Gregg's player recap - READ

I saw Gregg tweated out that MacDougall picked up an offer from GCU. Also good to hear good things about Terrance Johnson. I remember him looking like a massive bruiser of a football player.

I'm dusting off the cobwebs and getting ready for an incredible season. Now that Ralph is running this joint I can probably get myself in a bit more trouble than usual with my takes this year.

One of the top events of the off season is usually the AZ Preps Fall Showcase.

Brophy - filled by JV coach Matt Hooten
Horizon Honors - filled by Veritas Prep and former state champ at GC coach Steve Currier
Mesquite - filled by RM assistant coach Chris Lemon
Desert Edge - filled by former Highland and Arcadia coach Scott Lovely
Blue Ridge - filled by Darryl Suber
Shadow Ridge - filled by St. Mary's assistant and former Willow Canyon coach Robert Bohon
Millennium - filled by JV/varsity assistant Brian Fisk
Ironwood - filled by JV/varsity assistant Jordan Augustine
Dysart - filled by former Valley Vista assistant coach Keegan Cook
Hamilton - filled by former DV state champ head coach and MP assistant coach Doug Harris
Apache Junction - filled by Mesa assistant coach Scott Stansberry
Notre Dame Prep - filled by Coolidge coach Kyle Diemer
Coolidge - filled by JV and asst. coach Chris Lehman
Skyline - filled by Marcos JV coach James Capriotti
Corona del Sol - filled by assistant coach Neil MacDonald
Tombstone - filled by Buena freshman coach Ryan Sedore
Desert View - filled by Nogales assistant coach George De La Riva
Sunrise Mountain - filled in-house
Casa Grande - filled by Magic coach Gino Crump
Fountain Hills - filled by former freshman coach at Valley Vista Brad Weber
Paradise Honors - filled by Zach Hettel
Peoria - filled by Will Roberts
Cibeque
Bradshaw Mountain
Palo Verde
Kingman
Joseph City
Winslow
Tolleson
Veritas Prep
Phoenix Christian
Chinle
Santa Rita
Agua Fria
Ironwood Ridge

I wanted to post this here in hopes of igniting a major discussion about the sectional playoffs for Division II. It is of my opinion that we must ALL be on the same page in regards to sectional tourneys. I feel it is imperative that we either all have sectionals or none of us have sectionals. Personally, I think we should go the route as the Division I coaches chose, and do without sectionals. Again, that is my personal opinion, as I think it would be nice to have another week to spread some games out so we don't have weeks with 3 games or at the very least have a week to rest and prepare for the state playoffs for those of us who are lucky enough to get in.

My MAJOR CONCERN is the chaos that would undoubtedly take place if some sections decide to have sectionals and others do not. We've seen in the past few years alone how the power points have been affected during sectional tourney week with some teams not even in sectionals climbing into the state tourney bracket. I don't think we want to further add to that chaos by not being all being on the same page. I'm welcome to discussion but I do know this coaches, you better get yourselves involved in the process before we get thrown into something we don't want and the season is quickly approaching. Please express your thoughts, if not on here, to your respective AD's.

Thanks and have a great day!

Chilly of the C-Town Rivals Podcast was out at Shadow Mountain last week and caught up with 2019 PGs Jovan Blackshear and Jaelen House. Gotta love Jaelen's reaction to whether or not he could beat his dad in a game of horse.

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I honestly don't watch a lot of junior college but it was fun seeing many players that I saw in HS trying to still earn their dream of playing in a D1 or 4 year type of college.

Connor MacDougall was the prize of the event--Kansas State, Nebraska were some big names watching him.
I also saw:
Southern Utah
GCU
Portland State
SF
Cal Poly
Seattle U
Idaho State

plus around 10 D2 schools..

Looks like another great event by Ron Coleman over the weekend and another busy outing for Gregg...

Link - Player Recap

Wyatt Lowell

Mitch Lightfoot

St. John's

National Visit Preview - https://arizonavarsity.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1809475

AIA Legislative council just passed for their to be 6 conferences next year. Divisions will be split at 1000 students. 3 divisions above 1000 and 3 below 1000. 4A, 5A, 6A will be split equally is the belief. 1A - 3A will be sitting down to determine how split will go, due to the issues of private, charter, and public schools being prevalent in these 3 conferences.

Note #1 - no school can petition up or down in just basketball anymore. All petitioning must be done as a whole school. That is going to affect some of the movement. Personally, I don't think you will see as much petitioning down. Petitioning up just became impossible for most as it has to be school-wide.

Note #2 - we are also back to region play. School AD's will get to sit down in regions and put schedule together so that should eliminate some of the ridiculous travel that many are going to have this year.

Don 't know what this means for tournaments, how many regions, how many teams to state, etc. That will all have to be played out yet.

Link: https://arizonavarsity.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1809011

Link: https://arizonavarsity.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1808606

Any takes from this past weekend?

Gregg, I would guess you have some coming...

ASU - Saben Lee, KJ Hymes

Colorado - Wyatt Lowell

Link - Weekend visits preview 9/25

More on the home page on his commitment.

WHEN: OCTOBER 24, 2015 8 AM - NOON

WHERE: DESERT EDGE HIGH SCHOOL

COST: EARLY REGISTRATION IS $25.00 (DEADLINE IS 10/16/2015)
AT THE DOOR COST IS $30.00

WHO: ALL MIDDLE SCHOOL & CLUB COACHES, OR ANYONE DEVELOPING YOUNG ATHLETES HOPING TO PLAY HIGH SCHOOL BALL AND BEYOND


Topic: Building a bridge
The relationship between high school coaches, college coaches, and club coaches.

Featured Speakers
Scott Lovely - Desert Edge
Mark Wood - Liberty
Roger Lefebvre - La Joya Community

Speacial Guest Speaker
MATT VARGAS

HEAD MEN’S BASKETBALL COACH
TOHONO O’ODHAM COMMUNITY COLLEGE

LINK - Flier and Registration Form

This Saturday and Sunday is the West Coast Elite camp.

Saturday is for the MS players (4th-8th) and
Sunday is for HS (9th-12th).
Some top players may be attending including:
Mitch Lightfoot, Saben Lee, Elijah Thomas, Chris Bowling, Malik Ondigo, Nigel Shadd, Holland Woods, Dre Marin, Ousmane Ndim, KJ Hymes, Jaden Lee, Michael Bibby, Josh Green and Jaelen House to name a few…Many of our "Ranked" players from 2016-2019 will be attendance. Lets see how they do versus each other!!
3 National scouts are supposedly coming--which is exciting for the state.

I wouldn't be surprised if some of the "BIG NAMES" don't actually play--but if these players all show up---this may go down as arguably the best event I've seen in a really long time locally.
I am covering both days and Ralph Amsden is joining me on Sunday to watch the HS players.

Jayhawk Slant article - LINK

Thanks Coach Bunker

2015 Schedule JUCO Jamboree
10:00am Arizona Western vs Phoenix College
11:00am Mesa vs Cochise
12:00pm Eastern Arizona vs Phoenix College
1:00pm Arizona Western vs Mesa
2:00pm Glendale vs Cochise
3:00pm Eastern Arizona vs Tohono O’Odham
4:00pm South Mountain vs Central AZ
5:00pm Pima vs Scottsdale
6:00pm Central AZ vs Chandler-Gilbert
7:00pm Tohono O’Odham vs South Mountain
8:00pm Pima vs Chandler-Gilbert
9:00pm Scottsdale vs Glendale

I had one prominent varsity coach tell me that high school coaches hate players rankings. He and I have a good relationship, so I responded that we don't give a #$! what high school coaches like! Of course I was kidding, we do care about coaches on a very high level - so I'd like to get some high school coaches to respond on what your real thoughts are on player rankings and the evals we publish on this site.

We have thick skin - so let'r rip.

The Tri-City Christian forward had offers from Central Arkansas, Lehigh, Air Force and more. He had an in-home visit last week and flew out to visit Liberty's campus a few days ago.