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”YOU’VE BEEN WARNED: ELIJAH SAUNDERS”

Arizona’s young basketball talent is evident. There are some local underclassmen that are making national names for themselves. One of those young bulls that are up and coming is 6-foot-6 2022 forward Elijah Saunders.

He has many of the tools that most coaches and scouts love to see. The size and mass of the kid stands out to you first. He is now starting to move a whole lot better as he grows into his long and thick body. While most prospects his age struggle with putting on and keeping weight, that is not a problem early on for the talented young forward.

On the floor, Elijah does a lot of things very well. He can really shoot it from the outside and his mid-range game is a legit weapon. He finishes strong and is very effective inside and can score from all three levels. His handle needs some tightening but the ball does not seem to feel foreign in his hands on the perimeter. He also seems to be finding some of his early bounce and putting down dunks with regularity.

Sure, he is nowhere near a finished product. But that is what is kind of scary. The kid really enjoys and strives to get better and better. He has the work ethic. He understands he needs more work on that handle and he wants to get more explosive on his drives to the rim. His top priority is getting his motor to a level that pisses off opposing coaches. Time will tell if he puts all those things together with what already exists within him on the floor, but it he does he could be one of the top talents on the west coast.

When you truly fall in love with something it becomes so much easier to become good at it. If you get to being good at something and you still possess the same love, it is that much easier to become great.

His mother, Andrea Saunders, was constantly in a gym alongside her husband, watching her baby boy start to do his thing. She also always had an eye on this youth AAU Director/Coach that was rumored to be training one of the top prospects in all of America. The guys name was Vaughn Compton and that top prospects name was Nico Mannion. I am speculating, but may be Mom saw an in in the fact that, like Mannion (aka the Red Mamba), her son had the fire-red hair. Or just may be it was the fact that her maiden last name is Compton as well. But she found a coorilation and respect to “VC” who was being talked about as one of the top skills trainers on the West Coast.

So in a Las Vegas parking lot, after Coach Compton had just guided his Arizona Vipers AAU team to a victory in the Big Foot Tournament, mom approached him in the parking lot and explained that they were also from Arizona and she wanted nothing more than for him to train her baby boy and coach him.

The rest is history… Elijah joined the Vipers organization, he trained with Vaughn and was fed up the long dining room table. He landed at Rancho Solano Prep where he was a starter as a freshman for one of the more talented younger teams in the state. After a solid freshman season, he landed with the Powerhouse Hoops 15U UAA Rise team for the spring.

In Kansas City, Saunders put together a very strong 4-game string. In two of those games, he looked dominant. After a 30+ point performance, at 15-years old, he would receive his first Division-I offer from South Dakota’s Head Coach Todd Lee. Undoubtedly, it will be the first of many as Elijah grows as a player and person. Even at a young age he knows what he wants out of the next level. He wants to play in an uptempo system that allows their players to showcase their skill sets and wants to play in a winning culture. He feeds off of crowds and energy. He loves playing in games where the lights shine the brightest. One statement can be cashed into the bank, he is not scared. Being on the High School AAU circuit for the first time has instilled confidence in him and has made him see that he feels like he can be on the court with just about anybody.

If I were asked to describe him without anymore information, I would say he is an adrenaline junky. Not just for what I have learned about him and the environments her prefers to play in, but the side conversations I have had with him.

In the 8th grade he took an Aviation class. He was so intrigued with the class and how the teacher presented it that he is very interested in one day becoming a Pilot when his basketball days are done.

“UNDER THE RADAR: DAYTON HARRIS”

Let’s be as candid as we possibly can to start this off. Many people know Dayton Harris. The smooth, great shooting, playmaking, fundamental and talented guard from Skyline High. But few talk about him. I would guess their are various factors that play into that. As skilled and tough as he is, he has played for a program thus far thru his high school season that lies in a part of the Valley that has other high school programs that are deeply entrenched into the basketball community with a lot of cumulative top talent all on one team. I guess many of us almost ignore the production and accomplishments that Head Coach James Capriotti and the Coyotes have built. Harris was a huge, intricate part of a team that went 19-8 on the season. In their final game of the year they squared up against heavily favored Perry High, who is one of those before-mentioned teams with multiple Division-I prospects. It was the AIA 6A State Playoffs and a win-or-go-home situation and Skyline gave Perry all they could handle before falling to them 71-74. 

That game capped off a very impresssive season by Harris, averaging nearly 15 points, 7 assists, 6 rebounds and 4 steals. More importantly, the 6-foot-2 junior guard proved that he could hang with and play against just about anybody in the state you put him in front of. 

Dayton is a little be different than most kids his age. In many ways, he is just a kid. However, it only takes a short, serious talk with him to understand that he has a bit more figured out about life than most of his counterparts. He very much enjoys just being one of the fellas and hanging out with his friends. He does play video games and watch movies. He eats like a horse but describes his appetitite as “a boujee pallet.” Side note: I have been writing articles like this for well over a decade and there is no question that is the first time I have heard that term from a player. 

He has played all spring for the AAU program that is consisted of many of his Skyline teammates entitled “The Show,” which is co-ran by Coach Capriotti. Their relationship runs much deeper than the coach/player demographic. Capriotti trains, transports and mentors him. The last layer of their relationship lies in a far deeper capacity. James Capriotti is Dayton’s step-father and cares for the kid as if he was one of his own. His mother, Lisa Capriotti, is the Vice President at a Community Management Company. It does not take much to realize why Dayton’s foundation and structure seems to be so set into place. 

He is still open to what he wants to major in, in college. Though he has his eyes set on a degree in Sports Marketing and knows that after he is done playing the game, he wants to become a high level college basketball coach. May be he wants to be on the lookout for the next Dayton Harris. The talented kid that understands the game at a high level, can really shoot it from the outside and brings out the best in the players around him. The kid that is fearless on the basketball floor and can defend at a high level and backs down from nobody. The bigger and better the opponent, the better game Harris will usually play. 

Harris has work to do. He needs to add some strength, with usually comes with age and physical maturity. He needs to get his jumper up a little higher and could use a more explosive first step and some tightening on his handle. The good news is that the kid is in the gym every chance he can get. He lifts, puts up the shots, does the drills and trains like it’s one of his favorite hobbies. That work ethic to go with a 3.97 GPA makes Dayton a very intriguing college prospect. 

This article on Dayton is far overdue. But the story is just beginning and I have a feeling it is going to be a long time before it ends. 

“BRIGHT FUTURE FOR DEVONTES COBBS”

Arizona has enjoyed a few big time high school guards in years past. Guards that were electric and entertaining and tough and performed at a high level on the local and national scenes. From Jahii Carson (ASU) to Nick Johnson (Arizona). From Casey Benson (Oregon/GCU) to Alex Borcello (Arizona). From Markus Howard (Marquette) to Holland Woods (Portland State) to Saben Lee (Vanderbilt). Sprinkle in our recent graduates of Nico Mannion (Arizona), Jovan Blacksher Jr. (GCU) and Jaelen House (ASU) and you come to realize that our state has really produced some problems from that guard position.

Now comes the next up and coming backcourt talent that could very well add his name to that prestigious list. A Milwaukee, Wisconsin product that had quite a buzz back in the Midwest as an 8th-grader. A kid that never left a basketball gym from sun up to sun down arrived in Phoenix last summer and attended local and national juggernaut, Shadow Mountain High, to play for legendary player and coach Mike Bibby.

The ultra talented and Uber-athletic guard made the move with his mother and big brother, Davon Cobbs, who also played on that state championship Matadors team alongside him. Devontes made an impact in a backcourt that has long been established with the before mentioned House and Blacksher. Sure, the freshman bumps were there but in one of his first games at the high school level he saw himself matched up with one of the top guards in America, Pinnacle’s Nico Mannion, in a game that will go down in the record books as one of the better one’s in recent memory.

Shadow Mountain came out of that game on the losing end but you could tell it was a growing curve for a kid that you could tell was made to play in those types of environments. The ruckus crowd did not rattle that young bull. He was not afraid of the moment or scared to do what he has been doing to opponents since he was a little kid.

However, that was not the first time I laid my eyes on him. One day back in the later part of the summer last year I walked into the newly built PHHacility in central Phoenix. On the main court was a bunch of little kids and two teenagers that were going at it on the court like they were brothers fighting over the remote control. Mom and ,what I believe to be an aunt, was chatting on some chairs courtside. I found out just minutes later, thats exactly what they were. There was some buckets traded out, plenty of smack talking and some old fashioned brotherly love exchanged in that one-on-one battle that has probably been played hundreds of times in backyards, gyms and parks. Devontes walked up to me and looked me in the eye while shaking my hand and introduced himself as “Tez” before quickly correcting himself and stating his full name, “Devontes Cobbs.” I introduced myself to a young man that oozed of toughness and an aura that told you he was about this life. For him, ball really is life.

For those who don’t know, Milwaukee is not a city for the weak of heart. I have run into many guys from Milwaukee in my lifetime and have yet to run into one that I would ever describe as “soft.” It’s a lunch-pale type of city that breeds toughness and adversity. A sink or swim type of place. But Devontes grew up in a gym, mentored and coached by Chris Carter as a small kid with big dreams growing up in Milwaukee. If you have a conversation with his family, Coach Carter’s name will come up more than once. The devoted man that has changed the path up until this point for Devontes and his older brother put a imprint in their lives. It is what, initially, made this move out west so tough on the Cobbs brothers. Leaving the only guy that had ever really coached them and the father-figure they grew so accustomed to having. The transition was not an easy one. He was homesick and still searching for his way to find his way in a brand new city with a very different demographic and environment. But “Tez” always has been a step ahead of the curve when it comes to maturity. His mother describes him as her “responsible child.” The one that will take care of every sick family member in the house and handle the majority of the household choirs. Not only does he clean, he enjoys cooking as well. His mother showed him a couple years ago how to make his favorite dish, shrimp scampi, and he has mastered the recipe. So saying Devontes Cobbs is cooking has more than one meaning.

Eventually, basketball got into full swing for the super talented and athletic 6’3” guard. The season started at Shadow Mountain and the court made him feel more at ease and at home. He had a solid freshman season behind two division-I guards and earned his first state championship of his high school career.

He traveled the spring with the upstart Nike Arizona Supereme program and turned a whole lot of heads on the tournament circuit. It was many people’s first time laying eyes on a freshman that has already earned offers from Florida and SMU and a prospect that many believe to be one of the top on the West Coast now. This weekend he will be playing with Team SFG in Indianapolis alongside another Arizona top 2022 standout in 6’9” forward Sadraque Nganga and Lebron James Jr. It will be a very interesting and entertaining summer watching Devontes Cobbs and watching his growth as a player and young man. One thing is for sure, his future is as bright as an Arizona summer sun.

This past year was a big year for the Bella Vista Prep program. Not only did they bring two of the top players from the 2020 and 2021 class in 6-foot-5 wing Addison Patterson and 6-foot point guard Zion Harmon, but their marquee 6-foot-6 2020 shooting guard Terry Armstrong would commit to Arizona during the season.

As if that was not enough, the Bears would take the trip to Kentucky for the Grind Session World Championships and came back home to Scottsdale, Arizona with the trophy.

A part of that team was an X-Factor type of guard on a team full of high-major prospects. The kid that you almost forget would hit a big 3 or make a pass that led to a big bucket. Or may be it was his high basketball IQ that would put him in the right place to make a big defensive play.

The X-Factor I am referring to is Toronto, Canada native, 6-foot-4 2020 guard Brandyn Talbot. The talented and tough-as-nails combo guard is currently traveling the Adidas Gold Gauntlet with Canada Grassroots and had a great showing this past weekend in Dallas. Many coaches I talked to were very interested and intrigued with Brandyn and wanted to get involved in his recruitment. The first to pull the trigger was UTEP, who offered him yesterday.

I have spoken to Program Director Kyle Weaver and Assistant Coach Dylan Gilless numerous times about Brandyn and every time they are very pleased with not only the player, but the kid that he brings to the program. He is one of the more liked and supported kids on the team. And how can you not like him? He plays the game the right way and plays hard. He is unselfish but still has the confidence to put the ball in the hoop. He shoots the ball very well and has a playmaking gene in his DNA somewhere. He defends and hustles and is one of the more coach able kids you will run across.

The UTEP offer should just be a first of many to come as he moves forward in the spring and summer before putting on a Bella Vista jersey for the last time this upcoming high school season. With the departure of four starters and a couple role players, we should see him on the floor much more.

National Prep schools in the Valley are nothing new. The foundation of what it is today has certainly transformed and manifested thru the years but they are booming now more than ever. Hillcrest Prep in Phoenix has produced more than a few high majors and has the Suns DeAndre Ayton as an alumnus in the NBA. Bella Vista Prep in Scottsdale is two years into existence and just won the Grind Session National Championship this past year behind their Captain and Poster Boy, Arizona signee Terry Armstrong. They brought in Canada’s top 2020 prospect in Addison Patterson and added the top point guard in the 2021 class in Zion Harmon.

Now, we can be safe to assume Arizona Compass Prep is on that same national platform as well. The Prep school that started with big aspirations is finally seeing some of those visions come to light in big part due to the connections and efforts of their basketball program director, Pete Kaffey.

A native from Minnesota, Kaffey was responsible for bringing over Compass Prep’s first Division-I player in Utah freshman guard Both Gach. The talented Swiss Army knife of a guard brought in numerous high major colleges and introduced the college basketball world to Compass Prep.

That would lead to where they were at last year. With their 6-foot-3 2020 starting point guard, Jalin Anderson, returning to the roster they would add local product, 6-foot-4 2020 shooting guard Xavier DuSell from Chaparral High. Shortly after, one of the top freshman in the country, Sadraque Nganga, would arrive from Angola to put a national (and international) name on the roster. In addition, they would add 7-foot-1 Top 50 ranked center Chol Mariel. Though Mariel’s presence was spotted, Compass Prep looked great all year long. The roster got better, schedule got harder and they were in dog-fights. It was evident that they were starting to turn this thing around.

Kaffey has had a journey that started with some humble beginnings that dropped him off at this destination. His playing career was brief in Minnesota. He was a solid guard that went the junior college route out of high school but stopped playing after his freshman year when he realized that as much as he loves the game, he was not going to do nothing special with it. Plus, his girlfriend was pregnant with his first baby and he needed to devote some time to figuring out exactly what it was that he wanted to do with his life.

He landed an assistant coaching gig with his alma-mater high school, Robinson Cooper, and even coached some of the more talented middle school kids in the area. After winning championship after championship, his name and what he was representing in the city started to spread and some of the top players in the state were calling him to be apart of the program he was building.

He landed a job with one of the most recognized Prep Schools in all of America at Findlay Prep in Henderson, Nevada. He would bring one of the top recruits in the country along with him in nationally-ranked Rashad Vaughn due to the close bond and relationship they had formed over the years starting in middle school. Those relationships extended to current NBA players such as Kelly Oubre Jr., Dillon Brooks, Justin Jackson and P.J. Washington, among others.

Kaffey’s connections run deep in the grassroots basketball community. It is those connections and his ability to network that landed him here in Arizona. He had found a relationship in one of Arizona basketball’s AAU pioneers, Anthony Ray, who was serving on the Compass staff. Ray introduced him to the powers that be, and the deal was done. Pete Kaffey was making his next stop in Chandler, Arizona.

When the blueprint for Arizona Compass Prep basketball was drawn out they decided they wanted to have one of the more respected national programs in the country. They wanted to be mentioned in the same breath as Oak Hill, Findlay, IMG and the rest of the big boys that make up this Prep Hoops landscape. So when Kaffey took over the program, they began to not only steer in that direction, but put their foot on the gas.

If you spend more than a few minutes talking with Pete it does not take you long to realize why he has been able to be so successful in this business and why he is able to create the relationships that he does. He is humble in his accomplishments and praises and empowers others. He truly appreciates and holds value in relationships and partnerships. He speaks about his coaching staff like the car would not come out of park without them. AZ Compass Prep hired Ed Gibson, a former Chandler High coach and former player for Robert Morris, as the Head Coach of the program. They also brought in Sharon Wright, a former lottery pick of the Philadelphia 76ers. While he is still looking to add quality coaches to the staff moving forward, he is very happy with where they are at as a collective trio. He also almost gushes when talking about the administration side of the program. The people like Swen Anderson, who serves as the School President and makes sure the education department is being held accountable for the program. And Ronda Owens, who is CEO of the school and serves as a volunteer academic advisor and organizes the players ACT and SAT prep, as well as study sessions. And Zyzick Owens, the Vice President, who provides the day-to-day care for the players and the program. He understands that when you cook a feast, everyone eats. That when your trying to drive a ship, it has to be all hands on deck.

So it is no surprise that he is continuing to bring in big time talent and put them in their uniforms. He recently recruited and landed Las Vegas’ talented Clark High School’s duo of Frankie Collins and Maxwell Lewis, who both also play for the Dream Vision Adidas Gauntlet AAU program. Collins holds offers from Kansas, Oklahoma, TCU, New Mexico, UNLV, UTEP, Columbia and Eastern Washington, while Lewis holds multiple DI offers and is projected to blow up this spring and summer with the Dream Vision AAU program. He also recently got commitments out of Sincere Parker, a 6-foot-4 rising senior scoring 2-guard that holds offers from New Mexico, Long Beach State and Green Bay and Dende Ceder, a 6-foot-10 big man out of the Netherlands that is said to have all the ability to blow up on the national scene. In the last few weeks he has hosted visits from colleges that include Maryland, Saint Mary’s, New Mexico, UCF, SMU, Northern Colorado and Coastal Carolina, among others.

The dreams they have for this masterpiece they are attempting to paint are big. They want to be a haven for kids that have projected pro careers and also one’s that have the ability and work ethic to develop into one. They want to put their kids and players in the best position to succeed at the highest level. To have as many players under their umbrella reach their ceilings by the time they leave for college. They want to play against and beat the best in the country and do it on the biggest of stages and highest of platforms. Kaffey saw first hand what it took in his time at Findlay. The importance of great housing, an education that that checks out and unlimited access to the gym so that their kids can work on their game whenever they want. Their housing is a 5-minute walk from the gym and the gym is accessible to the team whenever they see fit.

I am personally a big believer in this program and the things they have the ability to accomplish. They are not just building a basketball program, but a culture that makes their players proud to be there and represent the brand. A brand. That is what they are constructing. Recruiting kids that fit the mold in which they are looking for on and off the court. How can you not want to cheer for that? I am excited to watch this thing get built. To watch it manifest through the process. And to watch it all from my back porch. It should be quite a ride…

Powerhouse Hoops 17U Rise are a problem. A cohesive group that can attack you and come at you in waves that has a variety of skill sets that can beat you. And a coaching staff that gets the best out of their guys on a nightly basis. A pair of coaches that instill hustle and defense and ball movement and attacking the rim. It is an entertaining brand of basketball to watch. One that players like to play in and spectators like to see. The icing on the cake is that the group truly does get along. There is a genuine love and togetherness in a group that is compiled of some of Arizona’s top local high school talent. The squad took to the Under Armour Association Rise circuit in Kansas City this weekend in a 4-game showcase in which they went 4-0 in impressive fashion. Their last game of the weekend was against an impressive Grand Rapids Storm team that featured multiple Division-I prospects and took the game down to the wire. This great blend of talent got the job done late and escaped with a narrow victory, capping off an undefeated showing.

Coach John Ortega, as many know, is also the Owner of Powerhouse Hoops. But his willingness to let his players play and simplify things to get the best out of his best players is what makes this team so intriguing and easy on the eyes. Coach Kirk Fauske just came off of a high school season coaching one of the top teams in the state, the Mountain Pointe Pride. He is a passionate coach with a boisterous demeanor and personality. On this team, he runs the defensive schemes and is the large man standing on the sideline yelling and encouraging his team to the point that you feel like you may just want to grab a jersey and check into the game from the stands. Their third “coach” is Coach Fauske’s 11-year old son who probably studies and knows more basketball than me or anyone reading this. He has become a staple for this team and almost a mascot. The fact that he probably has a better 3-point stroke than 75% of a team full of Division-I prospects will be a top for another day in about three or four years.

6-foot-9 2020 point forward from Desert Vista High, Osasere Ighodaro, is one of the hottest prospects and stock risers on the West Coast. A Swiss-Army Knife of a forward that just gives you a little bit of everything. While he came out of last summer with several Division-I offers, the quality and level of those offers have reached a new high. Stanford was the first to extend a high major offer, as his 4.6 GPA stands out about as much as the fact that he is so long and athletic while being an elite level defender and distributor. With the arrival of legendary Arizona coach, David Grace, to the Vanderbilt coaching staff, he received his second offer to the “Stanford of the South,” as Coach Grace and new Head Coach and former-NBA star Jerry Stackhouse flew out to Arizona to see him personally. He has now began to receive heavy interest from a long list of high major schools.

6-foot-2 2020 point guard Evan Nelson out of Salpointe Catholic in Tucson is playing about as good as any point guard on the West Coast right now. His name held a buzz at the Hyvee Arena in Kansas City over the weekend and brought out schools from all different levels from mid to high majors. The lightning quick and shifty lead guard went into the weekend holding 11 Division-I offers with the latest being the new coaching staff at Nevada, but you can bet the last dollar in the bank that number will increase in the next few weeks. In the four games he played he gave you a little bit of everything. He showcased his blur-like speed, ability to shake off defenders off the dribble and create his own shot. He found teammates with sweet passes and frustrated defenders with the nice pull-up jumper he holds in his pocket while the oppositions pockets often got picked. Nelson is one of the better on ball defenders that can pick up for 94-feet that you will find. A true pest of a defender that takes pride in turning ball-handlers and throwing them off their offensive rhythm.

6-foot-7 2020 power forward DeAndre Henry out of Mountain Pointe High is very used to the intensity that Coach Fauske demands out of his players. The bulldog of a forward has been coached by him at Mountain Pointe for the last two years. The comfortability in the scheme shows as Henry is usually the one cleaning up his teammates occasional defensive mistakes. While he is a Mack Truck in the paint, he has some sneaky athleticism and a 6’9 wingspan that allows him to be a good shot blocker. In addition, he just might be one of the premier rebounders on the west coast. And it is more than just his wingspan and bulk. He has an impressive ability to read the ball of the rim and go up to get it. His positioning down low is impressive and his motor has more than a few energizer batteries in it. His most underrated skill is his passing. He slows down the movements and finds open cutters and shooters as well as you can ask for and is very unselfish when there is a play to be made. He walked into the weekend with offers from South Dakota and Northern Arizona. He is another stock riser on this team.

6-foot-3 2020 guard Alem Husenevich has one of the most impressive strokes you will find. He gets it off so fast and is almost effortless in the release. It is truly a thing a beauty to watch him shoot the ball. And he keeps defenders honest with over-pursuing on close-outs because he is willing and capable of taking the ball toward the rim. He is a pretty good finisher and transition and can go on some serious scoring stretches. I would like to see him play within the offense more and pull back when an open lane isn’t there, as he can get a little shot happy at times. But overall, he had a great showing in front of numerous college coaches. Numerous low to mid majors enquirer about the sharpshooting Bosnian guard.

6-foot-4 2020 guard Kiimani Holt can be one of the more explosive and bouncier athletes when he chooses to be. He is an aggressive guard with a good body that can really get to the rim with ease. Though I would like to see him add a more consistently used side or euro-step to avoid getting called for charges. He showcased his ability to get to his spot around the free-throw line extended and knock it down off the dribble. Finding some range no that shot would be huge. Though he has the occasional tendency to raise up when playing on-ball defense, he can wreak havoc on that end of the floor and thrives off of getting out in transition. He currently holds 6 Division-I offers to a variety of mid-majors. I would guess a few more mid-majors will come his way shortly.

6-foot-7 2020 wing Logan Phillips is really intriguing. His slight build can be a cause for concern for some but the kid can flat out get it done. His length on the defensive end really stands out. He is a really good creator with the ball In his hands and can knock down the outside shot. He also has the ability to penetrate in the flow of the offense but I would love to see him do it more often. He currently holds a D-I offer to Incarnate Word and could wake up a few more low to mid majors with the amount of upside and work ethic he possesses.

6-foot-2 2020 guard Brycen Long had some hot shooting stretches that was impressive. He can really stroke it from 12-feet and out. While his 3-point shooting ability is his bread and butter, he has a really nice pull up on the perimeter off the bounce. While he might struggle at times on the defensive end with quicker guards, his high IQ allows him to recover well and he is a very good team defender. He is one of those kids that truly gets the best out of his abilities. He currently holds one DI offer to Houston Baptist.

This team had three players that were fresh to getting back on the court. 6-foot-1 2020 guard Tay Boothman from Buckeye Union seen his first action on the court in the last couple months after shoulder surgery and you could see the rust draping all over the sharp shooting guard. After two games of not feeling quite right, he shut it down for the weekend and will try to get right over the next week. Boothman lit it up for this same team all spring and summer of last year on the 16U trail and picked up four Division-I offers to show for it.

6-foot-7 2020 forward Anthony Garza was returning to the court from concussion protocol after missing almost the entire first eight games. Finding his legs was a challenge early but you could see him gradually get back into it and start to look like the Garza he is most known for. A rabid dog of a forward on both ends of the floor that has pure hustle, determination with a little bit of athleticism in the blood. He currently holds an offer to Air Force and will look to improve his stock moving forward.

6-foot-9 2020 forward/center Hunter Ruck from Rancho Solano Prep returned from a sprained ankle and was not quite right all weekend. However, you could see flashes of what he was capable of with some really impressive plays on the defensive end and super-athletic chase-down blocks. He was reliable, for the most part, on the boards but let a few get over him that he usually is a vacuum for. He struggled on the offensive end with some shots in the paint that he usually gets to go at a pretty high clip. He currently holds three Division-I offers

This group is going to be a very fun group to watch for the remainder of the spring and into July as they continue their tournament trail. I am expecting a whole lot of offers to be tossed over to this roster. It is a very recruitable bunch that should all qualify academically. The fact that over half of the roster holds a GPA over 3.5 is nothing short of impressive. Add in the fact that they play a style that college coaches enjoy seeing and can stay in-tune for a whole game to evaluate makes it a very easy accomplishment.