Skyline associate boys basketball coach Dustin Cooper is expected to be named Mesquite’s new varsity coach following approval during Tuesday night’s Gilbert school district board meeting.
Cooper would replace John Burns, who left after two seasons to take over the Basha program. Burns went 27-26 in his tenure with the Wildcats.
Cooper was also the junior varsity coach and is the Assistant Executive Director of the Arizona Basketball Coaches Association. He coordinates the ABCA All-Star games, which showcase the state’s best players in a string of exhibition matchups. This year’s games will …

The other big-time boys basketball tournament at the end of December has also nailed down its participants.
Defending tournament champion Brophy will return, led by forward Tim Kempton.
Gilbert Christian, the Division III state champions, are joining the fray this year. The Knights lose seniors Connor Patterson and Logan Fougnies, but return Sam Jones, Roberto Reyes and Dylan Bliss. Jones and Reyes are two of the top sophomores in the state.
Highland will be there, with small forward Jake Toolson, who has multiple scholarship offers, including one from Boston College.
Other teams that have …

The VisitMesa.com Basketball Challenge has set its field for December’s prestigious boys basketball tournament, according to tournament director Marc Beasley.
The in-state schools are: Pinnacle, Corona del Sol, Red Mountain, Dobson, Mountain View, Desert Vista, Mountain Pointe, Salpointe, Gilbert and Basha.
The out-of-state schools are: Ontario (Canada) Waterloo Collegiate Insititute; Toledo (Ohio) St. John’s Jesuit;  San Diego Hoover; Eugene (Ore.) Churchill, Lexington (S.C.) and Mercer Island (Wash.).
The sixth annual tournament runs from Dec. 26-29 at Mountain View.
Corona del Sol is the defending Division I state champion and proved itself as the favorite …

Chaparral is entering its second week of spring football practice with a new identity.
The Firebirds have won three straight state titles and should be in the mix again next year, but won’t be the heavy favorites of a year ago.
Much has changed with the defections of coach Charlie Ragle and stars Connor Brewer, Davonte Neal, Jarvis Lewis, Lucas Petrullo and Dylan Cozens.
Here’s the latest from coach Dave Huffine, who was promoted from offensive coordinator when Ragle left for a job with Arizona:
* There is going to be a three-way battle …

One week to go.
In exactly seven days (May 14 at 7:30 p.m.) the Division I (and Division II) softball state champions will be crowned at ASU’s Farrington Stadium (a fine place to hold a couple championship games). For two schools, the dream of playing inside a college stadium for 90 percent of softball players will be realized. For the fortunate few, it could be an appetizer for what they’ll be lucky enough to experience at the college level.
A few different paths will diverge to reach next Monday. One school only …

Rumors persist surrounding the possible transfer of Basha point guard Jaron Hopkins, an All-Tribune first-team selection who averaged 21.8 points, 7.0 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 5.3 steals per game last year.
I spoke to his father, Brian, a few minutes ago and he said Jaron is still at the school.
“Nothing’s changed,” Brian said. “At this point, he’s still a Bear.”
Brian said there is a possibility that Jaron joins Westwind Prep’s newly created national team, which would be an All-Star team of sorts intended to play competitively against some of the nation’s …

Mesquite has interviewed prospective boys hoops coaching candidates and could choose a new coach by the end of the week, athletic director Jason Grantham said in an email.
The Wildcats have a vacancy because John Burns left for Basha last month.
Mesquite went 14-12 last season and missed the postseason. Burns was 27-26 in his two years as coach.
The Wildcats will lose their top four leading scorers to graduation. Sophomore Tre Myles (4.3 points, 2.1 rebounds) is the top returner.
 

Former Saguaro football standout Brock Haman is transferring to Arizona State from Arkansas, he said Saturday.
The 6-foot-3, 225-pound linebacker chose the Razorbacks out of high school, but decided to leave after coach Bobby Petrino was fired for off-field transgressions.
Haman hurt his foot last season as a true freshman and redshirted, and will apply for a hardship to play right away because of the situation surrounding Petrino’s dismissal. Normal transfers have to sit out for a season, but Haman believes he may get to play because Petrino’s firing was not performance-related.
“I …