Phoenix is blowing up. Given the fact it is a transient city with amazing weather and relatively low taxes, people have been moving to the Valley of the Sun by the millions since 2000. The greater Phoenix area population has swelled over the past 30 years, and now we’re starting to see the basketball talent in Phoenix following right along.
Heading to Chaparral (Scottsdale, Ariz.), I checked out the Arizona Interscholastic Activities (AIA) Arizona Open Division Semifinals on Wednesday night. Sunnyslope (Phoenix) played Millennium (Goodyear, Ariz.) in the opener, while three-time defending state champion and FAB 50 No. 23 Perry (Chandler, Ariz.) took on Sandra Day O’Connor (Phoenix). With a live atmosphere and no shortage of D1 talent, it was quite the way to spend a Wednesday night. Ultimately, it was Sunnyslope (58-53) and Perry (76-57) that walked away victorious, setting up a highly-anticipated matchup in Saturday’s AIA Open Division Championship Game.
Here are a few of the players who caught our eye:
Delton Prescott, 5’11, PG, Sunnyslope (Ariz.), 2027
An absolutely electric lead guard, Prescott stole the show in Sunnyslope’s victory over Millennium to advance to the AIA Open Division Championship. The shifty lead guard showed great pace in pick and roll play, pulled up from mid-range at the drop of a dime, and played with a motor on both ends. Prescott is a bit of a throwback lead guard, but given the way that he can absolutely control a game, I think colleges are still sleeping on him, despite fielding six D1 offers.
Koa Peat, 6’8, SF/PF, Perry (Ariz.), 2025
The McDonald’s All-American broke his hand last week in practice and was miraculously cleared by a doctor to play. Peat came off of the bench and played 18 minutes, but the impact he had on the game was felt the second he checked in. Clearly favoring his right hand, he lightly dunked the ball, but more so provided presence as a point forward and threat on the floor. Peat finished with 16 points as a reserve and will look to bring home his final state title on Saturday. If that happens, he could go down as the most accomplished player in AIA history.
Cameron Holmes, 6’5, SG/SF, Millenium (Ariz.), 2026
The younger brother of former Denver Nuggets first round pick Da’Ron Holmes, Cameron Holmes continues to carve out his own legacy and it showed with his 24- point showing in a heartbreaking loss to Sunnyslope. Despite being face-guarded the entire game, Holmes had no problem getting downhill and finishing with either hand through contact when he got to the paint. The five star wing was also a vocal leader for his squad throughout the game, exhibiting many of the traits that have made him a priority for some of the nation’s elite programs.
Michael Simcoe, 6’8, PF, Sandra Day O’Connor (Ariz.), 2025
While it was certainly a tough final game for Simcoe, it came against the three-time defending AIA champs and it certainly wasn’t due to Simcoe’s play personally. The lefty face-up power forward showed range well beyond the 3-point line, displayed plenty of explosion finishing above the rim on drop-offs or lobs, and showed potential as a playmaker from the post. Heading to UC-Santa Barbara next year, the high academic forward will have the opportunity to contribute in a variety of ways under long time coach Joe Pasternack, who has developed plenty of pros throughout his time in Isla Vista.
D’Andre Harrison, 6’5, SF, Perry (Ariz.), 2025
The definition of a power wing, D’Andre Harrison paced Perry in their big “W” over O’Connor. The lefty is super bouncy, finished through contact at the rim, and made a number of great cuts in his 24-point performance. Signed with UMKC, Harrison is the type of versatile forward who will fit in perfectly in the Summit League.
Rider Portela, 6’6, SG/SF, Sunnyslope (Ariz.), 2026
The son of Sunnyslope head coach Ray Portela, Rider Portela has definitely come into his own as a serious prospect. Having grown to 6-foot-6, the junior knows how to utilize his size from the perimeter, has an outstanding IQ, and showed his defensive potential with a number of key stops throughout the game (including a last second steal on Cameron Holmes). Having ran with the Compton Magic on the 3SSB Circuit last year, Portela has already gained more than a half dozen D1 offers with plenty more to come.
