Nike Tournament of Champions

Holiday Hoops season is in full swing, and one of the must-see events was the Nike Tournament of Champions held annually in Phoenix, Arizona on December 18-22. Teams from all over the country came to compete in one of six divisions at four different locations and on nine courts.

Arizona, California, Utah, Texas, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, Florida, New Jersey, Nevada, Nebraska, Oregon, Tennessee, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Washington, and Idaho were all represented by some of the best scholastic programs in the United States.

The Joe Smith Division (16 teams) had some traditional heavy hitters in Mater Dei (CA), St. Mary’s (Stockton, CA), Archbishop Mitty (CA), Homewood-Floosmoor (IL), Long Beach Poly (CA), and Riverdale Baptist (MD).

The Mike Desper Division (16 teams) featured programs such as Bishop McNamara (MD), Hamilton (AZ), Punahou (HI), Clovis West (CA) and Thunder Ridge (CO).

The John Anderson Division (16 teams) had appearances from Dallas Lincoln (TX), Windward (CA), Highlands Ranch (CO), Archbishop Wood (PA), and Brentwood Academy (TN) to name a few.

The tournament also included 40 teams competing in one of the Black, Gold, and Diamond Divisions. CLICK HERE to view the brackets and results.

There was no shortage of talent and quality basketball in this year’s lineup. College coaches littered the stands from programs all over the country. Exciting games, impressive athletes, and skilled players were on courts all over the Valley. Listed below are some of the players that stood out to Premier Basketball Scouts Shane Laflin and Ron Powell:

2017 Standouts

Naje Murry (St. Mary’s – Stockton)
Sierra Smith (St. Mary’s – Stockton)
Nadia Green (Homewood – Floosmoor)
Eva Rubin (Homewood – Floosmoor)
Karli Seay (Homewood – Floosmoor)
Danae Miller (Long Beach Poly)
Ayanna Clark (Long Beach Poly)
Mikayla Coombs (Wesleyan – GA)
Natalie Armstrong (Wesleyan – GA)
Jayda Adams (Mater Dei)
Cyndi Lewis (Mater Dei)
Jada Walton (Southwest Dekalb)
Aleah Goodman (La Salle Prep)
Celine Quintino (Liberty – NV)
Namiko Adams (West Campus)
Lindsey Pulliam (Our Lady of Good Counsel)
Breona Mayfield (Our Lady of Good Counsel)
Cara Judkins (Our Lady of Good Counsel)
Kelsey Marshall (Miami Country Day)
Channise Lewis (Miami Country Day)
Tahlia Garza (Archbishop Mitty)
Madeline Holland (Archbishop Mitty)
Danielle Guglielmo (Archbishop Mitty)
Zoe Guilmette (Harrison – GA)
Maya Banks (Hamilton – AZ)
Ogheneruona Uwusiabi (SW Atlanta Christian)
Jayden Eggleston (Centennial – NV)
Samantha Thomas (Centennial – NV)
Sharonda Edwards (Canyon Springs – CA)
Sydne Wiggins (Harrison – GA)
Megan Jefferson (Centennial – NV)
Heleyna Hill (Archbishop Mitty)
Pamela Wilmore (Centennial – NV)

2018 Standouts

Aguira DeCosta (St. Mary’s – Stockton)
Ariel Johnson (St. Mary’s – Stockton)
Monique Pruitt (Homewood-Floosmoor)
Emma Torbert (Mater Dei)
Madison Johnson (Mater Dei)
Amaya Register (Wesleyan – GA)
Taycee Wedin (La Salle Prep)
Kiarra Jefferson (West Campus)
Shaylee Gonzalez (Mesquite - AZ)
Lindsey Van Allen (Mesquite – AZ)
Karisma Ortiz (Archbishop Mitty)
Nicole Blakes (Archbishop Mitty)
Taylor Chavez (Valley Vista – AZ)
Aasiya Berry (Miami Country Day)
Kate Connolly (Archbishop Mitty)
Katie May (Archbishop Wood)
Maddie Frederick (Hamilton – AZ)
Audrey Jordan (Harrison GA)
Kennedi Shorts (Long Beach Poly)
Camerin Inselman (Fremont – NE)
Neenah Young (St. Mary’s)
Kennedy Taylor (Lincoln - TX)
Amaya Emmanuel (Dillard – FL)
Andrea Aquino (Patterson East Side)

2019 Standouts

Chloe Chapman (Our Lady of Good Counsel)
Haley Jones (Archbishop Mitty)
Madison Campbell (Clovis – CA)
Polina Kovaleva (Chaminade)
Maria Alvarez (Miami Country Day)