Bash in the Desert: Saturday Morning Headliners
Talent from the Hustle Region has come to Phoenix to make a name for themselves and to enjoy the culture of basketball. Prep Hoops gives you several players you should know that have impressed on the Inspire Courts!
Let Them Know Isaiah Broady!
Isaiah Broady is a 6-foot-5, 6-foot-6 sophomore guard from Imagine Prep in Apache Junction, Arizona. On a 16-7 team Isaiah produced 17.9 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 2.5 steals a game shooting 47 percent from the field and making just over a third of his shots at the arc. Broady was the only underclassmen that made the 15 man Canyon Athletic Association All Arizona Team this winter.
Last night Imagine Prep put together a less than quality effort in a 51-36 victory. The talent of several of the Imagine Prep players was clear but we hoped to see somebody from the program step forward Saturday morning and Isaiah was that player.
Broady has the type of ball skills that allow him to be a transition weapon, a dependable handle starting the halfcourt offense, and an explosive threat dribble separating and going at the rim. Isaiah had the ball in his hands pushing in transition and in pushing the pace Broady scored 27 points against Powerhouse House Hoops Black.
Isaiah’s scoring log included the explosive finishes in transition that had the hand held video guys going wild, but he also made multiple shots at the arc plus ran to the rim for put-backs and quick cut scores. It appears that Broady has high major basketball potential as all the signs are currently there. With some added core strength that often comes with maturation as well as increased skill improvement Isaiah Broady looks like a prospect that could be on the list of numerous college programs at the D1 level.
Caleb NelsonDivision One Shooter? Yep
Every year a group of shooters emerge on the 17u scene that catch the eye of college coaches resulting in a flood of scholarship opportunities. Don’t be surprised in the next 18 months if 6-foot-5/6-foot-6 sophomore guard Caleb Nelson, (a 2021 from Carlsbad High School in California) is one of those players.
Before we go any further though, let’s make sure to point out that Caleb Nelson is more than just a shooter with size. Nelson’s advance into a spin move And1 as well as his attack left beating the defenders’s closeout for an explosive completion today were great examples of his versatility.
Defensively Nelson consistently moved his feet to get into position a pass a way and his footwork and fight around screens led to players instantly giving up the ball. Nelson also moved his feet laterally to cut off attacking angles routinely.
Nelson scored a dozen in a 20 point early morning victory followed by a 13 point burst in just under seven minutes of play leading to an early big lead over Legion of Hoops. Those scores included three makes behind at the arc and two attack finishes. The most recent school to call on Nelson was Pepperdine and you can expect several others to follow routinely this spring and summer.
Elijah SaundersPowerhouse 15s Earn a Big Victory
Powerhouse Hoops and Coastal Elite Slayers played the early game Saturday morning and instantly brought a high level competitiveness to the Bash in the Desert.
The game started with an excellent 25 minutes of basketball that eventually went the way of the Powerhouse Hoops in the final five minutes. Will Coates hit two timely treys while Andrew King had a And1 late to secure the game for the UAA program.
Coates is a 6-foot-3 shooter from Desert Vista in Phoenix who obviously has the type of touch to change games. King is also from Desert Vista and not only did he have the late And1 but it was King’s defensive intensity that often forced Slayer guards to move the ball into bad spots on the floor. King scored 8.2 points a game this year for a 17-win team.
The most talented player on the floor was often 6-foot-4, 200 pound forward Elijah Saunders who scored a game high 13 points with seven rebounds. Six-foot-6 big Creed Williamson scored 11 points with six boards and the majority of his point production was getting firm deep post position, catching the ball after giving a clear target, and touching the ball in softly after the pivot. Add in the dozen on eight shots from Orlando Gonzalez and it was a great team effort from Powerhouse Hoops.
On the other side, Evan Record from Sam Marcos knocked down four threes and every touch led to panicked closeouts from the opposition. Donovan Saunders of Cathedral Catholic – another 2022 from the Coastal Elite Slayers – showed range with his three treys made plus created shots for himself and others. Scored 13 points with four assists plus boarded five times.
Ogbebor & Little – The Defensive Fraternity
Joseph Ogbebor and Solomon Little of the Coastal Elite Slayers were the defensive duo of Saturday morning. Watching the pair use their laterally explosive feet and active length to swallow helpless defenders was entertaining but also uncomfortable at the same time. Why uncomfortable? Because the guards on the other team looked so helpless you almost felt bad for them. Almost.
Ogbebor is a 6-foot-3 wing from Balboa Prep in California. There were times when Ogbebor would move his feet from one wing to the other taking away any type of advancement or pass. The opposing guards were literally running scared as not only could the guard not move the ball towards the rim but the length of Ogbebor took away even a pass. The same defensive effort was viewed from Solomon Little who is also from Balboa Prep (6-foot-2 guard).
Alton DuboisBash in the Desert Notes
- Alton Dubois of the Coastal Premier Slayers is another Balboa Prep that stood out in the Desert. Alton is a strong 6-foot-1 guard that players from JAB 3 could not keep a body on. Defenders weren’t able to contest Alton’s perimeter jumper nor were they able to move their feet and stop Dubois from playmaking. Alton scored 21 in his team’s second game.
- West Ranch (CA) High School six foot guard Eric Findon has been one of the top shooters in Phoenix this weekend. Findon hit three treys and attacked position defenders to touch in shots for 19 points in a loss to the Coastal Premier Slayers.
- 2022 shooting guard Ahamed Mohamed has a confidence in his release that few others do. If the ball is moved to him on the wing Mohamed will quickly let the ball go, and more times than not the results are positive. Ahamed is playing up on the Team Inspire 16s as is 6-foot-7 Daunte Johnson who has been immovable in the paint all weekend.