Chandler Hamilton wide receiver Roye Oliver III and Chandler Basha kicker Mikey Barth have been named high school football preseason first-team All-Americans by USA TODAY.
Basha offensive lineman Jake Hildebrand was listed by the national publication as second team preseason All-American. Goodyear Desert Edge edge rusher Jalanie George and Queen Creek Casteel punter Nolan Balke were named to the third team.
The Arizona Interscholastic Association high school football season starts this week for small schools (3A, 2A,1A) and next week for big schools (6A, 5A, 4A).
All five players made The Arizona Republic's preseason All-Arizona team entering the 2026 season. The Republic, which is part of the USA TODAY network, participated in the national selection
process.
Oliver, who has reclassified his graduation from 2028 to 2027 and has committed to USC, opens the season on Aug. 27 with the Huskies against Phoenix Brophy Prep at Phoenix Central. He is rated by The Republic as the No. 1 wide receiver in the state.
Barth is rated the No. 1 kicker in the state by The Republic. Hildebrand, the top-rated offensive lineman in Arizona, and Barth lead a loaded Basha team at home against Chandler on Aug. 29 in an ESPN-televised game.
George leads a loaded Desert Edge defense at Cave Creek Cactus Shadows to open the season on Aug. 27.
Balke, a Washington commit, will be punting for Casteel at home in its opener on Aug. 27 against Mesa Red Mountain.
Richard Obert has been covering high school sports since the 1980s for The Arizona Republic. Catch the best high school sports coverage in the state. Sign up for Azcentral Preps Now. And be sure to subscribe to our daily sports newsletters so you don't miss a thing. To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at richard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter:@azc_obert
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona football players named USA TODAY Preseason All-Americans
