Arizona

3 Arizona boys basketball seniors who could star at college level

Published

2 months ago

January 18, 2026

Press Room

3 Arizona boys basketball seniors who could star at college level

Arizona high school basketball is gaining national recognition with multiple teams ranked in the top 10.
Three standout seniors are expected to make an immediate impact in college basketball next season.
Cameron Williams, a 7-foot center signed with Duke, is noted for his shot-blocking and developing offense.

Arizona has elevated itself nationally in boys’ high school basketball like never before.

Last year, Gilbert Perry finished ranked No. 4 in the nation, behind current Arizona freshman Koa Peat. This year, both Phoenix Sunnylope (No. 4) and Goodyear Millennium (No. 10) are ranked among the nation’s top 10 teams by MaxPreps.

More college coaches are taking a serious look at Arizona high school basketball talent. And this year’s 2026 class has its fair share of future college players. The Arizona Republic takes a look at three seniors who could make immediate splashes next college basketball season as freshmen. They are in the midst of their final season of high school basketball, so catch them while you can.

Cameron Williams, Phoenix St. Mary’s

The 7-footer is a shot-blocking phenom and the No. 2 overall prospect in the ESPN Next for the 2026 class. He signed with Duke in November, one of the nation’s top college programs, after also considering Arizona and Texas. And he’s only scratched the surface of his potential.

He’s considered a later bloomer, whose star only began to glisten on a national scale last summer when he separated himself at the NBPA Top 100 Camp, where he averaged 12.8 points and six rebounds.

Williams has always been a great rim protector, but his offense has blossomed in the last year under coach Damin Lopez at St. Mary’s. He’s developed a more consistent 3-point shot. He runs the court well. He was clutch at the end in a recent 67-66 win over Phoenix Brophy Prep, nailing two late 3s, blocking a shot, making a steal and hitting two free throws with two seconds left to win it.

“We’re super proud of him. Cam is not making small steps. Cam is making jumps,” Lopez said. “That’s why he’s been so successful on the national level. He’s learning the game at a high rate. He’s still going to make some mistakes. But overall he’s getting better.”

Here’s where to find Williams’ next five games. All times MST:

Jan. 19 vs. No. 1 nationally ranked Paul VI (Virginia), 11 a.m., at the Hoophall Classic in Springfield, Massachusetts (on ESPN2); Jan. 23 at Santa Ana (California) Mater Dei, 5 p.m.; Jan. 27, at home against Tempe Marcos de Niza, 7 p.m.; Jan. 30 at Gilbert Mesquite, 7 p.m.; Feb. 3, at home against Scottsdale Saguaro, 7 p.m.

Cameron Holmes, Goodyear Millennium

The 6-foot-6 guard signed with top-ranked Arizona. He’s a complete player, a dynamo at both ends of the court, who took the Tigers to the Open state championship game his sophomore season, a loss to Perry and Peat, who won four state titles in his Perry career.

Holmes, one of the more athletic players in the state, a great leaper, has stayed loyal to Millennium, even after the Tigers said goodbye to coach Ty Amundsen, who left last summer to be an assistant at Arizona State. Holmes avoided the prep school scene — where basketball-focused schools play national schedules — and has developed into the No. 38-ranked player in the nation in the 2026 class by ESPN.

He’s a scorer from all three levels. He hyper-extended his knee on his way to a dunk against Georgia-power Wheeler late in the Hoophall West semifinal game of the traditional bracket. Losing Holmes hurt the Tigers’ chances of beating Wheeler and getting a chance to play Phoenix Sunnyslope in the final. But those two teams will see each other twice in the second half of the season.

First-year coach Rich Thornton said that Holmes could have played in Millennium’s 11-point win over Phoenix Desert Vista last week, but he held him out as a precaution. Holmes returned Jan. 17 in the Hoophall Classic in Massachusetts with a game against Christ the King out of New York.

Holmes is the brother of former Dayton star DaRon Holmes II, who was a first-round NBA draft pick of the Suns in 2024. The Suns traded his draft rights to the Denver Nuggets. Cameron is a different style of player than DaRon. He’s not as tall, but has the same kind of hops, plays a bigger role on the perimeter and, like his older brother, gets after it defensively.

Here’s where to find Holmes’ next five games, all times MST:

Jan. 21, at Sunnyslope, 7 p.m.; Jan. 27, at Brophy Prep, 7 p.m.; Jan. 30, at Phoenix Desert Vista, 7 p.m.; Feb. 10, at home against Sunnyslope, 7 p.m.; Feb. 12, at home against Brophy Prep, 7 p.m.

Rider Portela, Sunnyslope

The 6-foot-6 Portela has signed with Colorado. One of the best defenders in the state, he’s been a big part of his dad, Ray Portela’s, Sunnyslope teams since his freshman year, helping the Vikings to two Open Division state final appearances, both losses to Perry. His long arms and ability to stay in front of his man frustrate opposing players.

An ultimate team player, Portela doesn’t need to be the main scorer for a team that has jumped in the national rankings since winning two major holiday tournaments from No. 38 to No. 4 by MaxPreps. He’s the ultimate team guy.

Juniors Delton Prescott and 6-foot-11 Darius Wabbington have been the team’s top two scorers this season. That’s OK with Portela, because they’re winning and playing cohesively. It might be Ray Portela’s most complete team and it starts with Rider’s leadership and defensive prowess.

It’s easy to find Portela on the court, because he’s the guy nearly inside the jersey of the man he’s covering. He’s diving for loose balls, making steals and leading breaks with dunks. He can fill it up from beyond the arc, too.

Portela is confident he can fill into his tall frame at Colorado, which, he feels, will be great for his development. Defense will get him on the court faster than most at a high major, and there might not be a better defender in the state. Learning from his dad will be beneficial at the next level.

Always wanting to challenge himself, Portela feels Colorado will do that. He’s looking forward to escaping the 100-degree summer days in Phoenix and seeing his game take off in Boulder.

Here’s where to find Portela’s next five games, all times MST:

Jan. 21, at home against Millennium, 7 p.m.; Jan. 27, at Desert Vista, 7 p.m.; Feb. 3, at home, against Tempe Corona del Sol, 7 p.m.; Feb. 6, at Brophy Prep, 7 p.m.; Feb. 10, at Millennium, 7 p.m.

Richard Obert has been covering high school sports since the 1980s for The Arizona Republic. Catch the best high school sports coverage in the state. Sign up for Azcentral Preps Now. And be sure to subscribe to our daily sports newsletters so you don’t miss a thing. To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at richard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter:@azc_obert

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Arizona

Arizona baseball falls to ASU in midweek nonconference game

Published

5 hours ago

March 11, 2026

Press Room

Arizona baseball falls to ASU in midweek nonconference game

TEMPE – The Phoenix metro has not been kind to Arizona baseball through the first month of the season.

Arizona fell to rival ASU 10-4 on Tuesday night in front of a packed crowd at Phoenix Municipal Stadium. The Wildcats clawed back after falling behind 6-1, but the Sun Devils closed the door in the late innings.

The nonconference game was the first of five matchups between the rivals, with the UA hosting a 3-game Big 12 Conference series in early April followed by one more non-league game in Tempe.

Arizona (6-10) is now 0-4 in the Phoenix area, with three losses coming in the opening weekend College Baseball Series in Surprise. Arizona dropped to 0-3 in midweek games.

Collin McKinney got the start for the Wildcats, allowing four earned runs on five hits and six strikeouts. McKinney conceded one run in the first inning but escaped out of a bases loaded jam. He looked sharp until giving up a 2-run homer to ASU’s Dean Toigo in the fourth inning.

“We saw the velocity at times. We saw the breaking stuff,” Arizona coach Chip Hale said. “It was very encouraging from us on our side for him.“

The Sun Devils tacked on three more runs in the fourth, including a 2-run blast from Landon Hairston off reliever Matthew Martinez.

Arizona answered in the sixth inning when sophomore catcher Roman Meyers drilled a 450-feet 3-run homer to bring the score to 6-4. It was Meyers’ third homer of the season.

“He always has a chance. He’s got massive power,” Hale said. “So if he hits it he has a chance for a home run.”

Arizona’s five through nine hitters combined for six of the team’s eight hits, led by 2-hit games from Caleb Danzeisen and Cash Brennan.

Arizona’s offense, however, couldn’t keep up with the Sun Devils, who added runs in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings to pull away. Wildcats pitchers gave up eight free bases on the night.

Arizona is back in action Friday when it begins Big 12 play at Utah. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. MST.

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Arizona

WATCH: How Helping One Woman provides hope and support with ‘Girl’s Night Out’

Published

17 hours ago

March 10, 2026

Press Room

WATCH: How Helping One Woman provides hope and support with ‘Girl’s Night Out’

PEORIA, AZ — What if a simple dinner could help someone rebuild their life? In Peoria, a local chapter of Helping One Woman is doing just that by gathering once a month for a “Girls Night Out” with a powerful purpose.

Each month, women in the community nominate someone facing an unimaginable challenge: the loss of a spouse or child, a cancer diagnosis, or another life-altering hardship. That woman becomes the evening’s honoree.

At the dinner, attendees each contribute at least $10 and take part in raffles supported by local businesses. By the end of the night, the funds raised are gifted directly to the recipient to help with expenses during a difficult time.

But organizers say the money is only part of the impact. The room full of encouragement, hugs, and shared support can be just as powerful.

ABC15’s Cameron Polom talked with the Peoria chapter president and two women whose lives were changed thanks to the group’s generosity. See the full Uplifting Arizona story in the video player above.

See more from Uplifting Arizona:

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What have the Cardinals done in NFL free agency? – Arizona Sports

Published

1 day ago

March 10, 2026

Press Room

What have the Cardinals done in NFL free agency? – Arizona Sports

The NFL’s legal tampering window is officially open, and it didn’t take long for the Arizona Cardinals to get in the mix.

A running list of the new names and familiar faces coming to Arizona in 2026:

New names on Cardinals roster this free agency

Kendrick Bourne

The former San Francisco 49ers and New England Patriots wide receiver brings another body to Arizona’s wide receivers room that includes Michael Wilson and Marvin Harrison Jr.

He’s got plenty of familiarity with new Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur from their time together in San Francisco (2017-20). Bourne also spent a year with expected Cardinals starter Jacoby Brissett in 2024 with the Patriots.

The wide receiver caught 37 passes for 551 yards in 16 games played (eight starts) last year.

He’s now on board for two years in Arizona.

Isaac Seumalo

The guard spent the past three years with the Pittsburgh Steelers after a seven-season stint with the Philadelphia Eagles.

He’s started 104 out of 125 games played and has spent time at both left and right guard during his NFL career.

According to Next Gen Stats, the guard allowed a 3.7% pressure rate last year. That was the lowest rate among all eligible guards in 2025.

Gardner Minshew

Minshew agreed to terms on a one-year deal on Monday.

He’s expected to back up expected starter Jacoby Brissett in 2026, according to Arizona Sports’ John Gambadoro.

Coming off his seventh NFL season and first with the Kansas City Chiefs, Minshew appeared in four games (one start) last year. He completed 46.2% of his throws for 37 yards and an interception.

Before landing with the Chiefs, Minshew spent time with the Las Vegas Raiders (2024), Indianapolis Colts (2023), Philadelphia Eagles (2021-22) and Jacksonville Jaguars (2019-20).

RB Tyler Allgeier

Allgeier comes over to Arizona on a reported two-year contract.

Before agreeing to terms on the $12.25 million deal with Arizona on Monday, Allgeier played four seasons with the Atlanta Falcons.

He ran for 514 yards and eight touchdowns on 143 carries last year, while adding another 14 catches for 96 yards.

While he worked mostly behind Bijan Robinson the past three years, Allgeier did surpass the 1,000-yard mark as a rookie in 2022.

Familiar faces

L.J. Collier

Collier is back on a one-year deal.

The defensive lineman appeared in four games in 2025 due to a knee injury suffered in Week 2.

He recorded six tackles and two QB hits in what was his third season with the team.

Roy Lopez

After a one-year stint with the Detroit Lions, Lopez is back with his hometown team on a reported two-year deal.

In 17 games played last year, he recorded two sacks, four tackles for loss and a pass defensed.

Before his time in Detroit, Lopez spent two seasons with Arizona from 2023-24. During that span, he registered a sack, six tackles for loss, three passes defensed and a forced fumble in 30 games played (21 starts).

K Chad Ryland

Ryland is back on a one-year deal, the team announced.

Ryland went through plenty of struggles last season after a having a career year in 2024. His accuracy dropped from 87.5% in 2024 to 75.8% last season. He was especially inconsistent from 40 yards and on, compiling a 13-of-20 mark (65%). Inside 40 yards, though, Ryland was 12-of-13 (92.3%).

Arizona brought in kicker Josh Karty late in the year (more on him later), but Ryland never gave up his role and appeared in all 17 games.

A one-year deal isn’t going to break the bank by any means.

P Blake Gillikin

The Cardinals must feel pretty good about where Gillikin is at in his recovering from a back injury last year with their signing of the punter to a one-year deal.

Before he went down five games into the season, the punter was leading the league in yards per punt with 51.7.

Not only that, across his five seasons (65 games) in the NFL, he holds the all-time record for yards per punt at 48.5.

Staying healthy is key for Gillikin, who also missed time in 2024 due to an ankle injury.

RB James Conner

Technically not a free agent, Conner was a potential cut candidate given his contract.

But after reportedly revising his deal, Conner is returning for his sixth season with the Cardinals.

The running back brings plenty of leadership and a bruising running style to the mix.

He’s coming off an abbreviated 2025 (three games) due to an ankle injury but had rushed for a pair of 1,000-yard seasons the two years prior. He scored at least seven rushing touchdowns each season from 2022-24.

CB Sean Murphy-Bunting

Much like Conner, Murphy-Bunting was another prime cut candidate due to his contract but reportedly revised his deal with Arizona as well.

Murphy-Bunting has a lot to prove after missing all of 2025 due to an injury suffered away from the team facility.

In his first season with the Cardinals, the cornerback recorded 52 tackles, three interceptions, five passes defensed and two forced fumbles across 15 starts.

Follow @Tdrake4sports

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