There's something sweet about getting information before anyone else does. I suppose that's why people subscribe to sites like this- for the information, speculation and discussion. If you're based locally, and interested in seeing some potential future Sun Devils in action before anyone else gets the chance, I put together this list of must see high school games in 2015- many of which you can watch from the comfort of your own living room. Some of these prospect, however, you're going to want to see live.
Thursday 8/20- Chandler at Pinnacle
This opens the season, and isn't part of Cox 7's broadcast schedule. ASU has offers out to Chandler's talented WR trio Chase Lucas, Kolby Taylor and N'Keal Harry, but RB Micah Reed-Campos and newly transferred WR Johnny Johnson could end up on ASU's radar as well. Pinnacle's offensive line is full of "undiscovered" talent.
Friday- 8/21- Long Beach Poly at Centennial
This may end up on Fox Sports AZ. Centennial is home to ASU commit Marshal Nathe, as well as talented 2016 QB/DB Isaac Steele. Long Beach Poly is home to 2016 ATH Jack Jones, an ASU target and budding superstar in the defensive backfield. LB Davir Hamilton also recently transferred in and holds an ASU offer. 2017 LB Joshua Brown is 6-3, 230, and still waiting on his first offer. I saw him at a Rivals camp in Vegas, and he's an intriguing prospect.
Thursday 8/27- Centennial/Saguaro (site TBA)
This was going to be at ASU, but may end up at Phoenix College instead. It'll be televised on Cox 7, and will be a great chance to see Saguaro's Byron Murphy compete against the best competition he'll see all year. You also get the treat of watching Marshal Nathe try to block 2017 four star DL/OL Kayden Lyles.
Friday 8/28- Highland at Mesa
2017 WR/KR/PR/DE (and likely college TE) Tyler Johnson is paying in this game, and it will be the first time he isn't a secret. Mesa isn't very good, so if you want to see Johnson potentially go off on someone, this is the game to see it happen.
Saturday 8/29- Chandler at Bishop Gorman
ASU will always recruit Gorman, because Gorman attracts elite talent like a moth to a flame. ASU is pursuing 2017 WR Tyjon Lindsey, has an offer to 2017 QB Tate Martell, has a commitment from 2017 DB Alex Perry, and just hosted 2016 3-star ATH Ikem Okeke and 2017 DB Damuzhea Bolden. I'm a fan of 2017 RB Biaggio Ali-Walsh, whose boxing legend grandfather is a valley resident. This game will be on ESPN, so no need to make the trip, but if you do, you'll get to see Alex Perry try and guard several D1 WRs from Chandler, who ASU has offers out to, up close and personal.
Thursday 9/3- Desert Edge at Paradise Valley
Turn Cox 7 on and watch two of the state's best players in one of the state's best offenses compete for Paradise Valley (QB Daniel Bridge-Gadd and WR Jacob Brown), go up against Desert Edge, the school that gave ASU Ismael Murphy-Richardson. Desert Edge has three 2017 kids that make for must-see TV in QB Tehran Thomas, RB Roshaun Johnson and WR Eric Marsh. Johnson could be the next great RB out of Arizona.
Friday 9/4- Centennial at Basha
2017 QB Ryan Kelley and his offensive line, especially 2017 OT Jonathan Nathaniel, are a treat to watch live. This is a rematch of a 2014 game that put Kelley's name on the map, and helped Centennial figure things out and rattle off 12 straight wins en route to a D2 championship.
Saturday 9/5- Glendale CC at Mesa CC
If you go to one JuCo game this year, make is Glendale at Mesa. ASU commit and 4-star DE Christian Hill will be taking on a talented (and large) Mesa C.C. offensive line.
Thursday 9/10- Desert Ridge at Chandler
It's on TV, so tune in. Desert Ridge likes to ugly things up, so you'll get to see some Chandler High ASU targets fight through adversity.
Friday 9/11- Safford at Apache Junction
Probably your best and only chance to see Safford's 2018 6-7, 330-pound OT Ralph Frias, He impressed ASU at last weekend's Maroon and Gold camp. Plus, going to a football game in Apache Junction is way more fun than it sounds.
Friday 9/18- Basha at Mountain Pointe
Ryan Kelley has to throw on 2017 DB Isaiah Pola-Mao, a 6-4, 190 athletic freak who ASU offered over the summer. Pola-Mao is currently my favorite in a stacked 2017 recruiting class. This game is must-see.
Thursday 9/24- Centennial at Hamilton
2016 DT Garrett Rand vs 2016 G/C Marshal Nathe, an ASU commit who hopes to make Rand his teammate. It'll be on Cox 7.
Friday 9/25- Desert Ridge at Brophy OR Perry at Highland
I'm torn here, because if you're going to go out and see ASU target Connor Murphy play, watching him try to defend the smash-mouth style of Desert Ridge with his 6-7 frame seems like a great opportunity to get to know more about the 2016 three-star DE. Here's the thing though- Murphy is a known quantity, and there are a couple of under-the-radar gems out at Perry High that warrant attention. First, 2016 LB Case Hatch is one of the best and most exciting LBs in the state, and he'll be someone who makes an impact wherever he plays at the next level. Second, 2018 DB Kenny Fultz played on varsity as a freshman, and managed to pick off both Bryce Perkins and Ryan Kelley last year. The way it's going, he's going to headline the 2018 recruiting class. Plus, Tyler Johnson plays for Highland. Go see Tyler Johnson.
Thursday 10/1- Mountain Pointe at Desert Vista
This is on Cox 7. Watch it on TV if you're not into terrible Ahwatukee traffic. Between 10-13,000 fans show up for this every year. By this point in the season, Isaiah Pola-Mao's younger brother Matthew, a 6-2, 280-pound OL/DL, should be seeing the field. He's the second best incoming high school freshman I've seen do far, behind Pinnacle QB Spencer Rattler.
Friday 10/2- Chandler at Basha
Ryan Kelly vs D1-level talent at defensive back. Chandler CB Kyree Woods is committed to San Diego State, CB Isaiah Swann has an offer from NAU, and safety Teauntae Nash is likely to see some offers come in during the season.
Friday 10/9- Saguaro at Desert Mountain
Kurt Warner is running Desert Mountain's offense this year. Byron Murphy taking on a pro-style offense and talented WR in Warner's son Cade should be a great indication of Murphy's readiness to contribute as a freshman wherever he lands.
Thursday 10/15- Liberty at Chaparral
Every so often, ASU puts an offer out to a Chaparral player. This year is was DE Brandon Jamison, who ultimately committed to UC Davis. You never know- he could have a change of heart, and this one's on TV, so give it a watch. 2017 Chaparral QB Grayson Barry is also a guy who's flown under the radar a bit, but is talented enough to play collegiately.
Friday 10/16- Basha at Hamilton
The usual suspects again... Basha's Ryan Kelley and Hamilton's Garrett Rand, but by this time you should also have your eye on Hamilton DB Kyeler Burke, who will have spent an entire season as an offense-to-defense convert. If he can have a solid game against Basha, he'll cement his status as a D1-worthy athlete, something many, including myself, felt he could have accomplished in his hybrid HB/WR role.
Friday 10/23- Highland at Mountain Pointe
Have you seen 2017's Isaiah Pola-Mao or Tyler Johnson yet? No? Shame on you. Here's your chance to see them both at the same time, and if Tyler Johnson is still a WR, then you could possibly see Pola-Mao used in a way that helps Mountain Pointe contain him.
Thursday 10/29- Brophy at Basha
DE Connor Murphy hunting QB Ryan Kelley, and it's on Cox 7. Don't miss out.
Friday 10/30- Hamilton at Chandler, OR Cactus at Sunrise Mountain (West) sleeper SDO at Saguaro
If you've never been to a Chandler/Hamilton rivalry game, I highly recommend it. It's the best environment Arizona High School football has to offer outside in the Phoenix-metro outside of Mountain Pointe/Desert Vista. If you have, why not try something new and head out to the west side to see 2017 QB Chase Cord, a guy I believe ASU will pursue in the event they don't land Ryan Kelley for the 2017 class. Cord is Sunrise Mountain's QB, and games against Cactus are always filled with a ton of scoring.
