Highlights
- John Ortega, owner of PHH Prep and Arizona Select, says parents prioritize exposure camps over skill development.
- Ortega's program has produced 305 college players, including 118 Division I athletes and 9 NBA players.
- Former South Sudan native Matur Dhal credits PHH with his path to a Division I scholarship and now coaches there.
- Ortega recommends players train more than they compete and seek out coaches rather than chasing rankings.
Phoenix basketball trainer John Ortega says the biggest obstacle facing young Arizona players isn't a shortage of talent, it's parents funneling money and time into exposure tournaments instead of skill-building. Ortega owns and operates PHH Prep and Arizona Select, programs that have sent more than 305 players to college basketball, according to azfamily.com.
Ortega told Arizona's Family that players are leaning on external rankings rather than developing their own games. "They overdo it. I'll be honest with you, like, you got to worry about your players. They should train a lot more than they should play," he said. His prescription: play less, and play where the coaches are, not where the biggest recruiting websites are watching.
The program's track record backs the approach. Of those 305 college players, Ortega said 118 reached Division I and 9 are now in the NBA, including former Arizona Select standout Oso Ighodaro, who played at Marquette before reaching the league.
Not every player is on an NBA track, and Ortega said that's the point. Matur Dhal arrived from South Sudan as a teenager, found his way to PHH, earned a Division I scholarship, and graduated debt-free. He now coaches at the facility. Dhal told Arizona's Family the scholarship meant everything to him and that he considers Ortega a father figure.
Ortega said the program's goal is to give every player the best experience possible at whatever level they can reach. A coaching staff working across a wide range of ages handles development well before the college recruiting window opens.
Arizona's Family reported the story Sunday.
Sources
Every factual claim in this article traces to one of the sources below. See how we work for the editorial process.
- AZ Family (3TV/CBS5) retrieved 14/09/2026 01:39
Authored by The Scottsdale Signal. Drafted by AI from primary-source material under our beat-specific editorial guides; reviewed by humans before publish under our five-gate process. Sources retrieved at 14/09/2026 01:39. Every claim traces to a source.
