1st Annual Arizona Middle School Showcase Delivers High-Level Basketball, Breakout Performances & Plenty of Future Names to Watch

MESA, AZ — September 20, 2026

The Valley didn’t just show up — the Valley put basketball on display.

The 1st Annual Arizona Middle School Showcase, held Sunday, September 20 at Mesa High School, brought together approximately 140 of the Valley’s top middle-school hoopers, featuring players from the Class of 2031 and 2032 and giving Arizona basketball fans an early look at a group that is quickly making its presence known.

And make no mistake about it — this was more than just a showcase.

It was a statement.

From the opening tip to the final buzzer, the gym was packed with players, coaches, families, trainers, scouts and basketball people who came out to see what the next wave of Arizona basketball had in store.

What stood out immediately wasn’t simply the amount of talent.

It was the quality of basketball.

HIGH-LEVEL BASKETBALL WAS THE STORY

There were very few games where the outcome was decided early.

Outside of two or three matchups, nearly every game came down to the final five minutes, with several contests decided by two or three points.

That level of competitiveness made the showcase feel less like an exhibition and more like a series of meaningful high-level battles.

But for this evaluator, the biggest takeaway wasn’t who scored the most points.

It was how these young players played the game.

Spacing.

Ball movement.

Communication.

Defensive awareness.

Unselfishness.

Screening.

Cutting.

Making the extra pass.

Understanding when to attack and when to get off the ball.

There were plenty of players who got into their bag and filled up the scoreboard — and there’s nothing wrong with that. But the players who consistently made the right basketball play continued to separate themselves.

That’s what made this event so intriguing.

The basketball IQ on display was eye-opening.

ANTHONY RAY & ARIZONA PREPS DELIVER

Credit belongs to Anthony Ray and the Arizona Preps staff for putting together an event that moved with tremendous efficiency.

Games stayed on schedule, matchups were competitive, and the overall atmosphere reflected what Arizona basketball has become: organized, passionate and hungry for the next generation of talent.

The first annual showcase also served as another reminder that Arizona’s basketball community continues to come together when the opportunity presents itself.

And this one brought everybody out.

Coaches.

Parents.

Players.

Trainers.

Scouts.

Media.

Basketball fans.

Everybody wanted a look.

And there was plenty to see.

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THE PLAYERS WHO MADE THEIR PRESENCE FELT

There were easily 30-plus players who caught this evaluator’s attention and made a legitimate case for additional recognition.

So where do we even start?

Finn Van Ness — The Pressure Never Stops

As usual, Finn Van Ness did what Finn Van Ness does.

He put pressure on the defense.

The big-bodied guard was aggressive from the opening whistle, attacking defenders, getting downhill and scoring at will when opportunities presented themselves.

Van Ness continues to show the type of offensive confidence that makes him one of the guards in Arizona’s 2031 class that opponents have to game-plan for.

Josiah “Juice” Lewis — Mid-Range Money

Josiah “Juice” Lewis came ready to work.

The mid-range game was on display, but it was his ability to operate in the open floor that really stood out.

Lewis plays with purpose and isn’t afraid to put pressure on a defense.

When the game speeds up, he has the ability to slow things down and create.

Deuce Shaw — Guard Play With Purpose

Deuce Shaw continued to show why he’s considered one of Arizona’s top guards.

His understanding of screen-and-ball action, spacing and timing was evident throughout the showcase.

He’s a downhill slasher who consistently finds ways to get to the rim and finish through contact, including multiple and-one opportunities.

And then there’s the jumper.

Shaw’s three-point stroke comes with an effortless quality that forces defenders to respect him beyond the arc.

That’s a tough combination.

Zane & Zion Davis — Paint Problems

The Davis brothers, Zane and Zion, brought legitimate size and physicality to the floor.

Both forwards showed strong footwork around the basket, played through contact and finished with authority.

They understand how to use their size, and when they establish position around the rim, they become difficult matchups.

DeAndre Fields — Open-Court Artist

If there’s one thing DeAndre Fields knows how to do, it’s put pressure on the defense in the open court.

Fields consistently found his way to the bucket and showed off his passing creativity, including several no-look deliveries that immediately caught the eye.

The combination of speed, creativity and vision makes him a player worth keeping tabs on.

Izaiah Curley-Hernandez — IQ Beyond His Years

Izaiah Curley-Hernandez was another guard who stood out.

The basketball IQ was obvious.

He showed legitimate three-point range, impressive court vision and a handle that allowed him to create space and get where he wanted to go.

For a young guard, the ability to see the floor one play ahead is a valuable trait.

Curley-Hernandez showed plenty of it.

Bilal Russel — Long, Active & Attacking

Bilal Russel brought a long frame and an aggressive mentality.

He consistently looked to attack the rim, while also displaying a capable mid-range game.

The motor is there.

The ability to get downhill is there.

And when Russel gets moving, defenders have to account for him.

Jalen Love — Skill Around the Rim

Jalen Love was another player who caught the eye.

Ultra-skilled and quick around the basket, Love showed a variety of ways to create and finish in tight spaces.

His ability to operate around the rim makes him an intriguing young prospect to continue tracking.

Cordae Newsome — Protecting the Paint

Cordae Newsome made his presence felt defensively.

The rim protection immediately stood out, but he wasn’t limited to the defensive end.

Newsome showed a developing post game and flashed the ability to knock down the mid-range jumper.

That inside-out combination could become a major part of his game as he continues to develop.

Ayce Miles — Showtime Without the Showboating

There are certain players who make the entire gym stop and watch.

Ayce Miles is one of them.

Every time Miles has the ball, there’s an expectation that something could happen.

He’s dynamic, sees the floor extremely well and plays with a calmness that separates him from the chaos around him.

The game seems to slow down when the ball is in his hands.

That’s a trait you don’t teach easily.

Dakari Wilkinson — Paint Presence

Dakari Wilkinson once again showed why bigs matter.

Wilkinson demanded attention around the paint and demonstrated the ability to impact a game from the interior.

His mid-range touch and ability to operate in screen-and-roll situations add another layer to his offensive game.

When Wilkinson establishes himself inside, the defense has to adjust.

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AND THE LIST KEEPS GOING…

And that’s where this showcase becomes difficult.

Because the names kept coming.

Brandon Bay made his presence felt.

Mark Bernal showed his ability to knock down shots from deep.

RJ McGull consistently used his physicality to bully his way toward the rim.

Jonas Minott was electric, especially considering his size. His explosiveness and vertical pop immediately caught attention. At the next level, that athletic ability could create some serious problems above the rim.

Desean Jones was operating on another level.

The talent, confidence and ability to control possessions were obvious. Jones already has the type of national-level attention that makes him one of the names to continue monitoring closely.

And then came another wave:

Avery Yarborough.
Kaydence Taylor.
Jarell Nesbit.
Trenton Lowe.
Jeremiah Davis.
Case Medina.
Dakari Blue.
E Hohl.
Greyson Fiel.
Sebastian Turner.
Weston Mann.
Santana Pierce.

Donnie Fielding.
Allen Carapetian.
Jaleel Dodd.
Terrion Fuller.
Asher Ford.

And that’s still not everybody.

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THE BIGGEST TAKEAWAY? THERE ARE MORE NAMES COMING

That’s perhaps the most exciting part of the entire weekend.

There were players who walked into Mesa High School Sunday already carrying some recognition.

There were others who walked in relatively under the radar.

By the time they walked out?

A lot more eyes were on them.

This showcase wasn’t about crowning a single player.

It was about identifying the next group of players who are going to shape Arizona middle-school basketball over the next several years.

And based on what was displayed Sunday, the future is loaded.

The Class of 2031 and 2032 showed that Arizona has plenty of young talent, but more importantly, they showed an understanding of how to play.

That matters.

Scoring gets attention.

Highlights get posted.

But winning basketball is built on IQ, communication, spacing, defense, unselfishness and making the right play.

Those qualities were everywhere Sunday.

THE TOP25 SCOUT VERDICT

The 1st Annual Arizona Middle School Showcase lived up to the hype and then some.

Approximately 140 players.

Two talented classes.

Highly competitive games.

Multiple breakout performances.

And an Arizona basketball community that showed up in force.

There were so many players deserving recognition that putting together a single list is going to be difficult.

But that’s a good problem to have.

The Arizona Top 48 / Top25Scout Rankings are coming soon, and individual player features will follow.

If Sunday was any indication, there are going to be a lot of new names worth knowing.

The next wave of Arizona basketball isn’t coming.

It’s already here.

TOP25 SCOUTS — KEEP WATCHING.

Because the next name on the list might be the one nobody saw