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The Seliga 16: Latest high school basketball rankings, player spotlight

Jan 145 min read

By Jacob Seliga

Lead Writer

Perry comes in at No. 1 once again for the Seliga 16 rankings. (Courtesy Perry Athletics)
Perry comes in at No. 1 once again for the Seliga 16 rankings. (Courtesy Perry Athletics)

Welcome back to Week 2 of the Seliga 16! We’ve officially moved past the halfway point of the 2024-25 season and with that, the initial Arizona Interscholastic Association rankings have been released.


As many will say, the ranking system isn’t exactly a perfect system. However, for the first rankings, I have to give credit where credit is due -- they’re not as questionable as they’ve been in the past.



However, that doesn’t mean there’s not room for improvement. And this week’s edition of our rankings shows that.


There were some massive matchups last week in both the girls and boys side that altered the rankings.


For the girls, Millennium throttled Desert Vista, and Sunrise Mountain dominated Canyon View.


For the boys, Ironwood shot Notre Dame Prep out of the gym while Deer Valley fell at home to Paradise Honors. 


DISCLAIMER: The lists below will be updated every week accordingly, based on multiple factors that include my personal viewing of these teams, their wins and losses on any given week, and other varying factors.


The way my power rankings fall goes like this: On a neutral court today I believe the team I have ranked ahead of you would beat you. 


EX: Perry would beat O’Connor who I believe would beat Sunnyslope, etc…


I’ve observed many games both in person and via NFHS and feel that my pulse on the current state of high school basketball is one of the best in the state.


Players and Teams eligible for these lists are in the big school conferences (4A, 5A, 6A)


  1. Millennium (11-4) (LW: 1)

  2. Valley Vista (10-4) (LW: 4)

  3. Pinnacle (13-4) (LW: 5)

  4. Desert Vista (8-6) (LW: 2)

  5. Salpointe (13-4) (LW: 6)

  6. O’Connor (6-7) (LW: 3)

  7. Xavier Prep (12-6) (LW: 7)

  8. Mesquite (15-1) (LW: 8)

  9. Sunnyslope (11-5) (LW: 10)

  10. Hamilton (10-7) (LW: 9)

  11. Sunrise Mountain (14-1) (LW: 12)

  12. Gilbert (9-6) (LW: 11)

  13. Kellis (12-2) (LW: 14)

  14. Canyon View (8-5) (LW: 13)

  15. Sunnyside (16-1) (LW: UR)

  16. Perry (8-10) (LW: 16)


Bubble: Chavez (12-6), Notre Dame Prep (9-8), Eastmark (9-2), Red Mountain (10-4)


Player of the year

  1. Destiny Lunan, Sr, Millennium (LW: 1)

  2. Cherri Hatter, Fr, Desert Vista (LW: 2)

  3. Norah Moo, Sr, Pinnacle (LW: 3)

  4. Sidney Anderson, Sr, Salpointe (LW: 4)

  5. Noelle Guiamatsia, Jr, Xavier Prep (LW: 5)


Bubble

Navae Guidry, Sr, Mesquite

Addison Wiemann, Jr, Sunrise Mountain

Aspen McClees, Sr, Gilbert


Coach of the year

  1. Joseph Luevano, Salpointe

  2. Erica Farnsworth, Pinnacle

  3. Candice Gonzales, Mesquite


Bubble

Savannah Bix, Gilbert

Justin Delgado, Sunnyside

Robert Jackson, Eastmark


Games of the week

Wednesday: Sunrise Mountain at Notre Dame Prep

After a slow start to the season, the Saints have hit their stride and are looking to assert itself as a contender in the 5A conference. With Sunrise Mountain passing the Canyon View test, the Mustangs will face one of its toughest tests remaining as outside of Kellis, their region shouldn’t challenge them.


Thursday: Flowing Wells at Catalina Foothills

When the initial AIA rankings were released, both teams found themselves firmly inside the top five of the conference rankings. This southern Arizona showdown is must-see TV as both teams look to prove they’re true contenders in the 5A conference and Clara Hager vs Nevaeh Urenda is a battle worth watching.


Friday: Gilbert at Williams Field

In a battle of city rivals and new region opponents, this matchup should go a long way in determining who’ll win the 6A Fiesta region as both teams battle for positioning for the open division and conference rankings. Gilbert has been battle tested with a tough schedule and Williams Field has been on a roll to start the season.


Boys


  1. Perry (15-1) (LW: 1) 

  2. O’Connor (10-6) (LW: 2)

  3. Millennium (7-5) (LW: 3

  4. Sunnyslope (10-7) (LW: 4)

  5. Basha (12-5) (LW: 5)

  6. Liberty (11-5) (LW: 6)

  7. Boulder Creek (11-4) (LW: 7)

  8. Higley (10-3) (LW: 9)

  9. Canyon View (13-1) (LW: 10)

  10. Desert Vista (10-6) (LW: 8)

  11. Central (17-2) (LW: 11)

  12. Ironwood (10-5) (LW: UR)

  13. Prescott (8-5) (LW: 12)

  14. Mesa (10-4) (LW: 16)

  15. Brophy (9-6) (LW: 15)

  16. Sahuaro (14-1) (LW: UR)


Bubble: Willow Canyon (15-2), Casteel (11-6), Hamilton (8-4), Deer Valley (13-4)


Player of the year

  1. Koa Peat, Sr, Perry (LW: 1)

  2. Michael Simcoe, Sr, O’Connor (LW: 2)

  3. Uriah Tennette, Sr, Prescott (LW: 3)

  4. Mason Magee, Jr, Basha (LW: 4)

  5. Cameron Holmes, Jr, Millennium (LW: 5)


Bubble

Cisco Llamas, Jr, Sahuaro

Adrian Stubbs, Jr, Maryvale

Jakyi Miles, Fr, Mesa

Adan Diggs, Fr, Williams Field

Grant Mattingly, Fr, Central

DeNali McNeal, Sr, Canyon View


Defensive Player of the Year

  1. NoNo Brown, Sr, Perry (LW: 1)

  2. Colton Watson, Jr, O’Connor (LW: 2)

  3. Mason Magee, Jr, Basha (LW: 3)


Bubble

James Steward III, Sr, Marcos de Niza

Koa Peat, Sr, Perry

Rico Blassingame, Jr, Tolleson

Quincy Kirk, Sr, Canyon View


Coach of the year

  1. Justin Collard, Boulder Creek (LW: 1)

  2. Mark Wood, Liberty (LW: 2)

  3. Cain Atkinson, Paradise Honors (LW: UR)


Bubble

Jed Dunn, Deer Valley

Kenneth Drake, Higley

Keegan Cook, Dysart


Games of the week

Tuesday: Higley at Highland

Two city of Gilbert foes meet in the north side of town as both of these teams look to prove their worth in the deeply competitive 6A conference. After a sluggish start, Highland has returned from the new year on a roll looking to make a run at another region title. Higley has adjusted to its new conference well and has challenged itself with a tough schedule and is looking to assert itself as the team to beat in the 6A Fiesta conference. 


Wednesday: O’Connor at Liberty

In their first meeting since the 6A conference championship last season, these north valley rivals meet on the hardwood for a new chapter in their rivalry. Both teams have stood out to start the year as O’Connor has shown to be a true contender for the open division and Liberty has returned to its run-and-gun style as both teams have started a combined 16-2 in PowerPoint play. 


Friday: Arcadia at St Mary’s

If someone before the season was to say that this game could be the region championship, I’m not sure if someone would believe you. Arcadia has proven to be a legitimate threat in the 4A Desert Sky region jumping out to a 7-2 start in PowerPoint games which includes a victory over St Mary’s last week. On the other hand, a battle tested St Mary’s team is looking to hit its stride after a tough start of the season that saw them face Basha, Prescott and Sunnyslope as well as a few strong out of state teams.


Player spotlight: I’yar Shadowvine, Sr, Ironwood

This week’s spotlight is a westside guard who waited his turn to be the lead guy and has taken the opportunity and ran with it. 


Shadowvine has been a key piece in the Eagles machine as a four year varsity player that has seen his role grow from a bench piece and a sharpshooter into someone who can run the offense with ease and has become a true scorer.


Last week against Notre Dame Prep, the first true in-state test for Ironwood, Shadowvine delivered a 15 point and 13 assist performance en route to a 20 point victory for the Eagles.


Through 15 games, Shadowvine has eclipsed 15 or more points in seven contests and has reached 7 or more assists in seven contests as well. 

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