Arizonas Finest: Week Two Dec. 8-14

We’ve had some questions as to whether or not “Arizona’s Finest” was a set of rankings based on future prospects and potential or simply a matter of how certain players have performed so far this season. Well, while it’s kind of a combination of both, the easiest way to describe it is that it’s GOAZCATS.com’s way of tracking the 2004 Player of the Year, which we named the Sean Elliott Award.

This is the Sean Elliott Award’s inaugural season, and its winner (come March) will be the first-ever recipient of the SEA. The reigning Gatorade state Player of the Year is the same guy who sits atop our list of Arizona’s Finest for the third straight time…

Arizona’s Finest

1. Ty Morrison, 2004
6-7, 205 WF
Phoenix (Trevor Browne)

-Averages 15.7 points, and state-best 19.7 rebounds and 7.3 blocks per game.

-Has had games of 20, 21 and 18 rebounds for 2-1 Trevor Browne, including season-opening triple-double performance (20 points, 20 boards, 10 blocks) vs. Hamilton.

-State’s most athletic, explosive, and unstoppable player when he decides to be. Has the body to compete on any level of basketball even right now.

2. Lawrence Hill, 2005
6-8, 203 WF
Glendale (Deer Valley)

-Through six games: 16.0 ppg, 12.0 rpg, 3.0 blks for 5-1 Skyhawks.

-Sometimes goes several possessions without getting the ball from his teammates when he’s down on the low blocks. With a pass-first point guard, Hill could average closer to 30 points per game. Excellent around the hoop with both hands, and “The Law” is a tremendous competitor.

3. Lee Cummard, 2004
6-6, 175 SG
Mesa (High)

-Through five games: 20.2 points per game for 3-2 Jackrabbits.

*SIGNED WITH BYU.

4. Jermaine Calvin, 2004
5-10, 175 PG
Tempe (McClintock)

-Leads Arizona’s premier 4A team with 24.7 points per game.

-A great athlete with pass-first point guard skills who just happens to be capable of filling up the score sheet at any given time. By far the best senior point guard in Arizona.

*SIGNED WITH UTAH.

5. Daren Jordan, 2005
6-0, 180 PG
Phoenix (Trevor Browne)

-“Houdini” is averaging 20.3 points and 5.3 assists per game for the Bruins.

-Dropped a season-high 39 points and 9 assists on Chandler in a losing effort.

6. Kaleo Kina, 2005
6-3, 180 PG
Phoenix (Trevor Browne)

-22.0 points and 8.0 rebounds per game for the state’s Most Underrated Player.

7. Lawrence Westbrook, 2006
6-0, 200 PG
Chandler (High)

-Came out of nowhere to average 24.8 points per game, including 29 in upset of No. 1-ranked Trevor Browne.

-Has helped lead team to a 3-1 start, and has shown that he will be a force not only in Arizona, but nationally as well.

-See accompanying feature story on Westbrook.

8. Joey Shaw, 2005
6-6, 170 CG
Chandler (High)

-23.8 points per game for 3-1 Wolves.

-Extremely attractive recruit for high major programs because of his ability to handle the ball at his size. Also one of the best shooters on the West Coast.

9. Ryan Holmes, 2004
6-2, 185 PG
Goodyear (Millennium)

-Leads the state with an impressive 32.3 point per game average. Competition he’ll face this week will test his legitimacy when he goes up against strong defensive specialists like Ray Murdock (Pinnacle), and physical athletes from Apollo like Tristan Wilson and Desmond Ondoua.

10. Duboise Williams, 2004
6-6, 175 WG
Tempe (Marcos De Niza)

-24.3 points and 10.5 rebounds per game for impressive Padres (3-1) so far.

-There’s not much that this all-around player can’t do. He’s also a very underrated passer and defender, and we feel like he could get even better scholarship offers than what he presently has (NAU, Evansville, Southern Utah, etc.) with continued stellar play. Can, but doesn’t, play the point guard position at times, too.

11. Gabe Freeman, 2004
6-6, 190 G/F
Tempe (McClintock)

-17.7 points per game for 4A’s No. 1-ranked team.

-Like Duboise Williams, Freeman is a do-it-all-type talent capable of bringing the ball upcourt and initiating the offense. Immensely talented perimeter player.

*SIGNED WITH SOUTHERN UTAH.

12. Damir Suljagic, 2004
6-9, 210 PF
Tucson (Salpointe)

-Had 21 points in Lancers (7-1) most recent victory.

*SIGNED WITH TEXAS TECH.

13. Chad Goldstein, 2004
6-9, 230 PF
Scottsdale (Desert Mountain)

-18.7 points and 10.7 rebounds per game for 5-1 Wolves.

*SIGNED WITH UC-DAVIS.

T-14. Jerryd Bayless, 2007
6-1, 180 PG
Phoenix (St. Mary’s)

-Still putting up 19.8 points through five games after somewhat subpar scoring week for the freshman.

-Bayless averaged 26.0 ppg, including games of 27, 14, and 37 points in his first three games of the year. St. Mary’s is 3-2 so far.

T-14. Kal Bay 2006,
6-0, 175 PG
Tempe (Marcos De Niza)

-Talented pass-first point guard leads the state with 11.8 assists per game while scoring 14.3 points as well. All of this and he’s only a sophomore.

15. Christian Polk, 2006
6-3, 175 SG
Glendale (Deer Valley)

-Through six games, the No. 22-rated sophomore in the nation has averaged 13.0 points.

-Has been getting hot lately, averaging 15 points and five rebounds in his last three games for the Skyhawks.

-Huge game on Thursday when he matches up with Trevor Browne’s backcourt duo of Daren Jordan and Kaleo Kina, his teammates on the Arizona Magic during the offseason.

16. Ray Murdock, 2005
6-4, 190 WG
Phoenix (Pinnacle)

-Through six games, Murdock is averaging 12.2 points.

-Has a chance to prove that he is the state’s premier man-on-man defender Tuesday night when he takes on the Ryan Holmes, Arizona’s leading scorer.

17. T.J. Benson, 2004
5-10, 175 PG
Tempe (Corona Del Sol)

-Averages nearly 15 points per game for surprising 5-1 team.

18. Monti Washington, 2005
6-3, 175 WG
Phoenix (Tolleson)

-Averaging 14 points per game for Tolleson team that returned all five starters from a year ago but has struggled so far this season.

19. Travis Gabbidon 2004
6-7, 200 SF
Phoenix (Desert Vista)

-Averaging around 15 points per game for the somewhat disappointing Thunder.

20. Justin Williams, 2005
6-4, 175 SF
Phoenix (Paradise Valley)

-Averages team-high 14.3 points per game for Paradise Valley.

21. Ryan McCurdy, 2004
6-10, 190 F/C
Gilbert (Highland)

-Leading undefeated Highland with a 14.6 points per game average.

22. Tristan Wilson, 2006
6-3, 180 WG
Glendale (Apollo)

-Through two games, the physical sophomore is averaging 19 points per game.

-Huge game this week when he goes up against Ryan Holmes and Millennium HS.

23. Xavier Kilby, 2004
6-7, 205 WF
Phoenix (Desert Vista)

-Averaging around 13 points and 10 rebounds for underachieving Desert Vista.

24. Kevin Coble, 2006
6-6, 185 WF
Scottsdale (Christian Academy)

-Averages a team-high 23.5 points per game for the best small school in the state, SCA.

25. Calvin Chitwood, 2004
6-5, 180 WG
Phoenix (Paradise Valley)

-Averaging 14.0 ppg for 4-2 team, including 20-point game vs. Glendale.

*SIGNED WITH CS-NORTHRIDGE.

_______________________

-Ben Hansen, Senior Editor

GOAZCATS.com