Video: Preseason Top 25 Basketball Rankings
Breaking down the national contenders heading into the 2018-19 season.
Head Coach: Mike Bibby
Last Season: 25-2 (AIA Class 4A state champions, GECIO National participant)
Head coach Mike Bibby
File photo by Steven Ryan
Players to Watch:
Key Games/Events:Nov. 30 - vs.
Pinnacle (Phoenix)Dec. 7 - vs.
St. Mary's (Phoenix) - Hoophall West (Phoenix)
Dec. 26-29 - Torrey Pines Holiday Classic (San Diego)
Jan. 17-19 - Bass Pro Tournament of Champions (Springfield, Mo.)
Jan. 21 - vs.
Paul VI (Fairfax, Va.) — Spalding Hoophall Classic (Springfield, Mass.)
Guard Jaelen House
File photo by Jim Willittes
Season Preview:A number of former NBA stars have made a name for themselves in the high school ranks lately, with Penny Hardaway being the most recent success story after securing the job at Memphis.
Other than Hardaway, Mike Bibby may be the most successful former NBA star to put his stamp on the high school game as a coach, with rumors that this may be his last season with the Matadors.
If this is Bibby's last season with the Arizona powerhouse, look for it to be a good one.
Shadow Mountain has gone 79-8 since Bibby took over in
2015-16, winning the state title all three years.
The Matadors return their top two producers from last season with House and Blacksher leading an impressive rotation that wreaks havoc on opponents defensively.
Shadow Mountain averaged just over 23 steals per game last season, while totaling just under 90 points per contest in one of the most exciting systems to watch in the nation.
Look for that high-octane offense to win a fourth consecutive state championship this season and push for their third consecutive GEICO Nationals berth.