Southern Arizona Week One Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>High School Basketball is back in full swing. After the first week of games and holiday tournaments I got a chance to see a lot of teams. Many changes with coaching staffs and players. Below are some players I felt showed they're ready to takeover and have a big season. Some may even see themselves rise in the rankings. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2990149"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-692e00d179c0d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">After a strong off season getting acclimated to Tucson after moving from Virginia Knight is on a tear. His first impression was at Section 7 where we got a glimpse of Knight as he was fresh to Tucson High. His second showing was at the Southern Arizona Showcase where he played out of his mind. He's three games into the season and is averaging 14 ppg against three top 6A and potentially all open division playoff teams. He dropped 22 points against Basha and one of the highly recruited 2026 point guards. Knight is already one of the most talked about players in Southern Arizona and that will look to be the case the remainder of the season should he keep doing his thing. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2849977"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-692e00d179cc9"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Seems like overnight the Dorados lost their top three players and contributors after a coaching change. Piero took full advantage and looks to be taking over to lead the Dorados. He had an impressive showing at the Dick McConnell Thanksgiving Classic. Very skilled ball handler who dribbled through multiple double teams with a crossover into behind the back dribble. Played his pace and despite opponents pressure made good plays. Very quick. Good mid range and three ball. Piero will have a strong junior year that'll see him have career highs and from what I saw could be a first team region player.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2506450"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-692e00d179d5b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">After watching Salter quite a bit in his freshman season I'm really impressed with the maturity and growth I'm seeing in his sophomore year. Salter has found his role with the Cougars. An impressive utility player that plays with a strong motor. Rebounds like he's the biggest player on the court. Dives for the 50/50s and makes the hustle plays. Very athletic. Can score at all three levels and makes the highlight dunks. Salter has proven this far to be an key component to a potential deep playoff run for the Cougars.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2396139"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-692e00d179dec"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Coming off a season where the Titans made it to the state championship game led heavily by sophomores, should the look to return [player_tooltip player_id='2396139' first='Kristian' last='White'] is proving to be crucial to that goal. Whites defensive pressure is relentless. He guard the length of the court and will not back down. He's a momentum shifter that makes big plays whether hes catching the lob for the dunk or hitting clutch shots through contact. Whites proving this far to be a difference maker.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":3157845,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Maddox Johnson","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2029","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77244","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Sunnyside High School","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-692e00d179f2b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Johnson finds himself contributing heavily on varsity in just his freshman season. Through four games this season Maddox has already put up 49 points including a season high 20 points. Offensively he showed to be a skilled dribbler and shot well off the dribble. Plays with confidence. Hit some really nice threes off the catch. Strong vocal defender. Johnson is looking like an early candidate for the Southern Arizona Freshman of the year award should he continue to play the way he is. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2475408"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-692e00d179fb7"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Harder is looking to have a big year and the success of the Falcons season will depend on it. Harder is a talented scorer and knocks them down at a high percentage. He has a really nice turnaround fade away he uses to consistently knock down the mid range. Finishes nicely through contact. Strong passer and can make plays through traffic. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2628288"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-692e00d17a038"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Anderson is coming off a strong freshman season that saw him named Southern Arizona Freshman of the Year. From the looks of it the Nighthawks will be relying heavily on his shooting this season. Anderson is currently averaging 20 ppg and already put up a career high 32 points in the second game of the season. He's accounting for roughly 40 percent of the Nighthawks point production in majority of their contests so far. He has the height and length and a great shot to be highly effective this season. Offensive player of the year in his region definitely not out of the question. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->