Arizona men's basketball recruiting target named National Sophomore of the Year

Goodyear Millennium guard and Arizona recruiting target Adan Diggs was named by MaxPreps as the National Sophomore of the Year. Last year, Mesa's Kyi Kyi Miles was named by MaxPreps as the National Freshman of the Year out of the 2028 class.

Arizona has continued to emerge on the national map, producing top talent and teams. Phoenix Sunnyslope big man Darius Wabbington was named to MaxPreps' All-Junior National team first team. Wabbington, on April 3-5, competed in the USA Basketball Junior National Team April minicamp in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Phoenix St. Mary's senior Cameron Williams was named second-team All-American in the senior class by MaxPreps. Williams, a McDonald's All-American, was one of three finalists for the Gatorade National Player of the Year.

Diggs leads MaxPreps' Sophomore All-American team. Miles made second team.

Millennium coach Rich Thornton knew right away when Diggs came over from Williams Field last summer to lead the Tigers that he was special.

"I tell anybody who ever asks me about him, he is what it looks like," Thornton said. "That's what they look like.

"He's different. He's uber-talented, and he's got the attributes that go with it. He's got the size and length and athleticism, and, most importantly, the work ethic. There's a reason why he's the best player in his class."

Diggs, ranked No. 1 in the nation in the 2028 class by Rivals, averaged 22 points for the Tigers this past season. He dropped 33 points on Phoenix St. Mary's in the Open Division state semifinals, before Mick Riordan advanced the Knights to the final on a buzzer-beating 35-footer.

"He puts in the time," Thornton said. "Nobody sees or hears him getting to the gym at 5 in the morning to get workouts. He'll stay late in the gym until 10 o'clock at night. He puts in the effort. That's why he is who he is."

There's a chance that Diggs could reclassify up to the 2027 class. If he does, Thornton said he is sure that Diggs will be ready.

"He has that as an option to class up to '27, if he chooses to do so," Thornton said. "If he doesn't, he'll be that much more of a beast for two years of high school. He'll be more than ready to go, if he chooses to reclass up, for sure."