing defenders to run with him. With Van’s passing ability, I expect him to earn a couple buckets a game off sheer effort alone.
Key Newcomers:
Jaiden Fisher 5’9 PG 2023 – The future looks bright for DO. The arrival of the talented freshmen Fisher will provide back up point guard play, and gain him valuable experience. A shifty PG. Fisher’s quickness and basketball IQ are solid. He’s just getting his feet wet, however as the season progresses I expect him to contribute more.
Mason Mich’l 6’7 C 2021 (#17 PHN 2021) – Technically Mich’l isn’t a newcomer. He moved up from JV towards the end of last season. In his short time he really impressed. The highlight of his varsity season was a monster 20pt 11rb game in a win over Sierra Vista. He’s got great size and should provide immediate rebounding and defensive help. Mich’l is a fluid athlete versatile enough to play the top of DO’s 2-3. With last year’s experience under his belt, I’m excited to see what a full season brings from him.
Top Prospect: Dominque Ford – I saw Ford play quite a bit this summer. Competing on the vaunted Addidas Gauntlet, he did more than just hold his own. Ford averaged over 12ppg against some of the nations most talented prep basketball players. More scorer than shooter, he just understands how to get buckets. Ford is definitely on my watchlist this season. An under the radar player, it’s set up for him to have a monster year! His size, athleticism and natural scoring ability make him a good fit for several schools. He currently has an offer from Cal-Poly, however he’s receiving interest from schools like Montana St, UC Riverside, and Portland St.