Perry, AZ Compass Prep lead impressive high school basketball field in Hoophall West

Gilbert Perry and Chandler AZ Compass Prep will headline the Hoophall West basketball showcase, which is starting a week earlier than usual at Scottsdale Chaparral High School.

The event will take place over four days, starting Nov. 29, a Wednesday.

Perry, led by 6-foot-8 Koa Peat, considered one of the top five players in the country, will take on Archbishop Stepinac High School out of New York on Dec. 1 at 7 p.m., followed by AZ Compass Prep against Wasatch Academy of Utah.

Peat is ranked No. 3 in the nation overall in the 2025 class by ESPN.

AZ Compass Prep is one of the top national prep programs with six players ranked nationally among the 2024 and 2025 classes. Jamari Phillips, who has committed to Arizona, is ranked 26th in the country by ESPN in the 2024 class. Vyctorius Miller is ranked 32nd, Del Jones 66th and Sammie Yeanay 91st in the 2024 class for AZ Compass.

AZ Compass 2025 top prospects are Jeremiah Fears (21st) and Davion Hannah (30th).

"We are very blessed to be part of this year's Hoohall Classic," AZ Compass coach Pete Kaffey said. "As a first-year head coach, I'm super excited to be coaching in this prestigious event."

Sam Duane Jr., has built Perry into a state and national power, like he did at Tempe Corona del Sol, where he led the Aztecs to four consecutive state titles from 2011-14.

Dream City Christian of Glendale, Bella Vista of Scottsdale and Canyon International (an offshoot of Dream City) are other Valley prep academies that will be part of Hoophall West, considered the top high school basketball showcase in the West.

Dream City is led by Jaion Pitt (34th in the 2025 class.

Perry will also play Harvard-Westlake out of California on Dec. 2 at 8 p.m.

Other top Arizona Interscholastic Association teams that will be showcased are Phoenix Sunnyslope, Goodyear Millennium, Scottsdale Notre Dame, Chandler Basha, Scottsdale Desert Mountain, Anthem Boulder Creek and Peoria Liberty, along with host school Chaparral.

Millennium's Cameron Holmes is ranked No. 23 in the country in the 2026 class by ESPN>

Sunnyslope and Millennium, which could be a matchup deep in the AIA Open state tournament, face each other on Nov. 30 at 5:30 p.m., followed by Desert Mountain against Notre Dame.

Perry has won two consecutive state championships under Duane. Last season was the AIA's first year for the Open, which combines top teams from the 6A, 5A and 4A conferences nto one playoff bracket separate from conference tournaments.

"This will be a great event," Duane said. "Once again Hoophall has created some great matchups.  For us, we will be challenged by two outstanding programs with some big time players.

"It will allow us to find out where we are early in the season and will make us better down the road. We are excited to compete against the best. The AZ teams in the event are very good and well-coached. I think our AZ teams will represent well this year, which I think will lead to a very competitive and fun year of basketball in Arizona."

Millennium, Perry, Chaparral, Tucson Salpointe Catholic and Desert Vista are among the girls teams playing in Hoophall West.

To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert atrichard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter:@azc_obert