2025-26’s Trending Up

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we head into the AIA and prep official seasons here are some players that seem to have their stock trending in the right direction that are unsigned.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the new portal world, college coaches are focusing mainly on seniors and juniors. They still are definitely aware of the underclassmen but the landscape has somewhat changed and coaches are looking almost year to year like NFL football contracts since their actual rosters may be flipped upside down and will have different needs then they assumed they would have if a player transfers.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Here are 12 players trending up with the AIA and Prep:&nbsp; </strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Seniors</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1150847' first='Carlos' last='Coronado Jr'] Supreme Academy&nbsp;(Pictured)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the top unsigned point guards in the state has been crushing it early on. He showed that he is a three level scorer with parking lot range, pull-ups and dunks on the break. He uses his length on defense and can find teammates.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2107106' first='Andre' last='Thomas'] Eduprize&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A hyper athletic forward is fluid to play both spots. He is a way above the rim athlete with alley-oops and runs gracefully from end to end. He rebounds in and out of his area and can step out and hit the three with success. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2279895' first='Stephan' last='Miller'] Liberty</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A bigger scoring guard had his coming out party late in the season. He came off the bench all the way up until the last few games when they went on their deep run and won it all in 6A. He is a scorer who can go on his own runs with polished pull-ups from mid, get to the rim and hit the three. He also defends multiple positions.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2108097' first='Kaden' last='Gollhuir'] <strong>Mountain Pointe </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A talented guard who can play on or off the ball once he comes in. He will find teammates in stride and score. He has a quick first step to get to the basket plus can pull-up from mid-range and hit the three. On a team with some talented guards, he is tough to take off the court. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2039505' first='Braylon' last='Haman'] Phhoenix Prep OPEN</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A post grad guard keeps playing well every showing. The word toughness is definitely in his game. He digs in on defense and will shoot it from the arc with off the dribble and catch work plus get to the basket with a burst.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2249638' first='Carter' last='Brown'] Ironwood Ridge</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A Tucson based guard already showed signs of breaking out at the Tucson showcase. He can hang with some of the best in the area and will be asked to lead a 5A playoff caliber team with his perimeter shooting, strong drives to the basket using his toughness and making the right decisions.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Juniors</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2021873' first='Jacob' last='Lanier'] AZ Compass Prep&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A long and athletic wing had a good start of the prep season. He is shooting the ball at a high clip from the three but also defending nearly any position for the Dragons. He is a smart passer and rebounds and collects steals.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2144878' first='Jacob' last='Williford'] AZ Compass Prep Grind</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another talented wing is more of a point forward type. He reads the court well for a small forward and has the versatility to play multiple positions.&nbsp; He can make perimeter jumpers plus get to the basket.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1445948' first='Brandon' last='Stapleton'] Chandler&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A bigger combo guard seemed to have found his groove with scoring and making plays for his teammates. The lefty can post up his opponents, hit the three with some range, drive it using his size and then take the ball off the glass and take it coast to coast.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1323294' first='Will' last='Gordon'] AZ Compass Prep Grind</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another Grind Session player who is trending up is Gordon. He is shooing the ball at a high clip recently with some big games with literally seven made threes. He shoots it off the catch or pull but can also make plays and defend.  It would not surprise me if he gets moved up to the National team to give them quality depth.    </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1591737' first='Daniel' last='Garza'] Willow Canyon</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The top true facilitator on the list, simply just sees the court with next level court vision. Top senior PG Kelly will be out early on in the season and look for Garza to take some of his workload and spray the ball around. He has a tight handle with some speed to go with and can hit perimeter jumpers. All of his stats should go up.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1697293' first='Ryker' last='Hughes'] <strong>Sandra Day O'Connor</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>An improving power forward got the nod to start in a recent scrimmage with one starter nursing an injury. He plays hard, controls the paint with rebounds and will block shots and run the floor. He will score it inside and be a nice insurance policy with a long season ahead and he will definitely start next season along with [player_tooltip player_id='1697291' first='Amare' last='Runyon'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->