Check out the sixteen schools (and HCs) participating in the Visit Mesa Basketball Challenge scheduled December 27-31 at Westwood HS in Mesa, AZ:

Brooklyn (NY) Canarsie - Jake Edwards, HC
Buckeye Verrado - Andra Rogers, HC
Gilbert Christian - Jason Pasquariello, HC
Gilbert San Tan Charter - Kyli Crooms, HC
Goodyear Desert Edge - Jason Wabbington, HC
Humble (TX) Atascocita - David Martinez, HC
Mesa Westwood - Daken Skouson, HC
Orange Park (FL) St. Johns Country Day - Ian Gibson, HC
Playa del Rey (CA) St. Bernard - Bernard McCrumbry, HC
Phoenix Pinnacle - Charlie Wilde, HC
Scottsdale Notre Dame Prep - Brad Quinet, HC
Scottsdale Rancho Solano Prep - Aaron Trigg, HC
Snohomish (WA) Glacier Peak - Brian Hunter, HC
Stansbury Park (UT) Stansbury - Payton Dastrup, HC
Tempe Corona del Sol - Neil MacDonald, HC
Tucson Salpointe Catholic - Eric Castillo, HC

Under the umbrella of Monarch Sports Arizona, the event partners are Westwood HS & Mesa Unified School District. For real-time updates on the tournament, visit @visitbb (X) and @MonarchSportsAZ (Instagram, X).

Check out the twelve schools (and HCs) participating in the Saguaro Holiday Classic scheduled December 19-21 at Saguaro & Horizon High Schools in Scottsdale, AZ:

Gilbert ALA North - Mark Carlino, HC
Gilbert Christian - Jason Pasquariello, HC
Glendale Apollo - Jacob Marin, HC
Goodyear Desert Edge - Jason Wabbington, HC
Highlands Ranch (CO) ThunderRidge - Joe Ortiz, HC
Olympia (WA) - John Kiley, HC
Omaha (NE) Millard South - Tim Leuschen, HC
Peoria - Jacob Kurt, HC
San Tan Valley Poston Butte - Ronald Moore, HC
Scottsdale Horizon - Bob Williams, HC
Scottsdale Saguaro - Lucas Ramirez, HC
Winnetka (IL) New Trier - Scott A. Fricke, HC


Under the umbrella of Saguaro and Horizon boys basketball programs, event partners include Scottsdale Unified School District, Paradise Valley Unified School District, BSN Sports, and Monarch Sports Arizona.

Check out the eight schools (and HCs) participating in The LV8 Invitational scheduled November 27-30 at Chandler-Gilbert Community College in Chandler, AZ:

Gilbert Higley - Kenny Drake, HC
Oro Valley Ironwood Ridge - Justin Coleman, HC
Phoenix Mountain Pointe - Kaimarr Price, HC
Gilbert Perry - Sammy Duane, Jr - HC
Scottsdale Rancho Solano Prep - Aaron Trigg, HC
Gilbert San Tan Charter - Kyli Crooms, HC
Avondale West Point - Ryan Nelson, HC
Gilbert Williams Field - Javon Cole, HC

Under the umbrella of Monarch Sports Arizona, the second-year event is sponsored by First Bank of Arizona, Chandler-Gilbert Community College, & Cloud 9 Sports. For real-time updates on the tournament, visit @MonarchSportsAZ (Instagram, X).

The playoffs begin for the 4A, 5A, and 6A and I’ll be starting out at the same place I began 2023’s playoffs - at ALA-Gilbert North. The Eagles host Goldwater in a 5A first-round game.

Goldwater (7-3) is in the playoffs for the first time since 2007! The Bulldogs won the Northwest Region title with its Single Wing offense. BGHS averages 344 rushing yards per game, led by 2,238 yards and 34 TDs from Dylan Hayhurst.


ALA-Gilbert North (7-3) has wins this year over Higley & Horizon (both in the Open). Two of the Eagles’ losses have come against Desert Mountain & ALA-Queen Creek (both in the Open). For much of the season, ALAGN has used 2 quarterbacks - Conner White and Bryson Landon (combined 21 TD passes). In last week’s win over Horizon, it was all Conner White (208 passing yards, 2 TDs).

Can Goldwater shock the state with a 16-1 upset? I’ll be there to see if the Bulldogs can stop ALAGN and what that rushing offense can do!