Deep runs in the NJCAA Division II tournaments last season have propelled the Pima women’s and men’s basketball teams to a top 5 rating in each of their national preseason polls released this week.
The women’s team is ranked No. 2 behind Johnson County (Kansas), which defeated Pima 75-67 in the national championship game March 22 at Joplin, Mo.
The men’s team is No. 3 after finishing 35-1 and winning the third-place game in the national tournament at Danville, Ill.
Todd Holthaus enters his 19th season as the women’s coach needing a win to reach the 400th victory in his career leading the Aztecs’ program.
He has two runner-up finishes in the NJCAA National Tournament (including last year and 2010-11), two third-place finishes in 2008-09 and 2015-16 and a couple of fifth-place spots in 2009-10 and 2018-19.
His staff remains intact with longtime Arizona men’s basketball assistant Jim Rosborough returning for his 11th season with Holthaus.
Pete Fajardo, former coach at Salpointe, is in his 12th year with the program as an assistant.
Former Pima standouts Sydni Stallworth and Felicia Greenhouse also return to Holthaus’ staff.
Post player Kiley Sours-Miller, who was part of Arizona State’s program two years ago, will be a force inside again for Pima in her sophomore season. She was the ACCAC Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year. She was also selected to the NJCAA All-America First Team.
High-profile guard Reign Waugh, sister of former Pima standout Rylei Waugh (now a junior at San Jose State), joins the Aztecs from Los Angeles Westchester High School.
Pima also has local products Jolee Nelson of Salpointe, Nevaeh Urenda of Flowing Wells, Cassie Coolidge of Sahuaro and Gabriella Sanchez of Tucson.
Brian Peabody is entering his 14th season as Pima’s head coach (267-133 record with the Aztecs). He is 711-256 at the outset of his 33rd year as a head coach overall.
His longtime staff of Mike Morgan, Matt Minder and Marsharne Flannigan remains intact.
Pima All-American guard Cohenj Gonzales and Marana graduate Wes Ball have moved on to Colorado Mesa.
Max Majerle, son of former Phoenix Suns headliner Dan Majerle, is now at North Dakota State.
Gabe Oldham, one of the top power forwards in the nation, has transferred to Denver University.
Peabody’s influx of talent includes point guard Taevean Famutimi-Brown of Toronto. Famutimi-Brown was an all-conference selection last season at Iowa Falls (Iowa) Ellsworth Community College.
Pima has plenty of size with eight players who are at least 6-foot-7, including 6-11 center Brock Mendoza of Layton, Utah.
Local standouts on the roster include Gerron Graham and Isaiah Hill of Premier Prep Academy, Mason Tippett of Cienega, Daniel Ortiz of Palo Verde, and Paul Olivares Yepiz of Salpointe.
The women open their regular-season schedule at Arizona Western Classic at Yuma on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1.
The men tipoff their season Nov. 4 with a home game against San Bernardino (Calif.) Community Christian College.
Recommended for you
