Vote now: Who should be the WaFd Bank Arizona High School Boys Basketball Player of the Week?

Here are the candidates for the WaFd BankArizona High School Boys Basketball Player of the Week for Jan. 17-23 as nominated by coaches, fans and readers.

Read through the nominees and cast your vote. We’ll send a free SBLive T-shirt to the winner of the poll! Voting will conclude Sunday at 11:59 p.m. and the winner will be announced Monday. 

If you would like to make a nomination in a future week, please email brittanyabowyer@gmail.com or tag us on Twitter or Instagram at @sbliveaz.

Editor’s Note: Our Athlete of the Week feature and corresponding poll is intended to be fun, and we do not set limits on how many times a fan can vote during the competition. However, we do not allow votes that are generated by script, macro or other automated means. Athletes that receive votes generated by script, macro or other automated means will be disqualified.

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Xavier Ali, Senior, O’Connor - Rivalries can bring out the best in people, which is what happened for Ali on Friday night in O’Connor’s 74-64 victory over Mountain Ridge. With one of his stronger performances of the season, Ali led the team in scoring with 22 points while also posting four rebounds, an assist, a steal and a deflection to pick up a big conference win. 

Dylan Baker, Senior, Salpointe Catholic - Baker has been leading the Lancers in scoring all season and last week was no different. In Wednesday’s game against Pueblo, he shot 83-percent from the field to put up 25 points on the night along with eight rebounds, three steals, three deflections, two assists and a block in the 67-54 win. On Thursday, he took control and helped lead Salpointe Catholic to a huge 57-44 road win over Paradise Honors in a hostile environment, posting 18 points, six rebounds, three assists, a steal, a deflection and a block.

Wes Ball, Senior, Marana - With 24 points and 15 rebounds, Ball’s double-double on Friday helped Marana pick up a 62-42 victory over Amphitheater. Ball also had three blocks, two steals and an assist.

Iyon Brown, Junior, North - Following the one-year hiatus from the hardwood for Phoenix Union high schools, the junior is finally starting to hit his stride on the court. Despite the Mustangs’ 58-48 loss to the Cesar Chavez Champions on Tuesday, Brown still posted a double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds, along with a pair of assists, steals and blocks to have a career-best performance. 

Mark Brown, Junior, Mountain Pointe - Teaming up with fellow junior Tru Washington, the two absolutely dominated the hardwood on Tuesday against Queen Creek in the 80-58 win. With 20 points, seven rebounds, four assists, three deflections and three steals, Brown was getting things done all over the court. 

Kayson Bryant, Senior, Mesquite - Posting a career-high 20 points on Wednesday in Mesquite’s 73-47 victory over Shadow Mountain, Bryant also had eight rebounds, three blocks and two assists in the game. 

Nate Calmese, Senior, Mesquite - Helping the Wildcats to an 86-61 conference victory on the road against ALA-Queen Creek on Friday, Calmese had 30 points, seven rebounds, four assists and a steal to help Mesquite fight for a strong spot in the playoffs. 

Andrew Camacho, Junior, Peoria - While Peoria’s 74-72 victory over Cactus on Thursday was an all-around team effort, Camacho led the game in scoring with 32 points on the night to help the team pick up a hard-fought victory, while also snagging three rebounds, three deflections, two steals and an assist. 

Talbot Cummard, Senior, Mesa - In a close 55-49 victory over conference opponent Mountain View - Mesa, Cummard led the game in scoring with 21 points on 70-percent shooting from the field. He also had six rebounds and two assists to help the Jackrabbits pick up the win. 

Masai Dean, Junior, Cholla - Leading the game in scoring on Monday night against Salpointe Catholic, Dean had 25 points despite Cholla’s 66-42 loss to the Lancers. He also had five rebounds, five assists and two steals in the game, but his individual contributions weren’t enough to stop Salpointe. He rounded out the week with 32 points, six assists, five rebounds and two steals in an 81-57 loss to Canyon del Oro. 

Tate DeBoer, Senior, Willow Canyon - Posting a double-double with 21 points and 11 rebounds in Willow Canyon’s 67-48 victory over Washington on Thursday, DeBoer led the way for both categories as well as for blocks, finishing the afternoon with eight to creep up on a triple-double. He also had two steals, a deflection and an assist. 

Deavon Felix, Senior, Greenway - Felix had a big night on Monday in the 70-34 victory over Shadow Mountain. Shooting 83-percent from the field, Felix led the team in scoring with 23 points and in rebounding with eight, while also picking up four assists on the way to victory. Despite the Demons’ 59-52 loss to Thunderbird on Friday, Felix still had a strong game with 20 points, eight rebounds, two assists and a steal. 

Devan Fowler, Sophomore, Cortez - Exploding to a career-high 27 points on Wednesday while shooting 71-percent from the field, Fowler’s performance helped Cortez steamroll Apache Junction 107-26. In addition to his outstanding shooting, he also had four rebounds, four assists and four steals to round out his night. 

Yarell Greer, Junior, Higley - Opening up the week with a strong personal performance despite a tough 69-66 loss to McClintock, Greer led the stat sheet for the Knights with 28 points, eight rebounds and four steals. He also had two assists and two deflections to round out his night. He followed it up on Tuesday in Higley’s 63-53 victory over Casteel with 23 points while shooting 69-percent from the field. He also had eight deflections, five steals, four assists and a rebound in the game. 

Chito Herrera, Junior, Camp Verde - Dropping a double-double on Tuesday with 18 points and 10 rebounds, Herrera shot 82-percent from the field while also swatting away a shot for a block to help Camp Verde defeat Chino Valley 62-43. He followed it up on Thursday in the 70-60 victory over Northwest Christian with another double-double, once again posting 18 points alongside 13 rebounds. He also had two assists, two blocks and a steal. 

Isaiah Hill, Sophomore, Pueblo - Leading the Warriors in scoring on Friday night, Hill’s 24 points helped Pueblo pick up a 68-46 win over Flowing Wells. He also had six rebounds, four assists, three steals and a deflection.

Jayson Hunt, Senior, Paradise Honors - Shooting an outstanding 92-percent from the field on Friday, Hunt’s 22 points helped contribute to the all-around team effort in the 119-29 victory over Yuma. He also had six rebounds, four blocks, three deflections, three steals and an assist. 

Rob Jenkins, Senior, Cactus - Despite the Cactus Cobras falling on the road 74-72 in a tough battle, Jenkins still had an outstanding all-around performance for the Cobras with 29 points and 12 rebounds for a double-double, along with seven assists, four steals and two blocks. 

Isaiah Kai, Junior, Campo Verde - Helping Campo Verde pick up a 72-65 victory over conference-rival Williams Field, Kai led the game in scoring with 21 points on the night while shooting 64-percent from the field. He also had seven assists, along with a trio of rebounds and steals to round out the night. 

Denton Latimore, Senior, Dobson - With 20 points, seven rebounds and four assists, Latimore led the way for the Mustangs in their 67-30 win over Skyline on Friday. He also had a steal and a block.

Ahamed Mohamed, Senior, Apollo - Leading the game in scoring on Wednesday against Ironwood, Mohamed’s 22 points helped the Hawks defeat the Eagles 60-40 to pick up a big conference win. In addition to his 22 points, he also had six assists, three steals and three rebounds to help get the job done. Capping the week off on Friday in the 78-48 victory over Gila Ridge, he posted 31 points, nine rebounds, three assists, three steals and a block to close out another strong week. 

Tony Mottola, Senior, Marcos de Niza - Despite a tough 77-72 loss to Mica Mountain on Monday in the MLK Dream Classic, Mottola dropped 30 points along with four assists, four steals, three rebounds and a block. Finishing off the week with another strong performance in the 76-64 victory over Saguaro, Mottola had 23 points while shooting 69-percent from the field along with five rebounds, four assists, two steals, two deflections and a block. 

Blessing Nwotite, Senior, Paradise Honors - Helping the Panthers rebound from a tough loss on Thursday, Nwotite exploded to a career-high 37 points to help pick up a 119-29 win over Yuma on Friday. With 12 rebounds, he picked up a double-double on the night, along with seven assists, seven deflections, five steals and two blocks for one of his strongest performances of the season. 

Jason Parent, Senior, Prescott - In a battle of the two rivals, Parent exploded to post a double-double with 26 points and 12 rebounds to help Prescott pick up a 71-42 win over Bradshaw Mountain. He also had five assists, four deflections, three steals and a block. Finishing out the week, he posted 30 points on 70-percent shooting from the field along with eight rebounds, seven assists, seven steals and a deflection in Prescott’s 99-31 victory over Mohave on Friday. 

Travis Reynolds, Senior, Sabino - Thursday’s game against Palo Verde allowed for Reynolds to shine, where he posted a career-high 29 points while shooting 76-percent from the field to help Sabino pick up a 68-57 win. He also had six rebounds, two assists and a block in the game. 

Chris Ruiz, Junior, Kellis - Helping the Cougars secure a 61-41 victory on Tuesday against Gila Ridge, Ruiz led the team in scoring with 20 points on the night while also picking up five rebounds, two assists, two steals and a deflection. 

Chino Salas-Zorrilla, Senior, Camp Verde - With 29 points, nine rebounds, six steals, and four assists, Salas-Zorrilla helped power the team to a strong 70-60 victory over Northwest Christian on Thursday.

Elijah Saunders, Senior, Sunnyslope - On Monday, Saunders posted 30 points while shooting 73-percent from the field in a 73-61 victory over Desert Vista at the MLK Dream Classic, along with seven rebounds and three assists. It set him up for a milestone day on Tuesday, where he became the newest member of the 1000-career points club.

Jake Smith, Senior, Buena - Helping to power Buena to an 82-37 conference win over Desert View on Tuesday, Smith posted 22 points along with 15 rebounds for a double-double, along with eight steals, three assists and two blocks for one stellar night on the hardwood. He followed it up on Thursday in the 86-68 victory over Sunnyside by posting career-highs of 29 points while shooting 80-percent from the field, along with 21 rebounds for an outstanding double-double. Smith also had four assists, two steals and a deflection to help Buena get the win. 

Roosevelt “Tru” Washington, Junior, Mountain Pointe - It’s been a phenomenal season for Washington so far, and he kept things going on Tuesday by teaming up with fellow junior Mark Brown to dominate on the court against Queen Creek in the 80-58 win. Leading the game in scoring with 24 points while shooting 61-percent from the field, Washington also had eight rebounds, three deflections, two assists, two steals and a block.

Calvin Windley, Junior, Peoria - Windley’s overall performance on Monday with 20 points, 14 rebounds, four assist, four deflections, two steals and a block helped Peoria secure a big 80-70 win over Notre Dame Prep. On Thursday, Peoria was able to edge Cactus 74-72 with an all-around team effort, and Windley contributed 15 points, eight rebounds, three steals, an assist and a block.