Eliav Gabay
If you haven’t been, make time and head out to Arizona Athletic Grounds for the Section 7 Basketball Tournaments this week.
This spectacle of an event features the crème de la crème of Arizona’s hoops talent and college coaches searching for their next recruits.
The signage is all over the walls when you walk in: OPPORTUNITY.
That’s exactly what these high schoolers have in that gym; a stage to show what State 48 basketball is all about and a chance to earn a spot at the next level.
“It really highlights how quickly the game’s developed as well as how much talent there actually is,” JD Jones of Phoenix Country Day said. “It’s great to see that it gives exposure for teams that might not necessarily be in those usual high-ranking tournaments…For us, it’s really about playing the same way that even if you’re not expecting a coach to be there, they may be there, or if you are, they might not be there – so not playing to the crowd but playing for our team.”
“It’s special and I’m glad I get to be a part of it,” Luke Larrabee of Rancho Solano said. “Arizona basketball over the past few years has blown up. Section 7’s the best teams from everywhere. I love it.”
Coming off the heels of a local product in Perry alum Jalen Williams dropping 40 points to give the OKC Thunder a 3-2 series lead in the NBA Finals, there’s plenty of motivation for this generation of desert hoopers to be next up.
The brackets were full of fantastic matchups:
Introducing the brackets for Section 7 Boy’s Qualifier. 🏀 pt. 2#Section7 | #WhereTalentMeetsOpportunity pic.twitter.com/YVSUbKyNlm
— Section 7 (@Section7Az) June 16, 2025
Phoenix Country Day vs Sunrise Mountain
Senior guard/forward JD Jones was the focal point of PCD’s offense, creating opportunities for himself and his teammates thanks to the attention he attracts going downhill. He stayed sharp on the boards and active on both ends while nursing a dislocated left thumb.
“You’re playing for something,” Jones said. “It replicates the high stakes. The intensity. The drive. Everything you would get with an important game. It helps us prepare mentally to be able to be in those high pressure situations.”
Junior forward in 6-6 Jadd Agha and Jones compliment each other well, Agha being one of the best shooters in the gym at all times. Their inside-out game makes it a “pick your poison” situation for defenses. PCD ran away with this win.
Another cool element of offseason tournaments: unlike the regular season, JD’s dad and Suns senior adviser in James Jones is filling in as an assistant coach for PCD.
“Being able to get his insight as another voice and give a different perspective has been really helpful,” Jones said. “He’s my biggest fan and at the same time he’s my biggest critic, which I love…because he has my best interest at heart, I know that all these critiques come from a perspective of, ‘How can we get better?'”
JD Jones takes inbounds pass through press all the way to the rack…having a great game despite hurt left thumb (dislocated): https://t.co/xaPVlXpTnh pic.twitter.com/nvW0zf4aDm
— Eliav Gabay (@eliavgabay) June 17, 2025
Battle of State Champs: 1A The Gregory School vs 2A Rancho Solano
Prep Hoops’ Gregg Rosenberg and I were looking forward to this matchup of last season’s AIA title winners.
Both teams played sound ball for the most part, but Rancho Solano’s firepower was a bit too much toward the end of the second half.
“I love these group of guys,” Larrabee said. “We brought the energy…we’re always gonna play hard..this season it’s a little bit different; honestly, lot of three’s. A lot of shooters on this team and push the pace.”
Senior guard Luke Larrabee has such a smooth game. He’s a scorer that doesn’t force shots. He moves the ball well and just when you’re sleeping he’ll pull up from deep.
“My game…I really just let it come to me,” Larrabee said. “I’ll take what I can get. I try not to rush but play with pace. If I’m open, I’ma let it fly.”
This kind of in-state, cross division matchup is part of what makes these offseason tournaments fun.
Matchup of State Champions –
1A The Gregory School vs 2A Rancho Solano:@Sports360AZ pic.twitter.com/j70RTJ3S2m— Eliav Gabay (@eliavgabay) June 17, 2025
Qualifiers wrap up Wednesday then Thursday is a practice day before the tournament picks back up on Friday through Sunday. On Sunday, the Finals will start at 9:15 AM until the last matchup begins at 2:15 PM.
