GOODYEAR – Desert Edge High School’s athletes are receiving more attention from colleges after its 5A state championship win last season. At the center of the spotlight is Scorpions star cornerback Camren Hamiel.
Hamiel, Arizona’s top high school prospect, came off his best season with three interceptions (including a pick-six against Verrado), 50 tackles and three passes deflected. On June 4, he officially committed to Texas A&M.
“Giving it my all and playing both sides,” Hamiel said. “I’m ready to put all that on display. I want to lead my team to the state championship, I want us to win it and when it’s all said and done, some type of player of the year like the Gatorade Player of the Year. I want to put a big mark and award on my name.”
In the offseason, Hamiel earned over 35 Division I offers from successful college football programs such as Tennessee, Alabama and Oregon. He was humbled by the offers but continues to focus on what he can control.
With his senior year approaching, Hamiel is focused on his final season for reasons beyond the football field. He’s not only succeeding for himself, but for his family name and for his older brother, who was on the same mission.
“Coming from where I come from, there wasn’t a lot to go around,” Hamiel said. “I’m doing it to go to the NFL and take care of my family. That’s the same reason my big brother did it and he didn’t finish the job. I always look at it like it’s my turn. I have to finish the job.”
Penn State ranked in the top four schools on Hamiel’s commitment list. He felt welcomed by the entire organization from his first steps on campus.
Even as the highest ranked player in Arizona, onlookers could assume he receives special treatment, but that is not the case, according to Hamiel. Colleges treat every player the same no matter how great they are coming out of high school.
“That doesn’t matter,” Hamiel said. “Once you get there, it’s like every kid is number one in the state. It’s not like I get extra cool points for being the number one player. At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter because they’re recruiting a bunch of kids just like me.”
Teammates such as his best friend and Desert Edge safety Antonio “Tarzan” Para are proud of how hard he’s worked to get better every season. The two have only known each other for a little more than a year, but their chemistry has been described as unbreakable. It helps that they both play on the same side of the ball.
They first met at EōS Fitness. They intimidated each other at first because they saw each other as competition. Over time, they realized that they were working for the same goal: to go pro. Since recognizing that, they’ve been training together to help each other improve.
Camren Hamiel 2024-2025 season highlights.
“It speaks for itself,” Para said of Hamiel’s confidence and potential. “Schools can see what he can do on the field. He can play it all. He already looks college ready and many people mistake him for a college player already. His energy’s contagious.”
Desert Edge football coach Henri MacArthur has worked with Hamiel for the past few years. He has helped mold Hamiel into a true corner by being supportive and critical of the small details. He’s seen growth in his maturity, leadership, and support of other teammates.
MacArthur believes in the potential that Hamiel will bring to Texas A&M.
“He’s created the opportunities through hard work,” MacArthur said. “He created his own successes, his own recruiting and has a lot of God-given abilities. He’s really worked to maximize his ability and make himself the number one recruit in the state of Arizona. I’m incredibly proud of Cam for his success.”
For his final season at Desert Edge, Hamiel strives to build his playing resume to help other athletes across the nation and be known not only for his playing style but for his charisma while showing Texas A&M a preview of next season.
“Keep going,” Hamiel said of athletes working for scholarships. “I can’t stress it enough. There were a lot of nights that I didn’t want to keep going. At first, I had a bad mindset. Don’t let anybody tell you that you can’t do it. Your mindset is what’s going to be carrying you in the bad times.”
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