Breakout Szn: Who Broke Out This Year?

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we head into the playoffs portion of the season, I wanted to take a look back at some of the players who broke out this 2025-2026 season. They all had different reasons why they did but they all put themselves on the map. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Here are 9 players who broke out this year</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='3018506' first='Jaeden' last='Imbesi-Jenkins'] <strong>Desert Ridge </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>An under the radar player popped up in the beginning of the season and has been putting in work all year long. He scores it from all three levels with deep threes, mid-range pull-ups and he is a quick driver to the basket. He is climbing the rankings. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2297437' first='Dylan' last='Vargas'] <strong>San Tan Charter</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He was forced to sit last year and played on junior varsity and is now blossoming on varsity leading one of the best small school teams in the state. He is a high flying power forward with a real motor to rebound and will from inside and out. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2764046' first='Malachi' last='Jones'] <strong>Gilbert</strong> <strong>(Pictured)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another player who was forced to sit out last year and only play on junior varsity with the double transfer rule. He is leading a very young team with controlling the glass inside and out of his area. He will shoot it from all levels and can throw it down.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2689898' first='Caden' last='Lozen'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2689901' first='Drew' last='Jolley'] <strong>Prescott </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The two sophomores played only on freshmen ball last year and are breaking out before our eyes. Lozen is a bigger wing forward just scratching the surface moving well from end to end and scores it from all levels. Jolley is a long, tall and graceful gazelle who shows you glimpses of brilliance. He can shoot it from the three, dunk it and block shots. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2552787' first='Landen' last='Martineau'] <strong>Casteel </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A junior varsity stud last season is getting his chance on varsity to not only play but he starts and runs the 6A team to becoming a top-15 team. He has next level pinpoint passing and will score with quick drives and deep threes off the catch or pull.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2766915' first='Hudson' last='Novak'] <strong>Scottsdale Christian Academy</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A deep shooter played last year in the prep world and is getting his chance to shine in the AIA. The lefty sharp shooter is the son of the coach and plays the right way. He shoots it better then most off the catch and can pull-up from both levels. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2396138' first='Rashad' last='Ortiz'] <strong>Palo Verde</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A high level athletic scoring guard is filling up the scoreboard nightly. He has had some monster games this season with many 25+ points per game and he is doing it in style with high level dunks, deep threes and he is a multiple positional defender using his athletic gifts. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2427680' first='Conner' last='Tefteller'] <strong>Campo Verde</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At one point this team was the #1 ranked team in all of 5A and Teffteller is a big reason why. He backed up seniors Brandon Curtis and co. last year and earned the starting PG in the summer and he hasn't looked back since. A true breakout this season with making everyone around him better but also scoring from all levels. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->