Team Preview: Factory AZ
Factory AZ, led by long time club coach Kenny Mullins, has experienced a great deal of success this season. As of recent, the group lost in the semifinals against Compton Magic Select at the Pangos Sweet 16. Factory features a number of prospects who are college level prospects. Like all of Mullins groups, these young men play extremely hard and share the basketball well.
Factory AZ plays today at 3 against Belmont Shore. Belmont Shore beat Team Bayless, another Arizona team in the first round. This should be a fun battle between two teams who have a lot of length and athleticism. Below is the roster that Factory AZ will have for the rest of July.
Factory AZ 17U
4 D’maurian Williams 6’5 PG Westview 2019 – Will miss the rest of July with an injury.
5 Josh Holloway 6’0 PG Valley Vista 2019
14 Josh Hawkins 6’4 SF/PF Paradise Honors 2019
15 Sakiou Gueye 6’7 SF Mountain Ridge 2017
32 Cedric Bridges 6’4 SF/PF Valley Vista 2018
34 Quentin Guliford 6’5 SF Liberty 2018
35 Emmanuel Taban 6’7 SF/PF Apollo 2019
44 Cameron Katal 6’10 C Westview 2019
50 Steele Bennett 6’11 C Desert Vista 2018
Factory AZ 17U Watch List
Quentin Guilford
- “Q”, as many refer to him, has turned the corner in a huge way. He has been a prospect that I have said for a long time has a ridiculous amount of potential if and when he figures out how to put all of the pieces together. Needless to say, he has figured it out and has played at an extremely high level. He has shot the basketball better than expected and brings great versatility to the wing due to his length, athleticism, and ability to finish at the rim. His stock has gone through the roof since the end of his high school season.
Emmanuel Taban
- Taban has played a lot of wing in his first two years at Apollo due in large part to the strong guard play of Holland Woods, Portland State, and Dre Marin, Southern Utah. However, with those two gone, the 6’7 product has transitioned to more of a ball dominant role as he frequently brings the basketball up the court. He has earned a lot of praise this weekend, and rightfully so, due to his patience on the offensive end. Sometimes, he can be too patient as he has the ability to take over games and make big time plays. His decision making at the point guard spot is not perfect, but he is a lot to handle and is constantly improving.
Steele Bennett
- Bennett is a team first guy who does a lot of little things that many bigs won’t do. Within the structure of the Factory offense, he is frequently used to set back picks and down screens. Unlike most posts, he tries to make contact and create seperation for his teammates. In addition, he competes on the glass and does a good job of holding seals on the block. He uses his footwork well to create shots for himself. Defensively, he brings a lot of length to the floor and does a good job of building a wall around the rim. At times, he will rotate late and get called for a blocking foul. He will need to move a little quicker back side at the next level, but he has plenty of potential moving forward. I have been very impressed with him the last couple of months.
Saikou Gueye
- Gueye has decided to play at a prep school next year and use his gap year. His length and skill set on the wing make him a big time prospect. He can shoot the basketball at a high level, is quick and has a solid enough handle to attack off of the dribble, and he has a lot of success on the block. Gueye is a good passer who waits for good shots. He rarely forces things and lets the offense come to him. Defensively, his length is a huge asset as a 3.