Arizona Preps: 2026 Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>October 26th I attended the 26th annual&nbsp;<strong>Arizona Preps Fall Showcase.</strong>&nbsp;Director<strong>&nbsp;</strong><em><strong>Anthony Ray</strong>&nbsp;</em>had high school and prep teams going at it playing two games each at Inspire Courts in Gilbert, AZ.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Here are some Junior Standouts I viewed</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1463230' first='Tyus' last='Thomas'] Desert Vista (Pictured)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A pure point guard just moved into town from Liberty HS in Nevada. The ball is on a string for him and he is a phenomenal passer. He scores with speeds dribble drives and mid-range pull-ups. He also scores with runners and hook shots.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1900362' first='Colby' last='Jessup'] Valley Christian&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The bigger lead guard is a sniper off the dribble form the three point line. He uses his size to get to the basket and can speed dribble on the break and will score in traffic. He has quicker hands to collect steals and will drive and kick it or dump it off to a teammate. He will euro down the lane and then perfectly find someone in stride. He is in line for a breakout season for the talented 3A school.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1445948' first='Brandon' last='Stapleton'] Chandler</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A bigger combo guard who can score with pull-ups and strong downhill takes. The lefty has a nice first step to get to the rim and can hit the catch three and can score on the break. He will cut off the ball, score inside with hook shots, hit step back pull-ups from mid-range and find teammates when needed. He also works well from the high post and then does his thing.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2144878' first='Jacob' last='Williford'] AZ Compass Prep</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A versatile point forward type is a way better passer then you realize. He will throw the dime to a teammate and whip it around the court. He is good on the ball defensively and collects steals. He can score with the catch three, blow by his defender and get to the free throw line. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1323294' first='Will' last='Gordon'] AZ Compass Prep</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A good sized combo guard is athletic with some length. He transferred in from San Tan Charter and will score and defend. He will collect steals and lay it in the other way. He has a nice looking three point stroke off the catch and will pull-up from mid. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1574517' first='Jaylin' last='Ideran'] Camelback&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The two-way scoring point guard does many things well. He can take the ball off the glass and go coast to coast. He can make contested off balanced shots on the norm with advanced body control. He also picked multiple pockets and found teammates in the flow of the offense. He can shoot the three and burst past to score near the rim. He took charges and plays the right way. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1591734' first='TJ' last='Harris'] Liberty&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A scoring point guard has an electric first step to gain separation from his defender. Not many can stay with his first step as he slithers into the lane with his speed and grace. He is a pest on the ball defensively and it was a big pick up this off-season for the Lions. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1323292' first='Joseph' last='Lindsey Jr'] Carl Hayden&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A fast and super quick pure point guard. He will burst past his initial defender and will get downhill and then thread the basketball into a cutting teammate or kick it to a shooter. He has a nice layup package to score inside with his speed. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1893708' first='Prince' last='Cash'] Carl Hayden&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A long and athletic wing forward will score with transition points using his athleticism. He will grab rebounds out of his area and will defend multiple positions. He can score from the perimeter and he is a sneaky good passer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1482211' first='Noah' last='Gloor'] Higley</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the top scorers in the junior class is undersized but makes it look easy in many stretches. He has volleyball line deep range and can pull-up from mid-range. He has unmatched confidence and will let it fly from any spot on the court. He is their engine of the 6A team and they will defeat some teams that most people think they shouldn't with Gloor.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1620346' first='Joshua' last='McManaway'] McClintock</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A long scoring guard is a very good rebounder for his size and position. He will score with deep threes and works well from the high post and will go to work ripping thru with longer strides. Him and [player_tooltip player_id='1570935' first='Kyler' last='Frye'] form a tough duo.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1570935' first='Kyler' last='Frye'] <strong>McClintock </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The dynamic duo of [player_tooltip player_id='1620346' first='Joshua' last='McManaway'] and Frye makes it hard to focus on just one player. Frye is great with the ball in his hands and scores with tough downhill takes to the rim, pull-ups, floaters and runners.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->