How far has the AZ Power Tucson basketball organization come under David Thomas and Marvin Beckwith?
This summer was the first time in four years AZ Power Tucson did not have an unsigned senior team during the July live recruiting period because all of its players accepted scholarship offers.
Former Pusch Ridge coach David Thomas (standing) is working wonders with the AZ Power Tucson AAU club team in terms of producing college scholarship players (Andy Morales/AllSportsTucson.com)
Once a player accepts a scholarship offer, he or she can not play in the AAU tournaments.
Here is a list of AZ Power Tucson’s Class of 2017 (all playing next year unless otherwise stated):
Cameron Miller – Salpointe – Manager at Arizona under his dad Sean Miller
Isaac Cruz – Salpointe – Texas Wesleyan University, NAIA school in Ft. Worth, Texas
Brendan Gary – Sahuaro – Buena Vista University, NCAA D3 school in Buena Vista, Iowa
Devan Gary – Sahuaro – Buena Vista University
Josh Herzog – Catalina Foothills – Milwaukee School of Engineering, NCAA D3 school in Milwaukee
Jack Drescher – Ironwood Ridge – Arizona student who had NAIA and NCAA D3 offers but wanted to attend Eller College
Cole Gerkin – Ironwood Ridge – Pima Community College
Jared Irwin – Catalina Foothills – Pima
Travis Walker – Sabino – Pima (had more than 100 offers from NCAA D3 and NAIA schools)
Nick Rosquist – The Gregory School – Merritt Community College, JUCO in Oakland, Calif.
Chris Purcell – Canyon Del Oro – Student at Pima (offered manager’s position at Portland State)
Class of 2018 and their offers (none have committed):
Conner Verdugo – Walden Grove – Beloit College, Embry Riddle University and Pima
Jordan Morris – Walden Grove – Beloit College, Linfield College, La Sierra University and Trinity University
Trevor Andresen – Marana – Beloit College
Ben Katsel – Pusch Ridge Chirstian Academy – Buena Vista University
Dylan Newell – Sahuaro – Beloit College
Marcel Dean – Cholla – Beloit College, Linfield College and Trinity University
Sammy Legleu – Nogales – Beloit College, Trinity University and Buena Vista University
Jordan Green – Cienega – Oakland City University
Walden Grove senior Conner Verdugo is guarded by Li Jia Heng. (Andy Morales/AllSportsTucson.com)
”The cool thing about the 2018 group is while playing in a tournament in Anaheim, Calif., called the Pangos Sweet 16, coach Brian Vrany of Beloit College was able to watch our games through a live stream by BallerTV,” Thomas said. “After our first game against OC Pride Elite (Ocean Side) where we scored 68 points at half and 111 for the game, the coach offered six of our players on the spot.
“That has never happened to me before. It was a testament to how hard these kids played.”
Thomas, the former coach at Pusch Ridge High School, added: “The best thing about this 2018 team, if they all didn’t play another AAU game, they’d all have places to play in college. It is very likely that I will not have a senior team next year at all because all of my players have great offers to play somewhere.”
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