Hoophall/Nike TOC: 2025 Forward Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>January 2nd-4th I attended the annual&nbsp;<strong>Hoophall West&nbsp;</strong>located at Highland HS in Gilbert this year and also the&nbsp;<strong>Nike Tournament of Champions</strong>&nbsp;at multiple high school gyms throughout the East Valley. In the three days I viewed seven different brackets (Hoophall West, Saguaro, Sonoran, Coyote, Jackrabbit, Camelback and Sunrise) which included two championship games (Sonoran and Sunrise).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Here are the 2025 Forward Standouts I viewed</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1449361' first='Caspian' last='Jones'] St. Mary's (Pictured)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A bigger wing is one of the best players left in the AIA. He scores with catch threes, tough takes in traffic, threes off the catch. cuts without the ball, post ups with some strength and will score some and-1's in traffic. He also rebounds well in his area. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1381426' first='Luke' last='Wieskamp'] Brophy Prep</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The <strong>Menlo</strong> commit is a hyper athletic power forward who dunks it way above the rim with ease. He gets off the ground so quickly and explodes up. He is a star in transition and will score in traffic thru contact with some and-1's. He rebounds well in his area and will block a shot.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1129193' first='Koa' last='Peat'] Perry</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the top players in the AIA and in the country. He is an elite rebounder and will pass it up the court perfectly to a teammate breaking out for a layup.&nbsp;He has elite hands and will often take it coast to coast in traffic. He will shoot the three off the catch and fall away from mid-range. He also often gets to the free throw line. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1333492' first='Michael' last='Simcoe'] Sandra Day O'Connor</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another top power forward in the AIA showed off his all-around game. He scores with deep threes with range, rip thrus in traffic and he will create his own offense off the dribble. He rebounds at a high clip and will fall away from his defender and hit the catch three, and then find a teammate in stride. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='996172' first='D'Andre' last='Harrison'] Perry</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the more efficient and effective forwards in the AIA plays perfectly off of [player_tooltip player_id='1129193' first='Koa' last='Peat']. He scores with offensive rebound put backs, mid-range fall aways and mid-range jumpers, which is his sweet spot. He will hit the three and also rip thru with his left hand scoring in the lane.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1485542' first='Davis' last='Fogle'] AZ Compass Prep</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A versatile wing is scoring it more and more as the year goes on. He shoots with catch threes and will rise up from mid-range off the dribble. He is a big time rebounder as he rises up so effortlessly off the ground.&nbsp;The <strong>Gonzaga</strong> commit does a little bit of everything. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1150843' first='Andrew' last='Bhesania'] Boulder Creek&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A big showing for the skilled power forward. He scores it all ways and is rebounding well in his area and will push it up the court and make a play for a teammate or score. He also is blocking a high amount of shots and controlling the glass.&nbsp;He scores with spin moves to the basket, threes, dribble drives and inside takes. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1369218' first='Gavin' last='Dabney'] Higley </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A versatile point forward type makes plays for others and will score it. He loves getting into the lane with strong takes to the basket and scores thru the contact or gets fouled. He rebounds the ball well with his strong hands and thicker build. He plays a cerebral and winning brand basketball. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1366582' first='Cullen' last='Schreiner'] Basha </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Their biggest starter is a face-up forward who plays the 3-5 for the Bears. He will rattle in threes off the catch with a picture perfect shooting stroke with a super quick release. He rebounds well in his area and will block shots.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1336442' first='Zane' last='Gaul'] Prescott </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The big man has had a great month as he is the top true big left on the board from the AIA. He scores it from inside and out with good hands, size, physicality and natural skill. He rebounds at high level using his athletic gifts and boxing out plus he will block shots. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2717300' first='Thomas' last='Noyes'] Cienega</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A newcomer for me is a versatile wing forward who scores it effectively around the basket. The lefty has a nice touch and is crafty around the basket using his handle. He will score with offensive rebound put backs using a big motor. He also gets himself to the free throw line often. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2426224' first='Evan' last='Golembieski'] Cienega</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A highly skilled wing forward has a nice shooting stroke from the three point line off the catch. He uses his strong frame to get inside the paint and will score using the floater game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1430450' first='Elijah' last='Brush'] Hamilton </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A wing forward who is a high IQ 3 and D type. He will catch and shoot from the three point line and score it inside as well. He is a smart passer and consistently makes the extra pass. He rebounds well in his area and plays the game from the neck up.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->