Winter Preview: Arizona boys teams, players to watch

It’s a bit of a transition time in Arizona.

The pull of club soccer has some of the state’s top players on the fence if they will be able to compete for their high schools. Add in that the state’s top program, Brophy Prep, is going through a coaching change, it’s a bit difficult to isolate the best of the best at this point. However, here’s where things stand a few weeks prior to the 2021-2022 season:

TOP TEAMS
1. San Luis — San Luis pushed Brophy Prep to a shootout in the state final last year before losing, which ended the squad’s perfect season. With All-State first-teams Roberto Uribe and Erick Quirarte returning, San Luis gets the label as preseason favorite.

2. Brophy Prep — This perennial regional and national power figures to remain a favorite in Arizona despite the graduation of four first-team all-state players, including Player of the Year Charlie Cobb. The key players to watch will be forward Chase Jackson Chase Jackson F Millbrook | 2024 NY , a junior, and senior midfielder Jack Brown.

OTHERS: Chaparral, Salpointe Catholic, Corona del Sol, Sunnyside, Chandler, Hamilton.

PRESEASON BEST XI

GK Simon Turner Simon Turner GK AZ , Chandler, Jr.

D Santiago Ballesteros, Salpointe Catholic, Sr.

D Charlie Gilbreath, Saguaro, Sr.

D Erick Quirarte, San Luis, Jr.

M Isaac Barreno Isaac Barreno M AZ , Chandler, Jr.

M Jack Brown, Brophy Prep, Sr.

M Aran Garza Aran Garza M AZ , Corona del Sol, Jr.

F Luke Hanes, Red Mountain, Sr.

F Aysa Hanid, Chaparral, Sr.

F Chase Jackson Chase Jackson F Millbrook | 2024 NY , Brophy Prep, Jr.

F Roberto Uribe, San Luis, Sr.

NOTES: Uribe is the frontrunner for Player of the Year after coming off a first-team showing last season. He scored 10 goals and had five assists in 13 matches while leading San Luis to a state runner-up finish. Hanes is another early Player of the Year candidate. He scored 13 goals and five assists in 11 matches last season.