5A Underclassmen POY Candidates: AIA

As the regular season starts this week with the Thanksgiving holiday tournaments behind us, I want to give my conference underclassmen of the year predictions for 4-6A. What freshman or sophomore will impact their varsity team the most.

Here are my underclassmen player of the year candidates for 5A:

Bryce Quinet Bryce Quinet 6'2" | PG Notre Dame Prep | 2025 State AZ NDP

A cerebral lead guard is one of the top shooters in the conference. He has a high feel for the game and plays smartly off the pick and roll game. His deep three point shooting sets up the rest of his game.

Joseph Lindsey Joseph Lindsey 5'9" | PG Mountain Pointe | 2026 State AZ Mountain Pointe

A quick and fast scoring freshman lead guard. He has real open court speed and will be a tough on-ball defender with his lateral quickness and speed. He will start this year and give them a scoring punch with blow-by speed to the basket and perimeter shooting.

Cameron Holmes Cameron Holmes 6'5" | SF Millennium | 2026 State AZ Millennium

An all-around versatile freshman wing. The lefty handles the lead guard spot, defends usually the best player on the opposing team and scores it from all three levels. He is a rare do-it-all day-one starter.

Kingston Tosi Kingston Tosi 6'6" | SF Millennium | 2025 State AZ Millennium

Another talented player for the Tigers is a soph who has been flexing all fall. He is a true inside and out scorer with skill to the three. He can rip through and finish above the post players and rebounds in and out of his area.

DeNali McNeal DeNali McNeal 6'2" | CG Canyon View | 2025 State AZ Canyon View

The top player already last year in a good rising young program. He is their point guard, their top on-ball defender, their best scorer and team leader. His ability to break his man down to score or make a play will make him hard to contain all year.

Kaden House Kaden House 6'3" | CG Dessert Mountain | 2026 State AZ Desert Mountain

The dynamic freshman duo of Kaden and Kalek are legit. Kaden is one of the more athletic guards to come into the AIA in a minute as a freshman. He has good size for position and length to defend. He makes perimeter jumpers and gets out in transition.

Kalek House Kalek House 6'2" | PG Desert Mountain | 2026 State AZ Desert Mountain

An athletic bigger point guard makes plays and scores it. He has real range on his three point shot, he has some wiggle in his handle and can get to the basket to score with his size. He will sit down and defend you.

Kaleel Kelly Kaleel Kelly 6'2" | PG Willow Canyon | 2025 State AZ Willow Canyon

One of the top ball handlers and passers in the sophomore class. He sees it quickly and throws the dart to a teammate. His shift with his handle is what makes his game and go and he often gets into the teeth of the defense and will score or pass it.

Archie Graves IV Archie Graves IV 6'1" | PG Central | 2025 State AZ Central (Pictured)

A scoring point guard is another with a very shifty handle. He seems like he is on skates as he is breaking his defenders down into the lane. He attacks the basket and has next level body control to score in traffic. He can rise up and hit from mid to the three. Central has been down recently but they’ll be more of a factor this season led by Graves IV.

TayVion Wilson TayVion Wilson 6'0" | PG Sandra Day O'Connor | 2025 State AZ Kellis

A top shooter in the class has a high feel for the game. He has the deepest range in the sophomore group and can also thread the needle to his teammates. He is finding that happy medium of scorer and facilitator. Their team will go as far a he can take them this year, as he is already the team leader.