No. 5 Wasatch Academy season ends to No. 4 AZ Compass Prep in GEICO Nationals quarterfinal

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Wasatch Academy and senior leader Nolan Hickman held Arizona star TyTy Washington well below his average in the first half of the Tigers' GEICO national high school invitational opener Thursday afternoon. 

But the No. 5-rated point guard in the Class of 2021 refused to be held down for long.

Washington, one of the country's top unsigned prospects, filled up the box score with 22 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, two steals and a block to rally AZ Compass Prep from a 10-point second-half deficit to down Wasatch Academy, 59-54 Thursday at Suncoast Credit Union Arena in Fort Myers, Florida. 

Glenn Taylor Jr. added 13 points, eight rebounds and five steals for the Dragons, who improved to 28-1 and advanced to face top-seeded Montverde Academy (Fla.) in Friday’s semifinals. Fousseyni Traore had 20 points, five rebounds, three steals and a block to lead Wasatch Academy (18-7). The BYU signee converted on his first eight shots from the field, most of them set up by Hickman, who finished with 4 points, four rebounds and a game-high nine assists with two steals while playing with four fouls. 

“I thought we played a pretty good defensive game,” Wasatch Academy coach Paul Peterson said. “I wish our offense could’ve helped our defense a little more. But I thought we did a really good job defensively until they hit a couple of big shots late.”

That defensive intensity started with Hickman, who controlled the game on both ends of the court until he picked up his fourth foul around the end of the third quarter. 

“Defensively, he was locked in, And offensively, he had us flowing,” Peterson said of Hickman, the Kentucky signee who became the first-ever McDonald’s All-American in Tigers program history. “He was really controlling the game before he got that fourth foul, and then he started cramping.” 

Five-star junior Richard “Pop” Isaacs, Jr. added 10 points, four rebounds and four assists, and Ohio State commit Roddy Gayle, Jr. had 7 points and three rebounds for Wasatch Academy, which jumped out to a 14-7 after the first quarter and led 27-18 at halftime.

The loss wraps up the season for Wasatch, and the careers of seniors Traore, Hickman, Armbrester, Casey Jones, Cole Jessee and Brennan Rigsby. Though some — like Hickman and Armbrester — didn't spend their full careers at the Mount Pleasant, Utah-based prep school, all left a mark on the Tigers' 109-year-old program history through the most challenging schedule in school history.

“It was a good balance," Peterson said. "Fouss was the senior of seniors, having been here for so long, and it really helped everyone out. Nolan’s only 17 years old, but he’s mature well past his age. And the toughness that Casey brings was remarkable. 

“Brennan is the ultimate captain and leader. He’s selfless in every aspect of life. Robbie’s ability to bring everybody together was crucial, and he was the glue for everyone. And Cole was the senior of seniors, with a good attitude and always helping everyone out.”