HoopHall West has been one of many premier occasions for prime expertise over the previous few years. The occasion is understood for constantly pumping out future quite a few first spherical picks. Present NBA abilities resembling Evan Mobley have made their solution to this desert traditional. Final summer time Cody Williams, Jared McCain, and Ron Holland have been drafted within the first spherical after taking part in within the 2022 model, final 12 months’s class consists of potential first rounders Boogie Fland, Jeremiah Fears, and Carter Bryant (to not point out each Ian Jackson and VJ Edgecombe probably draft picks participated in it in 2022 as highschool juniors). This 12 months was a smash as soon as once more as marquee groups and marquee names spent their publish New 12 months festivities within the Phoenix suburbs of Mesa and Gilbert from January 2nd by means of the 4th, showcasing their abilities in entrance of each faculty and NBA personnel. On the nationwide degree Cia-Bellavista Prep and Utah Prep appeared as dominant of a group within the nation and on the extra conventional highschool degree Harvard Westlake (SoCal) received the highest division defeating a gritty De La Salle group (NorCal). Perry appeared very very like the favourite to take residence the state title in Arizona and Gonzaga of DC after profitable the Les Schwab Invitational lower than every week prior in Oregon, simply ran out of gasoline within the semifinals. Whereas he won’t be talked about as a prime prospect for this occasion a particular shout out goes to Utah Prep’s John Southwick who made 7 three pointers in his group’s one showcase sport versus Religion Household.
This 12 months a brand new wrinkle was added to Hoophall West to permit extra native Arizona and California groups to take part, with the Nike Match of Champions. Video games being performed in venues near Hoophall West, permitting scouts and followers an opportunity to look at them. A fantastic addition that media and scouts appreciated with one caveat. The one consensus suggestion was to make use of the auxiliary court docket on the foremost Hoophall West facility as one of many sub venues to minimize the drive time and make it simpler for media and scouts to view extra video games.
Beneath are a number of the prime prospects and performers from the occasion:
HoopHall West:
AJ Dybantsa 6’9 Wing Utah Prep 2025 BYU
AJ Dybantsa is the consensus prime participant in his class and did nothing to disprove it at Hoophall West. Having had the privilege to see him play dwell for a 3rd occasion (EYBL PHX in 2003, EYBL KC over the summer time), he has refined his sport in a couple of brief months. At 6’9, he’s Utah Prep’s secondary ball handler and first shot creator. He’s quick twitched and has excessive flexibility within the hips and dexterity being able from triple menace to get low and convey his shoulders and hips under the defender’s’ arms and get by them with a fast rip by means of after which first step. He showcased some footwork utilizing jab steps and reverse pivoting off leap stops, and euro steps to get clear baseline and free throw prolonged mid-range leap photographs, or layups close to the rim. He’s a gazelle on the quick break, ending lobs with two hand flushes. He’s an unselfish participant who fed the new hand of teammate John Southwick (5 first half three pointers) and lets the sport come to him. He’s a wonderful free throw shooter going 8/9 from the road. If you wish to discover a flaw in his sport is that he’s not an elite degree outdoors shooter but however there isn’t any cause he can not turn into one, over time, as he matures. He completed the sport with 23 factors, going 9/12 from the sector, and added 10 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 block. He’s the very best highschool participant I’ve seen lat this occasion since I began overlaying it in 2019.
Tyran Stokes 6’7 Wing Notre Dame Sherman Oaks 2026
Tyran Stokes had a marquee matchup versus Sandra Day O’Connor’s Michael Simcoe and had his full offensive arsenal on show scoring 34 factors, 10 rebounds, 4 steals, and 1 block shot. Along with his steals and deflections, he was capable of both run the lanes or lead the quick break with thunderous dunks. On half court docket units with His good size and broad shoulders permits him to shed defenders off him and makes use of a fast crossover to get downhill and end on the rim. On one explicit decide and roll, he used a fast first step down the lane and completed the play off on the rim, cocking his arm again to smash the ball by means of the rim. Whereas he was 2 for 4 from past the arc, his leap shot nonetheless has some room for consistency as he went 4/7 from the charity stripe and at instances compelled it within the lane when he might have taken the mid-range jumper. By far the very best and one of many extra skilled gamers on his group has compelled him in additional of a management position than what was seen at his time at Prolific Prep or with the Oakland Troopers. Ranked by many as the highest participant within the 2026, he might very effectively reclassify into the category of 2025.
Bruce Department 6’6 SG Perry 2027
Bruce Department isn’t essentially the most well-known participant, given he’s on the west coast and has but to get an invitation to a USA minicamp, however that can change quickly. A 12 months in the past, he barely performed for Perry at Hoophall west however after main the group scoring at Part 7 with Koa Peat taking part in with group USA over the summer time, he has established himself as their secondary scorer and the group’s finest one on one choice. Bruce has a feathery mid-range leap shot and powerful handles as an underclassman. He has ideally suited positional top for a wing and can solely get higher as his physique matures. On a group with many seasoned seniors, he isn’t the point of interest of the offense, but as a rule he’s the one which creates spacing by making the open leap shot, drives to the outlet and kicking the ball to the nook for open teammates. Off the ball, he has a great offensive instincts to search out open areas on the perimeter or lower to the basket for open lob alternatives. Whereas not presently in most nationwide prime 25 rankings, along with his talent set, positional dimension, and physique maturation, he has the flexibility, with a powerful work ethic, to finish up being close to or on the prime of the 2027 class by his senior 12 months.
Davis Fogle 6’6 SF AZ Compass 2025 Gonzaga
Davis Fogle’s work ethic on and off the court docket is unquestionable. He’s essentially the most improved participant that I’ve seen for the reason that AZ Compass Fall league in October, and he brings his fixed power to the ground, hustling again on protection on turnovers, serving to weak aspect and blocking photographs on the rim in opposition to taller opponents, plus utilizing his size and athleticism on the perimeter to get deflections and steals. On offense, in previous occasions (Pangos, Part 7, and AZ Compass Fall league) he was at instances a little bit of a ball stopper, pounding the ball excessively and interrupting the movement of the play. Right here he was a lot faster in his resolution making and environment friendly along with his dribbles, and nonetheless acquired downhill with ease. His dribble effectivity has made his teammates extra ready to catch the ball and end performs coming off his passes. A very good athlete, he’s fast down the ground on quick breaks and finishes performs off with one handed dunks. He nonetheless has work to do from the perimeter as he’s inconsistent along with his comply with by means of on his leap shot. This subsequent step in his growth will decide how a lot he performs for Gonzaga subsequent season. He has established himself because the captain of this AZ Compass group with each his play and management.
Miikka Muurinen 6’10 PF/C AZ Compass 2026
Miikka has the potential of a lottery decide. Along with his taking pictures type, capability to complete performs off robust, and mobility operating the ground, there’s a lot to be intrigued about. Moreover, as a 2007 born worldwide participant, it’s attainable he reclassifies to the 2025 class. Miikka, by means of the route of the AZ Compass workers, began each video games with excessive power and a transparent focus. He used his athleticism to seize offensive rebounds and was capable of have a one handed put again dunk or get fouled and make a few photographs from the charity stripe. On protection, he’s lively as a rim protector, blocking a pair photographs. Nevertheless, his focus and power fell off considerably after the primary quarter in each video games. He hardly ever touched the paint on offense, settling too usually for contested NBA vary three-point photographs and tenting out on the perimeter. To additional illustrate his drawbacks, he’s a really poor display setter, hardly ever prioritizing setting screens with a objective and as an alternative dashing to get behind the three level line for a decide and pop alternative. On the events he did lower from the nook or wing to the basket to the dunker spot, he was often rewarded with a dunk or attending to the foul line. He’s feisty on the court docket which isn’t essentially dangerous for a giant, however a lot of his power and focus, aside from these first quarters, was spent arguing with refs, opponents, and so on. He appeared to have issue managing his power in a constructive approach, inflicting him to hurry his shot when on the free throw line, and in addition not making it down the court docket constantly, and seldomly attacking the glass on offense or protection. Scouts have been fairly frankly upset, not a lot by his expertise however his incapability to remain centered on the play at hand. Whereas at AZ Compass, he has improved his influence on protection however maybe had he stayed in Europe he could be additional alongside within the growth of his all-around sport as he appears centered totally on dunking on quick break alternatives and taking pictures three pointers. Only a junior in highschool and blessed with nice bodily bundle, these are fixes he can actually make as he matures off the court docket and as a basketball participant.
Koa Peat 6’8 F Perry 2025 Undecided
Koa Peat has been a model identify for the previous few years, having been featured on the USA basketball group the previous few summers. Blessed with a full man physique at a younger age and elite athleticism he’s extraordinarily impactful on the defensive finish. It has nearly turn into routine a minimum of as soon as per sport to look at Koa block a shot by pinning the ball in opposition to the backboard. His robust vertical and skill to maneuver his ft laterally permits him to get deflections. Moreover, he’s a excessive IQ defensive participant permitting him to rotate rapidly for blocked shot alternatives and taking costs. On offense, he runs the ground effectively and finishes performs off with dunks on quick breaks, lob passes, and offensive rebounds. At Hoophall West, as a senior, he performed the position of secondary ball handler with blended outcomes. In opposition to weaker opponents, he dominated utilizing a Euro step or a fast spin transfer to get to the paint. In opposition to stronger groups, they have been coached to swarm the paint and again off him on the perimeter. Whereas he is an efficient passer and fast resolution maker, his Achilles heel is his taking pictures. On the subsequent degree, top-level groups are going to be higher geared up to defend in opposition to his athleticism and are going to power Koa to shoot the leap shot till he proves he can turn into constant from a minimum of the midrange. The stagnation of his leap shot not enhancing is most regarding projecting him to the highest degree, given he suits the profile of a publish participant and has a sub-7-foot wingspan.
Michael Simcoe 6’9 Ahead Sandra Day O’Connor 2025 UC Santa Barbara
Michael Simcoe is among the finest stored secrets and techniques within the state of Arizona. After two middling performances at Hoophall West, he broke out and had a large sport in opposition to Tyran Stokes and Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks. In that sport, he went 10/15 from the sector (4/7 from three) and had 26 factors, 8 rebounds, 5 blocks, and 1 steal in a slim 62-65 loss. He was very efficient as a rim protector within the sport, which shocked many, together with his opponents. On offense he was capable of rating in catch and shoot alternatives, from past the arc and used a wide range of spin strikes to shed defenders and hit the mid-range on the perimeter. Blessed with broad shoulders from being a aggressive swimmer, Michael is a load within the publish to cease, creating house along with his footwork to search out a gap close to the rim. Tyran Stokes and Michael Simcoe regularly guarded one another on this sport and traded haymakers within the 4th quarter, none of which have been greater than the and one basket that Michael made within the waning moments of the sport to carry Sandra Day O’Connor again to a one-point deficit. For the highest degree, he has some athletic limitations that have been seen at moments when making an attempt to protect Tyran, however he’s an excellent participant and with additional growth in his shot might have an opportunity.
King Grace 6’5 SG Religion of Household Academy of Oak Ridge 2025 Mississippi State
I hadn’t watched King Grace dwell since summer time of 2023 (write up right here) The most important takeaway that I noticed from him at Hoophall West is that he has made a big enchancment to his leap shot and vary. In his one sport in opposition to Utah Prep King Grace went 5/9 from behind the three-point line, usually effectively past the NBA line. In 32 minutes, he had 27 factors, whereas going 10/20 from the sector, 2/2 from the free throw line and maintaining his squad inside hanging distance for a lot of the sport. To go with his robust outdoors taking pictures efficiency he was capable of get to the basket and on one explicit event off a pump faux from the nook drove baseline jumped on the entrance aspect of the rim, the place two opponents jumped to contest, and ended up on the opposite aspect of the rim, whereas having the ball kiss off the glass for an acrobatic lay-up. On one other half court docket, as he acquired downhill off a decide and pop, he used a euro step to keep away from the assistance defender and end the play with a lay-up.
Nikolas Khamenia 6’8 Ahead Harvard Westlake 2025 Duke
Nikolas Khamenia’s finest sport was on the opening day the place he led Harvard Westlake to victory (57-54) versus Perry. His stat line for the sport was 18 factors, 9 rebounds, and seven assists. Each shot he made appeared pure and swished straight by means of the web. He went 6/7 from the road and 5/13 within the sport. Total, for the weekend he most likely overdribbled the ball somewhat greater than you desire to, however he has good imaginative and prescient and is extraordinarily proficient at making open photographs. To create house for himself, he tends to again down opponents and use a spin transfer for an open mid-range jumper, but when they shut out too rapidly he has an up and underneath floater that he counters with. He has the perfect device set as a decide and pop participant. Not a tremendously gifted athlete, however he can run the ground and end off performs and has nice power at this degree. Nicely coached, he has a excessive basketball IQ and nice imaginative and prescient. He had 17 assists within the three video games he performed. For the highest degree ideally, he would play the facility ahead place, however he’s a little bit of a tweener as he has the size of a small ahead however the athleticism of a 4. He’s extraordinarily expert and a great shooter. How elite of a shooter he turns into will decide his alternative for the highest degree.
Alec Blair 6’5 SG De La Salle 2025 Oklahoma
Alec Blair is an thrilling participant to look at as he brings a Ginobili type aptitude to his sport. He helped lead De La Salle to the championship sport of the normal bracket at Hoophall West. He has good size and wingspan for a guard. At Hoophall West he featured his glorious footwork, whether or not it was on quick breaks with a powerful euro step to get round opponents or in half court docket units, off decide and roll play, as soon as he drove down the lane, he eluded opponents with that transfer both getting the straightforward lay-up, or going to the road. He additionally was very efficient along with his pivot ft utilizing a sequence of pump fakes and reverse pivots on a number of events to get open seems to be. When the chance offered itself, he again lower from the nook to complete a play off with a baseline one handed dunk. If Alec dedicates his focus to ironing out his leap shot and tightened his handles, it’s conceivable to see him on the prime degree, however the southpaw is headed to Oklahoma to additionally play baseball and is alleged to be a good higher baseball prospect than basketball.
Darius Wabbington 6’10 C Sunnyslope 2027
Darius Wabbington began the event off sluggish versus Gonzaga DC however completed the final two video games with Double Doubles and a last efficiency of 24 factors, 11 rebounds, and 1 block shot versus Christ the King. Within the first sport, he had difficulties engaged on offense in opposition to the extra skilled Christian Gurdak. These two mammoths have been battling within the publish and on the boards all through the sport. Gurdak’s savvy caught Wabbington off guard at instances when he went to shoot. Darius, general, was rather more ready offensively, than at this event a 12 months in the past. He’s a load within the publish with some flashes of perimeter abilities and gentle contact across the rim. He went 10/13 from the charity stripe and there are indicators that he might develop as a decide and pop participant as he develops. In a 12 months there are seen adjustments in his physique as he has slimmed down. He nonetheless lacks ideally suited elevate and acceleration, and deceleration nonetheless wants growth however he has some capability to soak up contact and end. He has a great motor and the sport has slowed down for him as he’s significantly better at letting the play develop. He’s additionally a wonderful display setter.
JJ Mandaquit 6’1 PG Utah Prep 2025 Washington
JJ Mandaquit was the prototypical flooring basic for Utah Prep, main the group with 10 assists and three turnovers in 26 minutes of gameplay. The Hawaiian native was content material to maneuver the ball round, make fast choices and share playmaking duties with AJ Dybantsa. Extremely environment friendly, he completed with 9 factors on 4/6 taking pictures and seven rebounds. His capability and willingness to be efficient with and with out the ball is unusual for a pure level guard.
Honorable Point out:
Davion Adkins 6’8 PF Religion of Household Academy of Oak Ridge 2026
Brayden Burries 6’5 PG Roosevelt 2025 Undecided
Chris Cenac 6’10 PF/C Hyperlink Academy 2025 Houston
Christian Collins 6’8 SF St John Bosco 2026
Derek Dixon 6’4 CG Gonzaga DC 2025 2025 North Carolina
Christian Gurdak 6’9 PF/C Gonzaga DC 2025 Virginia Tech
Isiah Harwell 6’5 Wing Wasatch Academy 2025 Houston
Kalek Home 6’3 CG AZ Compass 2026
Amir Jones 6’3 CG Harvard Westlake 2026
Paul Osaruyi 6’10 C Bellavista CIA 2027
Miles Sadler 5’11 PG Bellavista CIA 2026
Zachary White 6’6 SF Notre Dame Sherman Oaks 2026
Nike Match of Champions High Prospects:
Kyi Kyi Miles 6’3 PG Mesa Class of 2028
Kyi Kyi Miles is among the prime freshmen within the state of Arizona. He has good positional dimension, and has a fluid and simply repeatable leap shot. An excellent flooring basic, he demonstrated nice court docket imaginative and prescient and confirmed endurance the day after scoring 30 factors in opposition to UC San Diego senior commit Uriah Tenette. Within the Saturday sport, he was capable of get downhill with both hand. He flashed a powerful hesitation dribble because the defender needed to intently guard his mid-range shot, given his taking pictures prowess. He flashed a euro step for layups and a nostril for the ball, getting a number of offensive rebounds and put backs. On the quick break he had his first highschool profession dunk.
Adan Diggs 6’4 SG Williams Fields 2028
Adan Diggs, a freshman, is already a part of the USA program and a family identify in grassroots circles. An excellent athlete with a easy leap shot. He’ll end performs off with highly effective dunks and can assault the offensive glass with put again dunks. Your complete Williams Area group is all the time seeking to run, and Adan is both main the break or operating the lanes. On half court docket units from the wing, he makes use of a sequence of jab steps and one dribble rip throughs to create house for his fast launch leap shot. Off decide and roll conditions, he can get downhill utilizing his fast first step to get to the rack or drive and kick to open teammates. At Hoophall West there was some degree of frustration that manifested at instances because the roster is full of underclassmen whose growth had not but made it to Adan’s. This led to some questionable shot choice, notably in opposition to Saint Mary’s and the tenacious protection of Carter Bagley.
Cameron Williams 6’11 C Saint Mary’s 2026
Cameron Williams has proven flashes of being a top-level expertise kind of participant. He’s tall, he’s lengthy, he’s a great athlete, and he has lengthy vary leap taking pictures capability. What has harm him up to now is after he had a terrific efficiency, he would often comply with it up with a dud. Giving scouts and coaches a variety of variance in the place he stacked up of their analysis. There might have been a breakthrough on the Nike Match of Champions as he had constantly robust performances. Scoring 31 factors, 14 rebounds, and 5 blocks in opposition to Redondo Union, following that up with 19 factors, 13 rebounds, 3 blocks in opposition to Williams Area and ending the weekend with 13 factors, 13 rebounds, and three blocks in opposition to Brophy. Defensively, he demonstrated elite rim safety and powerful rebounding abilities snatching balls off the rim along with his enormous arms. Offensively, he was robust on the glass and made a couple of nook threes to stretch the ground. He flashed some capability to place the ball on the ground and ran effectively on quick break alternatives. Including power to his base is the subsequent step so he may be more adept within the publish. His bodily instruments are particular, persevering with to stack up robust performances will enhance his outlook tremendously.
Gene Roebuck 6’5 CG La Miranda 2027
Gene Roebuck has nice dimension and talent as a lead guard in a half-court offense. He’s a excessive utilization participant who seeks the offense going by means of him. On offense on the very first play of Saturday’s sport he was capable of get a break free off the tip and scored a lay-up with a wonderfully executed deceleration. Very deliberate in his tempo, it seems that he has studied movie of Luka Doncic, all the best way to taking the identical type of sidestep wing three that he made on the best aspect of the court docket. In half court docket units he give a myriad of hesitation dribbles and makes use of his physique to make defenders get offense off stability to get downhill for lay-up alternatives. On one baseline transfer he was capable of dribble baseline by faking, going in the direction of the wing with a fast spin dribble, angling his shoulder in the direction of the bottom he was capable of spin round his defender for a lay-up. A stable shooter, he’s a extremely expert participant who understands angles, utilizing his physique to create house, and spacing at an elite degree. He does have room to develop as a participant; he obtained technicals within the first quarter in back-to-back video games and is liable to lose focus. He additionally lacks ideally suited athleticism for the place. However is the kind of participant that has a presence and attracts your consideration when he performs.
Mason Magee 6’0 PG Basha 2026
Mason Magee is a particularly athletic level guard who helped lead Basha to just about pull off a championship victory versus Redondo Union. Regardless of his diminutive dimension, he’ll end performs off with highly effective dunks and even catch the occasional lob dunk. Blessed with a fast crossover dribble and powerful handles, he can simply navigate the ground and get to his spots. A stable passer, he runs Basha’s offense effectively. Tenacious on protection, he’s a headache for opposing groups to get into their offense. His outdoors leap shot may be streaky and he lacks ideally suited dimension for the highest degree.
Honorable Point out:
Carter Bagley 6’4 Wing Saint Mary’s 2028
Ryan Burbach 6’3 SG Brophy 2025 Cornell
Kaiden Bailey 6’3 PG Sant Margarita 2026
Hudson Mayes 6’4 G Redondo Union 2025
Chris Sanders 6’4 G Redondo Union 2027
DJ Spencer 6’4 Wing Desert Vista 2027
