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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Subscribe Already a subscriber? Log inAs 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 17U:
Jake Lifgren
Jake
Lifgren
6'1" | CG
Centennial | 2022
State
AZ
(Factory)
Mouhamed Cisse
Mouhamed
Cisse
7'0" | C
Putnam Science Prep | 2022
State
NLG
(AZ Select UAA)
Other MVP candidates:
Isaiah Broady
Isaiah
Broady
6'8" | PF
AZ Compass Prep | 2021
State
AZ
(Firestorm Elite)
Luke Kearney
Luke
Kearney
6'7" | SF
Bella Vista Prep | 2022
State
AZ
(Firestorm Dante)
Nikko Pentelute Nikko Pentelute 6'1" | CG Gilbert | 2022 State AZ (Prime)
Andrew King Andrew King 6'3" | CG Bella Vista Prep | 2022 State AZ / Justus Jackson Justus Jackson 6'0" | PG Eduprize | 2021 State AZ (AZ Select Contreras)
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.
Some of these teams may have a few 2021’s who may end up doing a post grad. Their may be some changes for the 17U teams, as this occurs every year. I am trying to get ahead of the curve and see who will possibly switch or who switched already. I am assuming as I write this there will be more movement. (Coaches please let me know via text if you added a player or I forgot anyone for college coaches to be aware of).
17U:
1. AZ Select UAA
Led by a balanced guard attack with the big man in the middle.
Top players:
Mouhamed Cisse
Mouhamed
Cisse
7'0" | C
Putnam Science Prep | 2022
State
NLG
,
Mekhi Mason
Mekhi
Mason
6'4" | CG
AZ Compass Prep | 2022
State
AZ
,
Nate Pickens
Nate
Pickens
6'3" | CG
Dream City Christian | 2022
State
AZ
,
Rickey Bradley
Rickey
Bradley
6'1" | PG
Phhoenix Prep | 2022
State
AZ
,
Sidney Wooten
Sidney
Wooten
6'0" | PG
Phhoenix Prep | 2022
State
AZ
,
Dominic Capriotti
Dominic
Capriotti
6'4" | SG
Phhoenix Prep | 2022
State
AZ
,
Patrick Chew
Patrick
Chew
6'3" | SG
Brophy Prep | 2022
State
AZ
,
Pierce Bazil
Pierce
Bazil
6'2" | PG
Phhoenix Prep | 2022
State
AZ
,
Will Coates
Will
Coates
6'8" | PF
Phhoenix Prep | 2022
State
AZ
,
Nicholas Riley
Nicholas
Riley
6'8" | C
Phhoenix Prep | 2022
State
AZ
(post grad),
D’Mari Johnson
D’Mari
Johnson
6'6" | PF
Phhoenix Prep | 2022
AZ
(post grad).
2. Factory
Went with 5 players total multiple games and still won their lion’s share. A full healthy squad could give them a shot at #1. Went to the Finals of the Magic Memorial weekend.
Top players:
Jake Lifgren
Jake
Lifgren
6'1" | CG
Centennial | 2022
State
AZ
,
Ahamed Mohamed
Ahamed
Mohamed
6'0" | PG
Apollo | 2022
State
AZ
,
Blessing Nwotite
Blessing
Nwotite
6'3" | SG
Paradise Honors | 2022
State
AZ
,
Terrance Dixon
Terrance
Dixon
6'8" | PF
Bella Vista Prep | 2022
State
AZ
,
Jeffrey Goodere
Jeffrey
Goodere
6'9" | C
Taylor Made Prep | 2021
State
AZ
(post grad) and possibly
Elijah Thomas
Elijah
Thomas
6'5" | SF
Skyline Prep | 2022
AZ
(undecided).
3. Firestorm Elite
Most of their top players were the stud unsigned seniors with Broady. Lewis and Kimbrough Jr. Wady will lead them this summer.
Top players:
Marcus Wady
Marcus
Wady
5'11" | PG
Bella Vista Prep | 2021
State
AZ
(post grad),
Nathaniel Knight
Nathaniel
Knight
6'6" | SF
AZ Compass Prep | 2022
State
AZ
,
Jayden Warren
Jayden
Warren
6'3" | SG
Bella Vista Prep | 2022
State
AZ
,
Josiah Sanders
Josiah
Sanders
6'7" | PF
Bella Vista Prep | 2022
State
AZ
(post grad),
Isaac Garcia
Isaac
Garcia
6'6" | SF
Southern AZ Volunteers | 2022
State
AZ
.
4. Team Harden
Lost to Factory in the Final-4 by one point.
Top players: DeOtis Nunn Jr DeOtis Nunn Jr 6'1" | PG Ironwood | 2022 State AZ , Josh McClanahan Josh McClanahan 6'1" | CG Eduprize | 2022 State AZ & stud newcomer Jahki Gupton 6’6 SF 2023.
5. Arizona Supreme
The talented St.Mary’s dominant team should be watched this summer.
Top players:
Garrison Phelps
Garrison
Phelps
6'5" | SG
St. Mary's | 2022
State
AZ
,
Jeremiah Cherry
Jeremiah
Cherry
6'9" | C
St. Mary's | 2022
State
AZ
,
Foune Doucoure
Foune
Doucoure
6'8" | C
St. Mary's | 2022
State
AZ
,
Seydou Tamboura
Seydou
Tamboura
6'7" | PF
St. Mary's | 2023
State
AZ
&
Jacob Estrella
Jacob
Estrella
6'2" | SG
St. Mary's | 2022
State
AZ
6. AZ Select Paynes
An extremely balanced roster had a good Spring.
Top players:
JJ McCain
JJ
McCain
5'10" | CG
Phhoenix Prep post grad | 2022
State
AZ
,
Jayson Petty
Jayson
Petty
6'4" | SG
Phhoenix Prep | 2023
State
AZ
,
Josh Deakyne
Josh
Deakyne
5'11" | PG
Phhoenix Prep | 2022
State
AZ
,
Brock Heywood
Brock
Heywood
5'10" | PG
Phhoenix Prep | 2022
State
AZ
,
Timothy Cochrane
Timothy
Cochrane
6'5" | SF
Phhoenix Prep | 2022
State
AZ
,
Jake Clapper
Jake
Clapper
6'5" | SF
Phhoenix Prep Post Grad | 2022
State
AZ
&
Jake TenBerge
Jake
TenBerge
6'6" | SG
Phhoenix Prep | 2022
State
AZ
.
7. AZ Select Contreras
Jackson and King were one of the tougher back courts in the Spring.
Top players:
Andrew King
Andrew
King
6'3" | CG
Bella Vista Prep | 2022
State
AZ
,
Justus Jackson
Justus
Jackson
6'0" | PG
Eduprize | 2021
State
AZ
(undecided),
Jaylen Wesley
Jaylen
Wesley
6'4" | PF
McClintock | 2022
State
AZ
,
Marcus Coleman
Marcus
Coleman
5'11" | CG
Pueblo | 2022
State
AZ
,
Zach Morgan
Zach
Morgan
6'9" | C
SoAZ Volz | 2021
State
AZ
(undecided) and
Quincy Geary
Quincy
Geary
6'1" | PG
Catalina Foothills | 2022
State
AZ
.
8. AZ Select Show
A balanced group trades off shining each game. Won many games at the Prep Hoops circuit.
Top players:
Micah Pierce
Micah
Pierce
6'7" | PF
Phhoenix Prep | 2022
State
AZ
,
Orlando Gonzales
Orlando
Gonzales
5'11" | PG
Phhoenix Prep | 2022
State
AZ
,
Shamar Moore
Shamar
Moore
6'3" | SG
Phhoenix Prep | 2022
State
AZ
,
Xavier Ali
Xavier
Ali
6'8" | PF
Sandra Day O’Connor | 2022
State
AZ
,
Kemp Van Es
Kemp
Van Es
6'1" | SG
Phhoenix Prep | 2022
State
AZ
,
Anderson Wilson
Anderson
Wilson
6'4" | SF
Mountain Pointe | 2022
State
AZ
,
Chase Mayo Harmon
Chase
Mayo Harmon
6'2" | CG
Phhoenix Prep | 2022
State
AZ
&
Jo Jo Montgomery
Jo
Jo Montgomery
6'6" | PF
Deer Valley | 2022
State
AZ
.
9. Prime Basketball
Not many better then Nikko putting the ball in the basket and Tampa sliced defenses up distributing the ball. Went 3-1 at the Magic Memorial Weekend.
Top players: Tampa Scott Tampa Scott 5'10" | PG Gilbert | 2021 State AZ (undecided), Nikko Pentelute Nikko Pentelute 6'1" | CG Gilbert | 2022 State AZ , Eli Johnson Eli Johnson 5'10" | CG Gilbert | 2022 State AZ , Brady Reynolds Brady Reynolds 6'5" | PF Basha | 2022 State AZ .
10. Team Zona
They went 3-1 at the Magic Memorial Weekend.
Top players:
JJ White
JJ
White
6'3" | SG
Ironwood | 2021
State
AZ
and
Kevin Kogbara
Kevin
Kogbara
6'6" | PF
Skyline Prep | 2022
AZ
(both undecided).
11. Team RHJ 2022
LJ and Malik were a tough tandem.
Top players:
Lareon Ginnis
Lareon
Ginnis
5'9" | PG
AZ Compass Prep | 2022
State
AZ
,
Malik Payton
Malik
Payton
6'1" | SG
Florence | 2021
State
AZ
(undecided),
Dorell Thomas
Dorell
Thomas
6'5" | SF
Skyline Prep | 2022
State
AZ
and
Kyle Waters
Kyle
Waters
6'3" | SF
Perry | 2022
State
AZ
.
12. AZ Firestorm Dante
Luke carried them many contests with some monster games.
Top players:
Luke Kearney
Luke
Kearney
6'7" | SF
Bella Vista Prep | 2022
State
AZ
,
Pike Tancil
Pike
Tancil
6'2" | PG
Willow Canyon | 2022
State
AZ
,
Liam Thompson
Liam
Thompson
6'5" | PF
Sunnyslope | 2022
State
AZ
,
Quinn Thompson
Quinn
Thompson
6'5" | PF
Sunnyslope | 2022
State
AZ
and
Mason Taylor
Mason
Taylor
6'3" | SF
Sunnyslope | 2022
State
AZ
.
13. AZ Junior Ballers 2022 Black
Top players:
Mark Clegg Jr
Mark
Clegg Jr
6'5" | SF
Coolidge | 2022
State
AZ
&
Brayden Gant
Brayden
Gant
6'5" | SF
Coolidge | 2023
State
AZ
.
14. Arizona Dream
A very balanced group who can hurt you many ways.
Top players:
Garrison Sherman
Garrison
Sherman
6'6" | SF
Scottsdale Christian Academy | 2022
State
AZ
,
Easton Reagan
Easton
Reagan
6'4" | CG
Desert Mountain | 2022
State
AZ
,
William Dubuc
William
Dubuc
6'5" | PF
Desert Mountain | 2022
State
AZ
,
Ryan Ginsberg
Ryan
Ginsberg
6'1" | PG
Desert Mountain | 2023
State
AZ
,
JP Musselmann
JP
Musselmann
6'6" | PF
Brophy Prep | 2022
State
AZ
,
Croix Sweeney
Croix
Sweeney
6'3" | SF
Horizon | 2022
State
AZ
&
Brandon Austin
Brandon
Austin
6'0" | PG
Arcadia | 2022
State
AZ
.
15. Team Arizona Black Elite
A talented young core of sophs led the way.
Top players:
Isaiah Kai
Isaiah
Kai
6'2" | PG
Campo Verde | 2023
State
AZ
,
Cohen J Gonzales
Cohen
J Gonzales
5'8" | PG
Mesquite | 2023
State
AZ
,
Brigg Wolfe
Brigg
Wolfe
6'3" | PG
Mesa Mountain View | 2023
State
AZ
,
Noah Peterson
Noah
Peterson
6'3" | SG
Highland | 2023
State
AZ
,
Carson Ledbetter
Carson
Ledbetter
6'6" | PF
Casteel | 2022
State
AZ
,
Reed Shuey
Reed
Shuey
6'5" | PF
Gilbert | 2022
State
AZ
&
Trent Moser
Trent
Moser
6'7" | PF
Gilbert | 2022
AZ
.
16. NME Academy 2022
Top players:
Michael DeHorney
Michael
DeHorney
6'8" | PF
AZ Compass Prep | 2023
State
AZ
.
Tanner Pate
Tanner
Pate
6'3" | SG
Mountain Pointe | 2022
State
AZ
,
Cameron Coraggio
Cameron
Coraggio
6'2" | SG
Horizon | 2022
State
AZ
&
Quinn Thorne
Quinn
Thorne
6'0" | PG
Corona Del Sol | 2022
State
AZ
.
17. AZ Junior Ballers 2022
The talented back court are a tough cover.
Top players:
Raydon Thorson
Raydon
Thorson
5'11" | PG
Phhoenix Prep | 2023
State
AZ
&
Nathan Calmese
Nathan
Calmese
6'2" | PG
Mesquite | 2022
State
AZ
.
18. Westside Elite 2022
Shorts and Light lead this team most games.
Top players:
Justin Shorts
Justin
Shorts
6'4" | SF
Skyline Prep | 2022
State
AZ
,
Luke Light
Luke
Light
6'6" | PF
Paradise Honors | 2022
State
AZ
,
Jayson Hunt
Jayson
Hunt
6'7" | PF
Paradise Honors | 2022
State
AZ
&
Lawren Mitchell
Lawren
Mitchell
6'1" | SG
Millennium | 2022
State
AZ
.
19. PAL Elite 2022
Top players:
Chris Long
Chris
Long
6'8" | C
Vista Grande | 2022
State
AZ
,
Cameron Stokes
Cameron
Stokes
6'5" | PF
Taylor Made Prep | 2023
State
AZ
.