AIA Award Front Runners
In this article:
As we head into the second half of the season and players are becoming eligible, I want to look at the front runners of the end of the season awards in the 2023-24 AIA season. Some are close battles and…
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Continue ReadingAs we head into the second half of the season and players are becoming eligible, I want to look at the front runners of the end of the season awards in the 2023-24 AIA season. Some are close battles and I listed multiple players and some will simply just win with too much of a resume already.
Candidates
Players of the Year
6A Koa Peat Koa Peat 6'8" | PF Perry | 2025 State #6 Nation AZ Perry
5A Noah Gifft Noah Gifft 6'2" | SG Ironwood | 2024 State AZ Ironwood, Kaden House Kaden House 6'3" | CG Desert Mountain | 2026 State AZ Desert Mountain, Anthony Batson Jr Anthony Batson Jr 6'3" | SG Notre Dame Prep | 2024 State #181 Nation AZ NDP, Cameron Holmes Cameron Holmes 6'5" | SF Millennium | 2026 State AZ Millennium
4A Uriah Tenette Uriah Tenette 5'10" | PG Prescott | 2025 State AZ Prescott, Styles Phipps Styles Phipps 6'1" | PG St Mary's | 2024 State #182 Nation AZ St. Mary’s, Travis Vasquez Travis Vasquez 6'2" | PG Deer Valley | 2024 State AZ Deer Valley, Dylan Novak Dylan Novak 6'0" | PG Phhoenix Prep | 2025 State AZ ALA GN, Bradey Henige Bradey Henige 7'0" | C Cactus | 2024 State #192 Nation AZ Cactus
3A Luke Shaw Luke Shaw 6'3" | CG Valley Christian | 2024 State AZ Valley Christian
2A Noah Draper Noah Draper 6'5" | PF Arizona Lutheran Academy | 2024 State AZ Arizona Lutheran, Peyton Lubash Peyton Lubash 5'9" | PG San Tan Charter | 2027 State AZ San Tan Charter, Jake Miller Jake Miller 5'11" | PG Rancho Solano Preparatory | 2024 State AZ Rancho Solano Prep, Malachi Morrow Malachi Morrow 6'1" | SG Leading Edge Academy | 2024 State AZ Leading Edge, Presley Ibeh Presley Ibeh 6'5" | SF Highland Prep | 2024 State AZ Highland Prep, Bryce Anderson Bryce Anderson 6'5" | SF Phoenix Christian | 2024 State AZ Phoenix Christian
Newcomers of the Year (New to State or Conference)
6A Zayn Young Zayn Young 6'2" | SG Dobson | 2025 State AZ Dobson (Pictured), Jahlil Loyd Jahlil Loyd 6'4" | SF Tolleson | 2024 State AZ Tolleson, Tommy Randolph Tommy Randolph 6'2" | PG Pinnacle | 2024 State AZ Pinnacle, TayVion Wilson TayVion Wilson 6'0" | PG Sandra Day O'Connor | 2025 State AZ Sandra Day O’Connor
5A Sabien Cain Sabien Cain 6'2" | CG Millennium | 2024 State AZ Millennium, Jhordan Bowls Jhordan Bowls 6'1" | PG Westview | 2025 State AZ Westview, Chase James Chase James 6'1" | CG Centennial | 2024 State AZ Centennial, Jason Higgins Jason Higgins 6'7" | PF Sunrise Mountain | 2024 State AZ Sunrise Mountain, Michael Payne Michael Payne 5'9" | PG Cholla | 2025 State AZ Cholla, Javon Bardwell Javon Bardwell 6'4" | SG Desert Mountain | 2027 State AZ Desert Mountain
4A Justice Hinds Justice Hinds 5'10" | PG Saguaro | 2026 State AZ Saguaro, Cezer Sotomayor Cezer Sotomayor 6'1" | CG ALA Gilbert North | 2025 State AZ ALA Gilbert North, Cameron Williams Cameron Williams 6'10" | PF St. Mary's | 2026 State AZ St. Mary’s, MarQuez Tyree MarQuez Tyree 6'2" | SG Walden Grove | 2024 State AZ Walden Grove, Tyler Hutton Tyler Hutton 6'5" | SF Cactus | 2024 State AZ Cactus
3A Tory Gholston Tory Gholston 5'11" | PG Coolidge | 2026 State AZ Coolidge
2A Peyton Lubash Peyton Lubash 5'9" | PG San Tan Charter | 2027 State AZ San Tan Charter
Breakout Players of the Year
6A Jackson Hunter Jackson Hunter 6'5" | SF Liberty | 2025 State AZ Liberty, Bo Dolinsek Bo Dolinsek 6'6" | PF Corona del Sol | 2024 State AZ CDS, Payton Lapping Payton Lapping 6'3" | SG Desert Ridge | 2024 State AZ Desert Ridge, Nazir Richardson Nazir Richardson 6'2" | SG Gilbert | 2024 State AZ Gilbert
5A Gavin Dabney Gavin Dabney 6'5" | SG Higley | 2025 State AZ Higley, Aidan Schmidt Aidan Schmidt 6'3" | SF Casteel | 2024 State AZ Casteel, Jase Kooima Jase Kooima 6'4" | SG Williams Field | 2024 State AZ Williams Field
4A Jake Centner Jake Centner 6'5" | SF Flagstaff | 2024 State AZ Flagstaff, James Steward James Steward 6'8" | PF Marcos De Niza | 2025 State AZ Marcos de Niza, TJ Harris TJ Harris 6'0" | PG Paradise Honors | 2026 State AZ Paradise Honors, Lamar Anderson Lamar Anderson 6'3" | SF Dysart | 2025 State AZ Dysart
3A Jackson Edgerton Jackson Edgerton 6'1" | PG ALA-Ironwood | 2024 State AZ ALA Ironwood, Jace Olson Jace Olson 6'5" | SG Gilbert Christian | 2025 State AZ Gilbert Christian, Travon Howard Travon Howard 6'2" | CG ALA West-Foothills | 2026 State AZ ALA West-Foothills, Daniel Ortiz Daniel Ortiz 5'11" | SG Palo Verde | 2025 State AZ Palo Verde
2A Kohen Hill Kohen Hill 5'10" | PG Highland Prep | 2024 State AZ Highland Prep, Matthew McEnaney Horizon Honors, Bryce Anderson Bryce Anderson 6'5" | SF Phoenix Christian | 2024 State AZ Phoenix Christian
Defensive Players of the Year
6A Koa Peat Koa Peat 6'8" | PF Perry | 2025 State #6 Nation AZ Perry, Ring Nyeri Ring Nyeri 6'8" | PF Liberty | 2024 State #256 Nation AZ Liberty
5A Taimari Jones Taimari Jones 6'6" | PF McClintock | 2024 State AZ McClintock, Jerry Mendoza Cholla, Kaleel Kelly Kaleel Kelly 6'2" | PG Willow Canyon | 2025 State AZ Willow Canyon, Kaden House Kaden House 6'3" | CG Desert Mountain | 2026 State AZ / Kalek House Kalek House 6'2" | CG Desert Mountain | 2026 State AZ Desert Mountain, Emmanuel Angok Emmanuel Angok 6'8" | PF Washington | 2026 State AZ Washington
4A Cisco Llamas Cisco Llamas 5'7" | PG Sahuaro | 2026 State AZ Sahuaro, Bradey Henige Bradey Henige 7'0" | C Cactus | 2024 State #192 Nation AZ Cactus, James Steward James Steward 6'8" | PF Marcos De Niza | 2025 State AZ Marcos de Niza, AJ Ajawin AJ Ajawin 6'7" | PF Deer Valley | 2024 State AZ Deer Valley
3A Lopemi Omole Lopemi Omole 6'5" | PF Gilbert Christian | 2024 State AZ Gilbert Christian, Dayton Foster Dayton Foster 5'7" | PG ALA West Foothills | 2024 State AZ ALA West-Foothills, Ja’kwon Jordan Ja’kwon Jordan 6'2" | SF Coolidge | 2024 State AZ Coolidge, Daniel Ortiz Daniel Ortiz 5'11" | SG Palo Verde | 2025 State AZ Palo Verde
2A Jase Benjamin Jase Benjamin 6'1" | SF San Tan Charter | 2027 State AZ San Tan Charter, Leandro Simbolo San Carlos
All Senior Team (A combination of strong play and a strong team)
Anthony Batson Jr Anthony Batson Jr 6'3" | SG Notre Dame Prep | 2024 State #181 Nation AZ NDP
Jai Anthoni Bearden Jai Anthoni Bearden 6'6" | SF Sunnyslope | 2024 State AZ Sunnyslope
Sabien Cain Sabien Cain 6'2" | CG Millennium | 2024 State AZ Millennium
Noah Gifft Noah Gifft 6'2" | SG Ironwood | 2024 State AZ Ironwood
Bradey Henige Bradey Henige 7'0" | C Cactus | 2024 State #192 Nation AZ Cactus
Ring Nyeri Ring Nyeri 6'8" | PF Liberty | 2024 State #256 Nation AZ Liberty
Styles Phipps Styles Phipps 6'1" | PG St Mary's | 2024 State #182 Nation AZ St. Mary’s
Luke Shaw Luke Shaw 6'3" | CG Valley Christian | 2024 State AZ Valley Christian
Others: Travis Vasquez Travis Vasquez 6'2" | PG Deer Valley | 2024 State AZ Deer Valley, Wyatt MacKay Wyatt MacKay 6'4" | SG North Canyon | 2024 State AZ North Canyon
All Junior Team
Andrew Bhesania Andrew Bhesania 6'8" | PF Boulder Creek | 2025 State #348 Nation AZ Boulder Creek
Gavin Dabney Gavin Dabney 6'5" | SG Higley | 2025 State AZ Higley
D’Andre Harrison D’Andre Harrison 6'5" | PF Perry | 2025 State AZ Perry
Koa Peat Koa Peat 6'8" | PF Perry | 2025 State #6 Nation AZ Perry
Bryce Quinet Bryce Quinet 6'3" | PG Notre Dame Prep | 2025 State AZ NDP
Michael Simcoe Michael Simcoe 6'8" | PF Sandra Day O'Connor | 2025 State #217 Nation AZ Sandra Day O’Connor
Uriah Tenette Uriah Tenette 5'10" | PG Prescott | 2025 State AZ Prescott
Kingston Tosi Kingston Tosi 6'7" | SF Millennium | 2025 State AZ Millennium
Others: DeNali McNeal DeNali McNeal 6'3" | CG Canyon View | 2025 State AZ Canyon View, Amare King Amare King 6'5" | CG Casteel | 2025 State AZ Casteel, Caspian Jones Caspian Jones 6'7" | SF St. Mary's | 2025 State AZ St. Mary’s, Dylan Novak Dylan Novak 6'0" | PG Phhoenix Prep | 2025 State AZ ALA GN
All Sophomore Team
Cameron Holmes Cameron Holmes 6'5" | SF Millennium | 2026 State AZ Millennium
Kaden House Kaden House 6'3" | CG Desert Mountain | 2026 State AZ Desert Mountain
Kalek House Kalek House 6'2" | CG Desert Mountain | 2026 State AZ Desert Mountain
Cisco Llamas Cisco Llamas 5'7" | PG Sahuaro | 2026 State AZ Sahuaro
Mason Magee Mason Magee 6'0" | PG Basha | 2026 State AZ Basha
John Mattingly John Mattingly 6'0" | PG Sunnyslope | 2026 State AZ Sunnyslope
Rider Portela Rider Portela 6'5" | SG Sunnyslope | 2026 State AZ Sunnyslope
Colton Watson Colton Watson 6'6" | SF Sandra Day O’Connor | 2026 State AZ Sandra Day O’Connor
Others: TJ Harris TJ Harris 6'0" | PG Paradise Honors | 2026 State AZ Paradise Honors, Patrice Mpouli Patrice Mpouli 6'2" | SG Hamilton | 2026 State AZ Hamilton, Noah Gloor Noah Gloor 5'9" | PG Higley | 2026 State AZ Higley, Desean Middlebrook Desean Middlebrook 6'3" | SF Mesquite | 2026 State AZ Mesquite
All Freshmen Team
Jabron Bardwell Jabron Bardwell 6'1" | CG Desert Mountain | 2027 State AZ Desert Mountain
Javon Bardwell Javon Bardwell 6'4" | SG Desert Mountain | 2027 State AZ Desert Mountain
Jase Benjamin Jase Benjamin 6'1" | SF San Tan Charter | 2027 State AZ San Tan Charter
LJ Diamond LJ Diamond 6'1" | PG Desert Vista | 2027 State AZ Desert Vista
Peyton Lubash Peyton Lubash 5'9" | PG San Tan Charter | 2027 State AZ San Tan Charter
Delton Prescott III Delton Prescott III 5'11" | PG Sunnyslope | 2027 State AZ Sunnyslope
Nick Reber Nick Reber 6'2" | CG Highland | 2027 State AZ Highland
Darius Wabbington Darius Wabbington 6'10" | C Sunnyslope | 2027 State AZ Sunnyslope
Others: Razin Smith Jr Razin Smith Jr 6'5" | PF The Gregory School | 2027 State AZ The Gregory School, DJ Spencer DJ Spencer 6'4" | SF Desert Vista | 2027 State AZ Desert Vista, Jackson Moore Jackson Moore 5'11" | PG Cienega | 2027 State AZ Cienega