HIGH SCHOOL

High school boys basketball regular-season awards

Richard Obert
azcentral sports
Corona del Sol's Saben Lee (right) was named to Richard Obert's All-Defense team following his 2015-16 regular season as perhaps the best on-the-dribble defender.

Some Division I boys basketball teams finish up this coming week, while sectionals begin in Divisions II through V.

This is a good time to hand out some regular-season awards:

Tough Guy Award

Mitch Lightfoot, Gilbert Christian, 6-9, Sr.

Imagine how good Gilbert Christian would be had guard Dontez Thomas not left for Hillcrest Prep or if senior guard Cameron Satterwhite had not blown out his knee in late July playing in an AAU game. Still, the Knights (19-5) enter their sectional tournament riding an 11-game winning streak behind Lightfoot, who will take charges, swat shots, rebound and score. He averages 22.3 points, 11.6 rebounds and 2.6 blocks for the defending Division II champions.

Shadow Mountain prepares for postseason vs. Mater Dei

Freshman of the Year

Reed Myers, Scottsdale Christian, 6-1, PG

Even though Globe guard B.J. Burries scored the second-most points ever by an Arizona player in a game (68) and is the only freshman averaging more than 20 points, Myers gets the nod here based on leading the top-ranked Division III team in scoring (12.6 points a game), assists (6.4) and steals (2.9). His basketball IQ, and IQ in general, is off the charts.

Comeback Player of the Year

Devin Kirby, Chandler Basha, 6-10, F, Sr.

His career looked done midway through last season when he suffered breaks below both knees on a freak injury coming down on a dunk. His physical and mental strength through the rehab amazed everybody around him. He kept his spirits up, put in the work, became an incredible teammate and helped lead Basha to a 20-win season in Division I, averaging eight points and six rebounds.

American Family Insurance ALL-USA Arizona top boys basketball performances of January

Best coaching job

Randy Lavender, Avondale Agua Fria

The Owls came into the season unranked and an unknown. But beating Division I Chandler Hamilton, top Division II team Glendale Apollo and a top-10 Flagstaff team during a three-game stretch, before losing on a buzzer-beater to Laveen Cesar Chavez (76-74) let the rest of the state know they're legit. Since that loss, they've won 18 games in a row in Division II with nobody taller than 6-6 on the roster. Lavender has gotten these guys to keep their egos at home and to distribute the ball. Four players, led by senior Jordan McCants (15.6 points), average in double figures scoring. They could be a team that gives Shadow Mountain trouble at state.

Best new gym

Phoenix Country Day School

About $16 million in donations was pumped into the athletic department to build, and build they did. They have a state-of-the art aquatics center not far from the state-of-the art gymnasium that sits where the old swimming pool used to be. There is a huge video board and enough room to hold two full-court games at the same time. The new digs has given the team an adrenaline boost. It has the second-longest Division IV winning streak heading into sectionals at 12. Yuma Catholic has the state's longest winning streak at 22. A senior-led team, guard Andrew Ekmark averages 25 points and six rebounds for coach Shane Lewis.

Latest high school boys basketball Super 10 rankings

Best students section

Phoenix Shadow Mountain's Hecklers

They've shown up full force for the best team in the state. Even on Martin Luther King Day for a 2 p.m. game, they filled their section, stood the entire game and cheered their team on in a win over Tempe Corona del Sol.

Best teammate

Dylan Colletti, Phoenix Sunnyslope, F, Sr.

He doesn't get into the games, but he is first on the bench for his teammates. He also put together maybe the best-ever mixed highlight tape, showing him getting up out of his seat on the bench cheering, helping a teammate off the floor. Longtime Sunnsylope coach Dan Mannix, who now assists his former player Ray Portela, says Colletti will be "the best guy to work with" in the real world.

Updated boys basketball rankings: Through Jan. 31

All-Defense Team

JJ Rhymes, Shadow Mountain, F, 6-4, Sr.: Guards all five positions. Makes it difficult for the best players to score, even while giving up inches.

Max Zimmerman, Sunnyslope, F, 6-6, Sr.: Defense has been key to an overachieving Division I team with this guy altering shots in the lane.

David Cummard, Mesa, G, 6-0, Sr.: Glue to a 21-win team in Division I, locking down opponents' top scorers.

Trey Wood, Anthem Prep, F, 6-9, So.: Team has only four wins in Division IV, but this kid is averaging seven blocks a game, easily tops in the state.

Saben Lee, Tempe Corona del Sol, G, 6-2, Jr.: Maybe the best on-the-dribble defender out there.

Reach Obert at richard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-460-1710. Follow him at twitter.com/azc_obert.