3A Ball Hawks

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Take a look at some small school 3A kids that proved to be ball hawks throughout the 2024 season: </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Aidan Wayas</strong>, DB, Wickenburg '25</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wayas led the state in 3A for picks, snagging 10 INT's on the year and playing a major role on the success of 7-3 Wickenburg, who just suffered a first round playoff loss. He did a great job understanding zone responsibilities and took away that deep third, frequently forcing PBU's on those vertical routes. <img class="wp-image-1556910" style="width: 250px" src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/04/Screenshot-2024-04-25-at-17-15-13-2025-and-2026-Tight-Ends-to-Watch-in-the-Fall-Prep-Redzone-crop-649x426-1722361948-crop-641x421-1724162185-crop-627x412-1725467656-crop-623x410-1731337268-crop-615x404-1731454534.png" alt=""></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Andre Smith</strong>, DB, Monument Valley '25</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Smith had himself a huge year on the defensive side of the ball, picking off 7 passes. Along with his solid year defending the pass game, Smith also racked up 48 total tackles as a DB, as he ending up 5th on the team in total tackles. A solid year from a small school kid up North. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Mason Hererra</strong>, DB, Payson '25</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hererra did a great job and was a major factor on the success of that stout Payson defense and that Payson team as a whole, helping them go 8-2 and make the playoffs. He had 7 INT's o the year and displayed good range and speed with solid route recognition, frequently putting himself in position to make a play on the ball and did a great job taking the correct angle and avoiding undercutting or overshooting. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Pedro Marentes</strong>, DB, Mohave '26</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Marentes picked off 6 passes this season, establishing himself as one of the best upcoming DB's in 3A in the 2026 class. Marentes will enter next season as a threat on the defensive side of the ball, as opposing QB's are going to have to account for his range and ball skills when they decide to let it fly. Excellent leaping ability as he frequently showed the ability to jump up and pluck balls out of the air or punch through hands of longer, lengthy WR's. Really impressive DB with a ton of potential moving forward.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://twitter.com/pedro_marent1/status/1835030107507085335">https://twitter.com/pedro_marent1/status/1835030107507085335</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1145572' first='Connor' last='Lueker'], ATH, Round Valley '25</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lueker has been a game changer for round valley and has led them to the 3A quarterfinals due to his production on both sides of the ball. He's racked up 6 INT's and translates that QB IQ to the defensive side of the ball extremely well, providing him with excellent play, concept, and route recognition as an OLB. Just a good ll around athlete and a pure football player, as he doesn't hesitate t come downhill and lay a hit either. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->