Sunnyslope's all-time greatest boys basketball players
Phoenix Sunnyslope’s gym is named after Dan Mannix, who led the Vikings to their only state basketball championship in 2002 and 2009.
He had a few superstars along the line, before giving way to one of his former players, Ray Portela, who has transitioned well, keeping the program strong.
It’s hard to narrow down an all-time team at a school that has built such a rich tradition. This is based on not just talent, but what kind of teammate he was, how hard he worked in practices and games, how they raised the level of play from teammates.
Related: South Mountain's greatest players | Mesa Mountain View | Phoenix East | St. Mary's | Corona del Sol | North | Carl Hayden | Southern Arizona
But here’s my all-time Sunnsylope team:
FAB FIVE
No. 1 Jon Simon, G, 2002
The catalyst of Sunnyslope’s first state championship team in 2002, he is now an attorney in Phoenix. Simon’s jersey was the first to hang on the gym wall. He averaged 24 points his sophomore year, then gave up points for assists and steals his final two seasons. He was as clutch as anybody in school history in crunch time. He starred in college at Colgate.
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No. 2 Perry Bellaire, F, 1985
He was the biggest part of one of the greatest Mannix teams that didn’t win a state championship during a season that featured Mitch Smith at Phoenix Alhambra and Sean Elliott at Tucson Cholla. This was considered a heyday in Arizona schoolboy basketball, and Bellaire emerged as an All-Arizona performer. Bellaire was a hustling, tough, do-everything player who got it done on offense and defense, and went on to star in college at Redlands, where he was twice named to the all-conference team.
No. 3 Royce Woolridge, G, 2010
School’s all-time leading scorer, the 6-foot-3 guard was twice All-Arizona and led Phoenix Sunnylope to the 2009 state championship as a junior. He averaged 28 points and 29 points his last two years. He could hit from outside and drive inside for dynamic dunks. Extremely athletic he went on to Kansas, before transferring to Washington State, where he put up some good numbers. He finished his college career at Grand Canyon University last year.
No. 4 Todd Golden, G, 2002
One of the greatest leaders in Sunnyslope history. He kept the locker room in order. He also shot the deepest 3-pointers in school history, and usually made them. Incredible range. He became the go-to scorer on that 2001-02 state championship team. Went on to a fabulous career at Saint Mary's College. He is now a college coaches, which is not a surprise.
No. 5 T.J. Campbell, G, 2006
The 5-foot-9 athlete starred not only in basketball but in football at wide receiver. He could have played in college in either sport. He chose basketball, which has now led him to a pro career in Australia. Campbell was a jet on the court, maybe the fastest player Mannix ever coached. If only Mannix could get him to shoot more. He was very unselfish and dazzled with his passes. But he was capable of scoring binges. He went on to a good college career at Glendale Community College and the University of Portland.
OFF THE BENCH
No. 6 Michael Humphrey, F, 2014: Athletic 6-foot-9 forward led the Vikings to the Division I semifinals his senior year, averaging 16.7 points and 11.5 rebounds. Now a big contributor as a sophomore forward on Stanford’s basketball team.
No. 7 John Graves, C, 1979: Powerful 6-10 player who could shoot outside. Stood out in the heyday of schoolboy basketball in Arizona, and went on to play at Cincinnati and Baylor.
No. 8 Marty Whitfield, G, 1984: Showed coach Mannix how a guard utilized the new 3-point line when he lit up from outside as a 6-1 guard.
No. 9 Mark Popejoy, F, 1989: One of the strongest players Mannix ever coaches, he once took a charge that knocked him unconscious in a game.
No. 10 Paul Briggs, G, 1984: One of the best pure shooters in Sunnyslope history, he came from a talented basketball family.
Reach Obert at richard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-460-1710. Follow him at twitter.com/azc_obert.
