2/25 Round-1 2026 Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wednesday I watched 5 round-1 playoff games. I watched <strong>Carl Hayden</strong> defeat <strong>Cienega 73-65,&nbsp;Westview</strong> defeat<strong> Ironwood Ridge</strong> <strong>72-58, Mountain Pointe </strong>defeat <strong>Marana Mountain View 68-45, Canyon View </strong>defeat <strong>Buena 79-42</strong> and <strong>Notre Dame Prep defeated Verrado 69-52.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Here were the Senior Standouts for the 1st round games I viewed </h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>All Stats are unofficial. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1893708' first='Prince' last='Cash'] Carl Hayden (Pictured)&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A good sized wing forward had a big showing with 30 points versus Cienega in overtime. He scores it with long driving step thrus, catch three with a quick release, and-1 offensive rebound put backs, rip thrus, lob dunk/layups and contested layups in traffic. He will also gobble up rebounds and block shots.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1323292' first='Joseph' last='Lindsey Jr'] Carl Hayden</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A pure point guard who can score. He will throw up the court ropes and throw the lob pass perfectly. He will score with mid-range pull-ups, transition buckets and he has an incredible first step. He is very quick on the ball defensively and rebounds well for position. He scored 12 points with multiple assists. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2630596' first='Dalton' last='Yarmolovich'] Ironwood Ridge</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A combo forward can play either position up front. He moves well from end to end and he rebounds the ball with a live motor. He will score with rip thrus and offensive rebound put backs. He will take charges and scored 6 points with 7+ rebounds. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2147243' first='Jaden' last='Rodgers'] Cienega</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the top defenders in the senior class. He is a true two-way defender as he will collect steals in bunches and had some chase down blocks. He will score with pull-up threes, &nbsp;downhill takes with either hand and dunks on the break.&nbsp;He is also a sneaky good passer and scored 11 points. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1323295' first='Brayden' last='Barrett'] Verrado</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A top notch scoring wing forward who will fill it up from all three levels. He gets downhill with contact and will consistently hit shots in traffic. He can rattle in threes off the catch or pull and he can create his own offense with a nice handle and getting to his spots. He scored 27 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1776604' first='Tristen' last='Rhodes'] Verrado</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A scoring lead guard is a heady play-maker and will make smart reads. He is a natural scorer with deep threes with real range and a quicker trigger one by one. He is sneaky quick to blow past his defenders and score or he will get fouled. He finished with 13 points. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2297776' first='Michael' last='Atabala'] Notre Dame Prep</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A true breakout performance from the strong combo lead guard. He can easily play on or off the ball and had some advanced passes with 4+ assists. He really is a natural scorer with quick trigger threes, tough downhill takes using his strong frame and he can pull-up quickly off the dribble and drill it. He had 31 points. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1917869' first='Ethan' last='Sobik'] Notre Dame Prep </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The big man for the Saints is Sobik. He is a highly skilled face-up 4/5. He can bang inside with bigger players and is defending on the perimeter better and better. He rebounds well and will score with threes off the catch and has post footwork to fill it up. He scored 12 points. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1875584' first='Mykael' last='Nunez'] Marana Mountain View</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A defensive power forward was collecting steals, grabbing tough rebounds and blocking shots. He gives you high effort and runs the floor. He will score it with threes off the catch, rip thru going baseline and often earns trips to the free throw line with his high effort. He scored 7 points. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2990139' first='Daniel' last='Anumba'] Marana Mountain View</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A long newcomer is a tad raw but very long on defense to defend in space. He covers a lot of ground and will rebound and make it harder to score on him. He will score with rip&nbsp;thrus and he is active on the glass. He is also a sneaky good passer. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1763218' first='AJ' last='Harris'] Canyon View</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A live bodied forward can play and defend multiple positions. He will score with mid-range jumpers, hook shots in the lane, euro steps in traffic, inside and-1 takes with advanced body control&nbsp;and he can grab a rebound off the glass and push the pace.&nbsp;He scored 15+ points in a blowout win with limited minutes. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2850600' first='A'Vari' last='Piper'] Westview</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>An athletic power forward comes off the bench for the Knights and brings some bounce and energy to the court. He will score with his back to the basket with post ups, hook shots, runners in the lane, off the ball cuts and easy dunks. He scored 10 points. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->