Corona del Sol's all-time greatest basketball team
With arguably Tempe Corona del Sol's greatest boys basketball season complete, and all-state honors handed to it, it's time to roll out one more all-time greatest team list this year.
I purposely saved Corona del Sol for last, waiting until the Aztecs finished their historic season and after all-state awards were given out.
Two reasons: Freshman Marvin Bagley III and sophomore Alex Barcello.
Both not only make Corona del Sol's all-time greatest team but they shoot straight to the top, in my view, after the season they just had.
Here is my all-time Corona del Sol basketball team:
No. 1 Marvin Bagley III, 6-11, C/F, Fr.
When I saw his first high school game this season, I knew he was special. I've seen Mark Alarie, Sean Elliott, Mike Bibby, Richard Jefferson and Jerryd Bayless play in high school. Bagley has that same "wow" impact with the things he can do on the court. He led a 33-1 team that is now ranked No. 6 nationally by MaxPreps.com in scoring, rebounding and blocked shots. He changes the game at both ends. He opens the court. His abilities are why Corona del Sol created matchup problems for every team they faced.
No. 2 Alex Barcello, 6-2, PG, So.
Efficient, tough, strong, aggressive, controlled fire. And he's a remarkable outside shooter. Barcello possesses all of the ingredients that makes him the greatest point guard the school has ever seen, and it had a pretty good one for four years in Casey Benson. Barcello already has passed Benson. He scored a school-record 50 points in a game against Gilbert Perry this year. He is the consummate point guard who will become a big-time college player.
No. 3 Casey Benson, 6-3, PG, 2014
Benson just finished his freshman season at Oregon, a contributor off the bench on an NCAA Tournament team. Benson was All-Arizona his last two years at Corona del Sol. During his junior season, he was azcentral sports' Big Schools Player of the Year. Benson knew how to win. He was tough as nails and as clutch a shooter the school has ever seen. Career assists leader with 444.
No. 4 Lamont Long, 6-4, G, 1996
This long guard was Mike Bibby's biggest peer during their high school days. Bibby was the star point guard at Phoenix Shadow Mountain. Long led Corona del Sol to the 1996 big-school state championship game against Bibby's Shadow Mountain team that drew one of the biggest crowds in state history for a high school hoops game. Long was a prolific scorer, averaging 33 points his junior season and 28 points as a senior. He ended up playing four years at New Mexico. He made the Western Athletic Conference all-tournament team in 1998.
No. 5 Doug Harris, 6-1, PG, 1990
Harris was a jet on the court his last two seasons at Corona del Sol, leading the Aztecs to the state final each year, winning it all his junior year. He averaged nearly 25 points his senior season. Harris was the Arizona Republic's Player of the Year. He played at Fresno State and San Diego, before turning his attention to coaching. He led Phoenix Desert Vista to a state championship in 2008 and compiled a 112-42 record in six years as head coach.
Five to frame:
Andy Hurd, 6-5, G/F, 1982: Great spot-up shooter and rebounder who went on to a Northern Arizona University Hall of Fame career.
Pete Murphy, 6-5, G/F, 1980: Was an 85.1 percent free-throw shooter in 1980, leading school to its first of eight state championships.
David Duane, 6-7, F, 1982: Tremendous rebounder who starred for his father Sam's 1981 team that won state and '82 team that finished state runner-up.
Donnell Knight, 6-8, F, 2000: Mixed in a stellar high school career with a stint at St. Mary's, but he was a silky smooth scorer who went on to play at Arizona State.
Calaen Robinson, 6-2, G, 2012: Flashy, dynamic player who led school to start of its current streak of four consecutive state championships.
