Section 7: The Villages, Crespi Bag Division Titles

At the seventh annual Section 7 Team Camp, two teams expected to be among the best in their respective state, The Villages Charter (The Villages, Fla.) and Crespi (Encino, Calif.), captured major division titles at the Arizona Athletic Grounds in Mesa, Ariz.

The Section 7 Team Camp is a staple on the NCAA’s June Scholastic Live Period calendar and it didn’t disappoint. Once again, a plethora of high school talent was evaluated in front of a throng of NCAA college coaches and national scouts. For a handful that stood out, it literally took their recruitment to the next level in the hours after the annual event in The Valley.

With other key events, in particular the NBPA Top 100 Camp and USA Basketball tryouts, surrounding the first of two June live period dates (the other being June 26-28), in many ways Section 7 is a battle of attrition. The elite players that can gut it out for their scholastic team and help it win ultimately helps their teammates get evaluated and noticed by at least a few of the reported 680 college coaches that came through the doors at the Arizona Athletic Grounds in Mesa., Ariz. Continuity and winning matters and here’s a rundown of the teams that blended talent and teamwork to win major division titles on the last of three days of evaluation.

City of Mesa Division
The Villages Charter (Fla.) 70, Centennial (Corona, Calif.) 68|

The Villages had a great showing at this event in 2025 and it helped put the program on the national map, with many of its standouts upping their profile with college coaches. The same thing once again happened in 2026, but this time The Villages took home the Section 7 hardware after coming up just short as bridesmaids to Salesian (Richmond, Calif.) last June.

The Villages did have a standout lineup with veterans and a leading player in 6-foot 2027 guard Aaron Britt Jr., but it was a rising sophomore (2029) who was the breakout player. Not only did 6-foot-5 2029 wing Zayden Garcia improve his profile, he hit the big shot to help deliver his team a major division title against Centennial, another veteran club with a 2029 breakout. In fact, Garcia was a major difference-maker in the title game by draining 5-of-5 3-pointers and finishing with a team-high 21 points.

Centennial’s Carter Brown, a 6-foot-7 2028 forward, tied the game at 66-66 in the closing minute on a turn around jump shot, but Garcia nailed his fifth 3-pointer on the next possession to put The Villages in control for good. The Villages went up 40-29 at halftime, but the Huskies battled back to tie the game after trailing 54-41 with 10 minutes remaining in the second half.

The Huskies’ breakout 2029, 6-foot-4 combo guard JuJu Williams, nailed four 3-pointers and finished with a team-high 19 points. Kai Patton, a 6-foot-3 2028 leaper, added 17 points.

For The Villages, Britt was the catalyst after playing in a co-starring role last year with forward Herly Brutus (now at Butler). Last year, Britt went for 11 point in the title game vs. Salesian, but nailed 3-pointers and went for 17 points and five assists in this year’s title game. Even more so that his stats, Britt put his stamp on the tournament with his dominant play-making for himself and others. He was coming off a standout performance at the 2026 Pangos All-American Camp and finished with averages of 23.8 ppg and 6.8 apg at Section 7. That included a 20-point, 4-assist performance in a 61-57 first round win over St. Joseph (Santa Maria, Calif.), a 33-point, 6-assist performance in a 66-55 quarterfinal win over defending champ Salesian and a 25-point, 12-assist performance in a 70-64 semifinal victory over La Mirada (Calif.). Britt told Ballislife he hasn’t yet narrowed down his list of colleges.

“Pangos was a great event, I thought the competition was high level and to make Top 30 and then come here and being around my high school team, my guys, I couldn’t ask for anything more,” Britt said. “Leading my team to a title and helping my guys get looks, that was great. I’m not going to lie, helping my guys feels good.”

The player that helped himself most last year on the Villages was 6-foot-7 2027 wing Jomar Bernard, and he once again he played well. He had eight points in the title game and 15 in the semis vs. La Mirada and averaged 11.5 ppg in four victories.

The Villages coach Colt McDowell was pleased to see his team get over the hump this year and also singled out the play of 6-foot-5 2028 shooting guard Miles Simpson.

“Miles played well and Jomar had a huge and-1 and boxed out on a key play down the stretch.”

The small things are what matter in a close game, and those small nuances of the game are what college coaches will take away from this event more than just stats or measurables.

Slam Graphics Division
Crespi (Encino, Calif.) 79, Columbus (Miami, Fla.) 69 (Double OT)

The Explorers were looking to return to Florida as the second major title winner among FHSAA schools despite only having six players in Arizona, but a last second foul on a 3-point attempt during the first overtime spelled doom for the short-handed club. With the victory, Crespi won a Section 7 title for the third consecutive year.

Sebastian Garcia, a 6-foot-3 2027 guard and Columbus’ seldom used reserve, fouled Crespi’s Carter Barnes, a 6-foot-2 2027 guard, with 0.4 seconds remaining in overtime and his team trialing 69-67. He made two of three free throws to send the game into a second extra period and the game unraveled after Columbus’ Martin Simko, a talented 6-foot-11 2028 forward, fouled out with 47.6 seconds remaining in the second overtime. The issue was 7-foot-1 2027 center Akol Nyok had already fouled out so it left coach Jorge Milo with our four available players. He protested the call and was given a technical and the game was essentially over, as Columbus did not score in the second overtime.

Tai Bell, a 6-foot-2 2028 combo guard and the son of former NBA player Raja Bell, was hoping Milo didn’t get hit with a technical because he told his teammates they weren’t going to lose after sending the game to overtime with a step through lay-up with four seconds remaining in regulation. He converted a number of strong drives and finished the title game with 17 points. Bell had 18 points in the 85-76 semifinal victory over defending division champ Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks, Calif.).

As far as long term prospects go, 7-foot 2028 power forward Martin Sibal was one of the best at the event with his combination of skill with both hands and range on his shooting stroke. Against Notre Dame, he had two 3-pointers and 11 points and went for 10 points in the title game. Six-foot-6 2028 small forward Jordan Fisher played well for Columbus as well, with 12 points vs. Crespi and 19 points vs. Notre Dame.

For champion Crespi, it was arguably the most cohesive unit in any division with a veteran club looking to capture the 2026-27 Mission League and CIF Southern Section Open Division title. The Celts were not concerned with individual stats, but were keen on winning to help the roster be seen in a favorable light among college coaches. It definitely worked as 6-foot-9 center Rodney Mukendi and 6-foot-4 2027 wing Jasiah Williams were two of the major stock-risers over the weekend. Nickon Daei, a 6-foot-3 2027 guard, also caught the eye of lower level colleges with his heady play.

Crespi, which defeated Damien (La Verne, Calif.) in the semifinals 59-50, got 19 points from Mukendi on Saturday evening. Isaiah Barnes, Carter’s twin brother and Crespi’s most highly-honored player in 2025-26, led the way vs. Damien with 22 points. Isaiah had three 3-pointers and finished with 25 points vs. Columbus, including seven made free throws in the two overtimes. Williams also had three 3-pointers and finished with 21 points in the title game.

Presenting your Section 7 Delano Family Bracket Champions. Congratulations @PaliBoysHoops. #Section7 | #WhereTalentMeetsOpportunity pic.twitter.com/5bV0HTeYkH

— Section 7 (@Section7Az) June 14, 2026

Delano Family Division
Palisades (Pacific Palisades, Calif.) 69, Pinnacle (Phoenix, Ariz.) 63

Unlike last year when Millennium (Phoenix, Ariz.) won a second consecutive major division Section 7 title, resident Arizona teams had a tougher go-around in 2026. Pinnacle was one team that was looking to capture a title on Sunday morning in a bit of unexpected fashion. After three strong victories, however, the glass slipper finally fell off against the defending L.A. City Section open division champions.

The leading players for the Dolphins, 6-foot-5 2027 guard E.J. Popoola and 6-foot-1 2029 guard Phillip Reed Jr., made big plays and made timely shots throughout the weekend, but it was role players that stepped up and helped Palisades finish unbeaten. With 3:16 remaining in the game and Pali clinging to a one point (55-54) lead, 6-foot 2027 guard Jack Levey hit his third of three 3-pointers to give the Dolphins a four point lead. Matt Burton, a 6-foot 2028 guard, converted a field goal in the key to give his team a 61-54 lead and hit two free throws with 25 seconds remaining to once again make it a two possession game at 66-62.

“We needed it from those guys because it was a long weekend,” Palisades coach Jeff Bryant said. “We were short-handed, so it’s always next man up. Jack [Levey] was stepping up all weekend.”

Palisades was playing without E.J.’s twin brother, 6-foot-5 O.J. Popoola (ankle injury). E.J. finished the title game with 17 points and made some great secondary defensive plays, while Reed led the way with 22 points. Reed wills himself into the key with his downhill attack and is a clutch shot-maker. Levey finished with 15 points, while Burton added 12 points, including two first half 3-pointers.

Pinnacle’s top player during the weekend was 6-foot-6 2028 small forward Rhys Robinson. He finished the title game with 18 points, while Cameron Hurt, a 5-foot-11 2027 point guard, hit three 3-pointers and finished with 25 points.

AIA Division
Redondo Union (Redondo Beach, Calif.) 61, Parker (San Diego, Calif.) 49

The Seahawks defeated the 2026 CIF San Diego Section open runner-ups behind a terrific performance from leading player Chris Sanders, a 6-foot-5 2027 forward who cam dominate games with his power moves around the basket. He led the way with 22 points. JuJu Patterson, a 6-foot-1 2028 combo guard, topped off a good weekend with 11 points in the title game.

Parker was led all weekend long by New Mexico commit Tavid Lee Johnson, a 6-foot-3 2027 guard who could develop into a 2027 California Mr. Basketball candidate with a strong senior campaign. Johnson finished the title game with 22 points. He had 20 points in the 56-55 semifinal win over Loyola (Los Angeles) and averaged over nine rebounds and four assists during his team’s four games over the weekend.

Columbus Parker, a 5-foot-11 2028 guard, and Beau Crew, a 6-foot-6 2027 power forward, were two other event standouts for Parker.

ASEC Division
Brentwood (Los Angeles, Calif.) 75, San Joaquin Memorial (Fresno. Calif.) 68

It was a competitive game between two successful programs that came down to the wire. Brentwood, which led 31-29 at halftime, took a double-digit lead midway through the second half but the Panthers made one more push before falling short. SJM cut its deficit to four points (60-56) on a layup by 6-foot-5 2028 wing Dominick Olanrewaju, but Brentwood’s Ethan Hill, a powerful 6-foot-7 2028 forward with nimble feet, answered with a conventional 3-point play with 1:46 remaining to keep the defending CIF D2 state champs at bay.

Hill finished with 24 points, while A.J. Okoh, a fast-rising 6-foot 2027 point guard with good grades, led the way on the perimeter with 36 points. Okoh’s frame is getting stronger and he has no issues exploding by defenders and finishing in the key. Hill and Okah combined to make 18-of-22 free three throws. Okah was recently offered by Loyola-Chicago and San Diego St. and UC-Irvine have shown increase interest.

Brentwood also got two key second half 3-pointers from 6-foot-2 2027 guard Auggie Sugarman, one of the best shooters in the ASEC Division. Another great shooter was SJM’s Ty Schalk, a 6-foot-2 2027 sniper. He hit three 3-pointers in the second half vs. Brentwood and was on fire in the 73-72 semifinal win over Parkrose (Portland, Ore.). He finished the title game with 21 points while Olanrewaju had 28 points.

ABCA Division
Bakersfield Christian (Calif.) 78, Marin Catholic (Calif.) 57

A terrific trio of standouts off the defending CIF NorCal D2 champions return and all three of them showed well during the weekend. College coaches know all about 6-foot-8 2027 power forward Taiwo Daramola, but BCHS’s backcourt also turned heads with its play, particularly 6-0 2028 point guard Braylen Smith. He’s quick with a terrific first step and steady with the ball and did a good job as a set up man while also guarding the ball at a high level. Jeremias Killebrew, a 6-foot-4 2027 shooting guard, also made big plays and timely shots for Bakersfield Christian.

BCHS rolled in the title game and were never really challenged after leading 47-33 at halftime. They also defeated a quality Somerset Losee (Las Vegas, Nev.) team in the semifinals, 71-52. In the title game, Killebrew netted 20 points and Daramola finished with 16 points.

Ronnie Flores is the national Grassroots editor of Ballislife.com. He can be reached at [email protected]. Don’t forget to follow him on Twitter: @RonMFlores