Region Preview: 6A East Valley
The East Valley Region appeared to be Mesa’s to lose until recent weeks. The impact transfer of 2018 Forward Timmy Allen adds intrigue to the region championship race as it makes Red Mountain a contender. Here are the top contenders…
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Continue ReadingThe East Valley Region appeared to be Mesa’s to lose until recent weeks. The impact transfer of 2018 Forward Timmy Allen adds intrigue to the region championship race as it makes Red Mountain a contender. Here are the top contenders in the region.
Mesa – Even after the losses of 7 graduated seniors, including captains Drew Hatch, David Cummard, and Darius Goudeau, Mesa still has one thing going for them that no other team does. They are the defending state champions. As it currently stands, Mesa and Corona are the only 6A schools that have won championships in the careers of the current players. While many of the faces have changed from last year, that experience, and trust in the system, is there. Look for Mark Hatch and DJ Henderson to try to keep the train rolling and lead a still talented program towards another run.
Red Mountain – As far as top tier talent goes, Red mountain’s duo of Timmy Allen and Dre Harris is among the state’s best. Add Andres Mayberry running the show and you have a formidable core. The Lions have a team full of guys that play their roles well and they have just been devoid of an elite talent to take control. They now have two, but the big question becomes do they fit? In terms of floor spacing on the offensive end, there is a vast redundancy in the talents of Harris and Allen. While Allen is versatile, he is able to do a lot of his damage from 15 feet and in, using his superior size and strength. Dre Harris may be exceptionally skilled on the perimeter for a big man, but at this point, he is just that, a big man. The challenge for coach Fazio will be not only managing the personalities of the players and their role expectations, but the on floor usage in order to maximize the production he will get from his two best players. Mayberry will help by stretching the floor, but will also be tested as a point guard to orchestrate everything and make sure he keeps his teammates happy. There are many factors that could doom this team, but one major factor that should outweigh them all, talent.
Skyline – Skyline will have an influx of talent this year, as they have some transfers that will come in and make an immediate impact for a team that was 3-22 last season. Akil Holloway and Jasaan Strover are two names that are relatively unknown, but they have a good deal of talent. If Halloway is eligible, With Mountain View losing so much, and Westwood lacking high level talent, Skyline should slide into the number 3 spot in the region.
Projected Region Champion: Red Mountain
Projected Player of the Year: Timmy Allen
Projected First-Team: Andre Harris, DJ Henderson, Jasaan Strover, Mark Hatch, Timmy Allen