West Valley Preps' 2025-26 Goodyear/Surprise boys basketball preview

The boys basketball season started Nov. 19. The Surprise Independent asked the local coaches for their outlook on the season.

ALA-WEST FOOTHILLS GUARDIANS

3A West Region

2024-25 Record: 9-16 overall, 6-5 region (3A play in)

Coach: KJames Deakyne (Second season as coach)

Top Returnee: F Cameron Lauer, Sr., 6-5 (12.6 ppg, 9 rpg, 2.1 spg); G Blake Lunt, Jr., 6-0 (13.9 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 2.8 apg).

How many years have you coached basketball? This will be my 13th year coaching basketball and my sixth at the high school level. 

What is your team’s best attribute entering this season? We play fast and we play together. 

What will your team need to improve for the season to be a success? Defensive rotations are always key. 

Who are your team leaders? Seniors Cam Lauer and Cannon Trythall and junior Blake Lunt. 

Who are newcomers to the varsity squad who could make an impact? 2028 Carson Bennett will be one of the top shooters in his class and 2027s Derrick Delgado  and Kaleb Figueredo (both from Centennial) will be key contributors as transfers, 2027 Bordy Hobson made huge strides this summer and will be a huge piece to what we do. 

What needs to happen for your squad to reach the state tournament this season, or achieve the goals the team has set? Make every game a race to 100. If we play at the pace we want we will be successful. 

Dysart junior post Santiago Leyva (#42) grapples for a rebound with Paradise Honors senior guard Christian Dubrey (#3) and junior forward Scaren Usate Feb. 26 during a 4A first round game in El Mirage. (Courtesy Ryan McGinley/Dysart Schools)

DYSART DEMONS

4A Black Canyon Region

2024-25 Record: 23-6 overall, 10-0 region (4A semifinal)

Coach: Keegan Cook (11th season as coach)

Top Returnee: F/C Santiago Leyva, Sr., 6-6 (14.4 ppg, 11.7 rpg, 3.1 apg); W Ashton Havvard, Jr., 6-3 (6.8 ppg, 3.3 rpg).

How many years have you coached basketball? I have coached basketball for 18 years, 11 as head coach of Dysart High School.

What is your team’s best attribute entering this season? Our best attribute is our experience and leadership

What will your team need to improve for the season to be a success? Our team will need to continue to work on communication defensively.

Who are your team leaders? Our captains this year are senior Santiago Leyva, senior D.J. Tillman, and junior Ashton Havvard

Who are newcomers to the varsity squad who could make an impact? Newcomers this year are freshman Jordan Cruz and freshman Carmelo Tillman.

What needs to happen for your squad to reach the state tournament this season, or achieve the goals the team has set? For us to reach our goals this year our team will need to continue to put the team first and continue to improve throughout the season.

MILLENNIUM TIGERS

6A Central Region

2024-25 Record: 20-8 overall, 7-1 region (Open Division semifinals)

Coach: Rich Thornton (first season as Millennium coach)

Top Returnees: G/F Cameron Holmes, Sr., 6-6 (committed to Arizona); G Adrian Higuera, Jr., 6-1.

How many years have you coached basketball? 15th season of high school

What is your team’s best attribute entering this season? Versatility, a lot of guys who have multiple skill sets and can guard multiple positions.

What will your team need to improve for the season to be a success? Developing depth and rebounding.

Who are your team leaders? Seniors Cam Holmes and Dylan Coday.

Who are newcomers to the varsity squad who could make an impact? Senior Sophomores Adan Diggs and Trey McKinney and DJ Spencer and Gabe Coronado.

What needs to happen for your squad to reach the state tournament this season, or achieve the goals the team has set? Stick together, be selfless and block outside noise.

SHADOW RIDGE STALLIONS

6A West Valley Region

2024-25 Record: 11-16 overall, 4-4 region (6A play in)

Coach: Robert Bohon (11th season as Shadow Ridge coach)

Top Returnees: G Jalen Harris, Sr., 6-1 (9.7 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 1.4 spg); G Payton Garcia, Sr., 5-11 7.6 ppg, 2.1 rpg).

How many years have you coached basketball? 35 years

What is your team’s best attribute entering this season? Team chemistry and work habits,

What will your team need to improve for the season to be a success? Execution and player/team development.

Who are your team leaders? Seniors Colton Planeta, Payton Garcia and Beau Curtis.

Who are newcomers to the varsity squad who could make an impact? Senior Quinn Schimdt and junior Jace Combs.

What needs to happen for your squad to reach the state tournament this season, or achieve the goals the team has set? To earn the right to play in the state tournament, the team has to get better everyday in practices, games and the classroom.

Willow Canyon basketball seniors Antwan Gilkey, left, Daniel Garza, center and Austin Cooper, right, answer a question during the Wildcats media day session Nov. 8 in Surprise. (Independent Newsmedia/Richard Smith)

WILLOW CANYON WILDCATS

5A Northwest Region

2024-25 Record: 22-5 overall, 9-1 region (5A second round)

Coach: Joseph Colletti (ninth season as Willow Canyon coach)

Top Returnee: SG Maurice Carter II, Soph., 6-0 (18.9 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 3.4 apg, 2.9 spg); G/W Jaydon Hayes, Soph., 6-2 (13.6 ppg, 4.5 rpg).

How many years have you coached basketball? 19 years total, ninth as head coach at Willow Canyon.

What is your team’s best attribute entering this season? Toughness, shooting and defensive intensity.

What will your team need to improve for the season to be a success? To reach our full potential ... we need to focus living our core values on a daily basis and letting love be our biggest difference maker. The best teams I have been a part of are marked by genuine and thoughtful love for one another. This group cares for each other and believes the best is yet to come. If we can focus on the group in our huddle ... on a daily basis ... we will have success.

Who are your team leaders? We have 13 leaders on our team. Maurice Carter II, Jaydon Hayes, Daniel Garza and Austin Cooper are strong voices among the many. We expected every player to be a leader and should hear from Antwan Gilkey, Garrison Bambolo, Braylen Gray, Levi Carter, Nehemiah Henson, Quincy Hunter, Chris Monroe, Diego Aflague-Ortiz and Damien Dabney as the year progresses as well.

Who are newcomers to the varsity squad who could make an impact? We believe that all players are capable and necessary.  The time to grow and impact our success daily is now.

What needs to happen for your squad to reach the state tournament this season, or achieve the goals the team has set? To reach our full potential ... we will need to focus on daily growth and improvement mentally, physically and spiritually (togetherness).