MOUNTAIN VIEW TOROS TOP 10 ALL TIME BASKETBALL PLAYERS
Mesa Mountain View's all-time greatest boys basketball players
It's rare to find incredible individual players in Mountain View's team concept, but 10 emerge in ranking the school's greatest all-time players.
Richard Obert
azcentral sports
Ageless coach Gary Ernst, who has won 823 games in his career (through Dec. 29) -- more than any coach in Arizona boys basketball high school history – has led Mesa Mountain View to seven state championships. It's been an incredible run, and the tireless coach still has the same impact on kids today as he did in 1976, when he led Chandler to his first state championship.
It's always been about getting the highest percentage shot, never forcing the action, playing tough defense and rebounding. It is rare for a player to stand out in Ernst's system, but so many over the years definitely did.
Here is my list for Mountain View's all-time starting five:
No. 1 Harper Kamp, 6-8, F/C, 2007
He was The Arizona Republic's Big Schools Player of the Year as a sophomore, when Mountain View began a streak of three consecutive state championships, going 32-1, capping it with a 69-53 victory over a Phoenix St. Mary's team that featured a young Jerryd Bayless. Kamp was the epitome of team player, but he was a strong, go-to guy in the paint, showing off explosive moves and a nice touch. He went on to a very good career at California.
No. 2 Scott Bray, 6-0, G, 1991
Bray broke the mold, and averaged 25 points his senior season. It's rare for any Mountain View player to average more than 20 points a game. But he was a such a great shooter. That scoring average still ranks as the best in school history. He led the Toros to the state semifinals, before falling to 32-0 Phoenix South Mountain and Brian Fair in '91.
No. 3 Kenny Crandall, 6-3, PG, 1998
He was the leader of the 1997-98, 34-win state championship team that Ernst calls the greatest team in Mountain View history. That team also feature future Arizona State and NFL tight end Todd Heap. Crandall could score every which way, but when the Toros needed a big 3, he delivered. He played his freshman year at ASU, went on a two-year church mission, then returned to ASU, finishing his career in 2004 with 93 career made 3-pointers.
No. 4 Kendall Wallace, 6-3, G, 2007
Wallace teamed with Kamp as the Toros' dynamic duo on those three straight state championship teams. One of the greatest pure, clutch shooters in state history. He had 18 points in that state championship win over St. Mary's his sophomore year. He averaged 17.9 points and four assists on the 29-win 2006 team, then finished his career with 28 points in a 78-60 state championship victory over St. Mary's in 2007. He went on to play at UNLV.
No. 5 Brendon Lavender, 6-4, G, 2008
Lavender had a big hand on Mountain View's 2006 and '07 championship teams, then broke out as one of the school's all-time great players his senior season when he made All-Arizona and landed a scholarship to Arizona. Lavender was a springy, heady player who could score outside and slash inside for baskets. But it was his defense that stood out most to Ernst.
Five to frame:
Tanner Shell, 6-6, G/F, 1999: An all-everything player who went on to become a starter at ASU his freshman year.
Brady Richeson, 5-10, G, 1999: One of the school's greatest all-time shooters.
Stephen Rogers, 6-8, F, 2006: Big-game player who came up huge in 80-50 championship rout of Tempe Corona del Sol.
Camyn Boone, 6-6, F/C, 2012: Tremendous power player.
Payton Dastrup, 6-9, C, 2014: Holds school career and season rebounds record.