Rilee Vargas is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Sunnyslope High School for AZPreps365.com

 

Just six months ago, the Sunnyslope boys basketball team walked off the court after a loss to the Perry Pumas in the Arizona Open State Championships.

Yet the Vikings continue to turn heads heading into the 2025-26 season this fall.

Over the summer, Sunnyslope competed in several tournaments across the West Coast, including Section 7. At the event, the Vikings advanced to the semifinal game in the toughest division — the AIA bracket — before falling to The Villages from Florida.

Head coach Ray Portela, entering his 17th season, has established a disciplined standard for his program.

“Just working hard, playing as a team and playing smart," Portela said. "That's basically how we approach everything.”

Last season, Sunnyslope finished 21-9 overall and went 7-1 in the 6A Conference, tying Millennium for the best record. The Vikings’ season ended with a 63-44 loss to Perry in the state championship game.

Senior guard Rider Portela said the team is determined to raise its level this year.

“We just need to increase the intensity where we have to think nobody is going to beat us,” Rider said. “Everyone thinks we are going to win, but now we got to prove it this year.”

Sunnyslope faced several top programs from across the country last season, including nationally ranked St. Mary’s and St. John Bosco.

Coach Portela said those challenges helped prepare his team for what lies ahead.

“We don't really talk about wins and losses," Ray said. "We just talk about playing to the best of our ability and playing hard and together. It's never a given.”

This fall, the Vikings return most of their roster from last season. Rider Portela, Ray’s son, recently committed to the University of Colorado Boulder. The 6-foot-6 guard exceeded expectations at Section 7 and has seen a surge of college interest since.

“I didn't really have any of these college offers my freshman or sophomore year,” Rider said. “I worked my butt off in the gym, and it showed.”

Sunnyslope also features junior center Darius Wabbington, who stands 6-foot-10 and is ranked No. 20 in ESPN’s Class of 2026 recruiting list. Wabbington holds several Division I offers, including from Texas and Arizona.

Junior point guard Delton Prescott also returns to the lineup after leading the Vikings in scoring during last year’s title game. Prescott has drawn interest from Arizona State University and the University of California, Berkeley.

“Having a lot of guys back means we don't have to teach as much,” Ray said. “We can really go deeper into our learning and into new things.”

Sunnyslope opened its season Dec. 5 against Mesa High School.

“We just want to get better every day and win our next game,” Ray said. “We just focus on what we are doing and we execute what we need to do.”