Arizona Small Ball Podcast

In this episode we talk about all the teams in the Copper Canyon classic and what were excited to see from some of them!! It is such a blessing to be hosting tournaments for the small ball community, and it all starts in CV land this weekend!!

In our 200th episode of the podcast we reminisce on some of our favorite moments of the podcast, and discuss how it has grown over the years. We want to say a MASSIVE thank you to all of you guys for your continued support for what we are doing. None of this would be possible without you guys!! To show our appreciation we decided to do a listener appreciation episode by answering some questions from the Small Ball Army!!

In this episode we focus in on our summer events! We Talk about all the teams in the Copper Canyon Classic and in the Main Event. We also look at all these mascots and discuss who would win if they all fought against each other in the ring. We still have some spots left for both of these events, so if your squad is looking for some great summer events don't miss out!!

The conversation covers various regions and teams in different divisions of high school basketball. The hosts discuss potential winners and contenders in each region, highlighting the strengths and histories of certain teams. They also mention the upcoming Copper Canyon Classic and encourage coaches to participate.

The hosts are excited about the upcoming senior showcase game and discuss the three-point contest. They mention the participants and their shooting percentages, highlighting the high volume and efficiency of the shooters. They make predictions for the contest, with Reyes choosing Caleb Bahe and Jonathan Brown as his top two, and Jeff selecting Keon Talgo and Jack Engelthaler. They also discuss the rankings of the shooters in their respective divisions and express their support for Bahe and his chances of winning. The conversation focuses on the upcoming dunk contest and senior game in the Arizona Small Ball Showcase. The hosts discuss the participants in the dunk contest, highlighting favorites like Bryce Anderson and Presley IBeh. They also discuss the players in the senior game, emphasizing their skills and contributions to their teams. The hosts express their excitement for the showcase and encourage the players to compete hard and impress college coaches in attendance.

In this episode I get to sit down with NextBench CEO Jaimie Perkins and talk all about recruiting! Her vision for helping high school athletes is impacting kids all over the state and it was so fun to talk about her company, and how they help kids realize their dreams of competing in College. Don't miss out!!

In this episode of the Arizona Small Ball podcast, hosts Jeff and Reyes interview Presley Ibeh and Cohen Hill, two talented guards from Highland Prep. The conversation starts with a lighthearted discussion about their one-on-one matchups and their growth as players. They share stories of their initial dislike for each other and how they eventually became close friends and teammates. The conversation then shifts to Presley's season-ending injury and how he stayed connected to the team despite not being able to play. In this part of the conversation, Presley Ibeh and Kohen Hill discuss their experiences and reflections on their basketball journey. They share impressions of Coach Hill and highlight the contributions of other players on the team. The conversation concludes with a discussion on the rivalry with Phoenix Christian and the intensity of the playoffs.

In this episode of the Arizona Small Ball Podcast, hosts Jeff and Reyes reunite after a break and discuss their upcoming event, the Dunk Contest and Senior Game. They also provide an update on their March Madness brackets. The hosts then dive into the discussion of sleeper teams for the 1A conference, including Anthem Prep, Fort Thomas, Hayden, Ray, and Joseph City. The hosts then discuss sleeper teams in the 2A and 3A divisions of Arizona high school basketball. In the 2A, they mention Scottsdale Christian as a potential sleeper team, with Scottsdale Christian having the potential to maybe make a deep playoff run. In the 3A, they highlight Page and Sabino as sleeper teams, with Page having a strong roster and Sabino returning most of their players. They also mention other potential sleeper teams such as Florence, Ben Franklin, and Snowflake.

Chapters

8:23 Discussion of 1A Sleeper Teams: Anthem Prep, Fort Thomas, Hayden, Ray, and Joseph City.

19:00 Moving on to 2A Sleeper Teams: Horizon Honors, San Carlos, SCA.

28:20 Sleeper Teams in 3A: Sabino, Florence, Snowflake.

The Open tournament is officially here in the Small Ball Scene!! Before you get too excited, lets be pessimistic for a second. In this episode, Aaron and I talk about some of the good but mostly the bad when it comes to the open tournament. How will it be as meaningful as the conference state title and Vice versa?! Can the AIA make it worth the risk of not being able to compete in your own conference for a state title? (if you make it past the first 2 rounds) Is the conference championship just a knockoff title now? We also talk about how the open has impacted some of the bigger schools already gone through this. Don't miss out!

In this episode we sit down with Coach Crooms out of San Tan Charter and talk all about the Roadrunners state championship run! Coach Crooms has a history of success in basketball and he discusses how it has helped him lead this team to its ultimate goal. With all of the trash talk that surrounds teams that have success, it is so fun to watch a group of kids silence and achieve their goals!! This was a fun one!!

In this conversation, Jeff and Reyes discuss the recent wins of Valley Christian and Santan Charter in the Arizona high school basketball championships. They also reflect on their interactions with the Small Ball Army and the emotional impact of the graduating class. The conversation includes a discussion on the impressive season of Santan Charter, emphasizing their poise and the leadership of Coach Crooms.

In this episode of the Arizona Small Ball podcast, Jeff and Reyes discuss the upcoming matchup between Snowflake and Gilbert Christian in the Elite 8. They highlight Snowflake's surprising performance and their journey to this stage of the playoffs. They also praise Coach Jason for his impact on Gilbert Christian's success in his first year as head coach. The hosts analyze Snowflake's offensive struggles and the dominance of Gilbert Christian's offense and defense. They conclude with their predictions for the game and reflect on the significance of this matchup for the East region.

Takeaways

• Snowflake's presence in the Elite 8 is a surprise and a testament to their consistent performance.
• Coach Jason has made a significant impact on Gilbert Christian in his first year as head coach.
• Snowflake will need to improve their offensive performance to compete against Gilbert Christian.
• Gilbert Christian's offense and defense make them a formidable opponent.

In this episode of the Arizona Small Ball Podcast, Jeff and Reyes discuss the matchup between Northwest Christian and Yuma Catholic. They start by praising Northwest Christian's impressive win and their physicality on the court. They highlight Marshall Gillette's improvement and his ability to create his own shot. The hosts also discuss Northwest Christian's strong transition game and Yuma Catholic's need to improve their rebounding. They analyze the stats and players of both teams and discuss the importance of experience in this matchup. Finally, they make their predictions for the game.

Takeaways

• Northwest Christian's win was impressive and showcased their physicality and toughness.
• Marshall Gillette's improvement and ability to create his own shot is a key factor for Northwest Christian.
• Northwest Christian's strong transition game will be a challenge for Yuma Catholic.
• Yuma Catholic needs to improve their rebounding to compete against Northwest Christian.
• Experience will play a crucial role in the outcome of the game.

The hosts discuss the upcoming matchup between Sabino and Valley Christian in the Elite Eight. They highlight Sabino's Cinderella story and the return of Luke Shaw for Valley Christian. The pressure and expectations for Valley Christian as the defending champions are also discussed. The hosts analyze the offensive output of both teams and make their predictions for the game. They have a lively debate and disagreement on their predictions before closing with final thoughts.

Takeaways

• Sabino's Cinderella story and resilience make them a formidable underdog
• Luke Shaw's return adds a new dynamic to Valley Christian's offense
• Valley Christian faces pressure as the defending champions
• Sabino's chance to disrupt Valley Christian's offense is key to their success
• The hosts have differing predictions for the outcome of the game

In this episode of the Arizona Small Ball Podcast, Jeff and Reyes discuss the upcoming matchup between Thatcher and ALA Ironwood in the Elite 8 of the 3A Conference. They recap Thatcher's journey to the Elite 8 and highlight the key matchup between Thatcher's defense and ALA Ironwood's size. They also compare the skill and guard play of both teams and analyze the team stats and keys to the game. They discuss Thatcher's strategy of making the game chaotic and ALA Ironwood's strategy of grit and rebounding. They also mention the common opponents and players to watch in the matchup. Finally, they give their predictions and close the episode.

Takeaways

• Thatcher and ALA Ironwood are facing off in the Elite 8 of the 3A Conference.
• Thatcher's defense will be tested against ALA Ironwood's size and athleticism.
• ALA Ironwood has an advantage in skill and guard play.
• Thatcher will need other players to step up in order to compete with ALA Ironwood.
• Thatcher's strategy is to make the game chaotic, while ALA Ironwood focuses on grit and rebounding.
• Common opponents suggest that Thatcher can compete with ALA Ironwood.

• Predictions favor ALA Ironwood, but the game is expected to be close.

In this episode I give a quick shoutout to the Gregory School for their 1A State championship. We will do more for them after the season is over!! I also recap the Sweet 16 for the 3A and the Elite 8 for the 2A. I talk about some teams that are on an impressive run in the 3A, and some other teams in the 2A that have some interesting matchups coming up in the Final 4!

There are two types of teams in the playoffs; Teams that are excited to be there, and teams that are trying to win! The bottom 4 seeds of the tournament were trying to WIN on the first night of the 3A tournament. Lets talk about it!!

In this episode, Jeff and Reyes discuss the Arizona high school basketball playoffs bracket reveal. They break down the matchups and make predictions for each region. They highlight the top teams and sleeper teams to watch out for. The conversation covers the South Central and Northeast regions of the bracket. Jeff and Reyes provide insights and analysis for each team and give their opinions on who will come out on top.

Chapters

2:30 3A Bracket Breakdown

35:26 2A Bracket Breakdown

The 1a bracket is live!! Lets talk about the 1A playoffs!!!

In this episode of the Arizona Small Ball Podcast, Jeff discusses the upcoming playoffs and possible matchups in the 3A, 2A, and 1A conferences. He highlights the top teams and players to watch in each conference and provides insights into the potential outcomes of the playoffs.

Takeaways

• The playoffs in the 3A, 2A, and 1A conferences are approaching, and there are several exciting matchups to look forward to.
• Teams like Valley Christian, The Gregory School, and Desert Christian are favored in their respective conferences, but there are several dark horse teams that could cause upsets.
• The 3A conference is particularly competitive, with many teams on the bubble and potential for upsets.
• The 2A conference features a play-in tournament, which adds an extra layer of excitement and unpredictability to the playoffs.
• The 1A conference is filled with talented teams and players, and the playoffs are expected to be highly competitive.

In this episode of the Arizona Small Ball Podcast, Jeff and Reyes discuss the Verl Heap Award and the ASBP Senior Showcase. They also highlight winners and losers from the week, including Sabino's winning streak and Winslow's win over Holbrook. The conversation also covers the matchup between The Gregory School and North Valley Christian, as well as Valley Christian's win over ALA Ironwood. In this episode, Jeff discusses the defensive intensity of Valley Christian and the impact of Luke Shaw's absence. He also highlights several players who have reached the Thousand Point Club milestone. Additionally, he recognizes outstanding shooting performances.

Takeaways

• Sabino's winning streak and Winslow's win over Holbrook are notable performances from the week.
• The Gregory School and Valley Christian had impressive wins in their respective matchups.
• Valley Christian's win over ALA Ironwood shows their resilience and ability to perform without key players. Defensive intensity can be a crucial factor in a team's success.
• Reaching the Thousand Point Club is a significant achievement for high school basketball players.
• Impressive shooting performances can greatly impact the outcome of a game.
• The ASBP Senior Showcase provides an opportunity for senior players to showcase their skills.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Announcements

03:30 Verl Heap Award and ASBP Senior Showcase

15:29 Winners and Losers from the Week

25:25 Sabino's Winning Streak

30:00 The Gregory School vs. North Valley Christian

35:18 Winslow's Win over Holbrook

43:12 Rez Teams with the Best Chance in the Playoffs

44:06 Valley Christian's Win over ALA Ironwood

50:29 Thousand Point Club

57:25 Shooting Performances

58:58 ASBP Senior Showcase

In this episode, Jeff and Reyes discuss the official AZ Preps rankings and the surprises and discrepancies within them. They also break down the game between Santan Charter and Highland Prep, highlighting Santan Charter's dominant performance. They evaluate Highland Prep's current standing and their potential in the playoffs. In this episode, the hosts discuss playoff predictions and the Florence vs. Coolidge rivalry. They also analyze the games between Phoenix Christian and PCD, Gilbert and Valley Christian, and Valley Lutheran and Cicero Prep. The hosts highlight players who have reached the 1000 point mark in their careers.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Recap of Games

08:05 Discussion of Official AZ Preps Rankings

24:27 Breakdown of Santan Charter vs. Highland Prep

32:01 Evaluation of Highland Prep's Performance

32:21 Playoff Predictions

33:09 Florence vs. Coolidge Rivalry

34:20 Phoenix Christian vs. PCD

36:43 Gilbert vs. Valor Christian

38:56 Valley Lutheran vs. Cicero Prep

49:36 Players Reaching 1000 Points

The Arizona Small Ball Podcast announces the introduction of the Verl Heap Award, an award that recognizes the most outstanding player in Arizona small ball. The award aims to encourage student athletes to be the best version of themselves on and off the court. The award is named after Verl Heap, a coaching legend at St. John's who won eight state titles and had a successful career as a player and coach. The criteria for the award include exceptional skill, sportsmanship, leadership, impact on team success, and character and integrity.

• The Arizona Small Ball Podcast introduces the Viral Heap Award to recognize the most outstanding player in Arizona small ball and encourage student athletes to have high character.
• The award is named after Verl Heap, a coaching legend at St. John's who had a successful career as a player and coach.
• The criteria for the award include exceptional skill, sportsmanship, leadership, impact on team success, and character and integrity.
• Coaches are invited to nominate deserving players for the award.

In this episode of the Arizona Small Ball Podcast, Jeff and Reyes discuss the recent matchups in Arizona high school basketball. They highlight the North Valley vs. Babo game, where North Valley showed composure and leadership to secure a win. They also discuss the Glendale Prep vs. PCD game, where Glendale Prep's defense played a crucial role in their victory. The episode concludes with a discussion on Snowflake's game-winning shot and their placement in the East division. In this part of the conversation, the hosts discuss the dominance of Yuma Catholic and Valley Christian's win over ALA Ironwood. They also review the matchups of the week, including Northwest Christian vs. Gilbert Christian, Ray vs. Desert Christian, Thatcher vs. Safford, Glendale Prep vs. Phoenix Christian, Chinle vs. Page, and Morenci vs. Pima. In this episode, Reyes and Jeff discuss two upcoming high school basketball matchups: Highland Prep vs. Santan Charter and Valley Christian vs. Gilbert Christian. They share their predictions and score spreads for each game.Takeaways

• Highland Prep and Santan Charter are expected to have an exciting and competitive game.
• Valley Christian is favored to win against Gilbert Christian, but the rivalry factor could make the game interesting.
• The history and rivalry between teams can sometimes play a significant role in the outcome of a game.

Chapters

00:00Introduction and Arizona Small Ball Podcast

01:18Missed Matchup of the Week

03:34North Valley vs. Babo

08:57Devin Anton's Impact

12:33North Valley's Composure

16:39Lincoln Prep vs. Cicero Prep

19:26Glendale Prep vs. PCD

22:27Glendale Prep Trending Upwards

28:42Snowflake's Game-Winning Shot

30:23Snowflake's Placement in the East

31:41Yuma Catholic's Dominance

37:55Valley Christian's Win Over ALA Ironwood

43:52Matchups of the Week

56:12Northwest Christian vs. Gilbert Christian

58:46Ray vs. Desert Christian

59:23Thatcher vs. Safford

01:00:06Glendale Prep vs. Phoenix Christian

01:00:42Chinle vs. Page

01:00:58Gilbert Christian vs. Northwest Christian

01:02:01Morenci vs. Pima

01:02:02Valley Christian vs. Gilbert Christian

In this episode, Jeff and Reyes discuss the recent basketball tournaments in Arizona. They highlight the performances of teams like Highland Prep, Valley Christian, Santan Charter, Hopi, and Show low. They also discuss the impact of injuries on teams and make predictions for the upcoming playoffs. They discuss the highlights of the Sholo and Hopi teams, the Eastern Arizona Holiday Tournament, and the ALA Coyotes Invitational. They also analyze surprising results, such as Desert Christian's win over ALA and Phoenix Country Day's victory in the ALA Coyotes Invitational. The hosts then preview upcoming matchups, including Rancho vs Valley Christian, Morenci vs Round Valley, Empire vs Thatcher, Gilbert Christian vs Fountain Hills, Ironwood vs Valley Christian, Page vs Chinle, Rancho vs Highland, MALC vs Heritage Academy. They then question the accuracy of team rankings and the potential impact of the Gilbert Christian vs Yuma Catholic game on those rankings. The hosts speculate about the outcome of the game and discuss the significance of a win or loss for each team. The episode concludes with closing remarks and a mention of the podcast's sponsor, Cloud9 Sports.

Time Stamps

00:00 Introduction and New Year's Eve

05:58 Visit Mesa Tournament: Highland Prep and Valley Christian

08:08 Injury to Presley eBeh at Highland Prep

11:29 Valley Christian's Performance at Visit Mesa

18:32 Santan Charter's Performance at the Damien Classic

20:26 Impressive Performance by Hopi

28:10 Sholo's Shooting Ability

30:59 Tournament Highlights: Sholo and Hopi, Eastern Arizona Holiday Tournament, ALA Coyotes Invitational

32:56 Surprising Results in the ALA Coyotes Invitational

36:22 Desert Christian's Impressive Win over ALA

39:21 Phoenix Country Day's Victory in the ALA Coyotes Invitational

43:44 Upcoming Matchups: Rancho vs Valley Christian, Morenci vs Round Valley, Empire vs Thatcher, Gilbert Christian vs Fountain Hills, Ironwood vs Valley Christian, Paige vs Chinle, Rancho vs Highland, Malk vs Heritage Academy

01:00:35 Discussion about LEA at Santan Charter

01:01:12 Favorite matchup: Gilbert Christian at Yuma Catholic

01:02:05 Questioning team rankings

01:03:19 Potential impact of Gilbert Christian vs Yuma Catholic game

In this episode we give gifts to every region in the small ball scene. Reyes is biased as always but we gift regions everything from a jet to LeBron James!! We also pick our 9 best coaches that would lead us through a storm on Christmas Eve!! Merry Christmas!!

In this episode of the Arizona Small Ball Podcast, Jeff and Reyes discuss the pros and cons of zone defense in high school basketball. They also review the Cloud9 Top 9 rankings and highlight Coach Lewis' 300th win. The episode concludes with a discussion of buzzer beaters and San Carlos' recent performance. In this episode, Jeff and Reyes discuss the recent performances and upcoming matchups in Arizona high school basketball. They highlight the buzzer-beater shots and standout players from San Carlos, NPA, Basis Flagstaff, and Valley Christian. They also discuss the impressive performances of Jack Engelthaler from Basis Flagstaff and Matt McEnany from Horizon Honors. The conversation then transitions to the upcoming matchups of the week, including North Valley Christian vs Desert Christian, Winslow vs Snowflake, Hayden vs Fort Thomas, Chinle vs Show Low, Palo Verde vs Bisbee, and Veritas Prep vs Chandler Prep.

Time Stamps

00:00 Introduction and Discussion of Zone Defense

08:10 Advantages and Disadvantages of Zone Defense

12:36 Zone Defense in Different Divisions

19:07 Review of Cloud9 Top 928:20Celebrating Coach Lewis' 300th Win

32:44 Buzzer Beaters and San Carlos' Performance

34:29 San Carlos and NPA vs Basis Flagstaff

36:29 Jack Englethelers Performance

39:09 Matt McEnany's Performance

40:44 Valley Christian's Dominance

46:50 Matchups of the Week

47:29 North Valley Christian vs Desert Christian

52:29 Winslow vs Snowflake

53:51 Hayden vs Fort Thomas

56:00 Chinle vs Show Low

58:06 Palo Verde vs Bisbee

01:00:14 Veritas Prep vs Chandler Prep

In this episode we break down San Tan charter v Gilbert Christian. San Tan looks like a bunch of different styles of play all mixed together in one. We also breakdown NVCA v Rancho, and react to scores being posted late on Friday night. We also build our toughest environment/scenario to play in. (Thanks to Coach Timmer!!). Don't Miss out!

In this episode we talk about the Good, the bad, and the ugly about the new 20 point differential rule. I hate it, but Reyes thinks it will be good for the Small ball scene. We also break down some big time matchups between ALA and PC; Heritage and PCDS; and Desert Christian v everybody else!! Dont Miss out!!

Its a brand new week, which means we got a brand new top 10. We try to not show any favoritism and take teams as they are currently with all of their players. We talk about how our small schools represented at thanksgiving tournaments, and we also get into some AWESOME matchups of the week!! Dont miss out!

In this episode we break down some key games form Week 1. We look at the improvement from ALA West foothills over the course of one year. We talk about how loaded the 2A is with Highland prep squeaking out a win over Leading Edge. And we also introduce a brand new segment and talk all about the Gregory school and their 3-0 start to the season. Don't miss out!

In our season finale we recap the ASBP Summer sweet 16. We talk about every single team that showed out. We talk about some stand out players for each team and make some crazy predictions!! Don't miss out!

In this episode we break down the teams in our sweet 16 round robin. We talk about what we know/expect about each team, and which of their matchups we are the most excited about!! We have a cool mixture of 1A-3A schools, and we are so excited to help bring some attention to these squads!! Don't miss out!

In this episode we breakdown the small ball teams that are competing at Section 7. We look at each bracket and talk about the possible outcomes for each small ball team. Our teams that have the potential to really turn some heads in the qualifier are Phoenix Christian, Highland Prep, San Tan Charter, and a few others. Don't miss out!!

In this episode we break down the matchup between NVCA and San Tan charter. We talk about each team and make a case for a title, and a case against a title run. I am 100% on the San Tan Charter train, but Reyes is 85% on Board. We are both 100% on board with NVCA! Don't miss out!

The Valley Christian round robin is gonna be live!! Here are the small ball teams competing: Valley Christian, SCA, Ironwood, Rancho, Florence, Chinle, and PCDS. All of these teams play each other in the regular season except for Chinle and PCDS. There are some questions that will be answered about these teams in this round robin...maybe..Lets get into it!!

In this episode we break down the new free throw/foul penalty rule. We look at the positive and the negative and I changed my mind about this mid-podcast! We also talk about some more coaching changes in the Small Ball scene and look at our expectations for Gilbert Christian. Don't miss out!

In this episode we take questions from the Smallball community and have fun with it!! Don't miss out!

Carlos Coronado transfers to AZ Compass and Coolidge is left without most of their impact their players from this past season. Lets talk about some realistic expectations for Coolidge for the upcoming season and who is ahead of them as of right now. Would they be in your top 10?! Don't miss out!!

In this episode we give some highlights from the Senior Showcase and talk about some players that showed out!! Don't miss out!

In this episode we sit down with Coach Silvas and talk about everything Florence! We talk about their rivalry with Coolidge, their loaded region, and what makes Florence such a special place. Don't miss out!!

It is Showcase Week! We have been working extremely hard to get some of the best players in Arizona Small Ball together for an action packed Saturday! In our 3 pt competition we have the #1 three pt shooter (according to AZPreps) in the 3A and the #1 three pt shooter in the 1A along with 6 other HIGH LEVEL SHOOTERS! We have some high flying kids all set up and ready for the Dunk contest, and we also feel like we have the potential for an extremely competitive Senior showcase game!! In this episode we break down the weekend and make some predictions! See you on Saturday!