Recruiting Update – Ryder Zanon (2026 Southridge)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the more impact transfers in 2025-26 will undoubtedly be [player_tooltip player_id='1787372' first='Ryder' last='Zanon']. The skilled 6-foot-9 big man will be with Southridge for his last season of high school basketball and in June, he was able to suit up with the Skyhawks in summer ball for the first time. It was definitely different playing with a new group of guys but it was a successful month for Zanon and Southridge as the squad was extremely successful - and the rising senior fit right in.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"It feels great and I'm loving the team," Zanon said. "I feel like we've got great chemistry. We're all unselfish players and we're connected really well, and for me, only being here less than a month, I feel like the team chemistry is already there. We're playing really well together and I think it's a great group of guys. It's just a great team and I'm really happy to be a part of it."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A lot of the top shooters from last year's squad return for the Skyhawks, and this past month it appeared that Zanon was the missing piece in the paint. "I feel like I bring a big piece with my presence down low," Zanon said. "I can open everybody up. I feel like I'm a pretty willing passer and with me there, it's just an extra piece to hit. I mean, everyone can shoot the ball, so I can just spray out to them. They can hit the threes, and I can dominate down low."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>June came along for Zanon after a solid spring playing club basketball. Running with the [program_tooltip program_id='2850997' first='Cascade' last='Kings'], the big man was able to go up against some top-level competition and he felt that he more than held his own while continuing to improve.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"I think I'm starting to have a little breakout season," Zanon said. "I'm starting to see the work I've been putting in come to the light. I think my athleticism has taken a step, everything. I feel like I've been playing really well and I've been working a lot on my motor. I think for me to be the best player I can be, I have to be active the whole game, which is with offensive rebounds, defensive rebounds, everything. And then my footwork has always been something I've been working on, and then a little bit—be able to make plays from the high post, from the top of the key, stuff like that."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Playing in front of college coaches has allowed Zanon to pick up some attention in his college recruitment. He noted that he's hearing the most right now from the D-II and D-III levels, in particular Black Hills State and Chapman College. Overall, he's completely open and looking for a good fit both on and off the court.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"Nothing super heavy. but it's starting to definitely pick up, though," Zanon said. "I'm getting texts and I've got a good amount of coaches following me, getting my number, and then kind of the same schools have been in contact with me a little bit. I think I want to go somewhere that's both—I want to go to a good basketball school, but I also want to set myself up for the future, so I think I want to be able to keep moving forward - I'm pretty academic, I would say. But I also want to challenge myself and compete at the highest standard I can. So that's the goal for me."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Zanon will get another opportunity to play in front of coaches in July with the [program_tooltip program_id='2850997' first='Cascade' last='Kings'], and then it will be on towards senior year - one where the big man is very excited about Southridge's potential.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"I think we're going to surprise a lot of people," Zanon said. "I think we're going to be really good and I feel like we were good enough to win the Metro League title. I just don't see a lot of guys that can hang with us if we're playing at our best."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->