High School Teams Capture College Coaches’ Attention

By Cedric Cobb
June 14-23, 2024 Section 7 Team Camp – the premier scholastic exposure event in the country took place at State Farm Stadium in Glendale. This event has quickly become a marquee destination for college recruiters. A staggering array of next-level talent was on display. More than 400 teams, and over 1,000 players from 12 states showcased their skills in front of 700-plus college coaches of all levels.

In the NFHS City Of Glendale Bracket, Owyhee (Ida.) faced Oak Ridge (Fla.) in a highly anticipated showdown. The game began at a slow pace, with Oak Ridge barely leading 15-14 midway through the first half. Owyhee then shifted gears, going on a 9-2 run to secure a 28-22 advantage with 4:47 left in the half. Their hot streak continued, establishing a 36-27 lead with less than two minutes remaining in the first half. They went into halftime leading 38-33.

Owyhee showed no signs of slowing down in the second half, starting off with a 6-0 run and building their lead to 43-33. Oak Ridge struggled to close the gap. Owyhee’s efficient shooting allowed them to maintain a sizable lead and comfortably win 83-64.

The NFHS Legacy Foundation Bracket featured Goodyear Millennium and Archbishop Riordan of San Francisco, Calif. Riordan took an early 8-2 lead, but a quick run by Millennium, led by senior Kingston Tosi, narrowed the margin to 8-7. Midway through the first half, strong play from Riordan saw them ahead 23-16. Tosi’s impressive shooting helped Millennium overtake Riordan, concluding the first half with a 42-31 lead.

In the second half, Millennium maintained its momentum, extending their lead to 50-40. Riordan’s cold shooting kept them trailing. A breakaway dunk from nationally-ranked junior Cameron Holmes further pushed Millennium ahead. Despite a brief rally from Riordan, Millennium’s solid defense ensured a 69-58 victory. Tosi ended with 31 points while Holmes added 22. Millennium’s win marked the first time an Arizona team captured one of the top two Section 7 Team Camp brackets.

In the Arizona Sports and Entertainment Bracket, the number one preseason team, Etiwanda of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., faced Ontario Christian. Etiwanda quickly established a 14-4 lead. Ontario Christian rallied to cut the deficit to 14-11 midway through the first half. Top-ranked player Kaleena Smith’s three-pointer brought Ontario Christian within four points, 18-14.

Led by five-star senior Grace Knox, Etiwanda held a narrow 27-23 lead at halftime. An early second-half run extended Etiwanda’s lead to 38-24. Ontario Christian struggled offensively, managing only two points in the first ten minutes of the second half. Etiwanda never relinquished control, culminating in a 58-51 victory to repeat as the 2024 Section 7 Champions.