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Over the years, we’ve seen local high school players make and break records, take home state titles and cement their legacies at their respective schools.

So, when it came time to pick the top boys high school basketball players of the last 25 years in Tucson, it wasn’t an easy task.

Of course, a few names could easily make an all-time list, like ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ legend Sean Elliott, who began his unforgettable career as a Cholla High School standout, or current Desert Christian High School standout Tyson Dobbins, who just passed 2,000 career points as a junior.

But that’s a list for another time.

Here are our picks for a team of 15 players who left their mark on local high school basketball from 2000-25. Plus, a legendary coach to lead them.

STARTING FIVE Terrell Stoglin, Santa Rita

Before Terrell Stoglin became an international basketball player, he was just a kid hooping it up at Santa Rita. But even as a kid, he was putting up unforgettable stats. During his high school career, he scored a city-record 2,911 points with 96 wins as a four-year varsity starter. He also had a career average of 25.9 points, 5.8 assists and 2.7 rebounds per game. The guard capped his career with a state championship in 2010.

Bryce Cotton, Palo Verde

When you think of high school basketball in the early 2010s, a few names come to mind, including Palo Verde’s Bryce Cotton. Although Cotton didn’t win a state championship during his time with Palo Verde, he helped the Titans reach the semifinals in 2010 and finish the season with over 20 wins. The varsity guard averaged 25.6 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists per game. Cotton would eventually play for the Utah Jazz, Phoenix Suns and Memphis Grizzlies in the NBA before playing for his current team, the Perth ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥, in Australia.

Nate Renfro, Sahuaro

Sahuaro’s Nate Renfro is the ideal small forward this All-Quarter Century Team needs. His versatility helped lead the Cougars to a 23-win season in 2014-15, where Renfro logged 460 points and 256 rebounds in his final year. Throughout his high school career, he averaged 11.7 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game. During his senior year in 2014-15, those averages shot up to 16.4 points, 9.1 rebounds and 4.1 assists. Renfro later dabbled in the NBA G League and eventually signed a training camp contract with the San Antonio Spurs, but was later waived by the team.

Deion James, Empire

Empire standout and forward Deion James averaged 16 points, 8.9 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game throughout his high school career. During his senior year in 2014-15, he put 572 points on the board, bringing his career total to 1,650 points. James earned countless awards throughout his time as a Raven, including numerous “Player of the Game� nods and even MaxPreps’ “Player of the Year� award in 2015. He went on to play collegiate basketball with North Carolina A&T, Colorado State and Washington State.

Will Menaugh,

Catalina Foothills

Capping off our starting lineup is Foothills’ Will Menaugh, who helped lead the Falcons to their first state championship during his senior year in 2021. During his time at Foothills, he averaged 15 points, 8 rebounds and two assists per game. Menaugh earned first-team all-conference honors and was named ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ 5A Player of the Year during his senior year. If his name rings a bell more recently, you may remember him from his time with the ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ men’s basketball team from 2021-24.

THE BENCH Sam Beskind, Catalina Foothills

Catalina Foothills’ Sam Beskind took the Falcons to the state semifinals during the 2017-18 season. Although the team fell in the semis to Salpointe Catholic, Beskind and the Falcons achieved a 20-plus-win season. Throughout his career, the 6-2 guard averaged 22.1 points, 11.7 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game. He was also named a finalist for the ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Boys Player of the Year award. Beskind later played collegiate basketball for Stanford and the Colorado School of Mines.

Gabe Gaxiola, Tanque Verde

When Gabe Gaxiola’s final high school basketball game ended in a loss, he didn’t let it keep him down for long. He described his final season as “memorable� and told the Star that he would “miss it all.� Memorable is an understatement when it comes to Gaxiola’s final season as a Hawk. Throughout his senior year in 2014-15, he averaged 20.9 points, 2.4 rebounds and 3 assists per game. At the time, the Star reported that he was averaging 24.9 points per game. Gaxiola also earned numerous first-team honors as a Hawk.

Evan Nelson,

Salpointe Catholic

The early 2000s and 2010s weren’t the only eras with stellar local basketball players. 2020 Salpointe graduate Evan Nelson led the Lancers to the school’s first-ever basketball state championship. Throughout his high school career, Nelson averaged 19.4 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game. He ended his time at Salpointe with a cool 1,414 points and the 4A Kino Region’s Player of the Year award. After high school, he played collegiate basketball for Harvard. He announced earlier this year that he would be returning to Tucson this fall to use his final year of eligibility at the University of ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥.

David Jackson,

Rincon/University

Rincon’s David Jackson was one of the dominating figures in local high school basketball in the early 2000s. The 2006 graduate was named the ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Daily Star’s 2005-06 Boys Basketball Player of the Year. During his time at Rincon, Jackson averaged 17.9 points, 9.6 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game. He also helped Rincon earn second place in the 2006 4A (Div. I) state high school basketball championship. Jackson later played basketball for Idaho and Louisiana Tech.

Tim Derksen, Amphitheater

Former Gatorade ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Player of the Year Tim Derksen makes our list after leading the Amphi Panthers to a 114-16 record throughout his four years with the team. He competed in multiple state championship tournaments, taking home the title in 2011. Throughout his high school career, he averaged 15.8 points, 8.2 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game. During his standout senior year in 2011-12, his averages shot up to 22.6 points, 11.3 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game. In college, Derksen played for San Francisco and went on to play professionally for the Antibes Sharks in France.

Majok Deng,

Salpointe Catholic

In 2015, longtime ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Daily Star columnist Greg Hansen told readers to remember the name of then-14-year-old Majok Deng because he was destined to be a top prospect. He was right. Deng, a South Sudan native, led the Lancers in back-to-back state tournaments in 2017 and 2018. Despite not taking home the titles, Deng still had a fantastic career at Salpointe, averaging 15.4 points (17.4 points during his senior year), 7.9 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game. He earned numerous regional honors and was named Player of the Year his senior year. Deng played collegiate basketball at Pepperdine following graduation.

Lester Medford, Amphitheater

Lester Medford is another Amphi standout (alongside Tim Derksen) who had a successful career as a Panther. Throughout his high school career, Medford averaged 15.3 points, 2.8 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game. In 2011, he was named the ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Daily Star’s Boys Basketball Player of the Year after helping Amphi take home the state title earlier that year. After graduating, he most notably played basketball for Baylor. He currently plays professionally in Europe.

Jorge ‘Abram’ Carrasco, Cholla

The ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Daily Star dubbed Jorge Carrasco, now known as Abram, as “Southern ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥â€™s most electric player“ in 2015. With Carrasco in tow, the Chargers went 25-2 (winning 21 straight) in 2014-15, which was one of the best records in the school’s history. During his final year at Cholla, Carrasco averaged 22.7 points, 4.3 assists and 2.9 steals per game. He also scored 25 points or more over 10 times. Carrasco went on to play basketball at Pima Community College.

Matt Korcheck, Sabino

Matt Korcheck is another familiar name when it comes to high school (and UA basketball). The Sabino standout produced around 16.2 points, 9 rebounds and .9 assists per game during his senior year in 2009-10. Throughout his whole high school career, he averaged 13.8 points, 8.7 rebounds and 1 assist per game. Korcheck earned multiple honors throughout his time at Sabino, including first-team All-4A (Div. I) Sonoran Region honors. After high school, Korcheck joined the ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ for three seasons, redshirting his first season.

D.J. Shumpert, Santa Rita

Rounding out our list is Santa Rita star D.J. Shumpert, who helped the Eagles go 27-4 during his senior year in 2007-08. During his final year at Santa Rita, he averaged 11 points, 10.9 rebounds and 10.6 blocks per game. Among his many athletic accolades are Hoop Scoop’s ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Defensive Player of the Year and earning a McDonald’s All-American nomination. After he graduated from Santa Rita, Shumpert joined the ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥, becoming the first homegrown athlete to join the program on a UA basketball scholarship since 2000-01, the Star previously reported.

COACH Dick McConnell, Sahuaro

There are plenty of amazing local high school basketball coaches who could thrive in this role, but one coach stood out from the rest. Our quarter-century high school boys basketball head coach pick is none other than Sahuaro’s Dick McConnell. The longtime head coach led Sahuaro to four state championships, including back-to-back titles in 2000 and 2001. McConnell’s career spanned nearly 40 years, during which he set a state record with 774 wins. His achievements earned him spots in the ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Coaches Association Hall of Fame and Pima County Sports Hall of Fame. McConnell officially retired in 2007 after 39 years with Sahuaro. He died at 89 in 2019, but his legacy lives on through high school hoopers throughout Southern ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥.