Brad Cesmat
Alex Barcello is going through the natural progression of an elite athlete aspiring to reach the highest of heights. No, he’s not changing high schools (smart). He is changing club basketball teams, but it’s a big shift for the point guard at Corona Del Sol, who is the top junior prospect in the State.
Barcello is leaving his Team Bayless roots and taking his club ball talents to the Nike funded Oakland Soldiers starting next Spring.
This is more about Nike being able to put Barcello into the pipeline for future events like the Jordan game and McDonald’s Classic when his high school career is finished up with the Aztecs. The Soldiers have had a few Arizona high school kids play for them in years past including former Highland star Nick Johnson. The Oakland Soldiers are best known for being one of Lebron James’ club teams back in the day.
The Soldiers have a VERY strong tie to the Arizona Wildcats program. Former UofA stars Aaron Gordon and Stanley Johnson both played their club ball with Oakland.
Barcello was shut down from playing for three weeks recently for residual swelling in an ankle injury that he suffered over the summer. He has been cleared and is back working out with the Aztecs.
While Barcello will have an opportunity to play college ball at most schools across the country, he’s looking closer at programs like Stanford and Virginia. A recent visit to Colgate to see his sister Julia, who’s on a basketball scholarship for the Raiders, left Barcello seeing the value of support staff once a basketball career on the court is finished.
