5A Rankings: First Edition
The first edition of the 5A rankings are finally here. Much like last year, when it was Division II, there is a lot of talent in 5A with a couple of clear cut front runners. This is an extremely fun…
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Continue ReadingThe first edition of the 5A rankings are finally here. Much like last year, when it was Division II, there is a lot of talent in 5A with a couple of clear cut front runners. This is an extremely fun time to be a basketball fan as non-region play wraps up and region play begins.
5A Rankings
Sunnyslope – Sunnyslope survived a nail-biter against Chaparral at Chaparral this past week. They trailed for much of the game and mounted a tremendous comeback as a means of staying undefeated. This was a huge win for a very talented team as they head into region play. Sunnyslope has one of the most balanced and deep teams in the entire state which is a huge reason for their early and sustained success. They play tough defense and can hurt opposing teams from an array of positions. As the season progresses, keep an eye on the front court of Kyle Fischer and Chris Orozco as they demand double teams and create for their talented guards, Bryson Mewhinney, Abayev Allen, and Jaran Whitfield.
Chaparral – Chaparral gave Sunnyslope all that they could handle and then some. This group is well built and have pieces at every position. Colten Kresl is the start of everything that this team does. He can shoot the basketball, get into the paint, and create for others. This makes him an absolute force to be reckoned with. In addition to Kresl, this team has a number of shooters and physical players that assist them on the glass. For this team to continue its success, expect JT Thoman to play big down the stretch. Also, Chaparral plays in one of the top regions in the state and in order to maintain their high 5A ranking, they will need to deal with Paradise Valley twice and Arcadia twice.
Apollo – Apollo has two loses on the year with one of them coming to Findlay College Prep and Chaparral. It is worth noting that NCAA Division 1 commitments Holland Woods and Dre Marin did not play. It would have been a great showdown. However, it looks like it will have to wait until a potential meeting in the state tournament. Apollo is led by their guards. Yet, they depth with Elloheim Clark, shooting with Jeff Perez, and length with Emmanual Taban. This is a team that could easily be the top in the 5A rankings. Watch them down the stretch as this is a senior laden group that has the experience and skill needed to make a deep tournament run. Their next game is against 6A #2 Corona Del Sol. Moreover, Apollo has many notable games against in region times, specifically two huge games against Sunnyslope.
Arcadia – Arcadia is led by one of the most fundamentally sound point guards in the state in Max Moses. He shoots the basketball at an extremely high rate and gets his teammates in position to be successful. In addition to Moses, Arcadia has big man Aiden Weber. Weber has been cleaning up the glass and finishing well around the rim. In fact, he is averaging a double-double. This has been a huge reason for the team’s success. Arcadia has good wins against Deer Valley, Queen Creek, and Sunnyside. In addition, they have a 3 point lose to 6A #1 Basha. This team is built to compete at the top of the 5A Rankings. It should be quite interesting to see them play Chaparral twice down the stretch.
Buena – With many options who are capable to take over a game, Buena is a force to be reckoned with down the stretch. They have so many options on the offensive end that they are very difficult to guard. Leading the way for the Colts are Kino Bellinger and Dominic Mooney. Add to the mix that four of their five leading scorers are not seniors, this group could contend for the state title in 5A this year and next year. Also worth keeping an eye on is 2019 Grant Ward. Like almost all the other teams listed, Buena will have some tough region games at the bottom half of this season. Specifically, they still have to play 6A Tucson and 4A Salpointe Catholic.