AIA Award Front Runners

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we head into the second half of the season and players are becoming eligible, I want to look at the front runners of the end of the season awards in the 2023-24 AIA season. Some are close battles and I listed multiple players and some will simply just win with too much of a resume already. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><em>Candidates</em></strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Players of the Year</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>6A</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1129193' first='Koa' last='Peat'] <strong>Perry</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>5A</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1135515' first='Noah' last='Gifft']<strong> Ironwood</strong>, [player_tooltip player_id='1150824' first='Kaden' last='House'] <strong>Desert Mountain</strong>, [player_tooltip player_id='1123040' first='Anthony' last='Batson Jr']<strong> NDP</strong>, [player_tooltip player_id='1150822' first='Cameron' last='Holmes'] <strong>Millennium </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>4A </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1336443' first='Uriah' last='Tenette'] <strong>Prescott</strong>, [player_tooltip player_id='994006' first='Styles' last='Phipps'] <strong>St. Mary's</strong>, [player_tooltip player_id='1674458' first='Travis' last='Vasquez'] <strong>Deer Valley</strong>, [player_tooltip player_id='1494967' first='Dylan' last='Novak'] <strong>ALA GN</strong>, [player_tooltip player_id='1123041' first='Bradey' last='Henige'] <strong>Cactus</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>3A</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1152187' first='Luke' last='Shaw'] <strong>Valley Christian</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2A </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1490884' first='Noah' last='Draper'] <strong>Arizona Lutheran</strong>, [player_tooltip player_id='1986796' first='Peyton' last='Lubash']<strong> San Tan Charter,</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1194767' first='Jake' last='Miller'] <strong>Rancho Solano Prep</strong>, [player_tooltip player_id='2123470' first='Malachi' last='Morrow']<strong> Leading Edge</strong>, [player_tooltip player_id='1336434' first='Presley' last='Ibeh'] <strong>Highland Prep</strong>, [player_tooltip player_id='1231502' first='Bryce' last='Anderson'] <strong>Phoenix Christian </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Newcomers of the Year (New to State or Conference)</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>6A</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2279894' first='Zayn' last='Young']</strong> <strong>Dobson (Pictured)</strong>, [player_tooltip player_id='1837764' first='Jahlil' last='Loyd'] <strong>Tolleson</strong>, [player_tooltip player_id='1305181' first='Tommy' last='Randolph'] <strong>Pinnacle</strong>, [player_tooltip player_id='1217315' first='TayVion' last='Wilson'] <strong>Sandra Day O'Connor</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>5A </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1293439' first='Sabien' last='Cain'] <strong>Millennium</strong>, [player_tooltip player_id='1327993' first='Jhordan' last='Bowls'] <strong>Westview</strong>, [player_tooltip player_id='2147233' first='Chase' last='James'] <strong>Centennial,</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1128215' first='Jason' last='Higgins'] <strong>Sunrise Mountain</strong>, [player_tooltip player_id='1542272' first='Michael' last='Payne'] <strong>Cholla, [player_tooltip player_id='1546975' first='Javon' last='Bardwell'] Desert Mountain </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>4A </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1938808' first='Justice' last='Hinds'] <strong>Saguaro</strong>, [player_tooltip player_id='1285501' first='Cezer' last='Sotomayor'] <strong>ALA Gilbert North</strong>, [player_tooltip player_id='1612468' first='Cameron' last='Williams'] <strong>St. Mary's</strong>, [player_tooltip player_id='2249606' first='MarQuez' last='Tyree'] <strong>Walden Grove</strong>, [player_tooltip player_id='1336435' first='Tyler' last='Hutton'] <strong>Cactus</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>3A</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1323293' first='Tory' last='Gholston'] <strong>Coolidge</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2A </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1986796' first='Peyton' last='Lubash'] <strong>San Tan Charter</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Breakout Players of the Year</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>6A</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1364929' first='Jackson' last='Hunter'] <strong>Liberty</strong>, [player_tooltip player_id='996174' first='Bo' last='Dolinsek'] <strong>CDS</strong>, [player_tooltip player_id='1570816' first='Payton' last='Lapping']<strong> Desert Ridge</strong>, [player_tooltip player_id='1909816' first='Nazir' last='Richardson'] <strong>Gilbert</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>5A </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1369218' first='Gavin' last='Dabney'] <strong>Higley,</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1128463' first='Aidan' last='Schmidt'] <strong>Casteel</strong>, [player_tooltip player_id='1141426' first='Jase' last='Kooima'] <strong>Williams Field</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>4A </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1306044' first='Jake' last='Centner'] <strong>Flagstaff, </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1430449' first='James' last='Steward'] <strong>Marcos de Niza</strong>, [player_tooltip player_id='1591734' first='TJ' last='Harris'] <strong>Paradise Honors, [player_tooltip player_id='1674465' first='Lamar' last='Anderson'] Dysart</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>3A</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2133313' first='Jackson' last='Edgerton'] <strong>ALA Ironwood</strong>, [player_tooltip player_id='1446106' first='Jace' last='Olson'] <strong>Gilbert Christian, [player_tooltip player_id='2249642' first='Travon' last='Howard'] ALA West-Foothills</strong>, [player_tooltip player_id='2134381' first='Daniel' last='Ortiz'] <strong>Palo Verde</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2A</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1336436' first='Kohen' last='Hill'] <strong>Highland Prep</strong>, <strong>Matthew McEnaney</strong> <strong>Horizon Honors</strong>, [player_tooltip player_id='1231502' first='Bryce' last='Anderson'] <strong>Phoenix Christian </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Defensive Players of the Year</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>6A </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1129193' first='Koa' last='Peat'] <strong>Perry, </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1131814' first='Ring' last='Nyeri'] <strong>Liberty</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>5A</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1483884' first='Taimari' last='Jones'] <strong>McClintock</strong>, <strong>Jerry Mendoza Cholla</strong>, [player_tooltip player_id='1425099' first='Kaleel' last='Kelly'] <strong>Willow Canyon</strong>, [player_tooltip player_id='1150824' first='Kaden' last='House']/[player_tooltip player_id='1150823' first='Kalek' last='House'] <strong>Desert Mountain</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2329548' first='Emmanuel' last='Angok'] Washington</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>4A</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1893665' first='Cisco' last='Llamas'] <strong>Sahuaro,</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1123041' first='Bradey' last='Henige'] <strong>Cactus,</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1430449' first='James' last='Steward'] <strong>Marcos de Niza</strong>, [player_tooltip player_id='1674510' first='AJ' last='Ajawin'] <strong>Deer Valley</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>3A</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2039516' first='Lopemi' last='Omole'] <strong>Gilbert Christian</strong>, [player_tooltip player_id='1876010' first='Dayton' last='Foster'] <strong>ALA West-Foothills</strong>, [player_tooltip player_id='1305184' first='Ja'kwon' last='Jordan'] <strong>Coolidge</strong>, [player_tooltip player_id='2134381' first='Daniel' last='Ortiz']<strong> Palo Verde</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2A</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1986797' first='Jase' last='Benjamin'] <strong>San Tan Charter</strong>, <strong>Leandro Simbolo</strong> <strong>San Carlos</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">All Senior Team (A combination of strong play and a strong team)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1123040' first='Anthony' last='Batson Jr'] <strong>NDP</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='994680' first='Jai' last='Anthoni Bearden']<strong> Sunnyslope </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1293439' first='Sabien' last='Cain'] <strong>Millennium</strong> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1135515' first='Noah' last='Gifft'] <strong>Ironwood</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1123041' first='Bradey' last='Henige'] <strong>Cactus</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1131814' first='Ring' last='Nyeri'] <strong>Liberty</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='994006' first='Styles' last='Phipps'] <strong>St. Mary's</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1152187' first='Luke' last='Shaw'] <strong>Valley Christian</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Others:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1674458' first='Travis' last='Vasquez'] <strong>Deer Valley</strong>, [player_tooltip player_id='1119350' first='Wyatt' last='MacKay'] <strong>North Canyon</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">All Junior Team</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1150843' first='Andrew' last='Bhesania'] <strong>Boulder Creek</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1369218' first='Gavin' last='Dabney'] <strong>Higley</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='996172' first='D'Andre' last='Harrison']<strong> Perry</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1129193' first='Koa' last='Peat'] <strong>Perry</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='996176' first='Bryce' last='Quinet'] <strong>NDP</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1333492' first='Michael' last='Simcoe'] <strong>Sandra Day O'Connor</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1336443' first='Uriah' last='Tenette'] <strong>Prescott </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1301344' first='Kingston' last='Tosi'] <strong>Millennium</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Others</strong>: [player_tooltip player_id='1150852' first='DeNali' last='McNeal'] <strong>Canyon View</strong>, [player_tooltip player_id='1369213' first='Amare' last='King']<strong> Casteel</strong>, [player_tooltip player_id='1449361' first='Caspian' last='Jones'] <strong>St. Mary's</strong>, [player_tooltip player_id='1494967' first='Dylan' last='Novak'] <strong>ALA GN</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">All Sophomore Team</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1150822' first='Cameron' last='Holmes'] <strong>Millennium</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1150824' first='Kaden' last='House'] <strong>Desert Mountain</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1150823' first='Kalek' last='House'] <strong>Desert Mountain</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1893665' first='Cisco' last='Llamas'] <strong>Sahuaro</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1323290' first='Mason' last='Magee'] <strong>Basha</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1150901' first='John' last='Mattingly'] <strong>Sunnyslope</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1482165' first='Rider' last='Portela'] <strong>Sunnyslope</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1490240' first='Colton' last='Watson'] <strong>Sandra Day O'Connor</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Others</strong>: [player_tooltip player_id='1591734' first='TJ' last='Harris']<strong> Paradise Honors</strong>, [player_tooltip player_id='1685490' first='Patrice' last='Mpouli'] <strong>Hamilton</strong>, [player_tooltip player_id='1482211' first='Noah' last='Gloor'] <strong>Higley</strong>, [player_tooltip player_id='1482164' first='Desean' last='Middlebrook'] <strong>Mesquite</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">All Freshmen Team</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1150853' first='Jabron' last='Bardwell'] <strong>Desert Mountain</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1546975' first='Javon' last='Bardwell'] <strong>Desert Mountain </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1986797' first='Jase' last='Benjamin'] <strong>San Tan Charter </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2146175' first='LJ' last='Diamond'] <strong>Desert Vista</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1986796' first='Peyton' last='Lubash'] <strong>San Tan Charter</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1555180' first='Delton' last='Prescott III'] <strong>Sunnyslope</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2291974' first='Nick' last='Reber'] <strong>Highland</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1555179' first='Darius' last='Wabbington'] <strong>Sunnyslope</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Others</strong>: [player_tooltip player_id='2133645' first='Razin' last='Smith Jr'] <strong>The Gregory School,</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2039513' first='DJ' last='Spencer'] <strong>Desert Vista</strong>, [player_tooltip player_id='2280207' first='Jackson' last='Moore'] <strong>Cienega</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->