From NBE Basketball Report

NBE spent the spring and summer constantly on the road evaluating and reporting on all of the grassroots action. This followed up a busy high school season of coverage as well. As we finally get a chance to catch our breath, we have been compiling rankings of the players in the recruiting classes of 2011, 2012 and 2013. Today we release our initial ranking of the top 50 players in the Class of 2012.

(Note: Rankings were primarily compiled by myself and fellow NBE contributor Jeff Borzello.)

Rank. Player Name, Pos, Ht, High School (State), Commitment

1) Shabazz Muhammad - SF 6'5 Bishop Gorman NV (uncommitted) : Strong lefty wing who can score in a variety of ways and is tough to stop going to the rim.
2) DaJuan Coleman - C 6'8 Jamesville-DeWitt NY (uncommitted): Beast on the low block who simply overpowers opponents with his size and strength.
3) Andre Drummond - PF 6'10 St. Thomas More CT (uncommitted): Although he spends too much time on the perimeter, he is a match-up problem and has loads of potential.
4) Brandon Ashley - PF 6'8 Bishop O'Dowd CA (uncommitted): Long, athletic and runs the floor with the best of them. Nice touch around the basket and good finishing ability.
5) Isaiah Austin - C 7'0 Grace Prep TX (Baylor): Could be a match-up nightmare if he puts it all together due to his wide-ranging skill-set.
6) Ricardo Ledo - SG 6'5 South Kent CT (uncommitted): Has the size to create match-up problems on the perimeter; can score in plenty of ways and is a good passer.
7) Khem Birch - PF 6'9 Notre Dame Prep MA (uncommitted): Really improved over the last few months; he is an outstanding shot-blocker and rebounder.
8] Jarnell Stokes - PF 6'8 Memphis Central TN (uncommitted): Great build and strength, plays with relentlessness on the backboards and in the paint.
9) Amile Jefferson - SF 6'7 Friends Central PA (uncommitted): Jefferson has plenty of potential if he gains some weight and muscle. He can score inside and out.
10) Daniel Ochefu - C 6'10 Westtown School PA (uncommitted): He has flown under the radar thus far, but his potential and ability to score and defend are immediately noticeable.
11) Winston Shepard - SF 6'7 Findlay Prep NV (uncommitted): Has not had to be the main man on his high school or AAU team yet, but he is extremely athletic and can score effectively.
12) Grant Jerrett - PF 6'8 La Verne Lutheran CA (uncommitted): Not flashy, but Jerrett gets the job done. He is highly effective on the inside, and is also a good shot-blocker and rebounder.
13) J-Mychal Reese - PG 6'1 Bryan TX (uncommitted): Is starting to gain his reputation back after slipping in the rankings lately; lefty can really shoot the three.
14) Jordan Tebbutt - SF 6'5 Horizon Christian School OR (uncommitted): Terrific offensive player who has the strength to overpower most wing players; can finish with contact.
15) Hanner Perea - PF 6'8 United Faith Christian Academy NC (uncommitted): Unbelievable leaper can block shots as well as anyone, and runs the floor effectively. Rebounds well.
16) Cameron Ridley - C 6'10 Bush TX (uncommitted): Versatile scorer inside, utilizing jump hooks and face-up jumpers to get points in the paint.
17) LJ Rose - PG 6'3 Second Baptist TX (uncommitted): One of the best point guards in the class, Rose has excellent vision and good size for his position.
18) Perry Ellis - PF 6'7 Wichita Heights KS (uncommitted): Developing his perimeter game, which will only make him even more dangerous at the offensive end.
19) Kyle Anderson - SF 6'7 St. Anthony's NJ (uncommitted): Could end up being a 6-9 point guard at the next level. Anderson has all the tools to be a major match-up problem.
20) Alex Murphy - SF 6'8 St. Mark's MA (uncommitted): Versatile forward can handle the ball and find teammates, while also running the floor and finishing at the rim.
21) Wannah Bail - PF 6'7 Trent International School TX (uncommitted): Inside-outside scoring forward who has excellent athleticism and a terrific wingspan, making him tough to guard.
22) Justin Anderson - SF 6'5 Montrose Christian MD (uncommitted): He has a non-stop motor and gets after it on the defensive end. Awesome athlete who can really finish.
23) D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera - PG 6'3 North Central IN (uncommitted): Had to sit out the summer circuit due to injury, but the stocky point guard is powerful and savvy.
24) Archie Goodwin - SG 6'4 Sylvan Hills AR (uncommitted): Rising quickly up the rankings, Goodwin can score from the perimeter and while driving to the rim.
25) Ricardo Gathers - PF 6'7 Riverside Academy LA (uncommitted): Burly forward could just as easily have a future playing football. Runs the floor well and can finish.
26) Steven Adams - C 6'10 New Zealand (Pittsburgh): Physical big man with advanced skills for a player his size and age.
27) Anrio Adams - PG 6'3 Franklin WA (uncommitted): Has the ability to play both guard positions, and is at his best when driving by his defender to the lane.
28) Alex Poythress - PF 6'8 Clarksville Northeast TN (uncommitted) - Really athletic forward who runs the floor and is at his best playing transition basketball.
29) Rosco Allen - SF 6'7 Bishop Gorman NV (uncommitted): Excellent outside shooter who is developing his all-around offensive game, adding more off-the-dribble moves.
30) Kaleb Tarczewski - C 7'0 St. Mark's MA (uncommitted): Legit 7-footer runs the floor very well and knows how to finish at the rim. Can rebound and block shots defensively.
31) Omar Calhoun - SG 6'3 Christ the King NY (uncommitted): The best player in New York City still counts for something; Calhoun can really fill it up at the offensive end.
32) Savon Goodman - SF 6'6 Academy of the New Church PA (uncommitted): Unbelievable finisher dunks with authority and is at his best when attacking the rim or playing in transition.
33) Rasheed Sulaimon - SG 6'3 Strake Jesuit TX (uncommitted): Sulaimon is constantly looking to attack the rim or shoot pull-up jumpers; constantly plays with energy.
34) James Robinson - PG 6'3 DeMatha MD (uncommitted): Strong, stocky point guard who is deceptively quick and is crafty at getting into the lane off of penetration.
35) Tony Parker - C 6'8 Miller Grove GA (uncommitted): Parker is a load for opponents right now because of his size, but his ability to step out and shoot jumpers make it even more difficult.
36) Kevin "Yogi" Ferrell - PG 5'10 Park Tudor School IN (uncommitted): Terrific getting into the lane off of penetration, and knows how to dish to teammates and finish in the lane with floaters and lay-ups.
37) Gary Harris - SG 6'4 Hamilton Southeastern IN (uncommitted) Strong offensive player needs to develop a perimeter jumpshot, but his mid-range jumper and attacking game are solid.
38) Landen Lucas - PF 6'8 Findlay Prep NV (uncommitted): His stock is still rising, and his transfer to Findlay Prep will only increase his recruiting attention next season.
39) Robert Carter - PF 6'7 Thomasville GA (uncommitted): Carter has a wide-ranging repertoire at the offensive end, making him very difficult to stop once he gets the ball.
40) Ryan Arcidiacono - PG 6'3 Neshaminy PA (uncommitted): Blew up at the Tournament of Champions; fearless point guard is a fantastic scorer and playmaker off penetration.
41) Jordan Goodman - PF 6'8 TBD TBD (Rutgers): Goodman has the size and skills to be a factor if he stays focused for an entire game.
42) Jeremy Hollowell - SF 6'6 Lawrence Central IN (uncommitted): Hollowell has a smooth touch from the mid-range, and is also able to get to the rim off the dribble.
43) Nino Jackson - PG 6'0 Ardmore OK (uncommitted): Needs to develop further point guard skills, but Johnson's scoring ability and explosive first step stand out right now.
44) Montrezl Harrell - PF 6'7 North Edgecombe NC (uncommitted): Physical specimen down low does not back down from anyone, and is one of the better rebounders in the class.
45) Jerami Grant - SF 6'7 DeMatha MD (uncommitted) Could be the best of the Grant brothers when it's all said and done; extremely versatile forward can do a variety of things.
46) JP Tokoto - SF 6'5 Menomonee Falls WI (uncommitted): His stock has dipped tremendously over the past few months, but his offensive potential is still there.
47) Xavier Johnson - SF 6'6 Mater Dei CA (uncommitted): Smooth prospect from the West Coast, Johnson can score from the wing and knows how to get to the basket off the dribble.
48) Braxton Obgueze - PG 6'0 United Faith Christian Academy NC (uncommitted): Underrated point guard is strong and quick; can knock down three-pointers and is aggressive at the defensive end.
49) Peter Jurkin - C 7'0 United Faith Christian Academy NC (Indiana): Still raw at this point, Jurkin is a great shot-blocker who can run the floor and finish off of alley-oops and offensive rebounds.
50) Marucs Paige - PG 6'0 Linn-Mar IA (uncommitted): Lefty prospect is known as a good shooter from the perimeter, but his ability to beat his defender and find teammates sets him apart.

Note- photo is of Shabazz Muhammad and is from http://scouthoops.scout.com/

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