Arizona Prep League Pass: 6A (Part 2)
NBA basketball is in full-throttle, and hoops fans finally have an outlet to watch their favorite sport. Beside just a fan’s favorite team, hoop heads can quench their basketball thirst in finding teams to follow throughout the league with League Pass.
Are you a basketball fan in Arizona? Are you looking for a new outlet? Try heading to a high school gym this fall when AIA play starts. Consider it just like flipping the channel and watching a variety of styles.
Here is Part 2 of some Class 6A exciting teams to watch and, and a few players to keep an eye out for (in no particular order):
Perry High Pumas:
The Pumas return four of their top five scorers from last year’s 6A quarterfinals roster. Top-scoring senior guard Jalen Williams has added a ton to his game over the summer and fall, and will liekly be the team’s emotional leader once-again. Bauer Bongard and Kyle Patterson will also score a lot, and provide some real help on the defensive side. The most eye-popping thing about this team is its size, though. With Patterson as a senior leader, along with sophomore Carter Van Hammond and freshman Dylan Anderson, the Pumas will likely have each of the top-three tallest players on the floor in most of their games.
Chandler High Wolves:
Unlike some of the teams mentioned in these rankings, the Wolves’ strength is not simply scoring the basketball. Last season, nobody scored double-digits for a Chandler team that had an overall losing record but beat enough tough opponents to earn a playoff spot. However, the team had nine players that scored over 4 points a game. Team defense is the strength of this team, and it begins at the back court. The Wolves have a solid three-man guard rotation with seniors Isaiah Somers, Vean Simon, and sophomore Carson Kelly all set to play significant minutes. Each of the guards provide dribbling ability, shooting, and solid on-ball defense.
Cesar Chavez High Champions:
The Champions were a solid team with a 19-10 overall record, having lost to Desert Vista in the first round last season. This team is very young, led in scoring by sophomore TyTy Washington, who has shown scoring ability as great as nearly anybody in the state, especially on jumpers and drives to the basket. It appears he is still growing, and will only keep getting better. Another sophomore, guard Ricardo Sarmiento, is the second-highest scorer that returns from last season. He often is the one to initiate offense with drives to the hoop and kicks out to Washington or other shooters. With a young core, it will be interesting to see how the team develops over the course of the season.