4A Desert Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2023-2024 Standings</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>1. Somerset Academy Losee –</strong>&nbsp;<em>9-1 (24-4 Overall)</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2. Sierra Vista High School –&nbsp;</strong><em>9-1 (23-9 Overall)</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>3. Clark High School –</strong>&nbsp;<em>6-4 (14-8 Overall)</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>4. Cheyenne High School –</strong>&nbsp;<em>4-6 (6-18 Overall)</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>5. Somerset Sky Pointe – </strong><em>1-9 (7-19 Overall)</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>6. Amplus Academy –</strong>&nbsp;<em>1-9 (5-11 Overall)</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><br><strong>2024-25 Standings Predictions<br><br>1.</strong>&nbsp;<strong>Sierra Vista High School - </strong>Sierra Vista returns [player_tooltip player_id='1281369' first='Xavion' last='Staton'], [player_tooltip player_id='1267555' first='EJ' last='Dacuma'], [player_tooltip player_id='1579547' first='Ethan' last='Nelson'], and [player_tooltip player_id='2145751' first='Noah' last='Brosier'] from last year's championship team. There are also some transfers on the team this year. [player_tooltip player_id='1266705' first='Jevon' last='Yapi'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1253131' first='Colton' last='Knoll'] both transferred over from Red Rock, and [player_tooltip player_id='2351324' first='Darius' last='Ruffin'] transferred over from Desert Oasis. In addition to their veteran talent, they have rising sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='1965069' first='Aiden' last='Reed'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1965124' first='Jayvion' last='Wall'] ready to contribute. In The Border League tournament they were right with some elite prep school teams, and it was evident that they will be the team to beat in 4A. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2.</strong> <strong>Somerset Academy Losee -</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1253138' first='Roderick' last='Johnson'] will be Somerset Academy Losee's top player again this season. The now senior, averaged 15.4 PPG last year. He is a threat off the dribble and can really shoot. Unfortunately Losee, lost a few of their starters from last year, so they will need a few new guys to produce. My guess is that [player_tooltip player_id='1984187' first='Maurice' last='Wicks-Wesley'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1741615' first='Kieran' last='Daniel'] will become those guys, as Wicks-Wesley averaged 6.8 PPG last year and [player_tooltip player_id='1741615' first='Kieran' last='Daniel'] averaged 6.0 PPG. [player_tooltip player_id='1938190' first='Zion' last='Gayle'] can also contribute thanks to his 6'5 frame, look for him to be a consistent rebounder for them.<br><br><strong>3. Clark High School -</strong> Clark is going to have a much different lineup out there this year. They have De'Shaun Tolever, unfortunately he broke his leg. Then Brenden Banks-Speed and [player_tooltip player_id='1667941' first='Alan' last='Anderson Jr']. both transferred to Paragon Academy. However [player_tooltip player_id='1373152' first='Elijah' last='Coleman'], Clark's leading assist man from a year ago will be back. It also looks like they'll have some youth on their team, as freshman [player_tooltip player_id='2637173' first='CJ' last='Edwards'] made the varsity team. He has some scoring ability, and has the capability to contribute right away. Clark may go through some growing pains, but they have the potential to improve. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>4. Cheyenne High School - </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1572603' first='Cordae' last='Feazell'] was the leading scorer for Cheyenne last season and averaged 11.0 PPG. [player_tooltip player_id='1945230' first='Tyree' last='Bruce'], Cheyenne's second leading scorer, also returns. Bruce averaged 8.0 PPG last season. Both are seniors as well, and figure to be the team leaders. Diego Cruz and [player_tooltip player_id='2281630' first='Alex' last='Boston'] are also likely going to be rotational players for them. Cruz is a senior guard, and Boston plays some power forward and center. <br><br><strong>5.</strong> <strong>Somerset Sky Point -</strong> Somerset Sky Point won just one league game last season. Luckily they return their top two scorers, [player_tooltip player_id='2027031' first='Emmitt' last='Bell'] and Ja'Cory Gory. [player_tooltip player_id='1984204' first='Kyle' last='Christiana'] will be on the squad again as well, and averaged 8.0 rebounds per same last season. Kaleo Loo-Beamer is another senior on the roster and will look to be a contributor. While they are an older team this season, each league game will still be a battle for them. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>6. Amplus Academy - </strong>Falna Ahferom, Cody Clark, and Dajon McGinnes return for Amplus Academy. They were the leading scorers for Amplus last year, and we should see some improvement from them. Like Somerset Sky Point, they only had one league win last year. We'll see if the ball bounces there way a few more times this year and if they can collect some more wins. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Projected All-Conference Teams</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>MVP - </strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1281369' first='Xavion' last='Staton'] - Sierra Vista High School<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>First Team</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1266705' first='Jevon' last='Yapi'] - Sierra Vista High School</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1253138' first='Roderick' last='Johnson'] - Somerset Academy Losee</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1373152' first='Elijah' last='Coleman'] - Clark High School</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1253131' first='Colton' last='Knoll'] - Sierra Vista High School </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1267555' first='EJ' last='Dacuma'] - Sierra Vista High School</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Second Team</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2414890' first='KJ' last='Hunter'] - Sierra Vista High School</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1965124' first='Jayvion' last='Wall'] - Sierra Vista High School</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1938190' first='Zion' last='Gayle'] - Somerset Academy Losee</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1945230' first='Tyree' last='Bruce'] - Cheyenne High School </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1741615' first='Kieran' last='Daniel'] - Somserset Academy Losee </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Best of the Best</strong><br><br><strong>Best Shooter:</strong>&nbsp;[player_tooltip player_id='1253138' first='Roderick' last='Johnson']<br><strong>Best Rebounder:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1281369' first='Xavion' last='Staton']<br><strong>Best Defender:.</strong>&nbsp;[player_tooltip player_id='1253131' first='Colton' last='Knoll']<br><strong>Best College Prospect:</strong>&nbsp;[player_tooltip player_id='1266705' first='Jevon' last='Yapi']<br><strong>Most Improved Player:</strong>&nbsp;[player_tooltip player_id='1741615' first='Kieran' last='Daniel'] </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->