By Jacob Seliga
Lead Writer
Welcome to the first-ever edition of the “Seliga 16!"
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 Arizona high school power rankings work 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.
Disclaimer: Players and teams eligible for these lists are in the big school conferences (4A, 5A, 6A)
Girls
1. Millennium (9-4)
2. Desert Vista (7-5)
3. O’Connor (5-6)
4. Valley Vista (8-4)
5. Pinnacle (11-4)
6. Salpointe (9-3)
7. Xavier Prep (9-6)
8. Mesquite (13-1)
9. Hamilton (9-7)
10. Sunnyslope (10-5)
11. Gilbert (7-6)
12. Sunrise Mountain (10-1)
13. Canyon View (8-4)
14. Kellis (10-2)
15. Chavez (11-5)
16. Perry (7-10)
Player of the Year Nominees
Destiny Lunan, Sr, Millennium
Cherri Hatter, Fr, Desert Vista
Norah Moo, Sr, Pinnacle
Sidney Anderson, Sr, Salpointe
Noelle Guiamatsia, Jr, Xavier Prep
Coach of the Year Nominees
Joseph Luevano, Salpointe
Erica Farnsworth, Pinnacle
Candice Gonzales, Mesquite
Three games to watch this week
Tuesday: Liberty at Hamilton
After a stellar 11-4 start, the upstart Lions look to continue the program’s turnaround with a trip to powerhouse Hamilton.
With a challenging non-region schedule wrapping up, the Huskies look to continue building for the home stretch as a young Liberty team comes to visit.
Liberty has rolled to start the season, reaching 11 wins for the first time since 2016-17 behind freshman Francesca Sofia and sophomore Makenna Johnson.
The Lions are still searching for that signature victory and are hopeful to find it on the road in Chandler on Tuesday night.
After being led by Taylor Sipfle and Destinee Benway in the early parts of the season, Perry transfer Sage Henry has joined the strong Husky attack and is eligible in her first PowerPoint for Hamilton since becoming eligible at Tournament of Champions.
Wednesday: Canyon View at Sunrise Mountain
In a rematch of the last two 5A Conference championships, Canyon View and Sunrise Mountain meet up for the ultimate grudge match in what has become one of the best rivalries in the state.
Each team has suffered a heartbreaking loss to the other and both have started to hit their stride as the season has gone on.
It remains to be seen if both teams have what it takes to make a run in the open division, but if both are in the 5A conference bracket, it’s very possible it’s a repeat title game for the third season in a row.
Friday: Desert Vista at Millennium
In what may be a preview of March’s open division championship, the Thunder and Tigers meet in the West Valley for an ultimate showdown between the player of the year favorites.
North Carolina State commit Destiny Lunan is one of the best players on the West coast and her stellar playstyle can steal the show in any game.
On the other side, star freshman Cherri Hatter is continuing the legacy of stud freshmen at Desert Vista as she leads an experienced supporting cast looking to make their third consecutive open championship appearance.
Boys
Perry (13-1)
O’Connor (10-5)
Millennium (5-5)
Sunnyslope (9-7)
Basha (11-4)
Liberty (11-5)
Boulder Creek (10-3)
Desert Vista (9-4)
Higley (8-3)
Canyon View (12-1)
Central (12-2)
Prescott (6-5)
Notre Dame Prep (11-2)
St Mary’s (3-7)
Brophy (7-5)
Mesa (8-4)
Player of the Year Nominees
Koa Peat, Sr, Perry
Michael Simcoe, Sr, O’Connor
Uriah Tennette, Sr, Prescott
Mason Magee, Jr, Basha
Cameron Holmes, Jr, Millennium
Defensive Player of the Year Nominees
NoNo Brown, Sr, Perry
Colton Watson, Jr, O’Connor
Mason Magee, Jr, Basha
Coach of the year Nominees
Justin Collard, Boulder Creek
Mark Wood, Liberty
Jed Dunn, Deer Valley
Three games to watch this week
Tuesday: Millennium at Boulder Creek
After back to back losses in California in early December, the Tigers have bounced back strongly and are looking to start their second half of the season with a big road victory.
Since their loss to Desert Vista in early December, the Jaguars have been one of the hottest teams in the state rattling off five wins against out-of-state competition after competing in top brackets at the Tarkanian Classic and Tournament of Champions and are looking for a signature in-state victory.
Wednesday: Ironwood at Notre Dame Prep
A true test to see where each team sits in the 5A conference hierarchy.
The defending champs in Ironwood have started the season strong but recent hiccups at the Tournament of Champions and the Classic at Damien have the Eagles needing a bounce back.
The Saints are led by Evansville commit Bryce Quinet and are looking to assert themselves as the team to beat in the 5A conference.
Friday: Perry at Basha
Arguably the best basketball rivalry in the state writes another chapter as these Chandler unified district rivals square off.
Koa Peat vs Mason Magee, one of the biggest matchups talent wise in the state.
Both teams split their regular season matchups last season with the home team winning each time.
Perry defeated the Bears in the open division semifinals last season on their way to a third consecutive state championship.
Player spotlight: James Steward III, Sr, Marcos De Niza
Along with the rankings, each week I will be selecting one player that deserves some more attention from the state.
This week’s selection is James Steward III from Marcos De Niza. The 6-foot-8 senior has been a force for the Padres this season, averaging 20 points, 15.9 rebounds, and 4.1 blocks per game.
Earlier in the season against Desert Sunrise, Steward had 38 points and 23 rebounds in a 61-58 victory.
Through 15 games, Steward has seven contests with 17 or more rebounds and has eclipsed 22 points or more in five contests as well.
The senior currently holds an offer to Northern Arizona.
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