Hoophall West: 5 Things We Learned

We evaluated all of the video games at Hoophall West in Scottsdale, Ariz. and these are essentially the most distinguished issues we took away from the three-day occasion.

1. Perry Will Depart Us Wanting Extra

We didn’t begin the Pumas within the preseason FAB 50 as a result of Arizona Interscholastic Affiliation (AIA) colleges haven’t fared nice on a nationwide stage these days and Perry just isn’t enjoying in a nationwide stage match. We want Perry can be enjoying in additional nationwide video games, however regardless, it was a mistake to not slate the Pumas greater within the preseason than No. 11 in our West Area High 20. There are few groups within the nation which have a 1-2 punch like Perry’s Cody Williams and Koa Peat. Williams is a terrific all-around expertise who can guard a number of positions at 6-foot-7. He can even provoke offense and has a reliable outdoors shot and is Colorado’s most extremely regarded recruit since Chauncey Billips within the 1995 class. Peat is simply too sturdy, massive and athletic for almost each highschool participant he’ll go up in opposition to at this level. Peat’s second leap and skill to complete the play shortly leaves even good defenders flat-footed and his face up sport will get higher each time we see him. Ability however, Peat can even overpower defenders and will get to the entrance of the rim sufficient to place groups in fast foul hassle. Peat dominated the motion (21 factors, 14 rebounds, 4 assists, 5 blocks) in a 78-47 win over FAB 50 No. 24 Cardinal Hayes (Bronx, N.Y.) and is correct within the dialog with fellow sophomores Cameron Boozer of Columbus (Miami, Fla) and Cooper Flagg of Montverde Academy (Fla.) as three of the very best gamers within the nation, no matter class. It was fascinating to see Cardinal Hayes leap out to a giant lead over No. 6 Duncanville (Texas) earlier than shedding the night time earlier than, as a result of Perry dominated the sport from begin to end. Perry, which has two unsung abilities in 6-foot-3 2023 Ben Egbo and 6-foot-5 2025 D’Andre Harrison, might not face a workforce pretty much as good as Cardinal Hayes (which already has three losses) the remainder of the season. Perry just isn’t taking part in a vacation match and not one of the three groups the Pumas will play on the VisitMesa Basketball Problem are regionally-ranked. It stays to be seen how excessive Perry can climb within the FAB 50, however there’s a good likelihood it is going to be unbeaten heading into the AIA open division state title sport on March 4. Puma may definitely obtain a rankings increase ought to it take part within the second annual State Champions Invitational, slated for April 6-8.

2. IMG Academy Will Be Terrific in 2023-24

Throughout COVID-19, IMG Academy coach Sean McAloon was taking a year-by-year method to constructing his groups due to the uncertainty. This yr, his membership has 5 underclassmen enjoying a serious position that will likely be constructing blocks for subsequent season. It begins with Bryson Tucker, the 6-foot-6 2024 who’s the workforce’s greatest all-around participant. Tucker does all the things on the court docket effectively, is affected person and assertive in his actions and hardly makes errors as a result of he doesn’t get sped up. He has a legit likelihood to be a two-time highschool All-American. Amier Ali, a 6-foot-7 2024, is a excessive main prospect with size and agility. These traits make him a very good defender and he’s additionally terrific in his second and third leap and is a prepared passer. Khani Rooths, a 6-foot-7 2024 ahead, is an effective shot blocker and succesful inside defender who can shoot the deep ball effectively. Extremely-regarded Jamier Jones, a 6-foot-5 2025 wing who was a freshman All-American final season, didn’t play a lot in Phoenix due to damage however he’s one other key cog who could make a distinction on the Nationwide Interscholastic Basketball Convention (NIBC) stage. IMG Academy, which got here into the occasion No. 5 within the FAB 50, defeated No. 25 Lengthy Island Lutheran (N.Y.) on Friday, 68-62, as Tucker led the best way with 24 factors. On Saturday night time, the one-loss membership served discover it is going to be a serious NIBC contender this season with a 67-61 victory over No. 1 AZ Compass Prep (Chandler, Ariz.), as Maryland-bound Jamie Kaiser Jr. had 18 factors, Tucker had 16 and Ali had 13.

3. V.J. Edgecombe Is A Huge-Time Participant

The nationwide and regional scouts in attendance clearly had a very good learn on the highest prospects in Phoenix, however the one who turned heads essentially the most from an analysis standpoint was the 6-foot-5 junior (2024) from Lengthy Island Lutheran (Glen Head, N.Y.). He’s not ranked within the nationwide recruiting community providers, however he performs like a High 50 participant in his class. The capturing guard is mild on his ft, can cowl floor and end at a excessive main stage. He’s a succesful shooter and makes use of his athleticism on each ends of the ground to make just a few spectacular performs a sport. Not solely did he end offensively at a excessive stage, he additionally had a big-time at-the-rim block on IMG Academy’s Bryson Tucker that evoked photographs of Dwayne Wade. Edgecombe is initially from the Bahamas and moved to Florida in 2020 earlier than settling in New York. Mississippi St. was the primary D1 to supply, St John’s acquired on board this week and you’ll wager extra colleges will pull the set off because the 2022-23 season wears on.

4. Not Teaching Taught Robert Smith One thing

After 20 years on the helm of the Simeon (Chicago, Sick.) program, the veteran coach will likely be stepping down as one of the profitable coaches in Illinois Excessive Faculty Affiliation (IHSA) historical past on the finish of this season. This workforce will get Smith over 500 profession victories and the Wolverines are the early favorites to seize each the Chicago Public League (CPL) and IHSA titles, which might give Smith eight and 7, respectively. After Simeon’s 52-46 win over Coronado (Henderson, Nev.) on Saturday, Smith mirrored on his time with this system and the good gamers and wins he’s had over time. It was one thing else, nevertheless, that made him understand it was time. “Throughout COVID-19, after we weren’t allowed to play and I’ve a while away, I discovered I may do and revel in different issues,” Smith mentioned. “I’ve a son in sixth grade and subsequent yr my daughter (who attends Butler Faculty Prep) will likely be a senior and I’ve reached alot of my objectives.” Smith changed a coach he performed for in highschool (Bob Hambric) and his substitute can even be somebody who performed on his early groups. That’s Tim Flowers, his present assistant and a 2007 graduate of Simeon, who will take over after teaming with former NBA MVP Derrick Rose in highschool to guide Simeon to a number of state titles and enjoying with him on the Meanstreets Categorical journey ball workforce. Coach Smith feels Flowers has helped him get to the place he’s at in his teaching profession and is raring to return the favor after realizing Hambric may have stayed and gained extra state titles.

5. 2025 & 2026 Retains Wanting Higher

If one listens to our “In The Paint” podcast, they’d understand how pedestrian we expect the 2023 class is nationally. From a prospect analysis standpoint, it’s one of many weakest courses we’ve evaluated within the final 25 years. That doesn’t imply some gamers gained’t emerge on the subsequent stage into NBA prospects. The category of 2024 is best, nevertheless it’s 2025 and 2026 that will get us excited. We’ve talked in regards to the prime of the 2025 class a lot with its elite gamers and we like what we’ve seen thus far with 2026 and we’ll proceed to guage that group. Within the 2025 class, one identify so as to add that would doubtlessly be a High 150 man down the road is 6-foot 2025 Josh Dixon of Milton (Ga.). He’s a shot maker with pace, will get by way of tight areas with a slick deal with, and is an effective pull up shooter, even from a lifeless dash. Dixon, who sports activities a 3.9 GPA, had 19 factors in a 55-53 win over Grey Collegiate Academy (S.C.) and went for 21 factors and 6 rebounds in a 61-46 victory over Millennium (Goodyear, Ariz.). Two sons of well-known soccer gamers are names to look at within the 2026 class. Daylen Sharper, the son of former 2000s All-Decade security Darren Sharper, is a 6-foot-3 bodily guard who can deal with the ball effectively. He will get downhill, as anticipated, as a result of he’s additionally a big-time soccer prospect, however the Brophy Prep (Pheonix, Ariz.) does have to proceed to tighten up the mechanics of his jumper. Zach White, a 6-foot-5 combo ahead, is a crucial cog to the fortunes of FAB 50 No. 37 Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks, Calif.), which recorded a simple win over Brophy Prep. White, the son of former CAL All-American working again Russell White, has improved even because the fall. He has terrific arms, can combine it up on the boards in opposition to excessive stage groups and runs the ground to scrub up performs. The extent of White’s recruitment will rely on his offensive growth, however he’s off to a terrific begin in a loaded California 2026 class. One other freshman who turned heads though his workforce (Bishop Gorman of Las Vegas) was disappointing in its 72-53 loss to Centennial (Corona, Calif.), is Jaxon Richardson. The 6-foot-5 wing is bouncy with stay legs and his elite motor will take him far. He’s the youthful brother of 2024 guard Jase Richardson and the son of former NBA ahead Jason Richardson.
Ronnie Flores is the nationwide Grassroots editor of Ballislife.com. He could be reached at [email protected]. Don’t neglect to comply with him on Twitter: @RonMFlores