Best Freshmen (2028) Programs in the AIA

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As the regular season is officially over I wanted to take a fun look at some of the best freshman programs in the AIA.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I am a rare person who actually goes to those games but I will also consider the freshmen who are playing up on JV and Varsity already. A great example is Brophy Prep and Arcadia are 18-0 but none of their freshmen play on the higher levels. Where a team like Mountain Pointe has 4 varsity freshmen but a losing record with their actual freshmen team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It is possible those players eventually catch up to the varsity players in 4 years but for now if you have 4 impact freshmen players on varsity, that is not normal:).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It is a fun debate since some of the teams obviously will never play versus each other. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A freshmen tournament of ONLY 2028's would be sweet. But it will probably never happen. Oh well. We start the debate.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(This class definitely seems like a very good class after my tour of the city and many more will be discovered in the coming years.) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Remember this, all players blossom at different stages of their careers!! </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Here are my top-27 freshmen programs in the AIA (that I actually viewed)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1.<strong>6A Basha</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Their freshman team had 3 losses but their top 2028's are on JV and varsity already led by a deep group including 3 in the top-30 and 2 in the top-10 with [player_tooltip player_id='2249943' first='Lleyton' last='Leonard'], [player_tooltip player_id='2276223' first='Kingston' last='Montague'], [player_tooltip player_id='2692866' first='Ace' last='McKinley'], [player_tooltip player_id='2692796' first='Ezra' last='Sander'], [player_tooltip player_id='2552765' first='David' last='Rossling'], [player_tooltip player_id='2692801' first='Tommy' last='Sorenson'], [player_tooltip player_id='2692907' first='Carson' last='Harris'], [player_tooltip player_id='2692800' first='Jayden' last='Wong'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2552796' first='Trent' last='Geinitz'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2.<strong>5A Mountain Pointe</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The aforementioned team has 4 varsity players and all four are in my top-50 rankings. 3 already start on varsity and 1 is the 6th man led by [player_tooltip player_id='1956218' first='Marcus' last='Isaac'], [player_tooltip player_id='2194481' first='Justin' last='Kimbrough'], [player_tooltip player_id='2194806' first='Zen' last='London'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2466075' first='Jayvein' last='Moody'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>3.<strong>6A Pinnacle</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Their freshman team had 3 losses but like Basha, their best players are on varsity led by another deep group with [player_tooltip player_id='2470696' first='Tyonne' last='Brown'], [player_tooltip player_id='2301235' first='Rhys' last='M. Robinson'], [player_tooltip player_id='2457854' first='Grant' last='Budd'], [player_tooltip player_id='2457855' first='Lucas' last='Alvarado'], [player_tooltip player_id='2548083' first='Austin' last='Starr'], [player_tooltip player_id='2735455' first='Tarik' last='Slaughter'] &amp; [player_tooltip player_id='2735456' first='David' last='Kinsey']. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>4.<strong>5A Willow Canyon</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They only have 1 loss to Liberty but their two best freshmen are already starting on varsity. They are led by [player_tooltip player_id='2412268' first='Maurice' last='Carter II'], [player_tooltip player_id='2386978' first='Jaydon' last='Hayes'], [player_tooltip player_id='2564217' first='Justin' last='Holland'], [player_tooltip player_id='2274252' first='Nehemiah' last='Henson'] &amp; [player_tooltip player_id='2683087' first='Chris' last='Monroe'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>5.<strong>6A Williams Field</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Their freshmen team has about 5 losses but their two best players are starters or playing a lot on varsity including the top rated player with [player_tooltip player_id='1546987' first='Adan' last='Diggs']. They also have [player_tooltip player_id='2107225' first='Mike' last='McIntyre'], [player_tooltip player_id='2763956' first='Marcos' last='Katsanos'], [player_tooltip player_id='2763959' first='Aaron' last='Medina'], [player_tooltip player_id='2763985' first='Gavin' last='Bergsten'] &amp; [player_tooltip player_id='2763981' first='Ethan' last='Nabor'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>6.<strong>6A Mesa</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the top AIA players is already their best player but their freshman group also only had a few losses. They are led by [player_tooltip player_id='1651788' first='Jakyi' last='Miles'], [player_tooltip player_id='2731627' first='Parker' last='Bowden'], [player_tooltip player_id='2731629' first='Connor' last='Arnett'] &amp; [player_tooltip player_id='2731821' first='Deshawn' last='Escoffery'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>7.<strong>4A Saguaro</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Like Mountain Pointe, they have 4 freshmen already on varsity and did fairly well with the freshman team plus have some who play on JV. One of the deepest groups in the state. They are led by [player_tooltip player_id='2386974' first='Nasir' last='Hailey'], [player_tooltip player_id='2533651' first='Bentley' last='Elrod'], [player_tooltip player_id='2194803' first='Pierce' last='Harrington'], [player_tooltip player_id='2756822' first='Isaac' last='Hnat'], [player_tooltip player_id='2756000' first='Owen' last='Hardy'], [player_tooltip player_id='2755999' first='Jett' last='Holmes'], &amp; [player_tooltip player_id='2756870' first='Ben' last='Davila'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>8.<strong>2A San Tan Charter</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A talented freshman group with their top players utilizing the 6 quarter rule of JV and Varsity already. They are led by [player_tooltip player_id='2625965' first='Kaii' last='Voogd'], [player_tooltip player_id='2552773' first='Davis' last='Mason'], [player_tooltip player_id='2750689' first='Bryce' last='Whiting'] &amp; [player_tooltip player_id='2552785' first='Joshua' last='Polk'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>9.<strong>4A</strong> <strong>ALA Gilbert-North</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Their freshman team only won half of their games but two of the top-25 players are already starters on the varsity team led by [player_tooltip player_id='2457665' first='Viktor' last='Babic'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2386977' first='Kyle' last='Speed Jr']. They also have [player_tooltip player_id='2734782' first='Maddox' last='Levesque'] who is a good freshman team player. They may lack the depth of some of the teams but their big two are a handful. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>10.<strong>6A Higley</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Their freshman team only won half their games but their top players are on JV and Varsity already. They are led by [player_tooltip player_id='2550840' first='Austin' last='Turner'], [player_tooltip player_id='2717324' first='Chops' last='Davis'], [player_tooltip player_id='2640070' first='Chris' last='Harris'], [player_tooltip player_id='2640072' first='Ethan' last='Schepis'], [player_tooltip player_id='2640075' first='Ryker' last='Hatch'] &amp; [player_tooltip player_id='2640074' first='Asher' last='Gloor'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>11.<strong>5A Central</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Their actual freshman team is just average but their two best players are on varsity and JV already led by a top-10 player. They are led by [player_tooltip player_id='1873639' first='Grant' last='Mattingly'], [player_tooltip player_id='2735683' first='Jayden' last='Thomas'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2426904' first='Janarian' last='Etier'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>12.<strong>6A Brophy Prep </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The rare 18-0 team in 6A is very difficult but they pulled it off. They have great size and some quality guards for the future. They all only play on freshman ball with a deep JV and Varsity roster. They are led by [player_tooltip player_id='2747400' first='Parker' last='Mohrhausert'], [player_tooltip player_id='2266384' first='Aiden' last='Williams'], [player_tooltip player_id='2694071' first='Brady' last='Powell'], [player_tooltip player_id='2506453' first='Landon' last='Abrams'], [player_tooltip player_id='2747422' first='Isaiah' last='Swan'] &amp; [player_tooltip player_id='2747424' first='Henry' last='Short']. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>13.<strong>6A Sandra Day O'Connor</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Their freshmen were good but they have some of their best players on JV and Varsity. They are led by a deep group of players. Some are already on varsity and JV with [player_tooltip player_id='2433379' first='Samay' last='Wagh'], [player_tooltip player_id='2641713' first='Jayden' last='Davis'], [player_tooltip player_id='2641723' first='Xander' last='Mitchell'], [player_tooltip player_id='2641716' first='Tanner' last='Hawkins'], [player_tooltip player_id='2641714' first='Hudson' last='Hancock'], [player_tooltip player_id='2641719' first='Jaxson' last='Sullivan'] &amp; [player_tooltip player_id='2641715' first='Canon' last='Dunn']. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>14.<strong>6A Liberty</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Their freshmen group went 16-2 (lost to SDO twice) and also have a varsity player. They are led by [player_tooltip player_id='2640547' first='Christian' last='Brown'], [player_tooltip player_id='2640541' first='Jason' last='Clancy'], [player_tooltip player_id='2640542' first='Jordan' last='Brock'] &amp; [player_tooltip player_id='2554653' first='Jamir' last='Malone'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>15.<strong>6A West Point</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Their freshman team was good with a few losses but their top player is already one of their better players on varsity. They are led by [player_tooltip player_id='2466738' first='Dewey' last='Henry'], [player_tooltip player_id='2640544' first='King' last='Kalikilwa'], [player_tooltip player_id='2552780' first='Nemiah' last='Estes'] &amp; [player_tooltip player_id='2640543' first='Josiah' last='Sumare'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>16.<strong>4A Eastmark</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Their freshmen had a few losses but their best players are playing on JV and Varsity already. They are led by [player_tooltip player_id='2734924' first='Dayne' last='Silver'], [player_tooltip player_id='2675373' first='Austin' last='Zobell'], [player_tooltip player_id='2734770' first='Kadyn' last='Van Houten'], [player_tooltip player_id='2734768' first='Noah' last='Barlow'] &amp; [player_tooltip player_id='2734780' first='Mustafa' last='Awad']. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>17.<strong>5A Canyon View</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With a top-10 team on varsity in the AIA their freshmen all play on JV and freshman ball but this group will be good long term. They only had 1-2 losses. They are led by [player_tooltip player_id='1956216' first='Kingsley' last='Edwards'], [player_tooltip player_id='2767958' first='Titan' last='Jacobs'], [player_tooltip player_id='2767960' first='Jubie' last='Pitre'], [player_tooltip player_id='2552789' first='Jacob' last='Ruiz'], &nbsp;[player_tooltip player_id='2560322' first='KJ' last='Iten-Pauley'], [player_tooltip player_id='2767675' first='Bowen' last='Lee'] &amp; [player_tooltip player_id='2767677' first='Caleb' last='Sibley'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>18.<strong>6A Tucson</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Their freshman team only had 2-3 losses for the season but most of their top players play up on JV and Varsity. They are led by [player_tooltip player_id='2506445' first='Traveon' last='Banks'], [player_tooltip player_id='2506448' first='Josiah' last='Noriega'], [player_tooltip player_id='2692794' first='Chris' last='Allen'] &amp; [player_tooltip player_id='2692909' first='Jose' last='Iriqui']. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>19.<strong>4A Sahuaro</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Their freshmen team had around 5 losses but most of their top 28's play up on JV and Varsity. They are led by [player_tooltip player_id='2506438' first='Isaac' last='Teasley'], [player_tooltip player_id='2506439' first='Marcus' last='Llamas'], [player_tooltip player_id='2506450' first='Joshua' last='Salter'] &amp; [player_tooltip player_id='2560316' first='Gage' last='Lindsley']. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>20.<strong>4A Arcadia </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another rare 18-0 season with a solid group of freshman players. None of them are currently playing up yet but will be on varsity sooner rather than later. They are led by [player_tooltip player_id='2689907' first='Matthew' last='McGadney'], [player_tooltip player_id='2689912' first='Kingston' last='Berry'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2716510' first='Spencer' last='Goldberg'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>21.<strong>4A Prescott</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Their lone loss came vs Arcadia and have some legit size, which will be the future of their program when their stud senior class graduates. They are led by [player_tooltip player_id='2689898' first='Caden' last='Lozen'], [player_tooltip player_id='2689901' first='Drew' last='Jolley'] &amp; [player_tooltip player_id='2552794' first='Parker' last='Bowman']. Look for Lozen to play a lot next season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>22.<strong>4A Mesquite</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another top freshman team with only a few losses is led by [player_tooltip player_id='2552781' first='Paul' last='Richardson'], [player_tooltip player_id='2755997' first='Joseph' last='Gutierrez'], [player_tooltip player_id='2755994' first='Weston' last='Bundy'], [player_tooltip player_id='2755998' first='Anthony' last='Mazzio'], [player_tooltip player_id='2755996' first='Beck' last='Rogers'] &amp; [player_tooltip player_id='2755995' first='Jasiah' last='Ellis']. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>23.<strong>5A Notre Dame Prep</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Their freshmen team only had 4 losses and some of them play on JV too. They are led by [player_tooltip player_id='2724507' first='Preston' last='Bauer'], [player_tooltip player_id='2560318' first='Jack' last='Bauer'], [player_tooltip player_id='2724508' first='Jackson' last='Warner'], [player_tooltip player_id='2471533' first='Jake' last='Grossman'], [player_tooltip player_id='2724510' first='Xavier' last='Schroepfer'] &amp; [player_tooltip player_id='2724509' first='Jonah' last='Brumbaugh'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>24.<strong>6A Hamilton</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Their freshman team has 7 losses but their top player is already getting real minutes on varsity. They are led by [player_tooltip player_id='2552772' first='Tre' last='Terry'], [player_tooltip player_id='2680984' first='Jayden' last='Lee'] &amp; [player_tooltip player_id='2682495' first='Henry' last='Fischer']. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>25.<strong>6A Perry</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Their freshmen team had 6 losses but has some unusual size led by [player_tooltip player_id='2693801' first='Dane' last='Montague'] and quality wings and guards with [player_tooltip player_id='2693841' first='Dane' last='Dancy'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2693815' first='Thad' last='Egorerua']. Another top program that most younger players almost never play immediately on varsity with too much older talent in the last 4 years or so.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>26.<strong>3A Bourgade Catholic</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Their freshmen team does not play many games at their small school but they already have 7 freshmen on Varsity. They are led by [player_tooltip player_id='2628063' first='Jacob' last='Banja'], [player_tooltip player_id='2574799' first='Quinton' last='Tillman III'] &amp; [player_tooltip player_id='2766906' first='Julian' last='Moreno']. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>27.<strong>6A Gilbert</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A solid freshmen team with only 4 losses who have a couple players who are already playing up on junior varsity. They are led by [player_tooltip player_id='2763917' first='Tyler' last='Lake'], [player_tooltip player_id='2763926' first='Mason' last='Long'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2763943' first='Jordan' last='Washington']. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->