AAU mid-season breakdown: 16U
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As the early AAU season has ended and we head into June HS ball, we look back to see what club teams have performed well. This is obviously not an easy exercise since many of the teams never played each…
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Continue ReadingAs the early AAU season has ended and we head into June HS ball, we look back to see what club teams have performed well.
This is obviously not an easy exercise since many of the teams never played each other and some rarely even play in the state. A lot of it is the eye test and how they performed out of state and at a few local events.
Mid season awards:
Co-MVP’s of 16U:
Tru Washington Tru Washington 6'3" | CG AZ Compass Prep | 2023 State #61 Nation AZ (AZ Select UAA)
Jason Fontenet Jr Jason Fontenet Jr 6'6" | CG Bella Vista Prep | 2023 State #255 Nation AZ (Firestorm 16 Elite)
This may be some kind of ranking, but this can also be a cheat sheet for college coaches to view them for the July live period.
16U:
1. Firestorm 16 Elite
Won the Compton Magic Memorial event and Battle Zone earlier last month. They only lost to Compton Magic 16 Elite on the season but beat them in the Chip when it mattered. Also beat Dream Vision and LV Knicks. Fontenet Jr and Williams are extremely versatile.
Top players: Jason Fontenet Jr Jason Fontenet Jr 6'6" | CG Bella Vista Prep | 2023 State #255 Nation AZ , Cody Williams Cody Williams 6'8" | SF Perry | 2023 State #25 Nation AZ , KJ Perry KJ Perry 6'2" | SG Hillcrest Prep | 2024 CA-S , Andrew Camacho Andrew Camacho 6'1" | CG Peoria | 2023 State AZ , Bryce Ford Bryce Ford 6'2" | CG Pinnacle | 2023 State AZ , Julian Roberts Julian Roberts 6'9" | C Bella Vista Prep | 2022 State AZ & Nate Parras Nate Parras 6'7" | PF Eduprize | 2024 State AZ .
2. AZ Select 16 UAA
Another top team with only 2 losses to UAA circuit teams. They are undefeated locally. Beat B Maze Elite and Dream Vision. Tru and Arman are a tough duo to go along with the shooting of Delano.
Top players: Tru Washington Tru Washington 6'3" | CG AZ Compass Prep | 2023 State #61 Nation AZ , Arman Madi Arman Madi 6'7" | SF Brophy | 2023 State AZ , Vincent Delano Vincent Delano 6'1" | CG Bella Vista Prep | 2023 State #292 Nation AZ , Trey Brown Trey Brown 6'7" | SF Phhoenix Prep | 2023 State AZ , Erenzo Scroggins Erenzo Scroggins 6'4" | SF AZ Compass Prep Black | 2023 State AZ , Emery Young Emery Young 6'4" | SG Centennial | 2023 State AZ & Albert Wilson III Albert Wilson III 6'6" | PF Phoenix Christian | 2023 AZ .
3. Factory 16
-Multiple injuries have slowed this team a little but they have some good wins along the way. Big Noah also plays on the 17U team.
Top players: Noah Amenhauser Noah Amenhauser 7'0" | C Estrella Foothills | 2023 State #270 Nation AZ , Carter Gittens Carter Gittens 6'5" | SF Sunrise Mountain | 2023 State AZ , Matthew Henry-Harrison Matthew Henry-Harrison 5'10" | CG AZ Compass Prep Black | 2023 State AZ , Davis Hester Davis Hester 6'0" | SG Liberty | 2023 State AZ and Isaiah Bronson Isaiah Bronson 6'2" | PG Phhoenix Prep | 2024 State AZ .
4. Zone-6
Maker is a tough cover from all levels and a defensive stud.
Top players: Mathiang Maker Mathiang Maker 6'7" | SF Dream City Christian International | 2023 State AZ , Nait George Nait George 6'2" | PG Dream City Christian International | 2023 State AZ and Vincent Parise Vincent Parise 6'0" | CG Desert Mountain | 2023 State AZ .
5. Legion of Hoops 2023
Their team ball is a thing of beauty led by the cerebral Mora.
Top players: Andy Mora Andy Mora 6'0" | PG Tri-City Christian | 2023 State AZ , Isaac Kaps Isaac Kaps 6'0" | PG Highland | 2023 State AZ , Cristian Depue Cristian Depue 6'7" | PF Centennial | 2023 AZ and Connor Fitzgerald Connor Fitzgerald 6'3" | CG Brophy Prep | 2023 State AZ .
6. BE Elite 16
The Valley Vista boys have great chemistry led by Isai.
Top players: Aadem Isai Aadem Isai 6'1" | PG Valley Vista | 2023 State AZ , Tarik Spencer Tarik Spencer 6'2" | CG Valley Vista | 2023 AZ , Clayton Werner Clayton Werner 6'0" | CG Valley Vista | 2023 State AZ , 6’3 W Dallas Marker and Terrell Doxie Terrell Doxie 6'0" | SG Cactus | 2023 State AZ .
7. Team Zona 16
The Ironwood boys will basically be the next years varsity for the Eagles. Williams, Kuac and Thomas are a tough out.
Top players: Julius Williams Julius Williams 6'5" | PF Ironwood | 2023 State AZ , Jordan Kuac Jordan Kuac 6'5" | PF Ironwood | 2023 State AZ , Tristen Reid Tristen Reid 5'10" | PG Skyline Prep | 2023 AZ and Adonis Thomas Adonis Thomas 6'4" | SG Ironwood | 2023 State AZ .
8. PAL Elite 16
Ramos and Benson form are nice scoring duo to go along with the athletes of Armstrong and Binford.
Top players: Kota Benson Kota Benson 6'0" | PG Mesa | 2023 State AZ , Royce Ramos Royce Ramos 6'5" | PF Rancho Solano Prep | 2023 State AZ , Adrien Armstrong Adrien Armstrong 6'5" | SF Carl Hayden | 2023 State AZ , Masaiah Binford Masaiah Binford 6'4" | SF Ascending Life Prep | 2023 State AZ , Eric Perkins Eric Perkins 6'1" | CG Deer Valley | 2023 State AZ & Devin Johnson Devin Johnson 6'1" | CG AZ Compass Prep Black | 2023 State AZ
9. Firestorm Dante 16
Tedeschi makes this team go.
Top players: Vincent Tedeschi Vincent Tedeschi 6'0" | PG Bella Vista Prep | 2023 State AZ , Ethan Faas Ethan Faas 6'5" | PF Arcadia | 2023 State AZ , Jayshawn James Jayshawn James 6'0" | SG Central | 2023 State AZ , Dalton Graham Dalton Graham 6'7" | SF Sunrise Mountain | 2023 State AZ , Bobby Holcomb Bobby Holcomb 6'0" | PG Apollo | 2023 State AZ and Jaydon S Cameron Jaydon S Cameron 6'4" | SG Deer Valley | 2023 State AZ .
10. AZ Select Wilson 16
A balanced group led by the scoring guard in DB.
Top players: Devin Miller Devin Miller 6'1" | SG AZ Compass Prep | 2023 State AZ , Davion Butler Davion Butler 5'10" | PG AZ Compass Prep | 2023 State AZ , Marsai Mason Marsai Mason 6'6" | SF Phhoenix Prep | 2024 State AZ , Max Lightfoot Max Lightfoot 6'5" | PF Gilbert Christian | 2023 State AZ , Diego Ibarra, Tyson Wheeler Tyson Wheeler 6'5" | PF Chandler | 2023 State AZ , Ty Sandoval Ty Sandoval 5'8" | PG Phhoenix Prep | 2023 State AZ and Pasha Shemirani Pasha Shemirani 6'7" | PF Salpointe Catholic | 2023 State AZ ,
11. RHJ 16
This was another injured team which included the talented Lashy Perez Lashy Perez 6'2" | PG Apollo | 2023 State AZ .
Top players: Lashy Perez Lashy Perez 6'2" | PG Apollo | 2023 State AZ , Corey Wood Corey Wood 6'7" | SF ALA-Ironwood | 2023 State AZ , Torin Bosch Torin Bosch 6'4" | SF Basha | 2023 State AZ and Shane Williams Shane Williams 6'6" | PF South Mountain | 2023 State AZ .
12. AZ Phenoms 2023
Another HS team with Tolleson has some nice rising juniors.
Top players: DeJuan Allen Jr DeJuan Allen Jr 6'6" | PF Tolleson | 2023 State AZ , Jesus Almaraz Jesus Almaraz 6'6" | PF Maryvale | 2023 State AZ , Kylen Mamon Kylen Mamon 6'1" | CG Tolleson | 2023 State AZ , Ray Greer Ray Greer 5'9" | PG online | 2023 State AZ and Javarion Hogan Javarion Hogan 5'10" | CG Kellis | 2023 State AZ .
13. Uptempo Elite 16
One of the better natural scorers with AJ Turner AJ Turner 5'11" | PG Skyline Prep | 2023 State AZ leading this group.
Top players: Roman Cummings Roman Cummings 6'8" | PF Skyline Prep | 2024 State AZ , AJ Turner AJ Turner 5'11" | PG Skyline Prep | 2023 State AZ and Kevontre Cushenberry Kevontre Cushenberry 6'3" | SG State AZ .
14. DBR 16
A predominantly Williams Field HS group has a lot of guards who can play led by the two-way JD Bradford.
Top players: Jonathan Bradford Jonathan Bradford 6'3" | CG Bella Vista Prep | 2024 State AZ , Kyree Richmond Kyree Richmond 5'7" | CG San Tan Charter | 2023 State AZ , Jase Kooima Jase Kooima 6'4" | SG Williams Field | 2024 State AZ , Jordan Kidd Jordan Kidd 5'5" | PG Chandler | 2024 AZ and Jaxton Payne Jaxton Payne 6'7" | C Williams Field | 2024 AZ .