SHIPROCK – The second annual AZ/NM Basketball Showcase has become an important opportunity for local and area prep basketball stars to be seen by scouts and coaches at the collegiate level.
Featuring many of the top high school Native American basketball players from Arizona and New Mexico, the event will take place Saturday, April 4 at Shiprock High School with boys and girls teams from both states facing off against each other.
The showcase, which is put together by 928 Hoops promoter Christian Kolesar, has been held in recent years at Bloomfield High School but has been held primarily in Arizona.
Kolesar, who hails from Flagstaff, has put together numerous showcases in his home state for several years. He administers these showcases to get the high school athletes he invites exposure for college scouts.
With the recently expanded spotlight on high school basketball in both states, thanks to movies like Rez Ball and the success of programs across the Navajo Nation, Kolesar has been reaching across state lines for added exposure.
“I’ve been doing this for a long time, but I’ve gotten really serious the last few years,” said Kolesar, who is scout and prep sports writer for 928 Hoops and ArizonaPreps.com. “I’m trying to get these kids some looks. It’s my first time coming here, and I’m looking to expand this so that we can get them all exposed so that they can get to the next level.
Among the basketball players scheduled to participate in the showcase will be from the recently completed NMAA Class 4A state girls championship game between Kirtland Central and Gallup.
Kayden Tsosie and Mykeia Vicenti from Gallup as well as Haylee Nocki, Zoey Benally and Krista Tsingine-Yazzie from Kirtland Central will both represent New Mexico in the game.
Tegan Howe and Keyin White, both representing Shiprock High, are also scheduled to play for the New Mexico girls team, along with Dejhanelle Denetso from Navajo Prep.
The Arizona girls team will be headlined by Tayla Franklin, averaging more than 14 points a game this past season for Page High. Alchesay High’s Kylie Mansfield is also expected to participate, coming off a season where she averaged more than 11 points per game.
The New Mexico-based teams will be coached by Analyss Benally and Ed Garrison.
Benally, born and raised in Shiprock, played high school basketball in Kansas before extending her career at San Jose State University. Over the past four years, Benally and her father, Brian, have held camps in New Mexico and across the country.
The boys team, which will feature stars from schools like Volcano Vista, Santa Fe Indian School, will also be headlined by local stars like Gracin Vigil and Aden Clah from Navajo Prep, as well as Shiprock’s Joaquin Nez.
Garrison recently took over the head coaching duties for the boys basketball team at Navajo Prep, leading the Eagles to a district 1-3A title and an appearance in the NMAA state basketball tournament.
Kolesar pointed out the need for more offseason club teams, which would give basketball players an opportunity to play the sport against others while also giving them a chance to travel and be seen by talent evaluators outside their community.
“I was shocked that there aren’t many clubs in this area and a few of these kids don’t even play basketball in the summer,” Kolesar said. “They need to get out there and mix and match with other players from around the region, and that’s the best way for these kids to get to the attention from colleges.”
The girls game is scheduled to tip off at 5 p.m. and will be followed by the boys game. Tickets will cost between $5 and $20 and can be purchased online.
For more information on how to get tickets for the event, log onto eventbrite.com.
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