2022-23 AIA Awards and Thoughts
In this article:
We crowned 7 Champions with the 1A-6A Conference winners and the first ever OPEN winner. There are some definite flaws with some of the AIA playoffs but we did add a shot clock and a new OPEN division. What can…
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Continue ReadingWe crowned 7 Champions with the 1A-6A Conference winners and the first ever OPEN winner.
There are some definite flaws with some of the AIA playoffs but we did add a shot clock and a new OPEN division.
What can they possibly improve next year?
Can we get one BIG school or arena to host the Final-4 or Elite-8? Especially the OPEN with many eyes on those games.
Can we get a HUMAN to seed the OPEN teams so teams don’t see each other too early in the same conference or even the same region? We had multiple teams play each other the 3rd time in early rounds.
I do like how the fact we can celebrate 1-6A separately but it may be nice to see 1-3A Finals one day, 4-5A Finals one day and then 6A-OPEN on another day.
Should we do all the conference Chips first and then go to the OPEN? If so, we need someone to seed the 8 or 16 teams. Maybe top-2 in each conference from 6-4A which is 6 then a possible 3A winner (Valley Christian) would have been worthy this year and the top rated team left from their algorithm.
Speaking of the algorithm–strength of schedule needs to be taken into account way more. Period !
Anyway, I do think it was a successful season with growth!
Before I list some awards, I do take into consideration the teams strength of schedule, unlike the OPEN bracket did. Also if a team is more balanced, it is less likely for many players on that team to be high on these lists. I am usually looking for very good players on great teams. There are obviously some exceptions to the rule. My lists won’t be the same as the “voters” of 2A-6A have. It is my personal beliefs when I watched the games all year long.
Here are some fun ALL-AIA awards
All-AIA 1st team
Bradey Henige Bradey Henige 7'0" | C Cactus | 2024 State #192 Nation AZ Cactus
Kaden House Kaden House 6'3" | CG Desert Mountain | 2026 State AZ Desert Mountain
Caden Hunter Caden Hunter 6'5" | PF Liberty | 2023 State AZ Liberty
Isaiah Kai Isaiah Kai 6'2" | PG Campo Verde | 2023 State AZ Campo Verde
Koa Peat Koa Peat 6'8" | PF Perry | 2025 State #6 Nation AZ Perry
Styles Phipps Styles Phipps 6'1" | PG St Mary's | 2024 State #182 Nation AZ St. Mary’s
Cody Williams Cody Williams 6'8" | SF Perry | 2023 State #25 Nation AZ Perry
All-AIA 2nd team
Andrew Camacho Andrew Camacho 6'1" | CG Peoria | 2023 State AZ Peoria
Bryce Ford Bryce Ford 6'2" | CG Pinnacle | 2023 State AZ Pinnacle
Cameron Holmes Cameron Holmes 6'5" | SF Millennium | 2026 State AZ Millennium
Arman Madi Arman Madi 6'7" | SF Brophy | 2023 State AZ Brophy Prep
Mason Magee Mason Magee 6'0" | PG Basha | 2026 State AZ Basha
Noah Peterson Noah Peterson 6'3" | SG Highland | 2023 State AZ Highland
Luke Shaw Luke Shaw 6'3" | CG Valley Christian | 2024 State AZ Valley Christian
All-AIA 3rd team
Anthony Batson Jr Anthony Batson Jr 6'3" | SG Notre Dame Prep | 2024 State #181 Nation AZ Notre Dame Prep
Carter Gittens Carter Gittens 6'5" | SF Sunrise Mountain | 2023 State AZ Sunrise Mountain
Cohen J Gonzales Cohen J Gonzales 5'8" | PG Mesquite | 2023 State AZ Mesquite
John Mattingly John Mattingly 6'0" | PG Sunnyslope | 2026 State AZ Sunnyslope
Dylan Novak Dylan Novak 6'0" | PG Phhoenix Prep | 2025 State AZ ALA- Gilbert North
Ring Nyeri Ring Nyeri 6'8" | PF Liberty | 2024 State #256 Nation AZ Liberty
Emery Young Emery Young 6'4" | SG Centennial | 2023 State AZ Centennial
All-AIA 4th team
Grant Ashby Grant Ashby 6'5" | SG Pima | 2023 State AZ Pima
Andrew Bhesania Andrew Bhesania 6'8" | PF Boulder Creek | 2025 State #348 Nation AZ Boulder Creek
Torin Bosch Torin Bosch 6'4" | SF Basha | 2023 State AZ Basha
Ben Egbo Ben Egbo 6'4" | SF Perry | 2023 State AZ Perry
Kalek House Kalek House 6'2" | CG Desert Mountain | 2026 State AZ Desert Mountain
Ashton Reese Ashton Reese 6'5" | SG Pinnacle | 2023 State AZ Pinnacle
Braeden Speed Braeden Speed 6'3" | CG Brophy Prep | 2024 State AZ Brophy Prep
Brigg Wolfe Brigg Wolfe 6'3" | PG Mesa Mountain View | 2023 State AZ Mesa Mountain View
All-AIA 5th team
Zaveion Bineyard Zaveion Bineyard 6'7" | PF Verrado | 2023 State AZ Verrado
Isaiah Hill Isaiah Hill 5'11" | PG Premier Prep Tucson | 2024 State AZ Pueblo
Presley Ibeh Presley Ibeh 6'5" | SF Highland Prep | 2024 State AZ Highland Prep
Tommy Randolph Tommy Randolph 6'2" | PG Pinnacle | 2024 State AZ Phoenix Christian (Pictured)
DeNali McNeal DeNali McNeal 6'3" | CG Canyon View | 2025 State AZ Canyon View
Uriah Tenette Uriah Tenette 5'10" | PG Prescott | 2025 State AZ Prescott
King Turner King Turner 6'5" | PG North Canyon | 2023 State AZ North Canyon
Julius Williams Julius Williams 6'5" | PF Ironwood | 2023 State AZ Ironwood
All Senior-Team
Andrew Camacho Andrew Camacho 6'1" | CG Peoria | 2023 State AZ Peoria
Bryce Ford Bryce Ford 6'2" | CG Pinnacle | 2023 State AZ Pinnacle
Caden Hunter Caden Hunter 6'5" | PF Liberty | 2023 State AZ Liberty
Isaiah Kai Isaiah Kai 6'2" | PG Campo Verde | 2023 State AZ Campo Verde
Noah Peterson Noah Peterson 6'3" | SG Highland | 2023 State AZ Highland
Arman Madi Arman Madi 6'7" | SF Brophy | 2023 State AZ Brophy Prep
Cody Williams Cody Williams 6'8" | SF Perry | 2023 State #25 Nation AZ Perry
All Junior-Team
Anthony Batson Jr Anthony Batson Jr 6'3" | SG Notre Dame Prep | 2024 State #181 Nation AZ Notre Dame Prep
Bradey Henige Bradey Henige 7'0" | C Cactus | 2024 State #192 Nation AZ Cactus
Ring Nyeri Ring Nyeri 6'8" | PF Liberty | 2024 State #256 Nation AZ Liberty
Tommy Randolph Tommy Randolph 6'2" | PG Pinnacle | 2024 State AZ Phoenix Christian
Braeden Speed Braeden Speed 6'3" | CG Brophy Prep | 2024 State AZ Brophy Prep
Luke Shaw Luke Shaw 6'3" | CG Valley Christian | 2024 State AZ Valley Christian
Styles Phipps Styles Phipps 6'1" | PG St Mary's | 2024 State #182 Nation AZ St. Mary’s
All Soph-Team
Andrew Bhesania Andrew Bhesania 6'8" | PF Boulder Creek | 2025 State #348 Nation AZ Boulder Creek
DeNali McNeal DeNali McNeal 6'3" | CG Canyon View | 2025 State AZ Canyon View
Braden Moore Braden Moore 6'3" | PG Lee County | 2025 State GA Yuma Catholic
Dylan Novak Dylan Novak 6'0" | PG Phhoenix Prep | 2025 State AZ ALA- Gilbert North
Koa Peat Koa Peat 6'8" | PF Perry | 2025 State #6 Nation AZ Perry
Brennan Peterson Brennan Peterson 6'0" | PG Notre Dame Prep | 2025 State AZ NDP
Bryce Quinet Bryce Quinet 6'3" | PG Notre Dame Prep | 2025 State AZ NDP
Michael Simcoe Michael Simcoe 6'8" | PF Sandra Day O'Connor | 2025 State #217 Nation AZ Sandra Day O’Connor
Uriah Tenette Uriah Tenette 5'10" | PG Prescott | 2025 State AZ Prescott
All Freshman-Team
Brayden Barrett Brayden Barrett 6'5" | SF Millennium | 2026 State AZ Millennium
TJ Harris TJ Harris 6'0" | PG Paradise Honors | 2026 State AZ Paradise Honors
Cameron Holmes Cameron Holmes 6'5" | SF Millennium | 2026 State AZ Millennium
Kaden House Kaden House 6'3" | CG Desert Mountain | 2026 State AZ Desert Mountain
Kalek House Kalek House 6'2" | CG Desert Mountain | 2026 State AZ Desert Mountain
Mason Magee Mason Magee 6'0" | PG Basha | 2026 State AZ Basha
John Mattingly John Mattingly 6'0" | PG Sunnyslope | 2026 State AZ Sunnyslope
Rider Portela Rider Portela 6'5" | SG Sunnyslope | 2026 State AZ Sunnyslope
Players who you may want to know that you may have not heard of
Grant Ashby Grant Ashby 6'5" | SG Pima | 2023 State AZ Pima
Jaden Blasczyk Bradshaw Mountain
Kellen Braddix Kellen Braddix 6'1" | PG Thunderbird | 2025 State AZ Thunderbird
Albrandon Byjoe Albrandon Byjoe 6'1" | SG Monument Valley | 2023 State AZ Monument Valley
David Jackson Jr David Jackson Jr 6'3" | SF Phhoenix Prep Post Grad | 2024 State AZ NFL YET
Braden Moore Braden Moore 6'3" | PG Lee County | 2025 State GA Yuma Catholic
Khalil O’Bannon Khalil O’Bannon 6'1" | SG Tucson | 2023 State AZ Tucson
Sammy Roberts Sammy Roberts 6'5" | PF Trivium Prep | 2023 State AZ Trivium Prep
Leyton Steenhard Leyton Steenhard 6'0" | CG Queen Creek | 2025 State AZ Queen Creek
Ivory Washington Ivory Washington 6'1" | PG Coconino | 2023 State AZ Coconino
Pearson Wiggins Pearson Wiggins 6'8" | C ALA-Ironwood | 2024 State AZ ALA-Ironwood
The All-Name Team
Michael Chukwujigha Michael Chukwujigha 6'5" | PF Coconino | 2024 State AZ Coconino
Zion Eboru Zion Eboru 6'3" | SG Liberty | 2024 State AZ Liberty
Seraphin Iradukunda Seraphin Iradukunda 6'8" | PF Camelback | 2025 State AZ Camelback
Max Lightfoot Max Lightfoot 6'5" | PF Gilbert Christian | 2023 State AZ Gilbert Christian
Espn Polanski Espn Polanski 6'0" | CG Boulder Creek | 2023 State AZ Boulder Creek
Paris Strozier Jr Paris Strozier Jr 6'5" | SG Thunderbird | 2024 State AZ Thunderbird
Cuthbert Tambatamba Cuthbert Tambatamba 5'11" | PG Desert Edge | 2023 State AZ Desert Edge