The Pangos Best of Arizona League started on Thursday June 4th at Skyline Prep (Phoenix AZ) and just wrapped up last week (Thursday June 25th) with the final series of league games as well as the league cream of the crop game featuring the league’s Top 20 players.
In the Cream of the Crop game, it was league co-MVP and Montverde Academy-bound 6-8+ 2021 DaRon Holmes scoring a game high 34 points to lead his “Arizona” squad over the “Arizona State” crew 102-98 in OT. Holmes’ herculean effort was complimented by 6-3 2021 TJ Wainwright (14 points), 6-5 2022 Joseph Hunter (12 points/5 assists/2 blocks), 6-5 2021 Garrett Levesque (12 points) and 6-2 2022 Nate Pickens. The Arizona State crew was led by league co-MVP 6-4 2021 TyTy Washington who scored a team high 30 points and game MVP 6-1 2022 Dasean Lecque who scored 30 points of his own.
Complete list of Pangos Best of Arizona League Cream of the Crop Game selections: https://www.fullctpress.net/f/Pangos.BestofAZ.20.team.rosters.creamofcrop2.pdf
Besides myself, other scouts attending games during the league include Chad Groth (Area Codes Basketball), Gregg Rosenberg (Prep Hoops Arizona) Anthony Ray and George Courtney (Arizona Preps), Richard Obert (Arizona Republic), Jerry Mullen and Tye Jacobs (Mullen Sports) and Ball is Life, Overtime, Ball Dawgs, AZ Finest and EVision were in the house shooting video highlights.
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 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
In Part I of this report, I highlighted several of the top players attending: https://nbnmagazine.com/2020-pangos-best-of-arizona-league-report-i/
Below is a look at several additional players that were impressive including a few that were late additions to the league:
* Maxwell Lewis 6’7” 2021 Hillcrest (Phoenix AZ)
Long wing with impressive skill set really put on a show here. Las Vegas NV native has terrific scoring ability and the requisite authority to make plays on both ends. Nationally ranked #69 by Rivals.com and #79 by 247Sports.com, Max has offers from the likes of Baylor, USC, Oklahoma, St. John’s, Utah, Arizona State, Nevada, TCU and Washington State.
* Brandon Weston 6’5” 2021 Morgan Park (Chicago IL)
Strong wing can hurt defenses so many ways. Athletic slashing scorer is currently nationally ranked #64 by the 247 Sports composite and #75 by Rivals.com. Weston has offers from Illinois, Arizona State, Nebraska, Pitt, Arizona State, Wake Forest. Seton Hall, St. John’s, UMass and Saint Louis.
* TJ Wainwright 6’3” 2021 Westchester (Los Angeles CA)
A late addition to the league, this high scoring lefty combo-guard wasted no time getting loose here as he exploded for 29 points in his 1st league game. Wiry body has quickly gotten stronger and athleticism has increased the past few months. Wainwright hit key buckets in Cream of the Crop league game that sparked his “Arizona” squad to an early lead and the “W”. While UC-Santa Barbara, Pepperdine, Washington State and Loyola Marymount are among those that have offered so far, TJ has also garnered interest from Tennessee, Arizona, New Mexico and Grand Canyon and unofficially visited Gonzaga last Fall.
* Joseph “JoJo” Hunter 6’5” 2022 San Joaquin Memorial (Fresno CA)
Versatile lead guard has the size, skill level and athleticism to be a high-major factor at the next level. Hunter was fantastic in the league’s Cream of Crop Game scoring 12 points, dishing out 5 assists, recording 2 blocks and helping spark the “Arizona” squad to the win. Hunter is currently nationally ranked #47 by Van Coleman/Nothing But Net Magazine, #49 by the 247Sports composite and #62 by Rivals.com and has offers from Arizona, Arkansas, Nebraska, Illinois, TCU, Washington State, Ole Miss, Fresno State, UTEP and Loyola Marymount.
* Kevin Kogbara 6’6” 2021 Peoria (AZ)
Burly forward has a very unique skill set for size and is a multi-dimensional scorer. Strong as an ox, Kevin can score despite contact, is a rugged rebounder and has an underrated jump shot. Kogbara hit a game winning 3-point shot on the league’s last day. Southern Utah is the only school to offer so far but that will soon change.
* Jorge Ochoa 6’7” 2022 La Mirada (CA)
Ultra-confident scorer has been very underrated for a long time. Kelly Tripucka-type forward has an excellent jump shot that extends to the 3-point arc and deceptive explosion to the rim Van Coleman of Nothing But Net Magazine has Jorge currently ranked as the #92 rising junior in the nation. Rice and Loyola Marymount are among Jorge’s early offers with interest from New Mexico, UC-Santa Barbara, Pepperdine, Santa Clara and Hawaii.
* Nathaniel Knight 6’5” 2022 AZ Compass Prep (Chandler AZ)
Up and coming rising junior turned many heads here with his fine and confident play. Aggressive on the offensive end, Knight was effective spotting up from distance as well as finishing at the rim. Athletic swingman recently picked up his 1st offer from Portland State. It won’t be his last.
* Alden Applewhite 6’6” 2021 AZ Compass Prep (Phoenix AZ)
Long wing with nice bounce in his step was a late addition to the league but did not disappoint. Applewhite can score in a variety of ways and can finish with authority at the rim. Alden scored 11 points in the league cream of the crop game. Currently ranked #171 in 2021 by the 247Sports composite, Applewhite has offers from the likes of Iowa State, Miss State, Ole Miss, TCU, St. John’s, Texas A&M, Xavier and Washington State. Dad was the former head coach at Central HS/Memphis TN.
* Devontes Cobbs 6’3” 2022 Hillcrest (Phoenix AZ)
Quick and athletic guard is always in attack mode. Cobbs’ 19.2 ppg was good for #5 in league scoring. 247Sports composite’s #98 ranked 2022 prospect has offers from Arizona State, SMU and West Virginia and looks to be transferring from Hillcrest to a school yet to be announced.
* Brendan Terry 6’6” 2021 Crossroads (Santa Monica CA)
Strong and sturdy WF can score despite contact at the rim as well as connect from the 3-point arc. Schools showing interest include San Diego, Hawaii, UC-Irvine, Rice, UC-San Diego, Navy, Columbia, Colgate, UC-Davis, Utah Valley, Yale and Princeton.
* Justus Jackson 6’1” 2021 Millennium (Goodyear AZ)
Crafty playmaker shoots rock with confidence and has offers from Montana State, UC-Riverside, Montana, Pacific, Portland and Southern Utah.
* Jalen Scott 6’3” 2021 Paradise Honors (Surprise AZ)
Thin point has nice all-around skills including precision passing skills. Colorado State just joined UC-Riverside and Northern Arizona as programs that have offered. Very good student (3.5 GPA).
* Anthony Lucas 6’6” 2022 Chaparral (Scottsdale AZ)
Physical and athletic PF is an elite football prospect with gridiron offers from the likes of Arizona, Arizona State, Auburn, USC, Florida State, Texas, Michigan, Nebraska, Oregon, Oklahoma, Penn State, Washington and Colorado.
* Preston Olney 5’8” 2021 Coconino (Flagstaff AZ)
Small but high-scoring point guard was named 2020 Arizona Daily Sun Player of Year.
* D’Mari Johnson 6’7” 2021 Buckeye (AZ)
Burly PF rebounds at a high clip and was offered by Park University/Gilbert AZ on the league’s last day.
* Leonard Romayor Jr. 5’9” 2023 Brophy Prep (Phoenix AZ)
Smart young playmaker has ability to make shots and improved tremendously as the league progressed.
* Brooks Jones 6’6” 2022 American Leadership Academy (Queen Creek AZ)
Hardworking hybrid-forward was a regular visitor on the glass and competed on every play. Top-notch student too (4.0 GPA) has an older brother playing football at BYU.
* Carson Ledbetter 6’7” 2022 Casteel (Queen Creek AZ)
Blue-collar PF is a dependable rebounder and can score around the cup. Very good student (3.6 GPA).
* Kerie Edmead 5’11” 2021 St Pius/St.Mathias (Downey CA)
Quick lead guard with rock-solid handle and nice pull-up jump shot.
* Kallai Patton 6’3” 2024 Perry (Gilbert AZ)
Younger brother of talented 6-6 2023 forward Kevin Patton Jr. is skilled and has very nice potential of his own.
* Will Betteridge 5’11” 2021 Chapparal (Scottsdale AZ)
Confident shooter has high IQ and excellent academic marks (4.3 GPA).
* Kyle Johnson 6’4” 2021 Shadow Mountain (Phoenix AZ)
Long wing can knock down 3-point shots.
* Kieran Carr 6’2” 2021 Arcadia (Phoenix AZ)
Facilitating lead guard has 3-point range.
* Ashton Reese 6’4” 2023 Pinnacle (Phoenix AZ)
Big wing has nice “catch & shoot” ability.
* Nikko Pentelute 6’0” 2022 Gilbert (AZ)
Improved shooter plays excellent defense. Terrific student (3.8 GPA).
* Montez Taylor 5’10” 2021 Williams Field (Gilbert AZ)
Very quick PG has deep perimeter range.
* LJ Ginnis 5’11” 2022 South Mountain (Phoenix AZ)
Very good on-ball defender and pin-point passer.
* Michael Saba 6’7” 2022 Chaparral (Scottsdale AZ)
Energy hybrid-forward has decent touch on jump shot.
* Zach Strauss 5’8” 2023 Basha (Chandler AZ)
Tough competitor has nice shooting stroke.
* Davis Church 5’10” 2022 Casteel (Queen Creek AZ)
Cerebral PG with nice feel and accurate outside stroke. Excellent student (4.0 GPA).
Pangos Best of AZ League Scoring Leaders (PPG)
1. TyTy Washington 29.5
2. DaRon Holmes 25.8
3. Dasean Lecque 22.5
4. Sadraque Nnanga 19.5
5. Devontes Cobbs 19.0
6. TJ Wainwright 17.0
6. Tru Washington 17.0
8. Arthur Kaluma 15.0
9. Garrett Levesque 14.7
10. Nate Pickens 14.6
11. Patrick Chew 14.1
12. Kevin Kogbara 14.0
13. Mark Brown 13.6
14. Maxwell Lewis 13.5
15. Nick Riley 12.5
** second part of a two-part series of reports from the Pangos Best of Arizona League.
