Sports360AZ
Story by Kennedy Wilkerson
If you are a high school hoops fan in Arizona, make north Scottsdale your weekend destination.
The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame’s Hoophall West High School Invitational is taking place at Chaparral High School starting Thursday night.
The prestigious showcase is set to feature the nation’s top high school players and teams for the fifth-straight year. 2018 is the largest yet, with 16 games presenting top-tier talents you may see in the NBA one day.
THURSDAY DECEMBER 6
5:00 PM Chaparral High School, AZ vs. Liberty High School, NV
7:00 PM Pinnacle High School, AZ vs. San Joaquin Memorial High School, CA on ESPN2
9:00 PM Paradise Honors High School, AZ vs. Clark High School, NV
FRIDAY DECEMBER 7
3:00 PM Gonzaga Prep, WA vs. Modesto Christian School, CA
4:30 PM Chicago Simeon High School, IL vs. Rancho Christian School, CA
6:00 PM Bishop Gorman High School, NV vs. Denton Guyer High School
7:30 PM Spire Institute, OH vs. Bella Vista Prep, AZ
9:00 PM Shadow Mountain High School, AZ vs. Pheonix Saint Mary’s, AZ
SATURDAY DECEMBER 8
SESSION 1
9:00 AM Corona del Sol High School, AZ vs. Eleanor Roosevelt High School, MD
10:30 AM Rancho Solano Prep, AZ vs. Coronado High School, NV
12 NOON Millennium High School, AZ vs. Rolling Hills Prep, CA
1:30 PM Perry High School, AZ vs. Modesto Christian School, CA
SESSION 2
4:00 PM Bishop Gorman High School, NV vs. Gonzaga Prep, WA
5:30 PM Hillcrest Prep, AZ vs. Denton Guyer High School, TX
7:00 PM Pinnacle High School, AZ vs. Rancho Christian School, CA
8:30 PM Shadow Mountain High School, AZ vs. Chicago Simeon High School, IL
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
The local Arizona commit Nico Mannion and the Pinnacle Pioneers match up against Jalen Green and the San Joaquin Panthers from Fresno, CA Thursday Night on ESPN2.
Green is the third ranked prospect for the 2020 recruiting class with 18 official college offers from top programs such as Kansas, Kentucky, Villanova, and Arizona. The 6’5” guard could likely be facing off against his future teammate Mannion, who announced his commitment to Sean Miler and the Arizona Wildcats earlier this fall.
Nine other Arizona teams will compete in the competitive invitational, in addition to Pinnacle. Shadow Mountain, Hillcrest Prep, and Paradise Honors High School among those listed.
Outside of the Arizona teams, there is still plenty of talent who look to steal the show.
Racnho Christian High School is currently the third best team in the nation. Brothers Isaiah and Evan Mobley are two of the Eagles most notable players. PAC12 fans will see more of Isaiah in the future following his committment to USC for the 2019 class. Evan, the top ranked 2020 prospect, is still undecided on where he will take his talents after high school.
Friday night Rancho Christian will tip off the invite against Simeon High School from Chicago. Simeon, a historically great program, has produced big-name players such as Derrick Rose and Jabari Parker.
The Spire Basketball Institute out of Geneva, OH features a variety of up and coming players such as LaMello Ball and Romanian junior Robert Bobroczky who stands at 7’7” tall.
Bishop Gorman, one of Nevada’s most prominent basketball programs with 19 state championship titles, will make appearances against Denton Guyer High School and Gonzaga Prep. All three schools have notable players who have already committed to large programs: De’Vion Harmon and Jalen Wilson signed with Oklahoma and Michigan for Denton and Gonzaga Prep’s Anton Watson is committed to the Bulldogs program for 2020.
With all the talent that is hitting the hardwood in the high-level and competitive matchups the next three days, this exhibit is one you do not want to miss says local volunteer consultant for the showcase, Marc Beasley.
“You really feel the pulse of Arizona and its sports fans when people who aren’t connected to certain schools and still want to go out and see the future stars in basketball before they are seen all over Sports Center one day,” said Beasley.
All games will be played at Chaparral High School in Scottsdale or available via live-stream on FloHoops or ESPN+.
