Former Arizona guard Corey Williams, who played at the UA from 1992 to 1996, continues to direct the Tucson Summer Pro League, and he's impressed by the high school talent showing up this year.

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Before Jordan Hill has a chance to play against LeBron James or Kobe Bryant, he went up against Terrell Stoglin.

Just three days after being drafted in the first round by the New York Knicks, the former Arizona Wildcats power forward played Sunday in the Tucson Summer Pro League. On the other team was Stoglin, a senior-to-be from Santa Rita High School who averaged 27 points last season.

It was just another day in the TSPL. In its sixth year, the 10-team league runs from June 19 to Aug. 2, though it takes this weekend off. The games, which do not compromise a college athlete's eligibility, are held at Northwest Center.

Stoglin, who has verbally committed to Maryland, has played three games as a "floater," filling in on teams that are short one player.

Tucson's first major Division I male basketball commitment in about 20 years thinks it's the best game in town. Here's why:

1. It beats traveling. The point guard figures to spend the next two weeks on the road — from Los Angeles to Cincinnati and back again — in camps and playing in AAU tournaments. It's the reality of being a star in Tucson, not exactly a high school basketball mecca.

"Tucson basketball is starting to get better, slowly but surely," he said. "The Pro League has a lot to do with that."

Stoglin said the league is the best game in Southern Arizona.

"In the Pro League you have competition — guys who played overseas and in college," he said. "That's pretty much the best competition we get in town."

2. There's good young talent. League director Corey Williams, who played at the UA from 1992 to 1996, can't remember a year with so many good high school players.

"I don't really follow high school basketball at all," he said. "There's some good, talented kids in town. It's been surprising to me to see these kids come out and play very well against grown men."

Over three games, Stoglin has scored 32 points on 56 percent shooting.

Williams said the talent level of high school players isn't markedly better than when he was a prep, but the experience gap is huge.

"They've logged thousands of more hours of basketball than someone like myself did at that age," he said. "Now with the emergence of AAU basketball and club teams and personal trainers, kids are much more advanced. They've been playing so much basketball."

3. The college players aren't bad, either. Almost every returning UA player has participated in the league, from Jamelle Horne to Brendon Lavender to Garland Judkins.

Stoglin has played alongside former UA swingman Hassan Adams and against Hill.

"It was a fun time, to play against them and with them," said Stoglin. "But honestly it wasn't anything special to me."

The best high school player in Southern Arizona isn't wowed by collegiate counterparts.

At the TSPL, that's the point.

"It's real cool because you get to play against some of the top players in the city," he said. "Everyone's older. Everyone's faster. Everyone's stronger."