With the AAU stay analysis interval set to start for NCAA Division coaches on April twenty first, many packages have used the primary few weekends of April to wonderful tune their video games and rosters alike earlier than they’ve to start enjoying for scholarships. There may be fluidity in rosters, rotations change, and completely different ideas are utilized in early April. With myself being out on the west coast for the NBA Playoffs, it was solely acceptable to spend a while on the West Coast Elite Arizona Preview.
Based by Ryan Silver, WCE is way over an AAU program (although it’s a very profitable one within the Below Armour Affiliation). WCE has occasions all all through the western a part of the states, starting from highschool showcases to AAU previews to stay interval AAU occasions. Given the standard of occasions that WCE has placed on over time together with the huge quantity of expertise that The Copper State has to supply, the WCE Arizona Preview was a should attend occasion.
Listed here are quite a lot of the standouts from the West Coast Elite Arizona Preview:
Cameron Holmes, 6’6, SF, Arizona Unity 16U, 2026One of the perfect wings within the class of 2026 nationally, Holmes confirmed why blue blood packages equivalent to Kansas put scholarship presents on the desk for him earlier than he even entered highschool. The athletic lefty was an explosive straight line driver, completed with creativity in transition, and appeared rather more assured taking pictures the ball from past the arc. Making it even scarier is that he’s doubtless not carried out rising, on condition that his older brother is 6-foot-10 Dayton NBA Draft prospect DaRon Holmes.
Jekhi Gupton, 6’7, SF/PF, Arizona Choose 17U, 2023A participant that I wasn’t acquainted with going into the occasion, Gupton confirmed why he’s going to be an fascinating identify for school coaches to observe this weekend within the Below Armour Affiliation. The lanky senior is a fast leaper who performs above the rim, is an impressive cutter, and has the uncooked expertise on the perimeter to interrupt folks down. Whereas he’s positively extra of a wing, the flexibility that Gupton presents will enable him to play a mess of positions on the subsequent degree.
Brandon McCoy, 6’4, SG/PG, Arizona Unity 16U, 2026Fresh off of an look within the CIF Southern Part title recreation for FAB 50 ranked St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.), McCoy transitioned completely to enjoying in opposition to older foes on the AAU circuit on the WCE Arizona Preview. The slender guard used his explosive athleticism to transform above the rim, displayed imaginative and prescient that you just’d hope to see out of an rising combo guard, and altered speeds to repeatedly apply strain to protection. Having already been invited to a USA Basketball mini-camp, Brandon McCoy has firmly established himself as one of many names to recollect for the category of 2026.
Anthony Batson, 6’4, SG, Arizona Choose 17U, 2024An absolute Swiss military knife on the courtroom, Batson introduced the kind of positional fluidity that you just like to see in in the present day’s recreation. The powerfully constructed guard was an incredible finisher in transition, stored a ton of performs alive with offensive rebounds, and defended a mess of positions. A excessive tutorial scholar athlete, Batson will probably be attracting consideration from no scarcity of schools this weekend on the Below Armour Affiliation.
Jovan Milicevic, 6’9, PF/C, Arizona Unity 17U, 2024One of the extra offensively expert 2024 bigs on the west coast, Milicevic confirmed why he’s precisely what school coaches search for in in the present day’s recreation. The burly large man has picturesque type on his jumpshot, is an impressive passer, and has an old-fashioned craftiness to his recreation. The Canadian junior was very productive for Dream Metropolis Worldwide (Ariz.) this previous season and may achieve this once more within the EYBL.
Jaion Pitt, 6’8, PF/C, Arizona Unity 16U, 2025Pitt has proven for some time now that he is likely one of the most efficient bigs within the class of ‘25 and stored that up on the WCE AZ Preview. He used his grown man body to punish opposing gamers within the paint, supplied a excessive degree of exercise on each ends of the courtroom, and punished the edges. Already proudly owning quite a lot of excessive main presents, the Canadian large man would be the focus subsequent 12 months for Dream Metropolis Christian’s Worldwide squad.
Uriah Tenette, 5’10, PG, The Manufacturing unit 16U, 2025Setting the fitness center on fireplace together with his electrical model of play, Tenette was the fan favourite of the occasion at Phoenix’s KROC Heart. The lefty guard had the gang going wild together with his two handed ally-oop, simply created separation to get his personal shot off, and used his athleticism to transform on the rack. Tenette is the catalyst for an excellent proficient sophomore group at Prescott (Ari.) Excessive College.
