Academic All-West Camp

The Academic All West Camp was held at Greenway High School on September 20th. Over 90 players participated in the fall version of this event which is co-sponsored by Southwest Showcase Events and ArizonaVarsity.com.

The players were treated with top guest speakers who discussed the opportunities at all levels from D1, D2, Academic D3 institutions and JUCOs. In addition to allowing top student-athletes to participate in showcase games, the camp has two main purposes: 1) educate the parents on the opportunities with schools that offer partial scholarships or academic-only scholarships and 2) continue to re-enforce the importance of education with 'real talk' with the players in attendance. There were no promises of D1 scholarships, just talk about the many options that are available to top student-athletes.

There was a three-way battle for MVP. Judd Welfringer (Basha, 2011) was Co-MVP from our 1st Academic All West Camp in March as he came ready to play. Although his all around play is always present and consistent, his shooting is what stood out on this day. He hit jumpers from just about every place on the floor. Welfringer was not only making a case for the camp MVP, he was making a case for POY on the Academic All State team to be selected in October.

Mesa Mountain View senior Asaad Woods energy throughout the day was unmatched as he was also making his case for MVP. Woods was a one-man wrecking crew on the defensive end and he excelled in the open court. He put together two back-to-back solid games.

The third player in this battle was the fast rising junior PG Collin Woods of Horizon. Woods put on an offensive show in the second half of the afternoon game that was for the ages as he hit shot after shot to keep his team in contention. The MVP race was so close that the coaches argued a case for each player but Woods late-game heroics during the last game of the camp was fresh in everyone's mind.

Other players that played exceptionally well included Tyler Russell (Millennium, 2011), Jared Zoller (Mountain Ridge, 2011) and Christian Bower (Mesquite, 2010). Russell's game just keeps getting better and he is now displaying a complete game. Zoller appears completely healthy for a solid junior campaign. He was blocking every shot around the basket and had incredible dunks in traffic. Bower played very well in the transition game and on the defensive end. His lock down defense was tops for the camp.

For underclassmen, sophomore guards DeWayne Russell (Peoria), Demitrius Balark (Kellis), Thomas Mitchell (Cactus), Chris Selby (Perry) and Desmond Howard (Perry) all played well. Russell, Balark and Mitchell all started as freshmen last year and both Howard and Selby should have major impact with Perry this year.

Lawrence Pierce (Deer Valley), Sami Bzai (Mesquite) and Weston Newell (Boulder Creek) also played well.

Sophomores Talbot Denny (Salpointe), Camyn Boone (Mountain View), Callum Long (Flagstaff), Charles Benson (Amphi), Eric Lewis (Horizon) and Lucas O'Brien (Perry) also showed really good promise and all have big upsides. Denny and Long are versatile wing-type players; whereas Boone, Benson, Lewis and O'Brien are physical guys in the paint. All of the big men also showed the ability to step out and hit shots.

The top freshmen include 6-foot-8 big man Maurice Kirby (Flagstaff), Nathan Henderson (Perry), Alex Wintering (Sunnyslope), Lloyd Spece (Catalina Foothills), Desmond Ross (Kellis) and Jeremiah Cardenas (Sahuarita) have tons of promise.

There were also some top 8th graders at the camp including super athletic Ty Ochse from Sierra Vista. Keep your eye on this player.

Here are the all tournament teams:

Top 21 (Juniors/Seniors) - in alphabetical order

Asaad Woods Mountain View 2010

Austin Moyers Williams Field 2010

Christian Bower Mesquite 2010

Duncan Schramm Desert Vista 2010

Jameel Yosuf Valley Vista 2010

James Tolman North High 2010

Jonathan Wilt Hamilton 2010

Jordan McDougald Red Mountain 2010

JT Velasco Highland 2010

Michael Moffet Chaparral 2010

Ryan Crane Boulder Creek 2010

Tariq Jackson Chavez 2010

Taylor Harrington Mountain Ridge 2010

Casey Lenz Desert Ridge 2011

Collin Woods Horizon 2011

DeLan Stafford Central 2011

Jared Zoller Mountain Ridge 2011

Jason Garretson Mesquite 2011

Judd Welfringer Basha 2011

Sai Tummala Brophy Prep 2011

Tyler Russell Millennium 2011

* Camp MVP Collin Woods (Horizon, 2011)

Top 25 (Freshmen/Sophs) - in alphabetical order

Brandon Mitchell Cactus 2012

Callum Long Flagstaff High 2012

Camyn Boone Mountain View 2012

Carson Stoltz Arcadia 2012

Charles Benson Amphi 2012

Chris Selby Perry 2012

Demitrius Balark Kellis 2012

Desmond Howard Perry 2012

DeWayne Russell Peoria 2012

Eric Lewis Horizon 2012

Ian Walker Chandler 2012

Lawrence Peirce Deer Valley 2012

Lucas O'Brien Perry 2012

Ryan Dowd Brophy Prep 2012

Sami Bzai Mesquite 2012

Talbott Denny Salpointe 2012

Theophile Deburry Millennium 2012

Weston Newell Boulder Creek 2012

Alex Wintering Sunnyslope 2013

Desmond Ross Kellis 2013

Jeremiah Cardenas Sahuarita 2013

Lloyd Spece Catalina Foothills 2013

Maurice Kirby Flagstaff 2013

Nathan Henderson Perry 2013

Raekwon Davis Sahuarita 2013

Other notes:

The 2011 Class of Lead Guards is as deep and strong as I can remember. The top 5 in the class (in no order) are Jahii Carson (Mesa), Woods (Horizon), Russell (Millennium), Lester Medford (Amphi) and DeLan Stafford (Central). All guys are extremely skilled and will give you the business all day long.

Although Perry High School will be competitive this year with David Glosser and Ronny Spoon, the future is very bright. Coach Mark Nold has a group of frosh/sophs that are fundamentally sound and can shoot the ball.

Boulder Creek will be tough this year with Alex Dykhuizen (2010), Ryan Crane (2010), Jake Hunt (2011), Newell (2012) and Anthony Perri (2012).are all solid players. Dykhuizen is the returning region MVP.

Sunnyslope academic stars Royce Woolridge (2010, Kansas commit) and Jessie Milleson (2010) did an flawless job checking in the camp participants. My predication is Sunnyslope will go undefeated this year.

Congrats to Jordan Sims (Liberty, 2010, University of Texas - San Antonio commit), Paul Newendyke (Red Mountain, 2010, Grand Canyon) and Kyle Tresnak (Horizon, 2010, Weber State) on their recent college commitment.

Our Academic All State Team will be selected in October.