Senior captains Steven Wambach and Dawson Simon lead an experienced Buena group looking to make the most of a season years in the making.
The 2026-27 high school basketball season may still be around the corner, but the Buena Colts gave GC3 Hoops an early look at a group that appears ready to compete.
Buena participated in the Inaugural GC3 Hoops Southern Arizona Fall Jamboree, an event designed to give programs an opportunity to build chemistry, compete against quality opponents and enjoy some basketball fellowship before the winter season officially begins. The field matched six Phoenix-area prep programs against six Tucson-area teams, creating several intriguing early-season matchups.
The Colts made the most of their opportunity.
Buena picked up a victory over Prize Academy before going toe-to-toe with Hillcrest National, falling just short in a competitive 42-41 game. While fall results are only a preview of what teams can become over the next several months, Buena showed enough to make one thing clear:
The Colts ain’t no joke.
Senior Captains Set the Tone
At the center of Buena’s expectations are senior guards Steven Wambach and Dawson Simon, the Colts’ captains and two prospects college coaches should have on their radar this season.
Wambach brings significant offensive versatility to the backcourt.
According to Buena’s coaching staff, Wambach is a high-level shooter who has developed into a legitimate three-level scoring threat. His ability isn’t limited to catching and shooting from the perimeter. He possesses enough ball-handling ability to create space, attack defenders and consistently work his way to his preferred spots on the floor.
What makes Wambach particularly intriguing is that his production extends to the defensive end. He rebounds the basketball exceptionally well for a guard and has demonstrated impressive timing as a shot blocker, with the ability to produce one or two blocks in a game.
For a senior guard, that combination of shooting, scoring versatility and defensive activity gives college programs plenty to evaluate.
Simon brings a different dynamic.
The senior guard has established himself as an elite perimeter defender, combining instincts, quickness and defensive intelligence. More importantly, Simon appears to embrace that responsibility.
He serves as Buena’s defensive captain and has become what the coaching staff describes as the heart and soul of the team.
Don’t mistake his defensive reputation for a limited offensive game, either.
Simon is a more-than-capable perimeter shooter and has produced multiple games in which he has connected on five or more three-pointers. That combination of perimeter defense, shooting and leadership could make him an especially valuable prospect for programs searching for guards who can impact winning without needing to dominate the basketball.
Juniors Ready to Step Forward
Buena’s senior captains may headline the roster, but the Colts aren’t simply a two-man operation.
Keep an eye on juniors MJ Humes, Eli Avechuco and Kaden Lea.
The trio fills out Buena’s starting lineup alongside its veteran leaders and represents an important piece of the Colts’ ceiling this season. Their continued development could determine just how dangerous this team becomes once the games begin to count.
With Wambach and Simon providing senior leadership, Buena has the opportunity to bring those younger pieces along without requiring them to carry the entire load.
That balance of experience and emerging talent makes the Colts an intriguing team to follow.
A Season Four Years in the Making
There is also something deeper behind this Buena group.
For head coach Baker, this season represents the culmination of a four-year journey.
This is his fourth season leading the Colts, meaning many of the players preparing to finish their high school careers are the same players who entered Buena as freshmen when Baker took over the program.
“I’m excited to see how far this team can go. This is my fourth year as the head coach at Buena, so this is the group of guys that came in as freshmen when I did.”
That creates a different level of investment in the season.
These aren’t simply seniors on a roster. They’re players who have grown alongside the program and their head coach.
There is a personal element as well. Baker’s son, Roman Baker, is part of the team, making the upcoming season one his family will remember regardless of where the journey ultimately ends.
“My son Roman Baker is on the team, and I want him and his brothers to have the best season possible.”
That reference to his players as brothers says plenty about what Buena is building.
The Colts’ performance at the Southern Arizona Fall Jamboree was only an early preview. There will be practices, adjustments, adversity and plenty of basketball between now and the end of the season.
But the pieces are there.
Two senior captains who impact both ends of the floor. Three juniors ready to establish themselves. A coach entering Year Four with the group that arrived alongside him. And a program that showed against Phoenix-area competition that it isn’t interested in backing down from anyone.
The winter season will tell us just how far Buena can go.
For now, one thing is certain:
Keep an eye on the Colts. Buena ain’t no joke.
