ArizonaVarsity watched many games in the summer and tracked most of the incoming freshman plus a few transfers who may make an impact on varsity.
The 5A Conference is Apollo’s to lose but there will be a few others who will push them to their limits.
There are 43 schools in 5A and here are my preseason rankings for the 2016-2017 season.
#1 Apollo-Coach Jacob Marin is a coach that is blessed with many talented guards. Leading the charge will be seniors 5-foot-11 PG Holland Woods (highlights) (playmaker/ball handler-Portland State commit) and 5-foot-10 PG Dre Marin (highlights) (scorer/shooter-Southern Utah commit). This duo is one of the best in the state but don’t underestimate their two other talented guards. Seniors 6-foot SG Jeff Perez (shooter) and 6-foot-3 CG Elloheim Clark (defender/ball handler). Helping out inside will be 6-foot-3 PF Jason Wabbington (strong/tough) and 6-foot-6 senior PF transfer Tre Vinson (finisher/dunker). Lastly, they have 6-foot-6 SF soph Emmanuel Taban (long shooter). The Hawks will be playing versus themselves on most nights and will be favored to win every game in the conference all year.
#2 Chaparral-Coach Dan Peterson has an older veteran team of talented seniors. 6-foot PG Colten Kresl (scorer/leader), 6-foot-1 SG JT Thoman (physical scorer), 6-foot-5 PF Kai Fletcher (physical low post shooter) and 6-foot-5 SF Trey Checkett (shooter) are all back from last years group. All four started with many seniors on the bench who can come in and make some plays. Senior shooters 6-foot SG Jalen Foster and 6-foot-2 SF Corey Jones will be some of the best bench players along with 6-foot-5 junior C Eric Pearce (rebounder), 6-foot-6 soph F Alec Bryan (shooter) plus 6-foot-1 soph SG Blaise Threatt (scorer). The Firebirds have a deep group of offensive players. If they can mix in some stops with all their scoring, they can compete with the Hawks.
#3 Sunnyslope-Coach Ray Portela doesn’t have the older team like Chaparral but arguably a more battle tested team with a state final experience in their loss to Mesa last year. The good part is they really only had three seniors who were key contributors and the rest of the team were all sophs. The sophs, who are now all juniors, are 6-foot-6 PF Chris Orozco (low post skilled scorer), 6-foot-4 W Kyle Fisher (athletic scorer), 6-foot PG Bryson Mewhinney (long ball handler), 6-foot SG Jaran Whitfield (shooter), 5-foot-11 SG Abayev Allen (shooter) and 5-foot-11 SG Terrence Gilder (defender). Word is that Gilder may be out for the year, which is a big loss since he’s their top on-ball defender. Outside of the core juniors, 5-foot-9 soph PG Zach Paloma is a quick ball handler with a jumper and he can defend on the ball. The Vikings are not the biggest team but play great team ball and defend. Portela seems to get the most out of his teams.
#4 McClintock-Coach Sam Dentz has another talented duo like last year. This year it is 6-foot senior do-it-all guard Adam Wright and up and coming 6-foot-1 soph CG Josh Baker. Wright can defend, rebound and score it. Baker is arguably the top soph shooter in the state and a long defender as well. This duo is very unselfish and has brought into being team players. To compliment that duo will be seniors 5-foot-8 PG Derek Alexander (facilitator), 6-foot-1 G Jamal Johnson (defender) and 6-foot-5 junior Andre Thurman (rebounder/athlete). Off the pine will be a strong group as well in 6-foot-4 senior F Tyrel Richardson (athlete), 6-foot-1 junior SG Marquis Holloway-Davison (shooter/athlete) and 5-foot-11 senior PG Brevik Clark (IQ/shooter). The Chargers will be tough to beat with great balance and teamwork.
#5 Liberty-Coach Mark Wood has a deep and interchangeable group that he can put 10 different players/line ups out on the court at any time. He always has smart lead guards to utilize and this year is no different in 5-foot-7 senior PG Dom Ciccaglione. Dom is a wizard with the ball and can make all the passes. Don’t let his size fool you, he is a tough competitor. 5-foot-10 senior SG Cole Roether, 5-foot-10 junior G Elijah Moye and 5-foot-9 soph PG Jacob Edahl will score the ball for the Lions. Off the bench may be their two most dangerous players. 6-foot-5 junior SF Connor Ray and 6-foot-4 junior SG Quentin Guliford. Ray is an outstanding deep shooter and is tough inside. Guliford is a long athlete who can defend and score. The Lions are very tough team to match up with since they play so many players which they sub in every three minutes or so and press most of the game.
#6 Arcadia-Coach Stephen Danford has the sleeper team of the division and a good core of seven players who all know how to play. The team will be led by 6-foot senior sharp shooter Max Moses. The six other pieces that will contribute heavily are 5-foot-10 senior PG Jackson Westhoff (shooter) and 6-foot senior SG Reed Richardson (shooter/scorer). Plus forwards 6-foot-4 junior PF Aidan Weber (strength) and 6-foot-3 senior SF Matt Burton (multi-skilled shooter). They have a couple nice pieces off the bench in 6-foot-3 junior PG Jaylin Fleming (ball handler/facilitator) and 6-foot soph SG Carter Murphy (shooter). The Titans lost in the state finals two years ago and they're a team no one will want to play come February.
#7 Buena-Coach Dave Glasgow has a deep and talented young team led by 5-foot-11 junior PG Dominic Mooney. Mooney is a deep shooter with immense confidence to take over games. He is well built and makes smart decisions. Helping out inside are 6-foot-6 junior PF/C Devin Powell (scorer), 6-foot-4 Jr PF Cyrus Thomas (long rebounder/defender), 6-foot-3 Sr PF David Featherston (strong inside). Two other starters will be vital parts to the team’s success will be sophomores 6-foot-4 W Grant Ward and 5-foot-11 SG Kino Bellinger. Bellinger is one of the better shooters in Tucson. Ward is one of the most versatile players in his class. Ward doesn’t score the ball at a high level, but defends multiple positions, handles the ball and is a team glue guy. The Colts will be a tough out come playoff time.
#8 Cienega-Coach Matt Johnson has a solid older team led by 6-foot senior PG Andrew Leonard. Leonard is top notch shooter and cerebral playmaker. Other core players will be 6-foot-2 junior PG Jordan Green (long defender/scorer), 6-foot-4 junior F Breven Burnett (inside/outside threat), 6-foot-3 senior W Darius Williams (defender), 6-foot-3 junior PF Kalani Headen (athletic rebounder) and 6-foot senior SF Alex Muszynski (dirty work/glue type). Williams is the one who could break out. He has grown three inches in the last year and he could take the Bobcats deep in the playoffs.
#9 Mesquite-Coach Chris Lemon was happy when he found out he received a couple newcomers in 6-foot-2 super junior PG Jaden Lee and stud incoming 6-foot-3 freshman SG Xavier Dusell. Lee is an explosive athlete, playmaker and scorer. Dusell is a long shooter. Those two will join the heart and soul of the team in 6-foot-4 junior SF David Exline. Exline is one of the toughest players in the junior class. He rebounds well and he can hit the deep ball. The other two that will round out the starting five will be 6-foot junior SG Willie Cano and 6-foot-1 junior PF Jacob Arias. Arias is a tough rebounder and Cano can handle the ball. Coach Lemon will have some expectations for the first time for the Wildcats to have a successful season. Lee will have to sit out to start the season but he will play in the McClintock Shootout.
#10 Paradise Valley-Coach Mark McGowan has very good guards to lead his team. It starts with 5-foot-11 junior PG Tashon Brown and 5-foot-9 senior PG Terriq Tshaka. Brown is a facilitator /defender who can score when needed and Tshaka is a scorer from all 3-levels and will put his team on his back to succeed. Others that will be needed to contribute will be junior scorers Jordan Morris, Cole Murphy and Logan Gallaga. Off the bench he brings in 6-foot-4 junior Bric Hudnutt and 6-foot-5 stud frosh Kendyl Watson. Watson is the younger brother of Fresno State standout Paul Watson. Kendyl has a lot of upside and promise. He will be worked in slowly but he will play some key minutes.
5 other schools of note with top players:
Agua Fria-’17 6-foot-6 SF Bryce Fowler (Sacramento State commit), ‘18s 5-foot-11 SG DJ McNeal & 6-foot SG Daniel Foster.
Deer Valley-’18s 6-foot-6 PF Bryce Davis & 5-foot-8 PG Deven Breckner.
Marana Mountain View-’20 6-foot PG Evan Nelson, ‘18s 6-foot-2 SG Trevor Anderson & 6-foot-1 CG Drew Cotton.
Fairfax-’17s 6-foot-3 SF Avione Briggs, 5-foot-8 PG Vincent Landrum & ‘18 6-foot-4 PF Donovan Reagan.
Carl Hayden-'18 6-foot-3 W Isaiah Rhymes.
Sleeper team:
Cholla-’18s 5-foot-10 PG Marcel Dean, 6-foot-1 SG Devin Stubblefield & ‘20 5-foot-11 PG Myles Gantt.
Preseason Watch Lists:
10 POY candidates:
6-foot-6 Sr SF Bryce Fowler--AF
6-foot Sr PG Colten Kresl--Chap
6-foot-2 Jr PG Jaden Lee--Mesquite
5-foot-10 Sr PG Dre Marin--Apollo
5-foot-10 Sr PG Elijah Mead--Camelback
6-foot Sr SG Max Moses--Arcadia
6-foot-1 Sr SG JT Thoman--Chap
5-foot-9 Sr PG Terriq Tshaka--PV
6-foot Sr PG Holland Woods--Apollo
6-foot-1 Sr SG Adam Wright--Tock
11 Breakout candidates:
6-foot-1 So CG Josh Baker--Tock
6-foot-6 So PF Corey Barnes--Poston Butte
6-foot-4 Sr SF Avione Briggs--Fairfax
6-foot Jr PG Tashon Brown--PV
6-foot-6 Jr PF Bryce Davis--Deer Valley
5-foot-10 Jr PG Marcel Dean--Cholla
6-foot-2 Jr PG Jordan Green--Cienega
6-foot-3 Jr SG Koby Jones--Centennial
5-foot-11 Jr PG Dominic Mooney--Buena
6-foot Fr PG Evan Nelson--Marana MTV
6-foot-6 Sr PF Skylar Collins--Vista Grande
10 DPOY candidates:
6-foot-8 Sr PF Tyson Beringer--Poston Butte
5-foot-11 Jr PG Tashon Brown--PV
6-foot-6 So PF Griffin Bryant--ND Prep
5-foot-10 Jr PG Marcel Dean--Cholla
6-foot-4 Jr SF David Exline--Mesquite
6-foot-2 Jr PG Jordan Green--Cienega
5-foot-7 Jr PG Josh Johnson--Maricopa
5-foot-9 Sr PG Vincent Landrum--Fairfax
5-foot-10 Sr PG Dre Marin--Apollo
6-foot-3 Jr W Isaiah Rhymes--Carl Hayden
Region-1 (Southern)
1. Buena
2. Cienega
3. Marana Mountain View
4. Sahuaro
5. Ironwood Ridge
Region-2 (Sonoran)
1. Cholla
2. Poston Butte
3. Marana
4. Flowing Wells
5. Desert View
Region-3 (Union)
1. Fairfax
2. Carl Hayden
3. Camelback
4. Glendale
5. South Mountain
6. Independence
Region-4 (NorthEast Valley)
1. Chaparral
2. Arcadia
3. Paradise Valley
4. North Canyon
5. Notre Dame Prep
Region-5 (East Valley)
1. Mesquite
2. Williams Field
3. Queen Creek
4. Campo Verde
5. Vista Grande
Region-6 (Metro)
1. Apollo
2. Sunnyslope
3. McClintock
4. Maricopa
5. Ironwood
6. Kellis
Region-7 (Desert West)
1. Agua Fria
2. Deer Valley
3. Verrado
4. Desert Edge
5. Goldwater
6. Lake Havasu
Region-8 (Northwest)
1. Liberty
2. Centennial
3. Sierra Linda
4. Shadow Ridge
5. Willow Canyon
My 16 projected playoff teams:
Region winners get a ticket to the Conf Play-In game if they are not a top-8 seed.
1. Apollo--Region winner
2. Chaparral--Region winner
3. Sunnyslope
4. McClintock
5. Liberty--Region winner
6. Arcadia
7. Buena--Region winner
8. Cienega
9. Mesquite--Region winner
10. PV
11. Agua Fria--Region winner
12. Deer Valley
13. Fairfax--Region winner
14. Marana MTV
15. Carl Hayden
16. Centennial
8 that may lose in the Conference Play-In games:
17. Camelback
18. Williams Field
19. Cholla--Region winner
20. Poston Butte
21. Maricopa
22. Queen Creek
23. Verrado
24. Ironwood
