Corona del Sol might have its best basketball team yet

Where does Tempe Corona del Sol's basketball team go after losing four-year starting point guard Casey Benson?

Right back where it has been the past three seasons, as the premier team in the state.

The ingredients are there to have possibly its best team yet.

There is 6-foot-7 senior wing Dane Kuiper, still a defensive enforcer, who will be taking on a much bigger scoring role.

There is sophomore point guard Alex Barcello, doing basically what Benson did the past three years when he led Corona del Sol to Division I championships, knocking down 3s and playing selflessly with toughness and poise.

There is 6-11 and growing freshman Marvin Bagley III daring opponents to drive the lane with his shot-blocking abilities and spinning around defenders with a quick first step for reverse dunks.

In Corona del Sol's 82-49 rout of Scottsdale Chaparral for eight-team Prime Time tournament championship Saturday at Tempe High, all of that and more was on display, making it hard to believe anybody from Arizona will even come within 10 points of beating the Aztecs next season.

Corona del Sol, in Saturday's final, made 16 of its first 19 shots with Barcello and Kuiper taking turns burying 3-pointers. Kuiper didn't miss a shot in the first half when he had 21-points. Barcello missed only one shot on his way to 20 first-half points, as Corona del Sol went up 58-29.

After it got to a 74-33 lead with about 13 minutes left, coach Sammy Duane Jr., pulled all of his starters for the rest of the game.

Kuiper, firmly committed to New Mexico, finished with 27 points.

"I'll have to become a little more of a scorer, and a passer and defender," Kuiper said. "I think we'll be a better transition team."

That is saying something because Corona del Sol didn't lose to an Arizona opponent last season, because of its great transition game.

Defending, running, shooting threes -- that may get ramped up even more in the 2014-15 season.

"With Casey leaving, I definitely have to lead the team more, knowing that I'm the point guard," Barcello said. "I have to tell guys where to be on the floor, what to do. I'm not only trying to get myself to improve but I'm trying to help the other guys improve, too."

Guard Isaiah Bolden is very good in transition, and power forward Cassius Peat will be looking for his fourth state championship ring. He is a major-college football prospect at tight end and linebacker with the ability to rebound and make tough shots in the paint.

"Guys are finding their roles and we shot the ball really well today," Duane said.

They shot so well that Sammy Duane Sr., always a fixture at his son's games, quipped, "The first one to miss comes out of the game."

Corona del Sol's only June loss came in the final of the Grand Canyon University team camp against Phoenix Shadow Mountain in the final. But Corona del Sol didn't have its top six players for that game. Kuiper was at New Mexico's camp that day. And Duane wanted to rest the others because they had already played eight games in two days and he wanted to see who could take a rotation spot.

"Dane sacrificed his role last year," Duane said. "Alex sacrificed his role last year. Now they're going to see what they really can do. And the other guys are stepping into their roles."

Bagley, rated by some recruiting services as the No.1 2018 player in the country, gives Corona del Sol a great inside presence on offense and defense.

It's been a bit of a transition for the big man, who this week received an offer from national champion Connecticut.

Once he fills out more with maturity, Bagley could be the most dominant big man ever to come through Arizona. He already has the skills and a great first step that allows the left-handed forward/center to spin around defenders for dunks.

"Playing against a lot of big guys, they try to rough you up," Bagley said. "I just have to stand in there stronger."

On the U-Conn offer, Bagley said, "I'm really blessed. I just want to get better at my game."

Phoenix Desert Vista edged Phoenix Sunnyslope 59-57 in the consolation championship, as Sunnyslope senior guard Sammy Barnes-Thompkins' contested 3 at the buzzer rimmed out.

Desert Vista is making a transition under new coach Tony Darden, who came over from Scottsdale Coronado, where he gave life to a dying program in two seasons.

Phoenix Shadow Mountain, without junior All-Arizona point guard Michael Bibby (rehabilitating from knee surgery), beat Phoenix Pinnacle for third place.