American Family Insurance Hoophall West (Boys)Dec 12, 2016 by Brett Regan
Future Stars Dominate In The Desert At Hoophall West
Future Stars Dominate In The Desert At Hoophall West
The best games, players, and moments from the 2016 American Family Insurance Hoophall West in Scottsdale, Arizona on December 9-10 at Chaparral High School.
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Just like that, in the blink of an eye, it was over. Make no mistake about it, though, the American Family Insurance Hoophall West was full of excitement and dominant play this past Friday and Saturday. Let's take a look back at the two-day showcase people will be talking about all season.
The anticipation and storylines were there well before tip-off: a game featuring teams from opposite sides of the country and a matchup between two high-major point guards in Alex Barcello (Arizona commit) and Jose Alvarado (Georgia Tech). As expected, it did not disappoint.
However, it was not just a one-on-one matchup that decided the 84-74 victory for Corona del Sol. In fact, it was a complete backcourt duel.
Barcello was matched by running mate Saben Lee with 31 points apiece for the Aztecs, while Alvarado dropped 25 and junior Tyson Walker added 18 for the Royals.
Intense? Absolutely. Check it out:
Yes, Flo40 prospects Deandre Ayton (No. 2), Brian Bowen (No. 16), and Jaren Jackson (No. 21) were there. Yes, all of them played well. So if this is a surprise, don't worry, just understand Alex Barcello was that good. Of course, it helped to see the Arizona-bound guard in two games as opposed to one like the majority of the field, but both were stellar. Barcello scored the ball from everywhere -- pouring in 28 and 31 points in two big wins -- and was the best player on the floor more often than not. His game is still being polished, but it was an impressive weekend that showed just how valuable he can be on both ends.
The highest-ranked team in the event and No. 2 team in the country, sure proved its worth. Actually, it was more than that. La Lumiere put on a show and a clinic on Westbury Christian in a 91-44 rout in Saturday's finale and had a ton of fun doing it. This squad is deep, full of talent at all positions, and can score at all three levels. The Lakers have all of the tools to win it all this year just as long as they stay healthy.
Fresh with a renewed visa, Deandre Ayton returned to the hardwood Friday night. And while it might have taken a few minutes to knock off some of the rust, the Hillcrest Prep big man showed why he is arguably the top prospect in the country during spurts. Whether it was controlling the paint on the defensive end, finishing through contact, or knocking down shots from long range, Ayton could pretty much do whatever he wanted on his way to 20 points.
It shouldn't take long to figure out who is No. 14 Mater Dei's leader. If it does, here's a hint: Spencer Freedman. All you have to do is watch the junior point guard operate to see why Mater Dei wins a lot of games. As the engine of the team, Freedman is crafty, picks his spots beautifully, and has a high basketball IQ. He also has the ability to knock down open shots, create off the dribble, and is an absolute pest on the defensive end. A 79-43 win over Phoenix St. Mary's is just one notch to what will likely be another great season.
His name was nowhere in the official program, but it wasn't hard to spot Phoenix St. Mary's K.J. Hymes. A 6-foot-10 stretch forward, Hymes is skinny with loads of game. He isn't afraid to put the ball on the deck to go to the hole and has a nice step-back move to get his shot off from deep. If he puts on some weight and continues to play with confidence, there's no doubt the upside is there.
MATURE BEYOND HIS YEARS
Kyree Walker can get buckets. He can drive and finish over defenders. He can light it up from deep. Oh, and he's just a freshman for Moreau Catholic. That's right, a freshman. While his team did poorly in both games here, Walker scored at least 25 points in each contest. Remember the name because this kid is a stud.
As one of the few Flo40 prospects still uncommitted, Bishop Gorman's Charles O'Bannon gets a lot of attention about his recruitment. However, the 6-foot-5 guard isn't focused on that at all. He just wanted to return to the court after injuring his foot in practice.
BALL BROTHERS HAVE OFF NIGHT
It was no secret LiAngelo and LaMelo Ball can score the ball in absurd bunches, but Chino Hills only scored 84 points in a win over Bishop Gorman. Embrace the sarcasm in the headline, because these brothers can fill it up and are incredibly fun to watch.
BEST GAME: Corona del Sol (AZ) vs. Christ The King (NY)
The anticipation and storylines were there well before tip-off: a game featuring teams from opposite sides of the country and a matchup between two high-major point guards in Alex Barcello (Arizona commit) and Jose Alvarado (Georgia Tech). As expected, it did not disappoint.
However, it was not just a one-on-one matchup that decided the 84-74 victory for Corona del Sol. In fact, it was a complete backcourt duel.
Barcello was matched by running mate Saben Lee with 31 points apiece for the Aztecs, while Alvarado dropped 25 and junior Tyson Walker added 18 for the Royals.
Intense? Absolutely. Check it out:
BEST PLAYER: Alex Barcello, Corona del Sol
Yes, Flo40 prospects Deandre Ayton (No. 2), Brian Bowen (No. 16), and Jaren Jackson (No. 21) were there. Yes, all of them played well. So if this is a surprise, don't worry, just understand Alex Barcello was that good. Of course, it helped to see the Arizona-bound guard in two games as opposed to one like the majority of the field, but both were stellar. Barcello scored the ball from everywhere -- pouring in 28 and 31 points in two big wins -- and was the best player on the floor more often than not. His game is still being polished, but it was an impressive weekend that showed just how valuable he can be on both ends.
BEST TEAM: No. 2 La Lumiere
The highest-ranked team in the event and No. 2 team in the country, sure proved its worth. Actually, it was more than that. La Lumiere put on a show and a clinic on Westbury Christian in a 91-44 rout in Saturday's finale and had a ton of fun doing it. This squad is deep, full of talent at all positions, and can score at all three levels. The Lakers have all of the tools to win it all this year just as long as they stay healthy.
BACK FROM THE BAHAMAS
Fresh with a renewed visa, Deandre Ayton returned to the hardwood Friday night. And while it might have taken a few minutes to knock off some of the rust, the Hillcrest Prep big man showed why he is arguably the top prospect in the country during spurts. Whether it was controlling the paint on the defensive end, finishing through contact, or knocking down shots from long range, Ayton could pretty much do whatever he wanted on his way to 20 points.
FEARLESS LEADER
It shouldn't take long to figure out who is No. 14 Mater Dei's leader. If it does, here's a hint: Spencer Freedman. All you have to do is watch the junior point guard operate to see why Mater Dei wins a lot of games. As the engine of the team, Freedman is crafty, picks his spots beautifully, and has a high basketball IQ. He also has the ability to knock down open shots, create off the dribble, and is an absolute pest on the defensive end. A 79-43 win over Phoenix St. Mary's is just one notch to what will likely be another great season.
HIGH UPSIDE
His name was nowhere in the official program, but it wasn't hard to spot Phoenix St. Mary's K.J. Hymes. A 6-foot-10 stretch forward, Hymes is skinny with loads of game. He isn't afraid to put the ball on the deck to go to the hole and has a nice step-back move to get his shot off from deep. If he puts on some weight and continues to play with confidence, there's no doubt the upside is there.
MATURE BEYOND HIS YEARS
Kyree Walker can get buckets. He can drive and finish over defenders. He can light it up from deep. Oh, and he's just a freshman for Moreau Catholic. That's right, a freshman. While his team did poorly in both games here, Walker scored at least 25 points in each contest. Remember the name because this kid is a stud.
O'BANNON'S TUNNEL VISION
As one of the few Flo40 prospects still uncommitted, Bishop Gorman's Charles O'Bannon gets a lot of attention about his recruitment. However, the 6-foot-5 guard isn't focused on that at all. He just wanted to return to the court after injuring his foot in practice.
BALL BROTHERS HAVE OFF NIGHT
It was no secret LiAngelo and LaMelo Ball can score the ball in absurd bunches, but Chino Hills only scored 84 points in a win over Bishop Gorman. Embrace the sarcasm in the headline, because these brothers can fill it up and are incredibly fun to watch.
