Bruce’s Best: Regular Season Superlatives
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Hard to believe the season has come and gone, it was a blast! I was fortunate to have a front-row seat. Going from gym to gym every night provided me with an up-close and personal look at some of the…
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Continue ReadingHard to believe the season has come and gone, it was a blast! I was fortunate to have a front-row seat. Going from gym to gym every night provided me with an up-close and personal look at some of the best talents from around the state. As we turn our attention to the playoffs, let’s look back at some of the players with the top skills. Here’s a look at our superlatives from the 2021-222 Regular season.
Best Shooter: Alijah Adem Alijah Adem 6'2" | PG Spring Valley | 2024 State #174 Nation NV 6’1 PG Spring Valley 2024 (#8PHN 2024) – Shot nearly 70% from behind the 3 point line. Best stat of the year, Adem made a total of 79 threes on 117 attempts. His 79 makes were one less than stat leader Parsa Hadjighasemi Parsa Hadjighasemi 6'4" | CG Carson | 2022 State NV who took 229 total attempts.
Best R&J Athlete: Aaron Price Aaron Price 6'7" | PF Liberty | 2022 State NV 6’7 PF Liberty 2022 (#8PHN 2022) – Gets the nod over Gorman’s James Freeman James Freeman 6'5" | PF Bishop Gorman | 2022 State NV because of his ability to use his bounce to block shots as well as get dunks.
Best On Ball Defender: Tayshaun Jackson Tayshaun Jackson 5'7" | PG Las Vegas | 2025 State NV 5’5 PG Las Vegas 2025 (#27PHN 2025) – Has graded out at 100%, have yet to see anyone beat him off the dribble in his high school career.
Best Passing Lanes Defender: Angelo Kambala Angelo Kambala 5'10" | CG Liberty | 2023 State NV 5’11 CG Liberty 2023 (#5PHN 2023) – Good lateral quickness, combined with quick hands allowed him to rack up nearly two steals per game.
Best Interior Defender: Aaron Price Aaron Price 6'7" | PF Liberty | 2022 State NV
Best Rebounder: Tavionte Jackson Tavionte Jackson 6'2" | PG Las Vegas | 2022 State NV 6’2 PG Las Vegas 2022 (#5PHN 2022) – Tough, competitive, R&J athlete with a freakish wingspan. Jackson led the state in rebounding.
Most Versatile: – Darrion Williams Darrion Williams 6'6" | SF Bishop Gorman | 2022 State NV 6’5 SF Bishop Gorman 2022 (#3PHN 2022) – Handles, post, shoots threes, defends multiple positions for the 9-time defending state champs.
Best Passer: DJ Thomas DJ Thomas 6'2" | PG Liberty | 2024 #19 Nation NV 6’1 PG Liberty 2024 (#1PHN 2024) – Doesn’t get enough credit for making the easy pass. Good post entry passer, good vision, and anticipation skills.
Best Rim Protector: Pharaoh Compton Pharaoh Compton 6'7" | PF Arbor View | 2024 State #74 Nation NV 6’5 PF Spring Valley 2024 (#9PHN 2024) – Quick 1st jumper with good timing on his shot blocks.
Best Scorer: Richard Isaacs 6’2 PG Coronado 2022 (#1PHN 2022) – Long-range shooter with wiggle, that can create for himself.
Best Upside Senior: – David Estes David Estes 6'7" | PF Basic | 2022 State NV 6’7 PF Basic 2022 (#68PHN 2022) – Fast rising prospect nearly put up a double-double in his first Varsity season.
Best Upside Underclassman – Chris Nwuli Chris Nwuli 6'7" | SF Wasatch Academy | 2025 State #38 Nation UT 6’6 SF Bishop Gorman 2025 (#2PHN 2025)
Best Handle: Tavionte Jackson Tavionte Jackson 6'2" | PG Las Vegas | 2022 State NV
Best Slasher: Dontrell Johnson Dontrell Johnson 6'5" | SF Trinity | 2022 State NV 6’5 SG Trinity 2022 (#10PHN 2022) – High motor athletic downhill guy.
Best Low Post Scorer: Joshua Jefferson Joshua Jefferson 6'8" | PF Liberty | 2022 State #158 Nation NV 6’8 SF Liberty 2022 (#2PHN 2022) – Spends a lot of time on the perimeter, but if he’s ever played 1 on 1 on the block, assume the bucket.
Best Rim Runner: Ephram Ezidiegwu Ephram Ezidiegwu 6'5" | PF Bonanza | 2023 State NV 6’5 C Bonanza 2023 (#45PHN 2023)
Best Physical Specimen: James Freeman James Freeman 6'5" | PF Bishop Gorman | 2022 State NV 6’5 PF Bishop Gorman 2022 (#9PHN 2025)
Best Undervalued Prospect: Nakalya Fabello Nakalya Fabello 5'10" | PG Valley | 2023 State NV 6’0 PG Valley 2023 (#13PHN 2023)
Best Sleeper: Bryant Largarady Bryant Largarady 6'8" | SF Canyon Springs | 2022 State NV 6’8 SF Canyon Springs 2022 (#49PHN 2022) – Could combination of size and skill in a raw frame.
Best P&R Guard: Karson Roberts Karson Roberts 5'10" | PG Bonanza | 2023 State NV 6’0 PG Bonanza 2023 (#19PHN 2023) – Reads screens patiently and comes of shoulder to shoulder.
Best Pull Up Jumper: Kenyon Giles Kenyon Giles 5'10" | PG Silverado | 2022 State NV 5’10 PG Silverado 2022 (#6PHN 2022)
Best Corner Shooter: Shane Thomas Shane Thomas 6'3" | SG Durango | 2022 State NV 6’3 SG Durango 2022 (#4PHN 2022)
Most Underrated Shooter: Tommy Williams Tommy Williams 6'3" | CG Incline | 2025 State NV 6’0 PG Incline 2025 – Freshman shooter made over 70 threes for one of the top 2A teams.
Best 3 And D Guy: Shane Thomas Shane Thomas 6'3" | SG Durango | 2022 State NV
Best Under 6’0: John Mobley Jr John Mobley Jr 6'0" | PG Wasatch Academy | 2024 State #55 Nation UT . 5’11 PG Bishop Gorman 2024 (#2PHN 2024) – Dynamic scorer, who shoots it with ITG range.
Best High Motor Guy: Martin Thompson Martin Thompson 5'11" | PG Boulder CIty | 2022 State NV 5’11 SG Boulder City 2022
Best Teammate: Carson Dooley Carson Dooley 6'5" | PF Spring Valley | 2022 State NV 6’5 PF Spring Valley 2022 (#91PHN 2022)
Best Charge Taker: Jake Penny Jake Penny 6'0" | CG Spanish Springs | 2022 State NV 6’0 SG Spanish Springs 2022 – Wasn’t even close, not sure who was second in the state in charges taken.
Highest IQ: DJ Thomas DJ Thomas 6'2" | PG Liberty | 2024 #19 Nation NV
Best JV Player: Nick Jefferson Nick Jefferson 6'2" | PG Bishop Gorman | 2025 State #324 Nation NV 6’0 PG Bishop Gorman 2025
Best High Academic Player: Robert Gibson Robert Gibson 6'4" | PF Durango | 2022 State NV 6’4 PF Durango 2022 (#39PHN 2022) – Selfless team guy with high motor and a 4.7 GPA.