One of Arizona’s most successful prep basketball programs has a new home, a new name, and the same championship expectations.
In basketball, programs come and go. Schools close, coaches move on, and circumstances change. But tradition, relationships, and the impact made on student-athletes do not disappear overnight.
That is the story unfolding in South Phoenix.
Eduprize may have closed its high school doors, but the basketball program built through years of winning, development, and opportunity is not going away. Instead, it is entering a new chapter under the name Prize Academy.
For years, Eduprize established itself as one of the premier prep basketball destinations not only in Arizona, but throughout the West Coast.
The program initially entered the prep basketball scene under Phil Lowe, who helped establish its foundation and credibility. The program would later be elevated under Christian Polk, whose leadership helped expand the Eduprize brand and bring national attention to the program, including an adidas partnership backed by NBA star and Arizona native James Harden.
Following Polk’s departure, Ashton Thomas stepped into the head coaching position.
What followed was not simply a continuation of what had already been built.
Thomas created stability, consistency, and his own winning legacy.
A Championship Standard
Thomas became the longest-tenured head coach in Eduprize basketball history and helped establish a culture where competing for championships became the expectation.
Over a six-year period, Thomas and the program accumulated an impressive résumé:
- 200+ victories
- 3 State Championships
- 3 Coach of the Year awards
- 3 Border League Championships
- 4 Regional Championships
- 25+ student-athletes earning college basketball scholarships
Those accomplishments tell only part of the story.
Prep basketball programs are ultimately measured by what happens to their players after they leave.
Eduprize consistently provided athletes with an opportunity to develop, compete against quality competition, gain exposure, and position themselves for the college level.
Among the program’s notable alumni are AJ Thomas (Loyola Marymount University), Jahki Gupton (Norfolk State), Khalon Johnson (New Mexico Highlands University) and numerous other student-athletes who continued their basketball and academic careers beyond high school.
The wins mattered.
The championships mattered.
But helping young men earn opportunities to continue their education through basketball may ultimately be the program’s greatest accomplishment.
An Unexpected Ending
Despite the success of the basketball program, circumstances outside of basketball eventually created uncertainty about its future.
Eduprize administration made the decision to close its high school operation while shifting its focus toward expanding its K-8 education and programming.
For many programs, that type of announcement could have marked the end.
Years of history could have simply become memories.
Players could have been forced to scramble for new schools.
Coaches could have gone in different directions.
Instead, Coach Thomas immediately began working toward finding a way to preserve what had been built.
The question became simple:
Where does the program go from here?
Finding a New Home
Thomas connected with GC3 Hoops’ George Courtney III and Hillcrest Prep’s Nick Weaver as conversations began about potential solutions for keeping the program together and providing it with a path forward.
A plan was eventually presented that could give Thomas and his program something extremely important: stability.
That plan became reality.
The program officially transitioned to PTAA in South Phoenix, located near 20th Street and Roeser Road, providing Thomas and his players with a new home and an opportunity to continue building upon the foundation established over the previous several seasons.
With the move came a new identity.
Prize Academy.
And while the name has changed, the expectations have not.
Prize Academy Is Born
Prize Academy represents more than simply changing the name on the front of a jersey.
It represents survival.
It represents evolution.
And most importantly, it represents an opportunity for student-athletes.
The program is being built upon the historical tradition and success that Thomas and his staff established during their time at Eduprize.
The championships still matter.
The relationships still matter.
The college placements still matter.
The standard remains.
Now, the next generation of athletes will have an opportunity to add their names to that history while building a new tradition of their own.
The Prize Academy Eagles will continue competing in the CAA Open Division, where the program expects to remain among Arizona’s most competitive basketball programs.
There will undoubtedly be challenges that come with transitioning to a new campus, establishing a new brand, and building a new identity.
But there is also something powerful about starting fresh without having to start over.
Coach Thomas isn’t beginning from zero.
He brings with him six years of experience, more than 200 victories, championship banners, college relationships, credibility within Arizona basketball, and—most importantly—a proven ability to develop student-athletes.
That foundation gives Prize Academy something most new programs spend years trying to establish.
A winning culture from Day One.
The Next Chapter
There is a saying in sports that adversity reveals character.
When Eduprize announced the closure of its high school, there were two possibilities.
The program could disappear.
Or those responsible for building it could find another way.
They chose another way.
That is what makes this story bigger than basketball.
Programs aren’t simply buildings.
They aren’t logos.
They aren’t uniforms.
Programs are people.
They are coaches investing countless hours into student-athletes. They are families trusting those coaches with their children. They are players developing together through practices, road trips, victories, defeats, championships, and adversity.
A building can close.
A name can change.
But a culture can continue.
Eduprize basketball created a legacy that deserves recognition for what it accomplished and for the opportunities it provided to student-athletes throughout Arizona and beyond.
Now Coach Ashton Thomas gets the opportunity to write another chapter.
The jerseys may change.
The location has changed.
But the mission remains the same: develop student-athletes, compete at a championship level, create college opportunities, and prepare young men for what comes next.
Eduprize has folded.
But from what was built there, something new has risen.
Prize Academy is here.
And if history is any indication, don’t expect the Eagles to simply participate.
Expect them to soar.
