Program Preview: Team Zona
Team Zona is a premier club basketball team in Arizona. They participate in the ACBL and the Adidas Gauntlet Silver Division while fielding a 16U and 17U team. Both teams have had success in the live periods in April and will look to have strong showings throughout the spring and summer.
Team Zona 16U
This 16U group features two of the best 2021 prospects in the state in JJ White JJ White 6'3" | SG Ironwood | 2021 State AZ and Jackson Leyba Jackson Leyba 6'0" | SG Deer Valley | 2021 State AZ . The two guards have tremendous upside and should see increased roles for their high school programs next season. White is a lengthy guard who is capable of getting hot from deep as well as putting the basketball on the floor. Leyba is also a capable shooter and is extremely strong. Both are hustle guys who do a number of little things to impact the game.
In addition to Leyba and White, Greg Butler splits time with the 17U and 16U groups. Butler plays a lot of point guard for this group and has a solid mid-range jump shot. Butler provides a solid scoring presence for this 16U group.
While he is an out of state prospect, Fidelis Okerke has played extremely well for this team. He does not play with the team in the ACBL due to being from California. However, in out of state tournaments, he joins the team and provides them with length and rebounding. He is skilled on the block and provides a vital post presence to the team.
In the ACBL, Adam Hamilton has played with this group as well. He is lengthy and has a nice right handed jump hook. His soft touch around the rim, passing ability, and footwork makes him an intriguing prospect to watch out for going forward.
Team Zona 16U Roster
Ajani Wells 6’5 SG 2020 King/Drew (CA)
Christopher Williams 5’8 PG 2021 Central
Erickson Kannah 5’7 PG 2020 Deer Valley
Fidelis Okerke 6’6 SF/PF 2020 King/Drew (CA)
Jackson Leyba Jackson Leyba 6'0" | SG Deer Valley | 2021 State AZ 5’11 SG 2021 Deer Valley
JJ White JJ White 6'3" | SG Ironwood | 2021 State AZ 6’1 PG/SG 2021 Ironwood
Juan Garcia 6’1 SG 2021 Bourgade
Uchenna Ndigwe 6’4 SF 2020 King/Drew (CA)
Greg Butler 6’3 SG 2019 Central
Team Zona 17U
Grant Greabell was initially planned to run with this group, and he would have made a huge impact. However, he followed suit of another Team Zona prospect, 2018 Bryce Fowler, in signing at Sacramento State. While Greabell would have helped, this team still has plenty of talent.
This roster features some of the top west side 2018 unsigned guards in the state with Josh Johnson, Deven Breckner, and Keyvaughn Williams. Despite his scoring abilities and bulldog mentality, Johnson remains unsigned. He is an undersized guard, but he makes his teammates better and scores the basketball as well.
Breckner and Williams are getting the chance to play with each other once again after a successful high school career that finished with them playing in the state championship game. Breckner needs to put on some weight, but he is extremely skilled. He shoots the basketball well, he has a tight handle, and he can get into the paint and finish extremely well. Williams, on the other hand, is an talented on ball defender who can shoot it well from deep.
In addition to solid guard play, Donovan Reagan is a strong and explosive unsigned 2018 wing who will undoubtedly find a landing spot soon. He has demonstrated that he can score the basketball effectively in an array of ways during this past season as he dropped 40+ multiple times. These four unsigned seniors are high caliber prospects who will certainly get looks before it is all said and done.