By Jacob Seliga
Lead Writer
The 2024-25 basketball season has been full of surprises and standouts. Starting Wednesday, the boys Open Division bracket begins a three-week race to the finish.
Arizona is in the middle of a basketball renaissance as a state, with four teams reaching the top 50 in the national rankings at some point this season.
There are nine athletes in the AIA with a four-star ranking or better, and a large handful more with at least one Division I offer.
With the talent pool as deep as it's ever been, it’s not surprising that the 32-team boys Open Division bracket is the best it has been in its young history.
The Favorites
Perry
Perry is five wins away from potentially putting a bow on the greatest boys' basketball dynasty the state has ever seen. The Pumas enter the postseason as the unquestioned favorite to win the title behind five-star senior Koa Peat, five-star sophomore Bruce Branch III, and a supporting cast of UMKC bound De’Andre Harrison and NoNo Brown.
The Pumas are currently No. 8 in the country with their two losses coming in the final seconds to No. 2 Harvard-Westlake (CA) and a battle against No. 1 Columbus (FL). In-state, only Sunnyslope has managed to come within single digits of defeating the Pumas, a 61-52 loss at home.
Millennium
For 30 out of 32 minutes of last season’s Open Division championship, it appeared as if the Tigers had conquered the kings of the state. Then Perry pulled off one of the best finishes the state has ever seen to win its third straight title.
Millennium lost multiple pieces from that team, yet enters the tournament as arguably the best threat to dethrone Perry. Five-star Cameron Holmes and four-star Utah State commit Kingston Tosi lead the way as one of the best duos not just in the state, but on the west coast with a 6-7 “iron man” rotation that can beat anyone, including a top 50 team in the country in Milton (GA).
Sunnyslope
Death, Taxes, Sunnyslope finding a way to possibly win a championship. Three guarantees in the state each year, and the Vikings once again are one of the favorites to reach Veterans Memorial Coliseum. The Vikings lost John Mattingly to Central, but Rider Portela has taken the next step in his game to be the top option for Sunnyslope alongside Darius Wabbington and Delton Prescott.
Sunnyslope tested itself with arguably the toughest schedule in the state this year, facing off against six teams ranked in the top 50 nationally, including No. 3 Gonzaga (D.C.).
O’Connor
The Eagles caught everyone’s eyes last postseason as they made a run to the 6A championship game. That’s why when they shocked teams such as Corona Centennial (CA) at Section 7, it was no surprise to see them nationally ranked and considered a true threat to the title early in the season.
Led by senior four-star UC Santa Barbara signee Michael Simcoe, the Eagles have the personnel to defeat anyone with a lineup of four starters 6-foot-6 or taller, and two rotation pieces off the bench reaching that size.
O’Connor knocked off Millennium early in the season and lost at the buzzer against Nationally ranked Notre Dame (CA) at Hoophall West.
The Contenders
Basha
After back-to-back final four finishes, Basha enters this postseason hoping to get over the hump and reach the championship game for the first time since 2017.
Just like most of the other top teams in the state, Basha tested itself against multiple nationally ranked opponents, including a victory over La Mirada (CA).
The duo of junior guard Mason Magee and freshman Lleyton Leonard have been key in leading the Bears to their highest seed in the Open Division era.
Boulder Creek
After a slow start to the season, the Jaguars have been one of the best teams in the state outside of a buzzer-beater loss to Millennium and an upset at Liberty.
Behind senior Andrew Bhesania, who has emerged as one of the candidates for player of the year, the long and lengthy roster for Boulder Creek creates matchup nightmares for teams with Bhesania at 6-foot-8, Matthew Delgado and Kaleb Conley at 6-foot-6 and Mick Riordan at 6-foot-3.
Highland
After a 5-8 start to the season, Highland looked far from being a team that could win a 6A play-in game, much less a team that could make noise in the Open Division.
A month-and-a-half later, the Hawks enter the postseason as winners of 11 out of their last 12 and playing their best basketball so far with a young roster led by only two seniors.
Outside of a slip up on the road at Higley, Highland dominated its region, which included a bounce-back victory over Higley and a sweep against Williams Field.
Liberty
The defending 6A champion enters the postseason hoping to recreate its magic from last year’s run. And the Lions have the talent to do it.
Liberty was tested in arguably the toughest region in the state, knocking off Boulder Creek in its first matchup and lost close games to O’Connor and Boulder Creek in the second showdown.
Overall, the Lions had six games against Open Division-caliber competition, going 3-3 in those games and losing by a total of 18 points.
The Dark Horses
Ironwood
Ironwood took its time easing into the season. And from the Eagles' season-opening 54 point victory against Desert Mountain, their message has been “Return to the ‘ship."
The defending 5A champion rolled through their in-state schedule, going 15-1 against in-state competition, including a 20-point victory over No. 6 Notre Dame Prep.
Willow Canyon
The young upstart duo of Jaydon Hayes and Mo Carter II has taken Surprise by storm alongside senior Kaleel Kelly.
The Wildcats are currently in the midst of their best season in program history with a 22-3 record entering the postseason. It's only the third time in school history the program has reached that win total.
Canyon View
Canyon View enters the postseason with its best team in school history, as the Jaguars are 23-1, not having lost a game since Nov. 20 versus Basha.
The duo of DeNali McNeal and Quincy Kirk leads a lineup that dominates opposing teams with strong on-ball pressure and quick transition basketball.
Brophy
It has been a while since Brophy Prep entered the postseason outside of contender status, but a young lineup coupled with a tough schedule sets up the Broncos to take a step this postseason.
The Broncos have played nine games against Open Division opponents and have tested themselves against seven out-of-state teams, including nationally ranked La Miranda (CA).
Predictions
Round One
No 1 Perry vs No. 32 Dysart
No. 16 Prescott vs No. 17 Brophy
No. 8 Ironwood vs No. 25 Casteel
No. 9 Highland vs No. 24 Cactus Shadows
No. 4 Basha vs No. 29 ALA Gilbert-North
No. 13 Sahuaro vs No. 20 Deer Valley
No. 5 O’Connor vs No. 28 Central
No. 12 Higley vs No. 21 Mountain Pointe
No. 3 Millennium vs No. 30 Catalina Foothills
No. 14 Canyon View vs No. 19 Tucson
No. 6 Notre Dame Prep vs No. 27 Salpointe
No. 11 Willow Canyon vs No. 22 Hamilton
No. 7 Boulder Creek vs No. 26 Red Mountain
No. 10 Liberty vs No. 23 Williams Field
No. 2 Sunnyslope vs No. 31 Campo Verde
No. 15 West Point vs No. 18 St Mary’s
Sweet 16
No. 1 Perry vs No. 16 Prescott
No. 8 Ironwood vs No. 9 Highland
No. 4 Basha vs No. 20 Deer Valley
No. 5 O’Connor vs No. 12 Higley
No. 3 Millennium vs No. 14 Canyon View
No. 6 Notre Dame vs No. 11 Willow Canyon
No. 7 Boulder Creek vs No. 10 Liberty
No. 2 Sunnyslope vs No. 18 St Mary’s
Elite 8
No. 1 Perry vs No. 9 Highland
No. 4 Basha vs No. 5 O’Connor
No. 3 Millennium vs No. 11 Willow Canyon
No. 7 Boulder Creek vs No. 2 Sunnyslope
Final 4
No. 1 Perry vs No. 5 O’Connor
No. 3 Millennium vs No. 7 Boulder Creek
Championship
No. 1 Perry vs No. 3 Millennium
Rematch time! Give me Perry over Millennium for the second year in a row.
Unlike last year where Perry lacked the depth and appeared to be vulnerable, the Pumas are much deeper this time around and have what it takes to handle non-Koa Peat minutes in case of foul trouble.
This Perry team is by far the best team I’ve seen in the last eight-plus years I’ve been following Arizona high school basketball.
All things considered, the Pumas should finish the four-peat off with a bang and cement themselves as the ultimate dynasty in the history books.
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