King of the City: Superlatives
In this article:
On Saturday March 23rd I attended the King of the City hosted by Hoopers On1y located at the Phhacility in Phoenix. I viewed mainly 17U mixed in with some 16U or teams playing up in 16U. I ended up watching…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingOn Saturday March 23rd I attended the King of the City hosted by Hoopers On1y located at the Phhacility in Phoenix.
I viewed mainly 17U mixed in with some 16U or teams playing up in 16U. I ended up watching exactly 20 teams locally.
Here are some superlatives for the tournament.
These are based on the ONE game I viewed the team. These are NOT prospect rankings.
MVP
AJ Thomas AJ Thomas 6'4" | PG Eduprize | 2025 State #292 Nation AZ Eduprize (Roc Steady)
1st Team
John Mattingly John Mattingly 6'0" | PG Sunnyslope | 2026 State AZ Sunnyslope (Peak Basketball 17 NB)
Sergio Gonzales Sergio Gonzales 5'9" | PG Deer Valley | 2026 State AZ Deer Valley (AZ Storm 16 Grind)
Noah Gloor Noah Gloor 5'9" | PG Higley | 2026 State AZ Higley (AZ Gremlins Gray 16)
Melvin Stubbs Melvin Stubbs 6'3" | SG Catalina Foothills | 2026 State AZ Catalina Foothills (Apex Athletix 16)
Keaton Ort Keaton Ort 6'2" | SG Fountain Hills | 2024 State AZ Fountain Hills (Hunters Elite 17)
Matija Otasevic Matija Otasevic 6'8" | C Bella Vista Gray | 2024 AZ Bella Vista Gray
DeNali McNeal DeNali McNeal 6'3" | CG Canyon View | 2025 State AZ Canyon View (AZ Venom Nxt 17)
2nd Team
Cristian Acevedo Cristian Acevedo 6'7" | PF Apollo | 2025 State AZ Apollo (Peak Platinum 17)
Ben Lambe Ben Lambe 6'4" | PF Pusch Ridge | 2026 State AZ Pusch Ridge (Apex Athletix 16)
Christian Holly Christian Holly 6'1" | SG Phhoenix Prep | 2025 State AZ Phhoenix Prep (Peak Platinum 17)
Brandon Stapleton Brandon Stapleton 6'4" | CG Chandler | 2026 State AZ Chandler (AZ Gremlins Gray 16)
Jayden Hughes Jayden Hughes 6'5" | CG Brophy Prep | 2026 State AZ Brophy Prep (AND1 17)
Adam Hubbard Adam Hubbard 6'4" | CG Canyon View | 2025 State AZ Canyon View ( Team Rise N Grind 17)
Prince Sohn Prince Sohn 6'0" | CG South Pointe | 2024 AZ South Pointe (AZ Legacy 17 Elite)
Camren Houser Camren Houser 6'1" | SG Sequoia Pathfinder | 2024 State AZ Sequoia Pathfinder (Team Build Legacy 17 )
3rd Team
Nasir Hailey Nasir Hailey 5'10" | PG Saguaro | 2028 AZ Saguaro (Hoop Code 14 National)
Sebastian Hatsakorzian Sebastian Hatsakorzian 6'3" | SF St. Mary's | 2026 State AZ St. Mary’s (AND1 17)
Gabriel Buksh Gabriel Buksh 5'10" | PG Cienega | 2025 State AZ Cienga (APEX Nxt SB 17)
Kareem Alkhalifa Kareem Alkhalifa 6'4" | SF Pinnacle | 2026 State AZ Pinnacle (Peak Platinum 16 NB)
Diego Sarabia Diego Sarabia 6'6" | PF Queen Creek | 2026 State AZ Queen Creek (AND1 17)
Dayton Foster Dayton Foster 5'7" | PG ALA West Foothills | 2024 State AZ ALA West Foothills (Hunters Elite 17)
Jett King Jett King 6'0" | SG Pinnacle | 2026 State AZ Pinnacle (Peak Platinum 16 NB)
Wade Eshom Wade Eshom 6'8" | C Vista Grande | 2025 State AZ Vista Grande (Hunters Elite 17)
4th Team
Will Feagles Will Feagles 6'3" | SG Notre Dame Prep | 2025 State AZ Notre Dame Prep (Peak Platinum 17)
Saleem Gakiza Saleem Gakiza 6'5" | SF Pinnacle | 2026 State AZ Pinnacle (Peak Platinum 16 NB)
Iyzaya Soto Iyzaya Soto 5'11" | CG McClintock | 2026 State AZ McClintock (AZ Gremlins Gray 16)
Jalen Lucas-Reeves Jalen Lucas-Reeves 6'2" | SF Casteel | 2025 State AZ Casteel (AZ Gremlins 17)
Rylan Parsley Rylan Parsley 6'5" | SG Sandra Day O'Connor | 2026 State AZ Sandra Day O’Connor (Roc Steady 17)
Noah Oliver Noah Oliver 6'3" | SG Canyon View | 2025 State AZ Canyon View ( Team Rise N Grind 17)
Malachi Long Malachi Long 5'11" | PG Sequoia Pathfinder | 2024 AZ Sequoia Pathfinder (Team Build Legacy 17 )
Ben Aronson Ben Aronson 5'11" | PG Salpointe Catholic | 2026 State AZ Salpointe Catholic (Apex Athletix 16)
Jayden Davis Jayden Davis 6'1" | SF Desert Edge | 2024 State AZ Desert Edge ( Team Rise N Grind 17)
5th Team
Charles Cobbs Charles Cobbs 6'1" | PG Chandler | 2025 State AZ Chandler (AZ Gremlins 17)
Peanut Barnes Peanut Barnes 6'0" | CG Phhoenix Prep | 2024 AZ Phhoenix Prep (Roc Steady 17)
TayVion Wilson TayVion Wilson 6'0" | PG Sandra Day O'Connor | 2025 State AZ Sandra Day O’Connor (Roc Steady 17)
Cezer Sotomayor Cezer Sotomayor 6'1" | CG ALA Gilbert North | 2025 State AZ ALA Gilbert-North (Peak Platinum 17)
Hale Hansen Hale Hansen 6'4" | SF Brophy Prep | 2026 State AZ Brophy Prep (AND1 17)
Justice Hinds Justice Hinds 5'10" | PG Saguaro | 2026 State AZ Saguaro (Peak Platinum 16 NB)
Joshua McManaway Joshua McManaway 6'3" | SG McClintock | 2026 State AZ McClintock (AZ Gremlins Gray 16)
Connor Morris Connor Morris 6'5" | SG ALA Gilbert-North | 2025 State AZ ALA Gilbert-North (Peak Platinum 17)
John Hemsley John Hemsley 6'8" | PF Canyon View | 2025 State AZ Canyon View (AZ Venom Nxt 17)
6th Team
Kyle Speed Kyle Speed 6'3" | SF Gilbert | 2028 AZ Gilbert (Hoop Code 14 National)
Elijah Padgett Elijah Padgett 6'2" | SF Suhuaro | 2026 State AZ Sahuaro (Tucson Unity 16)
Damien Williams Damien Williams 6'5" | PF Chandler | 2024 State AZ Chandler (AZ Gremlins 17)
Diego Gonzales Diego Gonzales 6'0" | CG Hamilton | 2026 State AZ Hamilton (AZ Gremlins 16)
Alex Brown Alex Brown 6'1" | CG Hamilton | 2026 State AZ Hamilton (AZ Gremlins 16)
Sergio Ramirez Sergio Ramirez 6'3" | SG Canyon View | 2024 State AZ Canyon View ( Team Rise N Grind 17)
Sam O’Dowd Sam O’Dowd 6'2" | SG Rincon/University | 2025 State AZ Rincon (APEX Nxt SB 17)
Zane Connelly Zane Connelly 5'9" | PG Dysart | 2024 State AZ Dysart ( Team Rise N Grind 17)
David Mans David Mans 6'5" | PF Pinnacle | 2026 State AZ Pinnacle (Peak Platinum 16 NB)
Newcomers
Changa Aley Changa Aley 6'6" | PF Kellis | 2024 AZ Kellis (AZ Legacy 17 Elite)
Ajay Blakes Ajay Blakes 6'2" | CG Heritage Academy Maricopa | 2025 State AZ Heritage Academy Maricopa (AZ Venom Nxt 17)
Desmyn Beavers-Smith Desmyn Beavers-Smith 6'1" | SG Trevor Browne | 2025 State AZ Trevor Browne (AZ Venom Nxt 17)
Isaiah Gill Isaiah Gill 5'10" | PG Canyon Del Oro | 2027 State AZ Canyon del Oro (Apex Athletix 16)
Mark Gutierrez Mark Gutierrez 5'9" | PG Cholla | 2027 State AZ Cholla (Tucson Unity 16)
Jaydon Hayes Jaydon Hayes 6'1" | SG Willow Canyon | 2028 AZ Willow Canyon (Hoop Code 14 National)
Marcus Isaac Marcus Isaac 6'5" | PF Mountain Pointe | 2028 AZ Undecided (Hoop Code 14 National)
Jachin Reynolds Jachin Reynolds 6'4" | PF AZ College Prep | 2026 State AZ AZ College Prep (AZ Gremlins Gray 16)
***(Later in the week and next week I will go through the six teams in detail and the newcomers)