As I've stated before, I've seen plenty of players all across the nations due to the numerous AAU tournaments I attend and the high school games I watch and I've comprised my list of who I think the best 25 seniors are. I've seen most of these players both this season and last season on the circuit and all of them at least twice.
1. Tyreke Evans 6-5 SG Aston (PA) American Christian – The best guard in his class. Good size. Can score the basketball. Handles it well. Strong. Rebounds well. Not a great athlete but a decent one. Good defender. Has that certain “it”…star potential. Reminds a lot of an inconsistant O.J. Mayo. Will likely decide between Villanova and Louisville.
2. Greg Monroe 6-10 PF Harvey (LA) Helen Cox – Athletic post with good versatility. Handles it well and is a very good passer. Rebounds and blocks shots. Can score inside and step out and hit shots. Very agile. Plays hard. Duke and LSU are big time players.
3. Al Farooq Aminu 6-8 SF Norcross (GA) H.S. – Athletic and versatile forward. Handles it very well and can also hit shots. Good at getting himself to the basket with long strides and finishing above the rim. Committed to Wake Forest.
4. Jrue Holiday 6-3 Guard N. Hollywood (CA) Campbell Hall – A do it all guard. Very athletic and a great scorer. Strong. Strong defender and good rebounder from the perimeter. Uses midrange game and can also shoot the 3. Great teammate. A smaller Eric Gordon with a better midrange game. Committed to UCLA.
5. Samardo Samuels 6-9 Center Newark (NJ) St. Benedict’s – Bouncy post player. Great build. Very athletic. Runs the floor well. Good rebounder. Excellent finisher with good hands. Capable shot blocker. True inside presence. Back to the basket scorer. Committed to Louisville.
6. Brandon Jennings 6-1 PG Mouth of Wilson (VA) Oak Hill – A scoring point guard that can also distribute the ball. Great ball handler. Great passer. Shoots it well. Good at creating when penetrating. Smooth. Carries a “swag” letting you know that he’s the best on the floor. Committed to Arizona.
7. Yancy Gates 6-8 PF Cincinnati (OH) Withrow – Sizey forward with a lot of athleticism. Can handle it and plays above the rim though standing 250 lbs. Rebounds well and skilled around the basket and on the perimeter. Effort is questionable but a true talent. Committed to Cincinnati.
8. Delvon Roe 6-9 Forward Lakewood (OH) St. Edward Michigan St. – Versatile forward. Very athletic. Active on both ends of the floor. Rebounds well. Can hit the outside shot. Good scorer in transition. When his ball handling has improved to enable himself to be a full time perimeter player, he has a chance to be a prime NBA prospect. Committed to Michigan State.
9. Anthony Jones 6-9 Forward Houston (TX) Yates – One of the most athletic forwards in his class. Combines size, athleticism, and the ability to handle the basketball. Has improved a lot on his perimeter skills and has the potential of an NBA all-star. One of the nation's most underrated players. Committed to Texas A&M.
10. Demar Derozen 6-5 SG Compton (CA) H.S. – Very athletic wing. Great 3pt shooter. Good at slashing to the basket. Rebounds well from position. Improving ball handling. Terrific defensive player. Committed to Southern Cal.
11. Malcolm Lee 6-5 PG Riverside (CA) J.W. North – Reminds of Shaun Livingston but smaller with a better shot. Very good sized at the point guard. Handles it well. Very good midrange and 3point shooter. A wizard passing the ball. Long and skilled. Solid athlete. Another very underrated player and prospect. Committed to UCLA.
12. Chris Braswell 6-8 PF Forestville (MD) DeMatha – Strong post player. Runs the floor well. Can shoot the 3. Rebounds well. Good footwork. Good strength. Committed to Georgetown.
13. Drew Gordon 6-8 PF San Jose (CA) Archbishop Mitty – Skilled inside post presence. Great footwork. Good finisher. Runs the floor well. Very good rebounder. Good strength. True post. Committed to UCLA.
14. B.J. Mullens 7-1 Center Canal Winchester (OH) H.S. – Very big post with good skills and solid athletic ability. Runs the floor very well. Has a soft touch on his shot. Good midrange shooter. Rebounds well. Improving footwork. Strong body. Committed to Ohio State.
15. Jerime Anderson 6-2 PG Anaheim (CA) Canyon – Controls the pace of a game. Another point guard with a “swag” displaying his confidence in himself as a player. Can score and distribute the ball. Good ball handler and poised. Committed to UCLA.
16. Elliott Williams 6-4 SG Memphis (TN) St. George’s – Athletic guard. Can score the basketball. Good at attacking the basket and rising for jams. Shoots it well. All the makings of an All-American 2-guard. Doesn’t play hard on a consistent basis. Considering offers from Duke, Memphis, Tennessee, and Virginia.
17. Tony Woods 7-1 Center Rome (GA) H.S. – Long post player. Good inside scorer. Solid rebounder. Capable shot blocker. Very good at following shots. Dunks everything around the rim. Solid athlete. Marcus Camby type center. Committed to Wake Forest.
18. Devin Ebanks 6-8 SF Oakdale (CT) St. Thomas More – Extremely long and athletic wing. Handles it well and can score it. Nice shot. Good defender and rebounder. Needs to add strength. Committed to Indiana.
19. Wesley Witherspoon 6-8 SF Lilburn (GA) Berkmar – Tall and long small forward. Very smooth. Shoots it well. Great handle, especially for size. Good at attacking the basket. Needs to add strength. Auburn, Kansas State, and Clemson are big in his recruitment.
20. Ty Walker 6-11 Center Wilmington (NC) New Hanover – Very athletic post with a trim build. A big time shot blocker. Great helpside defender. Improving offensive game. Adding strength. Very active. Will be a great 4-5 combo with Tony Woods at Wake Forest as Woods is the scorer and Walker is the defender.
21. Ed Davis 6-8 PF Mechanicsville (VA) Benedictine – Athletic forward that blocks shots and can score inside. Runs the floor well. Good rebounder that fights for boards. Committed to North Carolina.
22. Willie Warren 6-4 SG Fort Worth (TX) North Crowley – Athletic wing with sturdy build. Shoots it well. Good at attacking the basket and playing above the rim. Strong with the ball. Developing point guard skills to play the combo. Makes things happen when the ball is in his hands. Arizona, Kansas, Kentucky, Texas, Cincinnati, and Oklahoma have all offered.
23. Jamychal Green 6-10 Center Montgomery (AL) St. Jude – Very strong post player. Scores well inside. Doesn’t play above the rim but is a good finisher. Uses his body well. Will be a great SEC big man. Has offers from Alabama, Florida, Georgia Tech, Auburn, Virginia, Marquette, and Kentucky. Fits the mold of an Alabama or Arkansas post.
24. DeAndre Liggins 6-6 G/F Chicago (IL) Washington – A small forward who will eventually mold his skills until he’s a complete point guard. Great passer and unselfish. Handles it well. Good length makes him a very good defender. Plays hard. Averaged a triple double his junior year of high school. Improving shooting. An NBA point guard prototype. Committed to Kentucky.
25. Phillip Jurick 6-10 Center Chattanooga (TN) East Ridge – Very strong player. Good size and good athleticism. Scores well inside with his back to the basket. Runs the floor well, rebounds, and blocks shots. Be a top 10 player if he played hard at all times instead of slacking off. Committed to Tennessee.
CLOSE CALLS:
Scotty Hopkins (Mississippi State), Iman Shumpert, Anthony Booker (Southern Illinois), Terrance Jennings (Maryland), Angel Garcia, William Buford (Ohio State), J’Covan Brown
I have not seen Kemba Walker (UConn), 7’2” John Riek, Andrew Steele, Mike Rosario, Mookie Jones, or Elroy Vargas. I’ve pretty much seen everyone else who is usually in contention for a top 25-50 spot in the national rankings.
No comments:
Post a Comment