As the playoffs are starting with the heavy hitters playing Wednesday-Friday seeded #1-8 in 4A-6A, let’s look back at some of the best players at many different categories.
Only the players I have personally viewed since Thanksgiving are eligible.
MVP in 6A
Elijah Saunders
Elijah
Saunders
6'8" | PF
Sunnyslope | 2022
State
AZ
Sunnyslope
MVP in 5A
Ahamed Mohamed
Ahamed
Mohamed
6'0" | PG
Apollo | 2022
State
AZ
Apollo
MVP in 4A
Nathan Calmese
Nathan
Calmese
6'2" | PG
Mesquite | 2022
State
AZ
Mesquite
MVP in 3A
Caleb Shaw
Caleb
Shaw
6'5" | CG
Valley Christian | 2022
State
AZ
Valley Christian
MVP in 2A
Garrison Sherman
Garrison
Sherman
6'6" | SF
Scottsdale Christian Academy | 2022
State
AZ
SCA
Best performances I viewed live
Bradey Henige
Bradey
Henige
7'0" | C
Cactus | 2024
State
#166
Nation
AZ
Cactus (40 pts 20 rbs)
Kevin Patton Jr
Kevin
Patton Jr
6'8" | SF
Mountain Pointe | 2023
#130
Nation
CA-S
Maricopa (33 pts 10 rebs 5+ asts 4 blks)
Caleb Shaw
Caleb
Shaw
6'5" | CG
Valley Christian | 2022
State
AZ
Valley Christian (53 pts 8 rbs)
Nathan Calmese
Nathan
Calmese
6'2" | PG
Mesquite | 2022
State
AZ
Mesquite (30+ pts vs Hamilton)
Top Newcomers in 6A
Quincy Adams
Quincy
Adams
6'5" | SF
Hamilton | 2022
State
AZ
Hamilton
Kota Benson
Kota
Benson
6'0" | PG
Mesa | 2023
State
AZ
Mesa
Benito Carter
Benito
Carter
5'11" | PG
Westview | 2023
State
AZ
Westview
Top Newcomers in 5A
Yarell Greer
Yarell
Greer
5'10" | PG
Higley | 2023
State
AZ
Higley
I’yar Shadowvine
I’yar
Shadowvine
5'7" | PG
Ironwood | 2025
State
AZ
Ironwood
Top Newcomers in 4A
Brennan Peterson
Brennan
Peterson
6'0" | PG
Notre Dame Prep | 2025
State
AZ
NDP
Bryce Quinet
Bryce
Quinet
6'2" | PG
Notre Dame Prep | 2025
State
AZ
NDP
Top Newcomer in 3A
Caleb Shaw
Caleb
Shaw
6'5" | CG
Valley Christian | 2022
State
AZ
Valley Christian
Breakout players in 6A
Logan Hopkins
Logan
Hopkins
6'2" | SG
Mountain Ridge | 2022
State
AZ
Mountain Ridge
Caden Hunter
Caden
Hunter
6'5" | PF
Liberty | 2023
State
AZ
Liberty
Breakout players in 5A
Carter Gittens Carter Gittens 6'5" | SF Sunrise Mountain | 2023 State AZ Sunrise Mountain
King Turner
King
Turner
6'5" | PG
North Canyon | 2023
State
AZ
North Canyon
Breakout players in 4A
Dillan Baker
Dillan
Baker
6'5" | SF
Salpointe Catholic | 2022
State
AZ
Salpointe Catholic
Calvin Windley Calvin Windley 6'3" | SF Peoria | 2023 State AZ Peoria
Breakout player in 3A
Weston Haebig Weston Haebig 5'10" | CG Sabino | 2023 State AZ Sabino
Best shooters
Andrew Camacho
Andrew
Camacho
6'1" | CG
Peoria | 2023
State
AZ
Peoria
McCoy Kelly McCoy Kelly 5'11" | CG American Leadership Academy-Queen Creek | 2022 State AZ ALA-QC
Jake Lifgren
Jake
Lifgren
6'1" | CG
Centennial | 2022
State
AZ
Centennial
Brennen Neal
Brennen
Neal
6'3" | SF
Liberty | 2023
State
AZ
Liberty
Ashton Reese Ashton Reese 6'5" | SG Pinnacle | 2023 State AZ Pinnacle
AJ Riggs AJ Riggs 6'2" | SG Highland | 2022 State AZ Highland
Other top shooters
Bryce Ford
Bryce
Ford
6'2" | CG
Pinnacle | 2023
State
AZ
Pinnacle
Ahamed Mohamed
Ahamed
Mohamed
6'0" | PG
Apollo | 2022
State
AZ
Apollo
Tanner Pate Tanner Pate 6'3" | SG Mountain Pointe | 2022 State AZ Mountain Pointe
Deveraux Roberts
Deveraux
Roberts
6'0" | SG
Higley | 2022
State
AZ
Higley
Tyler Stegmeier Tyler Stegmeier 6'0" | CG Saguaro | 2024 State AZ Saguaro
Scorers
Nathan Calmese
Nathan
Calmese
6'2" | PG
Mesquite | 2022
State
AZ
Mesquite
Jason Parent
Jason
Parent
6'5" | SF
Prescott | 2022
State
AZ
Prescott
Styles Phipps
Styles
Phipps
6'1" | PG
St Mary's | 2024
State
#148
Nation
AZ
St. Mary’s
Caleb Shaw
Caleb
Shaw
6'5" | CG
Valley Christian | 2022
State
AZ
Valley Christian
Elijah Saunders
Elijah
Saunders
6'8" | PF
Sunnyslope | 2022
State
AZ
Sunnyslope
Tru Washington
Tru
Washington
6'3" | CG
AZ Compass Prep | 2023
State
#61
Nation
AZ
Mountain Pointe
Most athletic in 6A
Quincy Adams
Quincy
Adams
6'5" | SF
Hamilton | 2022
State
AZ
Hamilton
Ky Green
Ky
Green
6'6" | SF
Liberty | 2023
State
AZ
Liberty
Mason Knollmiller
Mason
Knollmiller
6'2" | SG
Highland | 2022
State
AZ
Highland
Kevin Patton Jr
Kevin
Patton Jr
6'8" | SF
Mountain Pointe | 2023
#130
Nation
CA-S
Maricopa
Trey Phillips
Trey
Phillips
6'6" | PF
Brophy College Prep | 2022
State
AZ
Brophy Prep
Most athletic in 5A
Jai Anthoni Bearden
Jai
Anthoni Bearden
6'6" | PF
Sunnyslope | 2024
State
AZ
Kellis
Carter Gittens Carter Gittens 6'5" | SF Sunrise Mountain | 2023 State AZ Sunrise Mountain
KJ Perry
KJ
Perry
6'2" | SG
Hillcrest Prep | 2024
CA-S
Gilbert
Erenzo Scroggins
Erenzo
Scroggins
6'4" | SF
AZ Compass Prep Black | 2023
State
AZ
McClintock
Jaylen Wesley
Jaylen
Wesley
6'4" | PF
McClintock | 2022
State
AZ
McClintock
Most athletic in 4A
Anthony Batson Jr
Anthony
Batson Jr
6'3" | SG
Notre Dame Prep | 2024
State
#122
Nation
AZ
NDP
Nathan Calmese
Nathan
Calmese
6'2" | PG
Mesquite | 2022
State
AZ
Mesquite
Kyle Hubbard Kyle Hubbard 6'4" | PF Saguaro | 2022 State AZ Saguaro
Garrison Phelps
Garrison
Phelps
6'5" | SG
St. Mary's | 2022
State
AZ
St. Mary’s
Best Motors
Caden Hunter
Caden
Hunter
6'5" | PF
Liberty | 2023
State
AZ
Liberty
Tru Washington
Tru
Washington
6'3" | CG
AZ Compass Prep | 2023
State
#61
Nation
AZ
Mountain Pointe
Fastest End to End
Oakland Fort
Oakland
Fort
5'9" | PG
Sunnyslope | 2022
State
AZ
Sunnyslope
Yarell Greer
Yarell
Greer
5'10" | PG
Higley | 2023
State
AZ
Higley
Most Versatile
Torin Bosch
Torin
Bosch
6'4" | SF
Basha | 2023
State
AZ
Basha
Kevin Patton Jr
Kevin
Patton Jr
6'8" | SF
Mountain Pointe | 2023
#130
Nation
CA-S
Maricopa
Cody Williams
Cody
Williams
6'8" | SF
Perry | 2023
State
#25
Nation
AZ
Perry
Best Defenders in 6A
Kevin Patton Jr
Kevin
Patton Jr
6'8" | SF
Mountain Pointe | 2023
#130
Nation
CA-S
Maricopa
Braeden Speed
Braeden
Speed
6'3" | CG
Brophy Prep | 2024
State
AZ
Brophy Prep
Christian Warren
Christian
Warren
6'4" | SF
Basha | 2024
State
AZ
Basha
Tru Washington
Tru
Washington
6'3" | CG
AZ Compass Prep | 2023
State
#61
Nation
AZ
Mountain Pointe
Best Defenders in 5A
Yarell Greer
Yarell
Greer
5'10" | PG
Higley | 2023
State
AZ
Higley
Ahamed Mohamed
Ahamed
Mohamed
6'0" | PG
Apollo | 2022
State
AZ
Apollo
Abe Rangel
Abe
Rangel
6'0" | PG
Centennial | 2022
State
AZ
Centennial
Best Defenders in 4A
Blessing Nwotite
Blessing
Nwotite
6'3" | SG
Paradise Honors | 2022
State
AZ
Paradise Honors
Garrison Phelps
Garrison
Phelps
6'5" | SG
St. Mary's | 2022
State
AZ
St. Mary’s
Cuthbert Tambatamba
Cuthbert
Tambatamba
5'11" | PG
Desert Edge | 2023
State
AZ
Desert Edge
Best Football Hoopers
Jeremiah Newcombe
Jeremiah
Newcombe
5'9" | PG
Casteel | 2024
AZ
Casteel
Duce Robinson Duce Robinson 6'6" | PF Pinnacle | 2023 AZ Pinnacle
Heart and Soul of a Team
Isaiah Kai
Isaiah
Kai
6'2" | PG
Campo Verde | 2023
State
AZ
Campo Verde
Ahamed Mohamed
Ahamed
Mohamed
6'0" | PG
Apollo | 2022
State
AZ
Apollo
Nikko Pentelute Nikko Pentelute 6'1" | CG Gilbert | 2022 State AZ Gilbert
Jaylen Wesley
Jaylen
Wesley
6'4" | PF
McClintock | 2022
State
AZ
McClintock
Wildcards of 6A for a deep playoff run
Marsai Mason Marsai Mason 6'6" | PF Phhoenix Prep | 2024 State AZ Mountain Pointe
Trey Phillips
Trey
Phillips
6'6" | PF
Brophy College Prep | 2022
State
AZ
Brophy Prep
Wildcards of 5A for a deep playoff run
Ringo Aguek
Ringo
Aguek
6'7" | SF
Ironwood | 2022
State
AZ
Ironwood
Isaiah Bronson
Isaiah
Bronson
6'2" | PG
Bella Vista Prep | 2024
State
AZ
Gilbert
Wildcards of 4A for a deep playoff run
Zander Kamai
Zander
Kamai
6'3" | PG
Phhoenix Prep | 2024
State
AZ
Paradise Honors
Julian Riesgo Julian Riesgo 5'7" | PG Salpointe Catholic | 2022 State AZ Salpointe Catholic
All-Senior team
Dylan Anderson
Dylan
Anderson
7'0" | C
Perry | 2022
State
#88
Nation
AZ
Perry
Nathan Calmese
Nathan
Calmese
6'2" | PG
Mesquite | 2022
State
AZ
Mesquite
Oakland Fort
Oakland
Fort
5'9" | PG
Sunnyslope | 2022
State
AZ
Sunnyslope
Ahamed Mohamed
Ahamed
Mohamed
6'0" | PG
Apollo | 2022
State
AZ
Apollo
Nikko Pentelute Nikko Pentelute 6'1" | CG Gilbert | 2022 State AZ Gilbert
Elijah Saunders
Elijah
Saunders
6'8" | PF
Sunnyslope | 2022
State
AZ
Sunnyslope
Caleb Shaw
Caleb
Shaw
6'5" | CG
Valley Christian | 2022
State
AZ
Valley Christian
All-Junior team
Andrew Camacho
Andrew
Camacho
6'1" | CG
Peoria | 2023
State
AZ
Peoria
Carter Gittens Carter Gittens 6'5" | SF Sunrise Mountain | 2023 State AZ Sunrise Mountain
Yarell Greer
Yarell
Greer
5'10" | PG
Higley | 2023
State
AZ
Higley
Arman Madi
Arman
Madi
6'6" | SF
Brophy Prep | 2023
State
AZ
Brophy Prep
Kevin Patton Jr
Kevin
Patton Jr
6'8" | SF
Mountain Pointe | 2023
#130
Nation
CA-S
Maricopa
Tru Washington
Tru
Washington
6'3" | CG
AZ Compass Prep | 2023
State
#61
Nation
AZ
Mountain Pointe
Cody Williams
Cody
Williams
6'8" | SF
Perry | 2023
State
#25
Nation
AZ
Perry
All-Soph team
Anthony Batson Jr
Anthony
Batson Jr
6'3" | SG
Notre Dame Prep | 2024
State
#122
Nation
AZ
NDP
Jai Anthoni Bearden
Jai
Anthoni Bearden
6'6" | PF
Sunnyslope | 2024
State
AZ
Kellis
Bradey Henige
Bradey
Henige
7'0" | C
Cactus | 2024
State
#166
Nation
AZ
Cactus
Rowan McKenzie
Rowan
McKenzie
6'2" | PG
Boulder Creek | 2024
State
AZ
Boulder Creek
Styles Phipps
Styles
Phipps
6'1" | PG
St Mary's | 2024
State
#148
Nation
AZ
St. Mary’s
Gabe Pickens
Gabe
Pickens
6'0" | PG
Dream City Christian | 2024
State
AZ
Millennium
Braeden Speed
Braeden
Speed
6'3" | CG
Brophy Prep | 2024
State
AZ
Brophy Prep
Christian Warren
Christian
Warren
6'4" | SF
Basha | 2024
State
AZ
Basha
I want to mention 1 soph that had a great AIA season: (I did not view live)
Isaiah Hill
Isaiah
Hill
5'10" | PG
Pueblo | 2024
State
AZ
Pueblo
All-Freshman team
Carlos Coronado Jr
Carlos
Coronado Jr
6'2" | PG
Phhoenix Prep | 2025
State
AZ
Cooldige
Bryce Quinet
Bryce
Quinet
6'2" | PG
Notre Dame Prep | 2025
State
AZ
NDP
Zane Gaul
Zane
Gaul
6'10" | C
Prescott | 2025
State
AZ
Prescott
Koa Peat
Koa
Peat
6'8" | SF
Perry | 2025
State
AZ
Perry (Pictured)
Brennan Peterson
Brennan
Peterson
6'0" | PG
Notre Dame Prep | 2025
State
AZ
NDP
Michael Simcoe
Michael
Simcoe
6'8" | SF
Sandra Day O'Connor | 2025
State
AZ
SDO
Uriah Tenette
Uriah
Tenette
5'10" | PG
Prescott | 2025
State
AZ
Prescott
TayVion Wilson
TayVion
Wilson
6'0" | PG
Sandra Day O'Connor | 2025
State
AZ
Kellis
Other freshman who had great seasons that I didn’t view in the AIA season:
Lex Clontz
Lex
Clontz
6'3" | CG
Cesar Chavez | 2025
State
AZ
Cesar Chavez
Archie Graves IV
Archie
Graves IV
6'1" | PG
Central | 2025
State
AZ
South Mountain
DeNali McNeal
DeNali
McNeal
6'2" | CG
Canyon View | 2025
State
AZ
Canyon View
Dylan Novak ALA-Gilbert North
Alexander Werner
Alexander
Werner
6'4" | SF
Phhoenix Prep | 2025
State
AZ
Cienega
