AAU mid-season breakdown: 17U

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 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 .