AAU mid-season breakdown: 15U
In this article:
As the early AAU season has ended and we head into June HS ball, we look back to see what club teams have performed well.
This is obviously not an easy exercise since many of the teams never played each other and some rarely even play in the state. A lot of it is the eye test and how they performed out of state and at a few local events.
Mid season awards:
MVP of 15U:
Marcus Wilson Marcus Wilson 6'2" | PG Bella Vista Prep | 2024 NM (Firestorm 15 Elite)
Other MVP candidates:
Adam Njie Jr Adam Njie Jr 6'3" | PG Cardinal Hayes | 2024 State #197 Nation NY (Team Harden 15)
Gabe Pickens Gabe Pickens 6'0" | PG Dream City Christian | 2024 State AZ (AZ Select 15 UAA) (Pictured)
Braeden Speed Braeden Speed 6'3" | CG Brophy Prep | 2024 State AZ (AZ Select 15 UAA) (Pictured)
This may be some kind of ranking, but this can also be a cheat sheet for college coaches to view them for the July live period.
15U:
1. AZ Select 15 UAA
-Shockingly undefeated on the season vs 15 and 16U opponents. Their defensive pressure is intense and have a balanced offensive attack.
Top players: Gabe Pickens Gabe Pickens 6'0" | PG Dream City Christian | 2024 State AZ , Kendre Pride Kendre Pride 6'2" | SG Basha | 2024 AZ , Rowan McKenzie Rowan McKenzie 6'2" | PG Boulder Creek | 2024 State AZ , Bryce Quinet Bryce Quinet 6'3" | PG Notre Dame Prep | 2025 State AZ . Anthony Batson Jr Anthony Batson Jr 6'3" | SG Notre Dame Prep | 2024 State #181 Nation AZ , Evan Coates Evan Coates 6'9" | C Phhoenix Prep | 2024 State AZ and Braeden Speed Braeden Speed 6'3" | CG Brophy Prep | 2024 State AZ .
2. Firestorm 15 Elite
-Won Compton Magic event 2 times and come in with only 3 losses and over 20 wins. Wilson plays a little on 17U as well and is becoming a must see.
Top players: Marcus Wilson Marcus Wilson 6'2" | PG Bella Vista Prep | 2024 NM , Christian Warren Christian Warren 6'4" | SF Basha | 2024 State AZ , Zevin Gadson Zevin Gadson 6'2" | SG Akron Buchtel | 2024 State OH , Khalon Johnson Khalon Johnson 6'4" | CG Eduprize Gilbert | 2024 State AZ , Nazir Davis Nazir Davis 6'0" | SG Eduprize | 2024 State AZ and AJ Seumanu AJ Seumanu 6'2" | SF Mesa | 2024 State AZ
3. Team Harden 15
Second place vs Firestorm Elite in a close contest and beat some good teams along the way. They have a budding stud in Njie Jr.
Top players: Adam Njie Jr Adam Njie Jr 6'3" | PG Cardinal Hayes | 2024 State #197 Nation NY , Bo Dolinsek Bo Dolinsek 6'6" | PF Corona del Sol | 2024 State AZ , Preston Lee Preston Lee 6'0" | PG Orange Lutheran | 2024 State CA-S , Javery Mayberry Javery Mayberry 6'4" | PF Eastmark | 2024 AZ and 6’1 G AJ Thomas.
4. AZ Select 15 Aby
3-1 in Prep Hoops event losing to a good CO Pluto Prospects and beat Select Biale head to head. They only had 4 losses overall to 15U teams.
Top players: Jayce McGuirk Jayce McGuirk 6'2" | CG Phhoenix Prep | 2025 State AZ , Steven Tippit Steven Tippit 5'9" | PG Phhoenix Prep | 2024 State AZ , Treyvion Curry Treyvion Curry 6'2" | CG Phhoenix Prep | 2025 State AZ , Ryan Jackson Ryan Jackson 6'6" | SF AZ Compass Prep Black | 2024 State AZ , Grant Woods Grant Woods 6'6" | PF Valley Christian | 2024 State AZ and Elijah Velez Elijah Velez 5'9" | PG Desert Vista | 2024 State AZ .
5. Zone-6 15U
Not many forwards are more skilled in the class then Dream City’s Milicevic.
Top players: Jovan Milicevic Jovan Milicevic 6'9" | PF Canyon International Academy | 2024 State #100 Nation AZ , Tyler Stegmeier Tyler Stegmeier 6'0" | CG Saguaro | 2024 AZ , Dylan Tapley Dylan Tapley 6'3" | PF Desert Mountain | 2024 AZ , Kaden Garber Kaden Garber 5'10" | PG Chandler | 2024 State AZ & David Franks David Franks 5'11" | CG Phhoenix Prep | 2025 State AZ .
6. AZ Select 15 Biale
3-1 in Prep Hoops event losing to a good CO Pluto Prospects.
Top players: Luke Shaw Luke Shaw 6'3" | CG Valley Christian | 2024 State AZ , Hunter Wales Hunter Wales 6'6" | PF Scottsdale Christian Academy | 2024 State AZ , Jaevyn Yancey Jaevyn Yancey 6'7" | PF Eduprize | 2024 State AZ and Santino Esquivel Santino Esquivel 5'10" | CG Carl Hayden | 2024 State AZ .
7. Normal Powell Elite 15U
Only played in a few events but did well when they played.
Top players: Sam Zanoni Sam Zanoni 6'3" | SF Basha | 2024 State AZ , Will Zanoni Will Zanoni 6'1" | SG Basha | 2024 State AZ and Izaih Johnson Izaih Johnson 5'9" | PG Basha | 2024 State AZ .
8. PAL Elite 2024
Lost to the above teams but did manage to beat CO Pluto Prospects. Watch your head around Binford.
Top players: Aeramiah Binford Aeramiah Binford 6'4" | SF Ascending Life | 2024 State AZ , Isaiah Lassiter Jr Isaiah Lassiter Jr 6'1" | SG Desert Vista | 2024 State AZ , EJ Mills EJ Mills 5'9" | PG Shadow Ridge | 2024 AZ , Elijah Pablos Elijah Pablos 5'10" | CG Fairfax | 2024 State AZ and Makhi Golston Makhi Golston 6'2" | SG North Canyon | 2024 AZ .
9. Arizona Dynasty 15
The Tucson based team have some nice prospects to look at.
Top players: Bobby Smith Bobby Smith 6'6" | PF Salpointe Catholic | 2024 State AZ , Isaiah Hill Isaiah Hill 5'11" | PG Premier Prep Tucson | 2024 State AZ & Yak Ngang Yak Ngang 6'4" | SF Premier Prep Tucson | 2024 State AZ .
10. Uptempo Elite 2024
Top players: Jaelen Green Jaelen Green 6'2" | SF Gilbert | 2024 State AZ and Tim Gorham Tim Gorham 6'3" | SF Eastmark | 2024 State AZ .
11. AZ Triple Threat 2024
Top players: Nic Corbo Nic Corbo 6'2" | CG Chaparral | 2024 State AZ and Jake Miller Jake Miller 5'11" | PG Rancho Solano Preparatory | 2024 State AZ .
12. AZ Select 15 Roberson
Top players: Jesse Graves Jesse Graves 5'11" | CG North Valley Christian Academy | 2024 GA .
13. D1 Nation AZ 15
I have not seen them play yet, but I did want to mention them since they would be another team to watch for college coaches.
Top players: Bradey Henige Bradey Henige 7'0" | C Cactus | 2024 State #192 Nation AZ & Nathan Wanjohi Nathan Wanjohi 6'6" | PF Phhoenix Prep | 2024 AZ .