The Covid-19 pandemic has put the country as well as the nation’s HS hoops on hold since early March. The tip-off of the Pangos Best of Arizona League on Thursday June 4th at Skyline Prep (Phoenix AZ) gave several of Arizona’s top players a chance to take the floor, compete and show-off their skills again in front of several scouts/media in attendance as well as many more watching the games on the Ballertv.com live-stream. Besides myself, other scouts in the building included Chad Groth (Area Codes Basketball), Gregg Rosenberg (Prep Hoops Arizona) Anthony Ray and George Courtney (Arizona Preps) and Tye Jacobs (Mullen Sports) and Ball is Life was in the house shooting highlights.
NCAA Division I head coaches Bobby Hurley (Arizona State) and Randy Bennett (St. Mary’s) were on hand to watch their sons play (Bobby Hurley Jr. and Cade & Chase Bennett).
All appropriate safety precautions were taken to ensure the safety and health of all players, coaches, referees, scorekeepers and spectators involved including the mandatory wearing of masks and gloves when necessary, taking the temperature of and screening all those entering the playing facility, sanitizing the playing court area (balls, courts, benches, etc.) and seating areas before and after every game as well as other measures as needed to ensure the safety of all involved.
Full length video re-plays of all 4 Pangos Best of Arizona League games on opening night are now available on replay from Baller TV: https://www.ballertv.com/events/pangos-best-of-arizona-league
Here is a look at several of the top prospects that impressed:
2021 Prospects
* DaRon Holmes 6’8” 2021 Millennium (Goodyear AZ)
Holmes showed off his potent inside-out game here. Former Millennium/Goodyear AZ star and Montverde Academy/FL-bound combo-forward scored a league opening night-high 23 points including 1 “three.” Skilled and athletic, DaRon is currently ranked #30 by Rivals.com, #41 by 247Sports.com and #56 by Van Coleman/Nothing But Net Magazine. Holmes’ outstanding play in the league’s opening night of play solidified his invite to the 2020 Pangos All-American Camp on August 28-30 in Las Vegas NV.
* Arthur Kaluma 6’7” 2021 Dream City Christian (Glendale AZ)
One of the headliners of this year’s league is the multi-talented Kaluma. Big time scorer can score at all 3 levels and is a match-up problem for opposing defenses. Arthur’s strong physical build and skill-package allows him to create his own offense. Kaluma (a DFW native) scored 21 points on opening night and is currently nationally ranked #32 by 247Sports.com, #40 by Van Coleman/Nothing But Net Magazine and #60 by Rivals.com.
* Ty Ty Washington 6’4” 2021 AZ Compass Prep (Phoenix AZ)
Washington is one of the premier guards in the West and his versatility playing effectively on or off the ball makes this HM rising senior prospect a priority for major programs in the West and also across the country (Auburn just extended an offer this past weekend). TyTy scored 18 points on the league’s opening night and is currently ranked #76 by 247Sports.com and #102 by Rivals.com. Very good student too (3.45 GPA).
* Tyler Simon 6’4” 2021 Dream City Christian (Glendale AZ)
I got my first look at this Houston TX native and there was a lot to like. Lead guard with size and nice ballhandling skills to go with deep range on his perimeter shot. Simon is currently ranked #121 by the 247Sports.com composite and #130 by Rivals.com. Looks to be an integral part of Dream City’s back-court this upcoming season.
* Carson Basham 6’10” 2021 Sunnyslope (Phoenix AZ)
Pepperdine-bound C/PF has very good size/bulk and nice shooting touch that extends to the 3-point arc. Gives Waves coach Lorenzo Romar much needed quality future size for his WCC program. Very good student too (3.8 GPA).
* Garrett Levesque 6’5” 2021 Coronado (El Paso TX)
One of the top D1 sleepers at this year’s league, Garrett is tough wing with a confident shooting stroke (scored 17 pts on Thursday night). Good student (3.3 GPA) plays hard on the defensive end too.
* Bobby Hurley Jr. 6’0” 2021 Notre Dame Prep (Scottsdale AZ)
Son of former Duke star PG and current Arizona State head coach Bobby Hurley Sr. knows how to play with excellent hoop IQ, defends well, can handle rock and is a tough player on both ends. Excellent student too (3.7 GPA).
* Nick Riley 6’8” 2021 Chandler (AZ)
Well-built PF was active on the glass and finished well in traffic (had 15 points on the league’s opening night). Father is 6-10 Claude Riley who played at Texas A&M (Top 10 in points and rebounds in Aggie history) and was the #64 pick of the 1983 NBA Draft (Philly 76’ers). Good student too (3.2 GPA).
* Markes Siekman 6’7” 2021 Chaparral (Scottsdale AZ)
Active combo-forward has nice athleticism and can finish at the rim. Very good student too (3.5 GPA).
2022 Prospects
* Sadraque Nnanga 6’9” 2022 AZ Compass Prep (Phoenix AZ)
Sadraque is arguably the best long-term pro prospect here and his impressive blend of elite size/length, athleticism and skills were clearly on display on the league’s opening night. Scored 20 points, displaying excellent perimeter shooting & ballhandling skills. Incredible upside! Currently ranked #15 by Rivals.com, #15 by 247Sports.com, #16 by ESPN and #23 by Van Coleman/Nothing But Net Magazine. Angola native holds offers from several top colleges including Arizona State, Arizona, Marquette, Auburn, TCU and Kansas.
* Nate Pickens 6’2” 2022 Paradise Honors (Surprise AZ)
Hot-shooting WG was on fire on the league’s opening night, scoring 21 points. More than solid student (3,2 GPA) is also an underrated passer and defender. UC-Santa Barbara is his first D1 offer. It won’t be his last.
* Adrame Diongue 6’11” 2022 Bella Vista (Scottsdale AZ)
Very long Mali native is developing into a more than formidable shot-blocker and quality low-post offensive threat. Adrame runs the floor very well and has a great attitude/work-ethic. Mentor is former Arizona Wildcat PF Mohamed Tangara.
* Dasean Lecque 6’0” 2022 Desert Vista (Phoenix AZ)
Crafty lead guard exploded for 21 points on opening night. Brother of current Phoenix Suns guard Jalen Lecque can score in a variety of ways and plays with excellent confidence. One for HM schools and national scouts to keep an eye on in the national rising junior class. Southern Utah is his announced early offer so far.
* Youssouf Singare 6’11’ 2022 Bella Vista (Scottsdale AZ)
Physical and long post-player is another Mali native that is active on both ends of the floor. Potential to be an excellent rebounder and rim-protector.
* Bear Cherry 6’9” 2022 St. Mary’s (Phoenix AZ)
Wide-body PF is skilled in the paint and uses body well to rebound at a high clip. Younger brother of Arizona State forward Taeshon Cherry.
* Anthony Lucas 6’6” 2022 Chaparral (Scottsdale AZ)
Strong and physical PF is active on the glass. Top notch football prospect (plays DE) and good student too (3.25 GPA).
* Patrick Chew 6’3” 2022 Brophy Prep (Phoenix AZ)
Well-built WG is a tough defender with ability to score off the bounce. Father is former Grand Canyon assistant Isaac Chew. Very good student (3.4 GPA).
* Mekhi Mason 6’4” 2022 Chandler (Chandler AZ)
Mason is a smooth play-maker with long range shooting range and the ability to create for others.
* Jalin Humphrey 6’0” 2022 Chaparral (Scottsdale AZ)
Thin lead guard has nice all-around game.
2023 Prospects
* Tru Washington 6’4” 2023 Chavez (Phoenix AZ)
Young power wing guard is an excellent slashing scorer and capable defender. Tru was cooking on opening night, scoring 20 points. Chad Groth’s Arizona #1 2023 prospect took advantage of mismatches and made a living running the floor for easy buckets. Defensively he can guard multiple positions.
* Mark Brown 5’11” 2023 Mountain Pointe (Phoenix AZ)
Quick PG is hard to contain off the dribble and in transition. UC-Santa Barbara was the first to wisely offer this top-notch young floor general.
* Kevin Patton Jr. 6’6” 2023 Perry (Gilbert AZ)
Athletic wing with size finishes well above the rim and has upside that merits MM-HM tracking. Tremendous student (4.2 GPA).
* Landon Schumaker 6’7” 2023 AZ Compass Prep (Phoenix AZ)
Sturdy forward can score in the paint and from the perimeter. Rugged rebounder is an “A” student too.
* Mathiang Maker 6’7” 2023 Dream City Christian (Glendale AZ)
Hardworking forward rebounds well and is the brother of Makur Maker and cousin of Thon Maker.
2024 Prospects
* Jai Anthony Bearden 6’6” 2024 Copper Canyon (Glendale AZ)
One of the most promising rising freshmen on the West Coast, Bearden is oozing with HM potential. Sleek wing forward is both athletic and skilled and projects to be heavily recruited out of the Copper State.
* Styles Phipps 6’0” 2024 St. Mary’s (Phoenix AZ)
Solid playmaker and pesky defender is a Arizona name for the future.
There were a few rising 8th graders in attendance that showed great promise including 6-10 2025 Maper Maker (Dream City Christian/Glendale AZ) and 6-0 2025 Noah George (Dream City Christian (Glendale AZ). Maper, the brother of Makur Maker and cousin of Thon Maker is very long and agile with nice skills and immense upside while George (the son of NBA agent Mike George) is a confident playmaker with nice range on jump shot.
** first of a series of reports from the Pangos Best of Arizona League. We will be highlighting additional players in future reports
