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The REAL Kiimani Holt is BACK!

Kiimani Holt is no stranger to looking like the best player on the court. Growing up he was one of the more dominant youth players in the state of Arizona, from the rumblings I have heard.

I first got to see Kiimani during the spring for the then-Powerhouse Hoops 16U program. I saw the intangibles but still wasn’t sold. I saw the college-ready body, the athleticism and the lateral quickness. What I didn’t see was more in the chest and in between the ears. And then something changed…

Holt did his thing for a Rancho Solano Prep team that fell short of some heavy expectations in the 2A conference. However, he racked up some scoring milestones and continued to put in work before rejoining his Powerhouse team on the UAA Rise circuit with a revamped roster on a team that was dominant at the 16U level on the West Coast. To say the least, Holt was not the same. Some of the explosion was gone. The aggression was not there. His usual down hill drives looked like he was trying to climb a mountain while dribbling a basketball and he was being met at the rim more often then not. Sure, he showed flashes, but something was missing with a player and prospect that seemed primed to reach the next level of his game on a bigger stage.

Then after the Under Armour Finals in Atlanta, Holt made the decision to commit to the school that was his very first offer in Portland State. A coaching staff that stayed by his side the whole way thru. Assistant Coach Jase Coburn was a big reason for that. A former assistant coach at Phoenix College and former head coach at McClintock High that also ran a very good AAU program in the Valley called the Arizona Rage.

Since then Kiimani has looked like he is back. During the later part of the summer he was one of the first players to commit to the newly-formed Prep School, PHHoenix Prep, directed and coached by his AAU director and coach, John Ortega and Kirk Fauske. It looks as if that decision is paying off. He spends a good majority of his free time in the gym working on conditioning and you can see it on the floor. The explosion is back and better than ever and he is back to being a body catcher and jumping with his head right under the rim and throwing it down like the rim is on his bad side. The down hill drives are back and in overdrive. He is back to looking like a top-tier perimeter defender. He will need all of that back in his tool bag with the schedule this team will play in the coming months. They will join the Grind Session which features some of the top Prep programs in the nation and Holt will square up with some of the top guards in the country.

“Key” is trimmed down these days. He looks like he is ready to walk into a college basketball practice and be able to blend in physically just fine. Sure he still has some holes to fix in his game. His outside shot is a glaring weakness in his game, mostly because he is so above average in just about every other part of his game. His handle is solid but he could work on his ability to take a defender to the left side of the basket. But his swagger is back. And that’s what many of us that have grown to know and build a relationship with Holt were waiting on. The REAL “Key” is BACK!

TOP TEN (PRE-SEASON) AIA SCHOOLS

(ALPHABETICAL ORDER)

CESAR CHAVEZ CHAMPIONS(6A) -CHAVEZ possesses the best true offensive weapon in the state in 6-foot-4 high-major prospect junior point guard Ty Ty Washington. His long-time backcourt mate, Ricardo Sarmiento, is as smart and tough as they come and they get back their 6-foot-5 junkyard dog of a senior forward in Nyjier Andrews, who was probably the piece they were missing in last years 6A playoff run. Head Coach Gary Lee has multiple undersized guards at his disposal that can really get up and down the floor and apply full-court pressure. It will be interesting to see how one of the top incoming freshman, 6-foot-4 Tru Washington, transitions early at the varsity level and with a very tough schedule. DOG FIGHTS: Chandler (Dec. 17), @ Mountain Pointe (Jan. 10)

CHANDLER WOLVES (6A) -CHANDLER welcomes some anticipation to this season in 6A and has become a team that every opponent circles on the schedule. 6-foot-6 junior guard/wing transfer Isaiah Broady is one of the more talented players in the state and if Head Coach John Rother can get him to commit himself to the defensive end. The kid has a very impressive skill set that can take this team over the top. Their junior point guard Carson Kelly is one of the more underrated players in the state. He is very undersized but the kid is just a flat-out basketball player and possesses one of the better basketball IQ’s in the state. 6-foot-7 junior forward Nick Riley is the anchor down low around the rim. When he is playing active in the paint, this team soars to new heights. Their talented sophomore guard Mekhi Mason is one I am watching for to have a stamped breakout season. If he does, this team could make some serious noise in 6A. DOG FIGHTS: @Gilbert (Nov. 26), Mountain Pointe (Dec. 4), @Cesar Chavez (Dec. 17), @Perry (Jan. 24), Perry (Feb. 11)

DESERT VISTA THUNDER (6A) -DESERT VISTA is probably the most talented team in the state, especially within their starting five where they have some guys in just about every class. 6-foot-10 forward and Marquette commit Osasere Ighodaro is their marquee guy that will need to get into takeover mode when they play in some of their higher profile games and into the 6A playoffs. His front court mate, 6-foot-8 junior forward John Solomon has the ability to be a heavy factor for Head Coach Gino Crump, but the light switch needs to turn on. Their sophomore point guard transfer from New Jersey, 6-foot-1 Deshean Lecque, has been very impressive in the majority of the games I have seen him play in. The tough and talented guard should make a heavy impact for them. I am expecting a real breakout season out of 6-foot-2 sophomore guard Andrew King, who is an absolute dog defensively and is starting to master that corner three ball. Junior guard duo Malik Mack and Marcus Wady are two tough customers. If 6-foot-6 sophomore wing/forward Will Coates can find his role on this team, it will give them some much needed shooting to stretch defenses and open up things for Ighodaro. DOG FIGHTS: @St. Mary’s (Dec. 13), @Mountain Pointe (Jan. 17), @Hamilton (Jan. 30), Mountain Pointe (Feb. 4)

GILBERT TIGERS (5A) -GILBERT loses a lot of production form last season’s state championship team but they bring back Houston Baptist-commit and 6’2” sharp-shooting guard Brycen Long.  They will also welcome back a big piece that they did not have last season in 6-foot-8 senior forward Griffin Lamb, who will be a huge help to a team that lost so much.  Add in some very good X-Factor type of pieces and a team that is one of the better-coached units in the state and the Tigers should find their way right back into the thick of things. 

IRONWOOD EAGLES (5A) -IRONWOOD impressed me more than any other team in the first annual Phoenix Fall Showdown, where they ran the table in that event including a blowout win over Desert Vista. Head Coach Jordan Augustine’s long-time trio of guards in Dominic Gonzalez, Bailon Black and JJ White were impressive every time they took the floor, which is nothing new. What is new is the arrival of senior forward transfer duo of 6-foot-5 David Teibo (Centennial) and 6-foot-7 Jaden Glass (Agua Fria). They truly are the missing pieces this Ironwood team was void of last season when they were making an impressive playoff run before falling in a thriller to Millennium. They should do damage in what will be the most competitive division in the state. DOG FIGHTS: Sunnyslope (Dec. 21), @Sunnyslope (Jan. 17), Apollo (Jan. 21), @Apollo (Feb. 7)

MILLENNIUM TIGERS (5A) – MILLENNIUM will play the toughest schedule of any team in the AIA with a Hoop Hall West game set up against one of the top programs in America in Sierra Canyon. Head Coach Ty Amundsen will take them out to play in some high-profile out of state tournaments in Chicago and South Carolina, while still playing some of the state’s top teams. It is no secret who the team is led by. The junior tandem of 6-foot-9 forward DaRon Holmes and 6-foot point guard Justus Jackson might be the most talented 1-2 punch in the state and they are surrounded around some guys that can flat out get it done. As Ballislife.com touched on in their article that ranked the Tigers as the #45 team in the country, they will have a pair of out-of-state transfers from Texas in 6-foot-5 senior guard Robby Devries and 6-foot-4 guard/wing Justice Marmara. Add in a couple other pieces like senior guard Zach Foster and Michael Batchelor, senior wing/forwards Caleb Wright and Jalen Early, junior guard Coleman Fields and sophomore guard/wing Justin Shorts, and you have what just may be the deepest team in the state as well. DOG FIGHTS: @South Mountain (Dec. 5), Sunnyslope (Dec. 17), Gilbert (Jan. 9), @Valley Vista (Jan. 10)

PARADISE HONORS PANTHERS (3A) -PARADISE HONORS is the lone “small-school” team on this list and for good reason. They have multiple Division-I guys and 6-foot-3 junior lead guard Jalen Scott has been running this program for Head Coach Zach Hettel for three years now and runs this team like a true quarterback. 6-foot-5 senior wing Jerry Iliya is a human energy ball and may get from baseline-to-baseline as fast as anyone in the state. The super-athletic and active wing is the motor that steers the Panther’s whip. 6-foot-2 super talented sophomore guard Nate Pickens is the addition they needed from last year. Just a straight bucket-getting and want-all-the-smoke type of guard. He is one smooth customer. 6-foot-9 sophomore center Logan Pohl will need to provide some legitimate size down low. If he can turn a corner, this team should get the 3A state title that has eluded them the last couple of years. 6-foot-1 senior guard Wyatt Bell returns this year and has looked very good for them. DOG FIGHTS: @ALA-QC (Dec. 3), Gilbert Christian (Dec. 11), @Rancho Solano Prep (Dec. 18), Valley Christian (Jan 11), @Valley Christian (Feb. 11)

PEORIA PANTHERS (4A) -PEORIA has been super impressive this past fall with some impressive performances in some dog fights. This team is just flat out tough! They play fast and hard and can give you a little bit of everything. Head Coach Will Roberts has a multitude of guards that can flat out go including junior Tre Bell. The team will go as far as 6-foot senior guard Isaac Monroe and 6-foot-5 junior wing/forward Kevin Kogbara take them. Monroe is a streaky shooter that can get hot in a hurry and Kogbara could be a match-up nightmare if he can find some consistency from game-to-game. When he is playing well, this team can beat anyone in the state. Freshman guard Andrew Camacho has been as impressive as any rookie in the state and will have some games where he will lead this veteran team in scoring. I’d like to see some of that consistency out of 6-foot-5 super athletic wing/forward Awar Anyieth. He is the one I am looking for to turn the corner. He is a true bundle of energy and bunny-like bounce. DOG FIGHTS: @Deer Valley (Jan. 14), @Buckeye (Jan. 17), Deer Valley (Jan. 30)

PERRY PUMAS (6A) -PERRY possesses possibly the best big man duo in the state behind nationally-coveted sophomore power forward, Dylan Anderson and 6-foot-9 junior big man Duke Brennan. While they will dominate the inside in just about every contest, it is the guard position where they will need a big contribution. The most realistic answer to that is their junior guard Christian Tucker. If he can slow things down from time to time and allow his bigs to play alongside him, they could enjoy tremendous success. It will be interesting to see how their two very talented freshman, Cody Williams and Kevin Patton Jr., adjust to this level. DOG FIGHTS: Chapparal (Dec. 17), Basha (Jan. 10), Chandler (Jan. 24), @Basha (Jan. 28), Hamilton (Feb. 4), @Chandler (Feb. 11)

SALPOINTE CATHOLIC LANCERS (4A) -SALPOINTE CATHOLIC will walk into the season as the favorite to win 4A after falling short in back-to-back years to Shadow Mountain. The team will only go as far as 6-foot-2 senior point guard and Harvard-commit Evan Nelson will take them. However, he is far from alone. 6-foot-3 senior guard Jordan Gainey has looked very impressive as of late and may be the perfect Robin to Nelson’s Batman. Gainey has the chops and skill set to do it. They are aided by a bundle of great shooters and are one of the more disciplined, well-coached groups in the state. DOG FIGHTS: @Tucson (Dec. 5), Nogales (Jan. 3), Cholla (Jan. 9), @Catalina Foothills (Jan. 21)

SKYLINE COYOTES (6A) -SKYLINE has put together one of the more impressive resume’s in June and thru the fall this year in the off-season and are led by one of the better senior guards in the state in 6-foot-2 Northern Arizona-commit Dayten Harris. Their 6-foot-2 sophomore guard Dominic Capriotti might be the best outside shooter in that class. Their senior wing/forward duo of 6-foot-5 Tanner Poeschl and 6-foot-4 Tyree Taylor bring some real energy to this team and are both walking double-doubles. The chemistry that Head Coach James Capriotti’s group plays with is impressive. Going to be an exciting season at Skyline… DOG FIGHTS: Mesa (Jan. 7), @Mesa (Jan. 28)

TEAMS TO WATCH (BY CONFERENCE):

MOUTAIN POINTE PRIDE (6A) -Young and under a new regime but junior guard Jason Kimbrough is a gamer and Miles Sulka is a marksmen. Freshman guard Mark Brown is one to watch for!

CHAPARRAL FIREBIRDS (6A) -a team that stays in games and has a game changer inside with sophomore center Adrame Diongue to go with some guys that can really shoot it.

VALLEY VISTA MONSOON (6A) -Another very young team but they play very hard and have some guards that can make some things happen with the ball in their hands.

BASHA BEARS (6A) -A young team with a multitude of shooters and one of the better freshman in the state in wing/forward Landon Schumaker.

HAMILTON HUSKIES (6A) -Very well-disciplined and structured team that won’t beat themselves. Sophomore forward Aaron Foote can do some things!

APOLLO HAWKS (6A) -A team that could easily end up in the top 10 of this list. Sophomore guard Ahamed Mohammed is one of the top point guards in that class and is really turning a corner to cement himself as such. Junior guard Paris Woods has looked great as of late and senior wing Zeke Thompkins is primed for a big season this year.

SOUTH MOUNTAIN JAGUARS (5A) -Young team that is well-coached and plays hard. Has some young talent that seem ready to hit the next stage. Guards are impressive with junior Zay Freeney and sophomore LJ Ginnis. Sophomore power forward Demarion Pouncil has looked impressive as of late.

DESERT MOUNTAIN WOLVES (5A) -A team that makes very little mistakes and makes you play at their pace. Sophomore forward Connor Barrett will be an interesting match-up for most opponents.

SUNRISE MOUNTAIN MUSTANGS (5A) -Another team that can flat out shoot it with some size in the starting five with guys like junior wing Colin Carey and senior forward Tanner Mayer.

ARCADIA TITANS (4A) -Junior wing Max Majerle is back and better looking like a true game changer for Aradia and Owen Shaw is going to be a heavy impact in 4A this season.

BUCKEYE HAWKS (4A) -Coming into the season very young but can never count out a team with senior guard Tay Boothman on it. Freshman Matthew Henry-Harrison looks ready for the level and look for a breakout season out of sophomore guard Jayson Redhouse.

ST. MARY’S KNIGHTS (4A) -Very young but super talented. Will not be surprised if they find their way into the top 10 of this list by seasons end. Very deep squad and sophomores Orlando Gonzales, Bear Cherry and Garrison Phelps are looking to hit a corner this year.

SHADOW MOUNTAIN MATADORS (4A) -Brand new regime and a new-look with an old face leaving the way in senior wing Shemar Morrow. The new guard they have in Ori Keedem will be a game changer for them. Junior wing Elijah Cole could be a factor if he can put it all together.

ALA-QUEEN CREEK (3A) -Watch out for these guys as they possess one of the better 1-2 punches in front court duo Dyson Lighthall and Devon Brooks.

VALLEY CHRISTIAN (3A) -Another 3A team with a great duo in senior guard Jackson Risi ready to light everyone up from deep and wing Logan Phillips ready to dominate the conference.

RANCHO SOLANO PREP MUSTANGS (2A) -Very new-look team for Head Coach Aaron Trigg but he brings back a few really nice pieces in junior guard Tyson Legner, 6-foot-5 sophomore wing Michael Dienes and UC-Irvine-commit, 6’9” senior big man Hunter Ruck

This upcoming season will see a couple rookies throw on a Varsity uniform and will see some impactful minutes on the court for their teams. While a freshman’s narrative is so far from over, these are just ten 2023 talents that the Arizona Hoop community will get a very early look at (in alphabetical order).

Noah Amenhauser (6’8”, PF/C, Estrella Foothills) -I haven’t been able to lay my eyes much on Amenhauser but the word I keep hearing is that he is going to walk into high school as a factor at the varsity level for Estrella Foothills. He will walk into the 4A conference as one of the bigger players on the court in every game he will play so it should be interesting to see if this kid that is oozing with upside can be effective at this level early on. I am excited to see it.

Demarion Anderson (5’8”, PG, Youngker) -Anderson will walk into high school with the ball in his hands 60% of the time and quarterbacking a varsity offense. While Youngker is probably still a year or two away from making some noise in 4A, you can’t ignore the fact that this young and talented guard is going to be battle tested early. He has the mentality and understands the game at an advanced level, so he should be just fine.

Mark Brown (5’9”, Point Guard, Mountain Pointe) -Brown is the top true point guard in this class with lightning-fast quickness and the ability to quarterback an offense and still get his fair share of buckets. He is also an absolute nightmare on the defensive end. He is in line to start at one of the guard spots next to talented junior guard Jason Kimbrough. It will be interesting to see how new Head Coach Kaimar Price uses him within their scheme but the tough and talented freshman will undoubtedly make an impact this year for the Pride.

Andrew Camacho (6’0”, Guard, Peoria High) -Camacho has been dominant in his own age group for quite some time and hasn’t missed much of a beat during this past fall with his Peoria Panthers team. While playing for a program that will contend for a 4A state title this season, Head Coach Will Roberts has not been shy about installing the young sharp shooter into the starting line-up. Camacho has not disappointed, to say the least, and could be the team’s leading scorers on any given night. He is probably the most crafty guard in the class.

Matthew Henry-Harrison (5’10”, Guard, Buckeye Union) -Henry-Harrison will be relied on heavily from Head Coach Randy Bland and the Hawks. For a team that will lean heavily on one player in senior guard Tay Boothman, they will see a lot of different defensive schemes to slow down the high scoring guard. Thus, they will need other players to step up and get some buckets when the ball is being forced out of Boothman’s hands. Henry-Harrison has shown some flashes that will tell you he is ready. He has one thing going for him already in the fact that he is an aggressive, physical guard that can really get downhill. It should be interesting to see how he transfers his game against some of the better, older competition.

Aadem Isai (5’11”, Guard, Valley Vista)  -Isai has one of the higher basketball IQ’s in his class and is another crafty, sharp-shooting guard that will make an immediate impact at the Varsity level right off the bat. He will slide into the Valley Vista line-up as the starting point guard for a team that many are predicting will make the playoffs this season. The Monsoon will be one of the younger teams in the state so it will be a bit of an uphill battle, but the team is very much a bought-in group and they play extremely hard.

Landon Schumaker (6’6”, Forward, Basha High) -Schumaker is one of the more high-profile players in this class going into his freshman year and will contend to be “The Show’s Freshman of the Year”. He will start for Basha (a projected 2019-20 6A playoff team) and should be the top dog in a lot of stat lines for the well-coached Bears. He has extended his game out to the 3-point line as of late and his ability to finish over smaller defenders down low and drag out big man to the outside should be an interesting thing to watch with a freshman.

Tru Washington (6’4”, G/W, Cesar Chavez) -Washington is probably the most naturally talented player in this class and will walk into Chavez feeling right at home. Tru has been playing with this group most of his life already and spent many days and nights in the gym with older kids, which is why he is probably why he is also one of the tougher kids in the state, regardless of class. He will bring some much-needed scoring and effort plays from the wing for the Champions right off the bat. It will be interesting to see how he holds up against some of the state’s better 6A teams this season when the pressure cooker gets turned up a little. However, I have learned that you don’t make a habit of betting against Tru Washington.

Cody Williams (6’2”, Guard, Perry High) -The younger brother of one of Perry’s better players in school history (Santa Clara’s Jalen Williams) will suit up for Varsity for his big brother’s high school coach the first day of the season and understandably, Head Coach Sam Duane absolutely loves the talented freshman guard. Williams has a ways to go physically and some weight to put on, but the kid is a BALLER! The Perry coaching staff has acknowledged that Williams will have some good minutes in the rotation right off the bat at the very least.

Emery Young (6’3, Wing, Centennial High) -Young should walk into try-outs as a favorite to start for Coach Lavender. Centennial lost a few players from last season’s team and they will be playing in arguably the most competitive conference in the state and their division just might be the toughest one as well. So Young will get battle tested as much as anyone in this class, if not more, as a rookie in high school. The wing is expected to have another big growth spurt or two and already has some intangibles to his game that you can see him laying out some success at this level and beyond.

SATURDAY

9:00am South Mountain vs. Peoria

9:55am Carl Hayden vs. Buckeye

10:50am South Mountain vs. Apollo 

11:45pm Desert Vista vs. Peoria

12:40pm Buckeye vs. Apollo

1:35pm Millennium vs. Valley Vista

2:30pm Paradise Honors vs. Ironwood

3:25pm Valley Vista vs. Carl Hayden

4:20pm Desert Vista vs. Ironwood

5:15pm Millennium vs. Paradise Honors

SUNDAY

9:00am Apollo vs. Valley Vista

9:55am Paradise Honors vs. South Mountain

10:50am Ironwood vs. Carl Hayden

11:45pm Peoria vs. Paradise Honors

12:40pm South Mountain vs. Buckeye

1:35pm Valley Vista vs. Peoria

2:30pm Desert Vista vs. Apollo

3:25pm Millennium vs. Carl Hayden

4:20pm Ironwood vs. Buckeye

5:15pm Desert Vista vs. Millennium

“PHOENIX FUTURES TOURNAMENT PREVIEW”

Last year my partner, Gregg Rosenberg, and I attended an incoming freshman camp with many of the top 2022 players under one roof at the KROC Center. The event was put on by longtime local tournament and event coordinator, Ron Coleman. The event was an eye opener for us. We were able to see some young guns that we never had the chance to watch play up until that date and gave us a preview as to who to look for that was coming up the ranks.

The event will give us and the other local media that will be in attendance a chance to gather some information and evaluate the young talent for future references.

The Just Us Powerhouse team is widely considered one of the top teams for their age group on the west coast and will bring the majority of their original team to this event. Guards Tru Washington (Cesar Chavez), Andrew Camacho (Peoria High) and Mark Brown (Mountain Pointe) lead the way for them with some other very tough and talented guards. While 6-foot-3 guard/wing Emery Young (Centennial) possesses some of the most upside in his class. One of the top 8th graders in the state, 5-foot-8 guard Gabe Pickens, will also suit up with Head Coach Rodney Brown’s squad.

The 2023 Elite team is a “free-agent” team of sorts, led by talented 6-foot-6 forward Landon Schumaker (Basha). Schumaker is one of the few players in this class that have been on our radar for quite some time at a very young age. 6-foot-5 Malik Rasul could have some of the most upside of any player in this event and has reclassified into the 2024 class. 5-foot-11 point guard Aadem Isai (Valley Vista) is a battle tested guard that has spent the majority of the spring and summer playing up into the 16u and 17u divisions. The sharp shooting guard is one of the smarter players you will find at that age. 6-foot-4 Kevin Patton (Mesa) is a name that keeps circulating as one of the top players in the class. We are very excited to see what he brings to the court. Longtime high school coach, Paul Suber, will be coaching the team, which is always an entertaining experience.

Another player that has made himself a staple in gyms all across the valley is Legion of Hoops 5-foot-9 true point guard Leonard Romayor (Brophy Prep). The tough and very intelligent guard has a real nice feel for the game that only a true student of it can pick up. They also have one of the bigger players in the event in 6-foot-6 big man Christian Depue (Centennial) that is said to be oozing with potential. 6-foot-3 wing Ben Egbo (Perry) is one of the more athletic kids in the class and is one of the very few kids at this age that can play above the rim already.

Blue Chip Platinum’s 6-foot-2 guard Jason Fontenet (St. Mary’s) is said to be one of the better scorers in the 2023 class. The talented bucket getter is the son and nephew of St. Mary’s greats, the Fontenet twins, that were so highly regarded in the early 2000’s. He is one player I am anxious to see play. Call it a bit of nostalgia.

Divinity Hoops is said to have a stable of guards that can come at you in waves. The one guard I have seen already on the roster participated in our Southwest Basketball Camp a few weeks back and stood out to us enough to put him in the Underclassmen All-Star game. 5-foot-10 Matthew Henry-Harrison (Buckeye Union) is about as aggressive as they come at that age and attacks the rim with a purpose. Should be interesting to watch him play against his own age group this weekend.

One of my favorite players I have already seen up until this point is GGB’s 5-foot-9 point guard Demarion Anderson (Youngker). A true and high IQ lead guy that can run a team and makes good things happen with the ball in his hands. He plays well beyond his years, which is a refreshing thing to see out of such a young player. 5-foot-8 Guard Javarion Hogan (Tolleson) brings some toughness and confidence to the table and can get some buckets on the offensive end. I can’t say I have seen him on the hardwood just yet, but I have seen 6-foot-3 wing Deric English (Mountain Ridge) on a football field, going toe-to-toe with my then-8th grade son who is a pretty good corner on the gridiron. English is the real deal and will be an exciting player to watch on Friday Nights for the next few years but I am curious as to how he translates his size and athleticism from a wideout with the pigskin to a wing on the court.

Arizona Swish and Team REAL’s roster are constructed of a lot of the young west side talent that we are excited to see. They will square up with each other on Saturday at 11am before both having to take on the Just Us Powerhouse team. We will be able to see some real tests from both squads.

Team Harden Legends is the sole 2024 team in this event, made out of some of Arizona’s top 2024 prospects. They have competed at a high level all spring and summer and want the test of playing up against some of the state’s top players and teams.

We hope everyone else is as excited as we are to get this event kicked off this weekend. It should be a very competitive and eye-opening two days of basketball at Apollo High School. Let’s get it AZ!

“TAY BOOTHMAN READY FOR NEXT CHAPTER”

Za-Ontay “Tay” Boothman has been on the elite level Arizona basketball scene for quite a while now. As the starting point guard from one of the most successful high school programs in the state for the last few years. Boothman made an impact at Buckeye almost instantly and every year brought a little more production.

His coming out year would probably be considered his sophomore season as he teamed up with 6’5” then-junior wing Otis Frazier III to make one of the more dynamic duos in the Valley. They ended that season 24-4 on the year and gave ,then-juggernaut Shadow Mountain, the most competitive and intense half of basketball the Matadors experiences all year. The Hawks fell short in that game, but Boothman was game! It was the first time I saw that the hot-shooting guard really had a different bit of DNA in his body. He knocked down shots, defended both of Shadow’s D1 guards in Jalen House (ASU) and Jovan Blacksher Jr. (GCU) and talked to everyone the whole time he was doing it.

Boothman joined the Powerhouse Hoops 16U program that spring and summer and put college coaches all over the West Coast on notice. Division-I college coaches raved about not only his scoring ability and defensive prowness, but his toughness, moxie and leadership. His most impressive stretch came in the last tournament of the summer in Las Vegas as a very successful Powerhouse 16u team took on some of the West Coast’s shoe-program teams, including the Seattle Rotary Select, The Truth and Las Vegas Prospects. Boothman lit every one of them up in front of multiple college coaches.

For his efforts, he would come out of that summer picking up offers from Denver, Central Arkansas, Northern Arizona and Houston Baptist, with many more keeping tabs on him.

The past season was one of the more anticipated one’s in Buckeye Union High history, with big hopes of a state championship. Boothman and Frazier both lived up to the billing but the team lost a lot of their senior leadership and toughness that made them such a competitive team. They fell short in the 4A quarterfinal, despite Boothman’s very productive efforts. Though the high school season did not end the way Boothman wanted or anticipated, he was set up to have a big spring for Powerhouse Hoops UAA Rise with the band that did so much damage the previous summer and would add some pieces that could formulate to even more success.

However, Boothman would find out that he had suffered a mild shoulder injury that would put him out for a little over a month.

He returned for his first AAU tournament in Kansas City during the spring live period in April before the shoulder was fully healed and with no time for true recovery. The rust and lingering pain presented a Tay Boothman that not many recognized. The frustration with not being able to play up to his standards wore on him a little but the competitive spirit inside him would not allow him to completely shut down. So he went to work…

He returned back to normal the following month with a very strong showing in the Area Codes Elite 8 in the Desert in Phoenix and looked even better at the West Coast Elite Memorial Day Classic in Las Vegas to end the spring.

In June, he went back to play for a very new-look Buckeye Hawks team, losing his 3-year long running mate in Frazier, along with some other pieces that formed the Buckeye puzzle. Playing for a team that would rely so much on what he does over the course of a game., He had a very good showing in the Section 7 Live Period event in Phoenix, twice putting up 40+ point games and keeping Buckeye competitive.

He then approached the summer with focus and intensity. He had a very strong showing locally for the West Coast Elite Summer Tip-Off before heading to Atlanta for the UAA Rise finals in front of many college coaches that have Boothman on their recruiting board. The dog in Tay Boothman that we have come so familiar in seeing was out of the kennel once again and ready for all the dogfights that come with such a high profile AAU event.

The sharp-shooting guard has just wrapped up his last AAU showing and will now start looking into his recruitment and make a decision on where he wants to spend his college basketball career and the next 4 years of his life. He will wear a Buckeye jersey, a jersey that he has worn with so much pride for the last 3 years, for one last season and chase the state title that has always avoided him. It will be new territory for him. He will be the main focal point of every defense he see’s and is sure to face more than a few box and one defenses. However, he intends on getting his official visits out of the way and pledging his commitment to whatever program he decides to join. The options are very wide open as of now but one thing is certain, whoever lands Boothman will be getting a package that any coach would love to have in their program. On and off the court!