Feast Week: 2024 Standouts

Thanksgiving Week I ran all around the city to many events. I attended the Sunnyslope Hoopsgiving Tournament at Deer Valley, Hilcrest Prep vs Over Time Elite, Millennium Nike Tournament, Fear the Hop at Mesa, Welcome to the Jungle at Gilbert and Black Hawk Thanksgiving Classic at Williams Field.

Here were some of the top junior standouts:

Ring Nyeri Ring Nyeri 6'8" | PF Liberty | 2024 State AZ Liberty (Pictured)

A long forward with incredible length, size and fluidity. His ability to cover ground on the perimeter and inside to alter or block shots is next level stuff. He is patient in the post and then can fall away from his defender to score. His shooting keeps improving every year.   

Cohen Ferguson Cohen Ferguson 6'1" | SG Campo Verde | 2024 State AZ Campo Verde

A strong framed scoring guard has the mid-range pull-up in his bag. He is tough and he is really becoming a pull-up king off the dribble. He is improving his handle and fluidity with the ball. He definitely shows more shift with the ball in his hands and is tough defensively.    

Nic Corbo Nic Corbo 6'1" | CG Chaparral | 2024 State AZ Chaparral 

A fluid guard with a nice handle. The lefty can score it from the perimeter. He makes plays but needed to score without Oscislawski. He can separate from his defender with a tighter handle and rise up. He slipped in a couple passes to his post players for buckets as well. 

Devan Carter Devan Carter 6'8" | PF Mountain View Marana | 2024 State AZ Mountain View Marana

A long and tall power forward is a true leaper. He is a very fluid runner and covers a lot of ground. He moves like a wing and is a real shot blocker. He grabs rebounds at its highest point and will spring up to block or challenge shots.

Samson Chabala Samson Chabala 5'10" | PG Verrado | 2024 State AZ Verrado 

A scoring guard is an easy athlete with a nice frame, plus length and a sturdy build. He is very shifty with the ball and he is a plus athlete. His deep ball is a little streaky but he can make the three. He is best getting to the rim with his burst.

Noah Sowunmi Noah Sowunmi 6'4" | SG Paradise Valley | 2024 State AZ Paradise Valley 

A bigger two-way guard handles a lot of the point guard role. He is a good passer and a physical defender with his size and length. He consistently got into the lane and drove and kicked it to his shooters. 

Tim Gorham Tim Gorham 6'3" | SF Eastmark | 2024 State AZ Eastmark 

An undersized power forward is a versatile scorer. He is an out of area rebounder and physical in the paint. He is a quick second jumper and will help-side block shots. He can jump stop with two feet and go up to score over the post defenders. He shows his versatility on defense in the post plus defending guards in space. He loves the runner and can pull-up off the dribble on occasion. 

Jaylen Wollangk Jaylen Wollangk 5'11" | PG Mesquite | 2024 State AZ Mesquite

A tough guard who keeps progressing each season. He can shoot it off the catch with range, rise up from mid-range and even step back on his defender. He can crossover his defender and get to the basket. He takes contact easily with his upper body strength. He is a willing defender and takes charges. 

Ezias Steffen Ezias Steffen 6'3" | SF Chandler | 2024 State AZ Chandler 

A versatile wing forward can score from all levels. He will rebound and then go coast to coast. He can dribble drive to the basket and handles contact well with a stronger upper body. He will shoot the three and get to the basket. Look for him to have a big year in the East Valley.  

Payton Lapping Payton Lapping 6'2" | SG Desert Ridge | 2024 State AZ Desert Ridge 

A high IQ scoring guard can drive it to the rim. He rebounds in his area and handles it well. He is very patient to not force anything and he can shoot it beyond the stripe plus makes smart reads to teammates.