DRAPER, Utah – When it comes to providing a showcase for high school teams and players in and around Utah, no one does it better than Tim Davis.
That was once again the case when Davis – who, with Lynn Lloyd, helps run the adidas-fronted and well-respected Utah Prospects club program – put on the third annual Great Western Summer Classic, Wednesday-thru-Saturday, with Juan Diego High the “headquarters”.
But six other facilities were also in use for the hundreds of games involving 357 teams – 82 of those “varsity” – that came from all corners of Utah, as well as Idaho, Nevada, California (Balboa Prep in San Diego County) and New Mexico.
One could feel comfortable – although I’m not sure that’s the right word to use when mostly sitting for about 10 hours each day watching games – with the idea that you’d see all the best, in teams and players, that Utah and Idaho have to offer for the 2022-23 season.
I sure did . . .
Some thoughts:
*Coach Ryan Cuff’s American Fork program won its final nine games last season to capture the Utah State 6A title on March 3 despite entering the playoffs as the No. 10 seed.
Based on what I saw over three days at Juan Diego, Cuff’s 2022-23 team could win another title behind a multitude of key returnees.
Among those veterans is Cuff’s son, 6-3 (and rapidly growing) Tiger Cuff. His play at the event was ample proof that he is well on his way toward becoming one of the top Class of 2024 “point guards” in the west.
*The team American Fork knocked off in the March 3 title game (which was played in BYU’s Marriott Center), Corner Canyon, returns three starters from a 19-7 season.
Each of those players, seniors-to-be in guards Jaxon Roberts and Max Toombs, and terrific 2024 forward prospect Brody Kozlowski, were outstanding over the weekend.
*Two programs that won state championships in Idaho, Meridian Owyhee (5-A) and Idaho Falls Hillcrest (4-A), seem to have all the elements needed to repeat in 2023.
Owyhee (which, along with American Fork, will return to Southern California for the Dec. 26-30 Classic at Damien after strong performances in the Platinum Division last December), is led by one of the elite 2024 shooting guard prospects anywhere in high school hoops in 6-5 Liam Campbell.
And Hillcrest has a forceful post presence by way of 6-8 junior-to-be Isaac Davis.
*But no team – at least among those I watched – played better at both ends of the floor than did Las Vegas Durango.
Coach Chad Beeten’s club had every starter on the floor here from a 2021-22 team that finished 20-6.
The Trailblazers have the goods to challenge traditional powerhouse Bishop Gorman and 2022 State Champion Liberty for the top spot in both Las Vegas and the state in 2023.
*I also got to watch several of the top players in the region – and beyond – via a team assembled of players whose high school programs weren’t participating.
Isaac Garrett (Pleasant Grove) and Christopher Cox (Salt Lake City Cottonwood) are quite springy forwards from the Classes of 2023 and ’24, respectively.
And making the 180-mile or so south-bound trek from Idaho (Pocatello) to play at the event was one of the better Class of 2025 prospects anywhere on the national high school landscape.
Six-five – and growing – Isiah Harwell (pictured) is being promoted to the Utah Prospects 17U squad for the July recruiting “viewing” (by NCAA D-1 affiliated programs’ coaches) period after pretty much having his way with all comers on the 15U adidas circuit this spring.
It will be compelling viewing to see how well he holds up against quality opposition – often two to three years older – next month.
Based upon what I saw over the weekend, he will handle himself quite well, thank you very much.
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