On the seventh annual Part 7 Crew Camp, two groups anticipated to be among the many finest of their respective state, The Villages Constitution (The Villages, Fla.) and Crespi (Encino, Calif.), captured main division titles on the Arizona Athletic Grounds in Mesa, Ariz.
The Part 7 Crew Camp is a staple on the NCAA’s June Scholastic Stay Interval calendar and it did not disappoint. As soon as once more, a plethora of highschool expertise was evaluated in entrance of a throng of NCAA faculty coaches and nationwide scouts. For a handful that stood out, it actually took their recruitment to the following degree within the hours after the annual occasion in The Valley.
With different key occasions, specifically the NBPA High 100 Camp and USA Basketball tryouts, surrounding the primary of two June reside interval dates (the opposite being June 26-28), in some ways Part 7 is a battle of attrition. The elite gamers that may intestine it out for his or her scholastic workforce and assist it win in the end helps their teammates get evaluated and seen by at the very least a number of of the reported 680 faculty coaches that got here by way of the doorways on the Arizona Athletic Grounds in Mesa., Ariz. Continuity and successful issues and here is a rundown of the groups that blended expertise and teamwork to win main division titles on the final of three days of analysis.
Metropolis of Mesa DivisionThe Villages Constitution (Fla.) 70, Centennial (Corona, Calif.) 68|
The Villages had a terrific displaying at this occasion in 2025 and it helped put this system on the nationwide map, with lots of its standouts upping their profile with faculty coaches. The identical factor as soon as once more occurred in 2026, however this time The Villages took house the Part 7 {hardware} after developing simply brief as bridesmaids to Salesian (Richmond, Calif.) final June.
The Villages did have a standout lineup with veterans and a number one participant in 6-foot 2027 guard Aaron Britt Jr., nevertheless it was a rising sophomore (2029) who was the breakout participant. Not solely did 6-foot-5 2029 wing Zayden Garcia enhance his profile, he hit the large shot to assist ship his workforce a significant division title towards Centennial, one other veteran membership with a 2029 breakout. Actually, Garcia was a significant difference-maker within the title recreation by draining 5-of-5 3-pointers and ending with a team-high 21 factors.
Centennial’s Carter Brown, a 6-foot-7 2028 ahead, tied the sport at 66-66 within the closing minute on a flip round soar shot, however Garcia nailed his fifth 3-pointer on the following possession to place The Villages in management for good. The Villages went up 40-29 at halftime, however the Huskies battled again to tie the sport after trailing 54-41 with 10 minutes remaining within the second half.
The Huskies‘ breakout 2029, 6-foot-4 combo guard JuJu Williams, nailed 4 3-pointers and completed with a team-high 19 factors. Kai Patton, a 6-foot-3 2028 leaper, added 17 factors.
For The Villages, Britt was the catalyst after enjoying in a co-starring position final yr with ahead Herly Brutus (now at Butler). Final yr, Britt went for 11 level within the title recreation vs. Salesian, however nailed 3-pointers and went for 17 factors and 5 assists on this yr’s title recreation. Much more in order that his stats, Britt put his stamp on the match together with his dominant play-making for himself and others. He was coming off a standout efficiency on the 2026 Pangos All-American Camp and completed with averages of 23.8 ppg and 6.8 apg at Part 7. That included a 20-point, 4-assist efficiency in a 61-57 first spherical win over St. Joseph (Santa Maria, Calif.), a 33-point, 6-assist efficiency in a 66-55 quarterfinal win over defending champ Salesian and a 25-point, 12-assist efficiency in a 70-64 semifinal victory over La Mirada (Calif.). Britt instructed Ballislife he hasn’t but narrowed down his listing of faculties.
„Pangos was a terrific occasion, I believed the competitors was excessive degree and to make High 30 after which come right here and being round my highschool workforce, my guys, I could not ask for something extra,“ Britt mentioned. „Main my workforce to a title and serving to my guys get seems, that was nice. I am not going to lie, serving to my guys feels good.“
The participant that helped himself most final yr on the Villages was 6-foot-7 2027 wing Jomar Bernard, and he as soon as once more he performed effectively. He had eight factors within the title recreation and 15 within the semis vs. La Mirada and averaged 11.5 ppg in 4 victories.
The Villages coach Colt McDowell was happy to see his workforce recover from the hump this yr and likewise singled out the play of 6-foot-5 2028 capturing guard Miles Simpson.
„Miles performed effectively and Jomar had an enormous and-1 and boxed out on a key play down the stretch.“
The small issues are what matter in a detailed recreation, and people small nuances of the sport are what faculty coaches will take away from this occasion extra than simply stats or measurables.
Slam Graphics DivisionCrespi (Encino, Calif.) 79, Columbus (Miami, Fla.) 69 (Double OT)
The Explorers have been trying to return to Florida because the second main title winner amongst FHSAA faculties regardless of solely having six gamers in Arizona, however a final second foul on a 3-point try throughout the first extra time spelled doom for the short-handed membership. With the victory, Crespi gained a Part 7 title for the third consecutive yr.
Sebastian Garcia, a 6-foot-3 2027 guard and Columbus‘ seldom used reserve, fouled Crespi’s Carter Barnes, a 6-foot-2 2027 guard, with 0.4 seconds remaining in extra time and his workforce trialing 69-67. He made two of three free throws to ship the sport right into a second additional interval and the sport unraveled after Columbus‘ Martin Simko, a proficient 6-foot-11 2028 ahead, fouled out with 47.6 seconds remaining within the second extra time. The difficulty was 7-foot-1 2027 heart Akol Nyok had already fouled out so it left coach Jorge Milo with our 4 out there gamers. He protested the decision and was given a technical and the sport was basically over, as Columbus didn’t rating within the second extra time.
Tai Bell, a 6-foot-2 2028 combo guard and the son of former NBA participant Raja Bell, hoped Milo did not get hit with a technical as a result of he instructed his teammates they weren’t going to lose after sending the sport to extra time with a step by way of lay-up with 4 seconds remaining in regulation. He transformed quite a few sturdy drives and completed the title recreation with 17 factors. Bell had 18 factors within the 85-76 semifinal victory over defending division champ Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks, Calif.).
So far as long run prospects go, 7-foot 2028 energy ahead Martin Sibal was among the finest on the occasion together with his mixture of ability with each fingers and vary on his capturing stroke. In opposition to Notre Dame, he had two 3-pointers and 11 factors and went for 10 factors within the title recreation. Six-foot-6 2028 small ahead Jordan Fisher performed effectively for Columbus as effectively, with 12 factors vs. Crespi and 19 factors vs. Notre Dame.
For champion Crespi, it was arguably essentially the most cohesive unit in any division with a veteran membership trying to seize the 2026-27 Mission League and CIF Southern Part Open Division title. The Celts weren’t involved with particular person stats, however have been eager on successful to assist the roster be seen in a good gentle amongst faculty coaches. It positively labored as 6-foot-9 heart Rodney Mukendi and 6-foot-4 2027 wing Jasiah Williams have been two of the most important stock-risers over the weekend. Nickon Daei, a 6-foot-3 2027 guard, additionally caught the attention of decrease degree faculties together with his heady play.
Crespi, which defeated Damien (La Verne, Calif.) within the semifinals 59-50, received 19 factors from Mukendi on Saturday night. Isaiah Barnes, Carter’s twin brother and Crespi’s most highly-honored participant in 2025-26, led the best way vs. Damien with 22 factors. Isaiah had three 3-pointers and completed with 25 factors vs. Columbus, together with seven made free throws within the two overtimes. Williams additionally had three 3-pointers and completed with 21 factors within the title recreation.
Presenting your Part 7 Delano Household Bracket Champions. Congratulations @PaliBoysHoops. 🏆🏀#Section7 | #WhereTalentMeetsOpportunity pic.twitter.com/5bV0HTeYkH
— Part 7 (@Section7Az) June 14, 2026
Delano Household DivisionPalisades (Pacific Palisades, Calif.) 69, Pinnacle (Phoenix, Ariz.) 63
Not like final yr when Millennium (Phoenix, Ariz.) gained a second consecutive main division Part 7 title, resident Arizona groups had a harder go-around in 2026. Pinnacle was one workforce that was trying to seize a title on Sunday morning in a little bit of sudden vogue. After three sturdy victories, nonetheless, the glass slipper lastly fell off towards the defending L.A. Metropolis Part open division champions.
The main gamers for the Dolphins, 6-foot-5 2027 guard E.J. Popoola and 6-foot-1 2029 guard Phillip Reed Jr., made large performs and made well timed pictures all through the weekend, nevertheless it was position gamers that stepped up and helped Palisades end unbeaten. With 3:16 remaining within the recreation and Pali clinging to a one level (55-54) lead, 6-foot 2027 guard Jack Levey hit his third of three 3-pointers to provide the Dolphins a 4 level lead. Matt Burton, a 6-foot 2028 guard, transformed a area objective in the important thing to provide his workforce a 61-54 lead and hit two free throws with 25 seconds remaining to as soon as once more make it a two possession recreation at 66-62.
„We wanted it from these guys as a result of it was an extended weekend,“ Palisades coach Jeff Bryant mentioned. „We have been short-handed, so it is at all times subsequent man up. Jack [Levey] was stepping up all weekend.“
Palisades was enjoying with out E.J.’s twin brother, 6-foot-5 O.J. Popoola (ankle harm). E.J. completed the title recreation with 17 factors and made some nice secondary defensive performs, whereas Reed led the best way with 22 factors. Reed wills himself into the important thing together with his downhill assault and is a clutch shot-maker. Levey completed with 15 factors, whereas Burton added 12 factors, together with two first half 3-pointers.
Pinnacle’s prime participant throughout the weekend was 6-foot-6 2028 small ahead Rhys Robinson. He completed the title recreation with 18 factors, whereas Cameron Damage, a 5-foot-11 2027 level guard, hit three 3-pointers and completed with 25 factors.
AIA DivisionRedondo Union (Redondo Seaside, Calif.) 61, Parker (San Diego, Calif.) 49
The Seahawks defeated the 2026 CIF San Diego Part open runner-ups behind a terrific efficiency from main participant Chris Sanders, a 6-foot-5 2027 ahead who cam dominate video games together with his energy strikes across the basket. He led the best way with 22 factors. JuJu Patterson, a 6-foot-1 2028 combo guard, topped off a great weekend with 11 factors within the title recreation.
Parker was led all weekend lengthy by New Mexico commit Tavid Lee Johnson, a 6-foot-3 2027 guard who might develop right into a 2027 California Mr. Basketball candidate with a powerful senior marketing campaign. Johnson completed the title recreation with 22 factors. He had 20 factors within the 56-55 semifinal win over Loyola (Los Angeles) and averaged over 9 rebounds and 4 assists throughout his workforce’s 4 video games over the weekend.
Columbus Parker, a 5-foot-11 2028 guard, and Beau Crew, a 6-foot-6 2027 energy ahead, have been two different occasion standouts for Parker.
ASEC DivisionBrentwood (Los Angeles, Calif.) 75, San Joaquin Memorial (Fresno. Calif.) 68
It was a aggressive recreation between two profitable packages that got here all the way down to the wire. Brentwood, which led 31-29 at halftime, took a double-digit lead halfway by way of the second half however the Panthers made yet another push earlier than falling brief. SJM lower its deficit to 4 factors (60-56) on a layup by 6-foot-5 2028 wing Dominick Olanrewaju, however Brentwood’s Ethan Hill, a strong 6-foot-7 2028 ahead with nimble toes, answered with a standard 3-point play with 1:46 remaining to maintain the defending CIF D2 state champs at bay.
Hill completed with 24 factors, whereas A.J. Okoh, a fast-rising 6-foot 2027 level guard with good grades, led the best way on the perimeter with 36 factors. Okoh’s body is getting stronger and he has no points exploding by defenders and ending in the important thing. Hill and Okah mixed to make 18-of-22 free three throws. Okah was lately supplied by Loyola-Chicago and San Diego St. and UC-Irvine have proven enhance curiosity.
Brentwood additionally received two key second half 3-pointers from 6-foot-2 2027 guard Auggie Sugarman, among the finest shooters within the ASEC Division. One other nice shooter was SJM’s Ty Schalk, a 6-foot-2 2027 sniper. He hit three 3-pointers within the second half vs. Brentwood and was on hearth within the 73-72 semifinal win over Parkrose (Portland, Ore.). He completed the title recreation with 21 factors whereas Olanrewaju had 28 factors.
ABCA DivisionBakersfield Christian (Calif.) 78, Marin Catholic (Calif.) 57
A terrific trio of standouts off the defending CIF NorCal D2 champions return and all three of them confirmed effectively throughout the weekend. Faculty coaches know all about 6-foot-8 2027 energy ahead Taiwo Daramola, however BCHS’s backcourt additionally turned heads with its play, notably 6-0 2028 level guard Braylen Smith. He is fast with a terrific first step and regular with the ball and did a great job as a arrange man whereas additionally guarding the ball at a excessive degree. Jeremias Killebrew, a 6-foot-4 2027 capturing guard, additionally made large performs and well timed pictures for Bakersfield Christian.
BCHS rolled within the title recreation and have been by no means actually challenged after main 47-33 at halftime. Additionally they defeated a top quality Somerset Losee (Las Vegas, Nev.) workforce within the semifinals, 71-52. Within the title recreation, Killebrew netted 20 factors and Daramola completed with 16 factors.
Ronnie Flores is the nationwide Grassroots editor of Ballislife.com. He could be reached at [email protected]. Do not forget to comply with him on Twitter: @RonMFlores
