Nico Mannion named Arizona High School Boys Basketball Player of the Year

Nico Mannion, Pinnacle, So.

Named the Gatorade Arizona Player of the Year, Mannion (6-3) led Pinnacle to its first 6A state championship, averaging 23.4 points, 5.8 assists, 4.7 rebounds and two steals.

He had 34 points against Phoenix Desert Vista in a state semifinal overtime victory. He made 44 percent (78 for 179) of his 3-point shots.

Congratulations to all the nominees for the American Family Insurance All-USA Arizona High School Boys Basketball Player of the Year. The nominees are listed in alphabetical order.

Timmy Allen, Red Mountain, Sr.

Allen (6-5) is an explosive player who can score from inside and out. He is a team leader who led the Mountain Lions in scoring. He was great off the glass, gobbling up rebounds, and often got to the free-throw line because of his tenacious play. Averaged 29.8 points, 11.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists. Committed before his senior season to Utah.

Sam Beskind, Catalina Foothills, Sr.

Strong, physical, athletic, Beskind (6-4) basically willed the Falcons to a 24-win season. The best scorer, passer, rebounder and defender on the team, many coaches in Tucson felt he was the best player in the city. High IQ who would go through a wall for his teammates. Beskind's leadership skills are off the charts.

Jovan Blacksher, Shadow Mountain, Jr.

Fast, quick, and an excellent defender, Blacksher (6-1) was part of the one-two backcourt punch that led the Matadors to a third consecutive 4A state championship and a No. 4 national ranking by USA TODAY Sports. He averaged 15.7 points, 5.7 assists and 5.8 steals.

Majok Deng, Salpointe Catholic, Jr.

Already possessing an NBA body, Deng (6-5) is the consummate team player, getting teammates involved and taking over games when needed. He is a good 3-point shooter with off-the-charts athleticism. One of the nation's top recruits, Deng averaged 18.5 points and 9.1 rebounds.

Jaelen House, Shadow Mountain, Jr.

Already committed to Arizona State, House (6-2) put the Matadors on his back in a frantic second half of the 4A final, erasing a 22-point deficit to beat Salpointe Catholic. House had 30 points and 14 steals in the victory. He averaged 18.8 points, 5.3 assists and 6.7 steals for a 25-1.

Evan Nelson, Salpointe Catholic, So.

Without Nelson, Salpointe doesn't reach the state tournament, let alone the 4A final. Once he became eligible halfway through the season, Salpointe flipped a switch. It went 12-2 with Nelson (6-2) and finished 15-16. Great quickness and court awareness, he averaged 24.3 points, 6.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.4 steals.

Trey Wood, Anthem Prep, Sr.

A Portland State signee, Wood (6-9) dominated in 1A, averaging 22 points, 15 rebounds and 4.6 blocks. Without him, Anthem Prep might not have won a game. It won 17 but lost in the first round of the state tournament because Wood was forced to sit out after being ejected from a previous game for hanging on the rim after a dunk, his second technical of the game.

Honorable Mention

Immanuel Allen, Shadow Mountain, 6-5, Sr.

Averaged 15 points, 6.4 rebounds and had 15 points in the state championship win over Salpointe.

Tashon Brown, Paradise Valley, Sr.

Led team to 5A semifinals, averaging 19 points, 6.5 assists and 4.6 rebounds.

Ian Burke, Phoenix Brophy Prep, Sr.

Floor leader of top seed in 6A that lost its only game to an Arizona team to Mountain Pointe in the state semifinals.

Robert Burries Jr., Globe, Jr.

Led the state in scoring at 30.2 points a game. He already has more than 2,000 career points.

Amarion Cash, Phoenix Mountain Pointe, Sr.

Led 6A runnerup team with 14 points a game.

Bryce Davis, Glendale Deer Valley, Sr.

Was his region's POY, averaging 18 points, 9 rebounds for 5A runnerup team.

Kyle Fischer, Phoenix Sunnyslope, Sr.

Tough, hard-nosed, clutch, smart player led the state champs with 15.7 points and 7.8 rebounds a game.

Anthony Gaxiola, Tucson Tanque Verde, Sr.

Averaged 27 points a game.

Grant Greabell, Goodyear Estrella Foothills, 6-3, Sr.

Averaged 25 points and made 42 percent of his 3-pointers (76 of 183) for 21-win team.

Wesley Harris, Phoenix Desert Vista, Sr.

Long, athletic wing who averaged 17 points and 4.4 rebounds on a state semifinal team.

Otis Frazier, Buckeye, Jr.

Tremendous athlete, averaged 25 points, 12 rebounds for an athletic Hawks team that took Salpointe into overtime in the 4A semifinals.

Nikc Jackson, Scottsdale Rancho Solano Prep, Sr.

Averaged 14 points and eight rebounds on 2A state championship team.

Jok Jok, Moon Valley, Sr.

Led 4A final four team in scoring and rebounding.

Miles Lightfoot, Gilbert Christian, Sr.

Averaged 14 points, 13 rebounds and led the state with 6.5 blocks a game.

Addison Mort, The Gregory School, Sr.

Averaged 26 points for 1A champs.

Jared Perry, Surprise Paradise Honors, Sr.

Averaged 14 points, 12 rebounds on best team in school history.

Ethan Spry, Scottsdale Christian, Jr.

The 6-8 forward averaged 17 points, six rebounds for 19-7 Eagles.

Josh Ursery, Peoria Liberty, Jr.

Was his region's POY, despite playing only 14 games because of the transfer rule. Averaged 20 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists.

Connor Verdugo, Sahuarita Walden Grove, Sr.

Led the state in assists at 9.7 a game, while averaging 23 points.

Ricardo Villanueva, Winslow, Sr.

He saved his best game for last, scoring 29 points in the last three quarters of Winslow's 79-63 win over top-seed Lakeside Blue Ridge in the 3A final. Averaged 18 points and five rebounds.

Coach of the Year

Ray Portela, Phoenix Sunnyslope

Led the Vikings to a second consecutive 5A state championship, basically taking neighborhood kids without any Division I scholarship offers, guys who built a strong bond since the beginning of their prep careers. This team carried a huge target into every game after returning everybody from last year's state title team, but the Vikings weathered rough spots, lost a couple of games on last-second shots and then dominated defensively in the state tournament, holding four opponents to an average of 32.5 points a game.

Others considered: Mike Bibby, Shadow Mountain; Scott Corum, Winslow; Duane Eason, Mountain Pointe; Aaron Trigg, Rancho Solano Prep; Charlie Wilde, Pinnacle.

How they were selected

The eight nominees for Arizona High School Boys Basketball Player of the Year were selected by the azcentral sports high school staff during coverage of the 2017-18 season using first-hand observations, interviews with coaches and players, statistical analysis, rankings and player performance in the Arizona Interscholastic Association's state tournament.

RELATED:American Family Insurance All-USA Arizona High School Girls Basketball Player of the Year nominees

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