National Preseason High School Top 100- Part Five: 1-10
by Alex Schwartz
The college basketball season kicked off for a few teams on Monday evening and the high school basketball season is right around the corner. In fact, it has even started for a few teams. Thus, it is time for Northstar Basketball Basketball to release its preseason rankings of the top 100 high school teams in America.
The top 100 list will be released in five segments, plus a comprehensive list at the end with some notes on the rankings.
For each team, I will
provide an overview of the squad. With each segment, the size of the
overview will increase and be filled with more information.
The rankings include both public and private schools, but not prep schools. For these purposes, prep schools are defined as schools that have fifth-year players and/or post-grads, plus all NEPSAC schools. Thus, teams such as Arlington Country Day (FL), Brewster Academy (NH), Christ School (NC), New Hampton (NH), Notre Dame Prep (MA), St. Mark's (MA), Tilton School (NH), and Wesleyan Christian Academy (NC) are ineligible.
Without further ado, here is the fifth segment of Northstar Basketball's National Preseason High School Top 100. This segment will include the teams ranked 11 through 25. Segment one (teams 76-100) can be seen by clicking Here, segment two (51-75) can be seen Here, segment three (26-50) can be seen Here and segment four (11-25) can be seen Here.
1. FINDLAY PREP (Henderson, Nev.) PILOTS
For the second consecutive season, Findlay Prep open the season as the No. 1 ranked team in Northstar Basketball's National Preseason High School Top 100. Last year the Pilots struggled—by their standards—to a four-loss season and a finish at No. 11 in the final top 25. Despite losing a couple top 25 players (Myck Kabongo & Nick Johnson) and another top 75 2011 prospect (Amir Garrett), Findlay Prep added some high-level transfers and should be even better in 2011-12.
The main offseason addition for Michael Peck's squad was Brandon Ashley, an Arizona-bound 6'7 power forward who is ranked in the top 10 in the Northstar Basketball Post-July 2012 Top 150. One of the nation's elite prospects, Ashley is an athletic player who can really score the ball. He will be the best player on the Findlay Prep squad. The team's other two primary transfers are also seniors, but they are new members of the Findlay backcourt.
Dominic Artis is a top 100 player who has made vast improvements to his game and is now one of the top floor generals in the class of 2012. A recent Oregon commitment, Artis knows how to run the show and play on a team with multiple star players. The Pilots also welcome Amadeo Della Valle, a guard from Brazil about whom people have been raving all fall. While Northstar
Basketball has not yet seen Della Valle in person, by all accounts—both from talking to people and reading about him—he is a terrific talent who could be one of the best guards in the senior class.
The second best player on this Findlay squad is Anthony Bennett, an absolute beast down low who also has face-up shooting ability. A native of Canada, Bennett is one of the top 15 players in the class of 2012 and is the top returnee for Michael Peck's squad. The other important returning players are top 50 senior Winston Shepard (pictured on right) and top 60 junior Nigel Williams-Goss. Both of them are in their third year at the Las Vegas-area school. Shepard is a matchup nightmare on the wing, while Williams-Goss is yet another talented floor general for the Pilots.
UNLV-bound junior forward Christian Wood is a versatile junior forward who is also a transfer to Findlay Prep and he will be a big part of the rotation. Matt Willms and Kingsley Okoroh are quality big men who provide some great depth in the frontcourt and are the two tallest players on the Findlay roster. Nick Madray is another forward that Michael Peck can use. This is a team with fantastic talent, excellent depth and a winning mentality. This is the team that Northstar Basketball feels is the very best in the nation entering the 2011-12 high school season.
2. BISHOP GORMAN (Las Vegas, Nev.) GAELS
There are only two teams in the top 100 from the state of Nevada and they are ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in the country. Checking in just behind their Silver State brethren as the second ranked team in the country is Bishop Gorman. Much like Findlay, Gorman opened the 2010-11 season in the top 10 (at No. 9) and ended in disappointing fashion, failing to even win a state title and outside of the top
50 in the nation. However, the Gaels return basically every key player from that team and will undoubtedly be improved this year.
The headliner of head coach Grant Rice's squad is easy to determine, as Bishop Gorman's roster includes 6'6 small forward Shabazz Muhammad (pictured on left), the nation's No. 1 ranked player in the class of 2012. Muhammad will almost certainly be the best player on the floor each and every time the Gaels take the floor this season. A hard playing wing with athleticism and skill, Muhammad can certainly carry a team. However, that is not something he will need to do with this loaded group.
In addition to the top senior in the nation, Bishop Gorman has a trio of seniors committed to Division I programs, two of whom are going to a BCS school and the other of whom may well have been able to. Rosco Allen, a top 75 senior, is a versatile wing who is a major mismtach due to his blend of size, length, and shooting ability. He is headed to Stanford, while fellow forward Ben Carter is also going to play in the Pac-12, at Oregon. Carter has a similar game to Allen, which will give defenses fits trying to matchup with both of them. UNLV-commit Demetris Morant is the squad's top post player and the bruising big man is a superb rebounder and shot blocker.
The other key member of the frontcourt is Stephen Zimmerman, a 6'9 freshman who is considered one of the best 2015 players in the nation. He will have an impact for the Gaels from day one and adds another major threat to an already multifaceted team. Rashad Muhammad, the younger brother of Shabazz, is a quality wing in his own right and he took can score the ball, while football standout Ronnie Stanley is a major presence down low. One of Zimmerman's fellow freshmen, Nick Blair could have an impact for Gorman as well.
Noah Robotham could be the key to the team's season, as he will need to be an effective floor general run the offense efficiently for the Gaels to reach their full potential. There is not a big-time point guard on the roster, so Robotham's ability to play the position truly could make or break the team's season, but he does have the basketball IQ to do it. Last year it was a pair of teams from North Jersey teams that held down the top two spots in the rankings for much of the season. This time around Northstar Basketball feels it will be two teams from the Las Vegas area that will fill those spots leading up to big-time showdown. Nevada may not be known for basketball, but this year that could change.
3. OAK HILL ACADEMY (Mouth Of Wilson, Va.) WARRIORS
Oak Hill Academy just might the be most storied high school basketball program in the country. Head coach Steve Smith churns out elite players and McDonald's All-Americans on a yearly basis and the Warriors are always in the hunt for the mythical national title. Last year was a fairly disappointing season for OHA, who opened at No. 2 in the preseason rankings. The team lost four games and had two of its top players removed from the roster—they subsequently left school—during the season and the Warriors finished with four losses and a No. 9 finish. Led by a bevy of transfers to go with some talented returnees, OHA should be better this season.
Four future high-major players transferred to Oak Hill Academy in the offseason and outside of Findlay Prep, no team has more BCS level talent. The top two headliner transfers were a pair of guards in 6'3 D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera of Indianapolis and 5'11 Tyler Lewis of Raleigh. Both of them are top 50 players in the 2012 class and can do a variety of things on the court. Smith-Rivera, a Georgetown commitment, is a combo guard who can easily play the two next to Lewis and there he will able to do what he doe best, which is score the ball. Lewis is one of the most exciting players in the nation, a flashy, crafty lead guard who is adept at setting up teammates. In addition, the
North Carolina State-bound Lewis is also a top-notch scorer.
The other two key transfers for OHA were Jordan Tebbutt and Ikenna Iroegbu. Tebutt, a small forward from Oregon, is one of a whopping six top 100 seniors on the Oak Hill roster. A tough kid with a good motor, Tebbutt will likely not be counted upon to be a star for the Warriors, but rather to play his role and defend. Iroegbu is a top 50 junior who provides nice depth behind Lewis at the lead guard spot. A heady floor general with quickness, Iroegbu is best non-senior on Steve Smith's roster.
In addition to those four, Oak Hill also added a couple nice post players in the summer. Seniors Montarius Hall and Darion Clark are both more than capable of handling duties around the cup and they will need to do so, as most of OHA's talent is on the wing and at the guard spots. They will play alongside one of the team's best returnees in AJ Hammons (pictured on right), a Purdue-bound center who is pushing 7-foot. Hammons has about as much physical talent one could ask for in a young post player and if he learns to play hard each time out, Oak Hill could be even better than the No. 3 ranking.
The top two players returning from last season for the Warriors are a couple wings from Atlanta who are top 65 players in the 2012 class. Jordan Adams, a UCLA-bound small forward, is one of the top scorers in the country. A deceptive athlete who can stroke it from beyond the arc, Adams is a superb talent. His AAU teammate, Memphis-pledge Damien Wilson, is a long small forward with big-time athleticism who is capable of some highlight reel dunks. They team with Smith-Rivera and Lewis to form a fantastic quartet of players who can really fill up a score sheet. Oak Hill's other key returnee is RJ Curington, who played a minor role last season, but will be counted upon for much more in 2011-12. If Oak Hill's six talented newcomers mesh well with the four main returnees, this could be the best Warriors team of the past several years.
4. HUNTINGTON PREP (Huntington, W.Va.) EXPRESS
In a short period of time, Rob Fulford has built Huntington Prep into a burgeoning national powerhouse. With a Canadian pipeline and some nice homegrown talent mixed in, this should be the best Express team ever. Just like the three teams above it, the Huntington Prep opened the 2010-11 season in the top 10 (at No. 8) and did not quite meet expectations. The Express did have a quality season though and finished as one of 10 Honorable Mentions outside the top 25. The top eight
players on the 2011-12 team will be in their first full season at school and a few of those newcomers are big-time talents, including one potential future superstar.
The best player on this elite team is merely a sophomore, 6'7 small forward Andrew Wiggins (pictured on left). A native of Canada, Wiggins is the No. 1 ranked player in the class of 2014. Long, athletic, strong, and skilled, Wiggins is one of the best long term prospects in the nation regardless of class. He has experience playing up two years on the AAU circuit as well as playing up just one year and carrying a team, both of which will come in handy this year.
In addition to Wiggins, Huntington Prep welcomes three other members of the CIA Bounce AAU program from north of the border. Just one of those players, Missouri-bound small forward Negus Webster-Chan, is a senior. Webster-Chan is a long wing who can have an impact on the game when he gets his motor going. Xavier Rathan-Mayes is a talented junior guard who is capable of beating defenders off the bounce and scoring the basketball. Tanveer Bhullar will be the tallest player on the court very time Huntington Prep plays as the junior. who is improving as a game, stands 7'3. In addition to those players, power forward Stefan Jankovic is another CIA Bounce player who will be playing a full season for the Express for the first time, as the skilled Missouri-commit transferred over during the 2010-11 season.
Outside of Wiggins, the two best Huntington Prep newcomers are seniors from the Midwest. Elijah Macon is the squad's top post player, and West Virginia-bound native of Ohio is a tough big man who does the dirty work down low. While the top 100 prospect is limited offensively, Macon can really rebound the ball and does a nice job defensively. Just over a dozen spots outside the top 100 is Javontae Hawkins of Michigan, a shooting guard who will play for South Florida. He will be counted upon to take some of the pressure off Wiggins on the wing. Coach Fulford also has another senior newcomer from the Midwest, Ohioan Evan Payne. He may well be counted upon to run the point, as the team's expected starting point guard, Ray Lee, was dismissed from the team soon after the start of school and is now back at #20 Romulus (MI).
Besides Jankovic, the best returnee for the Express is Gabriel Williams-Otor, a junior power forward. Although he will not play a major role for West Virginia's top team, Williams-Otor does provide quality depth in the frontcourt. Assuming some Payne or Rathan-Mayes, or a combination of the two, can solidify the point guard spot, this is going to be a terrific team. Although there are so many newcomers, many of them are alreay used to playing together, which bodes well for team chemistry.
5. MONTVERDE ACADEMY (Montverde, Fla.) EAGLES
After a long, successful run as the head coach at Montverde, Kevin Sutton was surprisingly dismissed after the 2010-11 season despite again finishing amongst the top 35 teams in the nation and with just four losses. Replacing him is Kevin Boyle, the 2011 Naismith High School Coach of the Year. Boyle spent approximately two decades at St. Patrick's in Elizabeth, N.J. and built the program into a national
powerhouse that churned out elite players and future pros. Without Boyle and a host of players who left following his departure, St. Pat's is ranked #73 entering the season. Meanwhile, Montverde Academy enters the 2011-12 season with a top five ranking and as the best team in Florida.
While Boyle is the the most important offseason addition for the Eagles, he is not even close to the only one. However, it a returning player who will be the focal point of the Montverde squad. Kasey Hill (pictured on right), a top 10 2013 prospect, is one of the best point guards in the nation regardless of class. A true floor general, Hill is adept at both scoring the basketball and distributing it. He is quick with the rock and knows what to do with. In addition, he is the type of player who will benefit from having big-time talent around him, which is exactly what he will have this season. In fact, Montverde has arguably the single deepest roster of any team in the nation and will have quality players all over the court at any time.
In addition to Hill, Boyle has three other ranked players at his disposal. One of those is Florida-bound senior Michael Frazier, who comes to Montverde for his senior year. A Tampa, Fla. native, Frazier is a sharpshooter who can destroy a defense from beyond the arc when he is on his game. The team's top senior is Clemson-commit Landry Nnoko, a 6'10 center who is an absolute menace at the defensive end. While he has much work to do offensively, Nnoko is one of the best shotblockers in the country and is also superb on the glass. He is not even the best post prospect on the team though, as that honor goes to another 6'10 center, sophomore Dakari Johnson. The No. 6 ranked player in the 2014 class, Johnson is a manchild with a developing game and terrific agility and mobility for his large frame. He attended St. Patrick's as a freshman and followed Boyle to Montverde. The sophomore star will be ineligible for in-state games, per the FHSAA, but from what I gather he will be able to play against out-of-state foes.
Junior forward Chris Davenport is another Sunshine State native who is also a superb talent. He does his offensive damage around the cup, but can extend to the perimeter at the other end. Davenport is long, active and tough. Along with Frazer and Nnoko, Montverde has two other seniors who have committed to Division I programs. Anthony J.P. Cortesia is a power forward who will attend Ole Miss and he will be a vital member of the frontcourt, especially in the games Johnson must sit out. Patricio Garino is a small forward with good size on the wing and he will play ball at George Washington, where Kevin Sutton is now an assistant coach.
Juniors Kevin Kabore and Roger Mbah a Moute provide depth at the four and three respectively. Kabore is still developing, but he has nice length and athleticism that will allow him to make an impact. Mbah a Moute, the younger brother of ex-UCLA standout Luc Richard, is a tough wing with a nice overall game. The other players who could have an impact this season are Michael Enanga and Evan Taylor. Assuming this loaded, deep team can work together and adjust to the demands of first year head coach Kevin Boyle, the Eagles of Montverde Academy will be flying high this season.
6. SIMEON (Vincennes, Ill.) WOLVERINES
Checking in at No. 6 in the preseason top 100 is Simeon, the top ranked public school in the country and one of just three in the top 14 of the list. The Chicago-area school is the alma mater of Derrick Rose and is coming off a superb season in which the Wolverines dropped just two contests and finished the season ranked in the top 15 on a national level. As great as Simeon will be this year, the squad should actually be even better in 2012-13, as five of its top seven players are currently juniors.
Regardless, head coach Robert Smith has a team this season that will do some major damage.
The unquestioned superstar of this team is 6'8 small forward Jabari Parker (pictured on left), the No. 2 ranked player in the class of 2013. The son of former NBA player Sonny Parker is an absolute stud on the basketball court and is arguably the best player in the country regardless of class. Parker can do anything he wants on the court, from rebound to defend to shoot the 3-pointer to attack the basket. Possessing a high basketball IQ, Paker is also a versatile player who knows how to carry the load and lead his team. Even if a team is somehow able to slow him down as a scorer, he is talented enough to hurt a team anyway.
Despite how special of a player is, it is not as though Simeon is by any means a one-man team. There are three other future high-major Division I players on this roster, including two who are nationally ranked. The Wolverines' top guard is Kendrick Nunn, a point guard who is amongst the top 25 players in the United States in the class of 2013. Nunn is a big-time player who does a fantastic job of scoring the ball from the lead guard spot. The athletic junior is also more than capable of distributing the rock and getting his teammates involved in the action. Steve Taylor, the only Simeon player committed to a Division I program, just missed on a top 50 ranking in the senior class and is a versatile combo forward who continues to get better and better. Best suited as a face-up four man, Taylor can stroke it from beyond the arc as well as score around the basket.
The other high-major recruit that coach Robert Smith has to work with is Jaylon Tate, a junior point guard. When he is at the one, Nunn is capable of moving over to the two and purely being a scorer. If Tate, a transfer, can improve his consistency and mesh with his new teammates, this Simeon squad will be downright scary. The backcourt attack does not end with Tate, though. The Wolverines have two other quality point guards, in senior Jelani Neely and junior Brandon Clemons. Neely gets overshadowed by his top-tier teammates, but he is certainly a talented player in his own right. Clemons yet another player capable of providing time at the one, as coach Smith could use a number of different lineups as a result.
Last but certainly not least of the key Simeon players is Kendall Pollard, a quality junior wing. While he might not have ideal height, is a nice player nonetheless. What Simeon is lacking is a true low post player, although both Parker and Taylor do have the ability to play down low. If someone can step up down low, the top team in the state of Illinois in the preseason should be able to retain that ranking come April.
7. MARCUS (Flower Mound, Texas) MARAUDERS
The Marauders were expected to be good in 2010-11, but it was difficult to foresee just how great the Lone Star State squad would truly be. The team rattled off a 36-1 record and finished the season as the No. 6 ranked team in the country. Marcus is one of four teams that finished in last season's top 10 that also open this campaign in that same elite group. Danny Henderson's team will look to accomplish what another fellow Texas public school did in 2009-10, which is win the mythical national championship. However, rather than doing it with a high-powered offensive
attack like Yates—ranked #18 in this poll—did, Marcus will look to do so with fantastic defensive pressure.
The heart and soul of the Marauders is Marcus Smart (pictured on right), a 6'4 shooting guard who is headed to Oklahoma State University. Ranked amongst the top 25 players in the senior class, Smart is an elite talent and he is also one of the hardest playing kids in the nation. When a player combines that sort of effort with elite skill, he is usually a special prospect, and that is what Smart is. A lockdown defender, Smart is capable of playing the one, two or three—and do so effectively at each one. He is a great fit for the Marcus defense and the type of player and leader that all great teams must have.
Although Smart is the only ranked player on the Marauder roster, he is not the team's only talented player. In fact, Marcus has two other seniors who are committed to quality Division I programs at, at least the mid-major level. Phil Forte, an undersized shooting guard, is headed to Oklahoma State along with Smart. What Forte lacks in height at the two guard spot, he makes up for in in sheer shooting ability, as he is one of the very best marksmen in the country regardless of class. Forte is a major offensive weapon due to his long range stroke. Nick Banyard, a New Mexico-bound power forward, is the primary low post player for Marcus. Although the backcourt duo of Smart and Forte get most of the publicity, Banyard could be the key to the team in many ways as he will need to be a defensive force down low and score around the bucket.
Ricky Roberts is another member of this Marcus squad who can get the job done on the hardwood. He is overshadowed in the backcourt by Smart and Forte, but he provides yet another scoring option for the Marauders. In addition, he used to playing with the team's big-time trio, as they all run together on the AAU circuit with Texas Assault. The final key member of the Lone Star State team is AJ Luckey, who is also a member of the talented Marcus backcourt.
With a elite defense and superb team play, Marcus is a squad that is greater than one would think by merely looking at its roster. Smart is a major leader and the type of player who can carry a team and relishes the opportunity to do so. Danny Henderson's boys open the season as the best team in the Texas and the No. 2 public school squad in the country. The Marauders have the potential to be even better than that if they play their brand of basketball with consistency.
8. ST. ANTHONY'S (Jersey City, N.J.) FRIARS
Only three high school basketball coaches are in the Basketball Hall of Fame. One of them is Bob Hurley, the head coach of the St. Anthony's Friars for about four decades. Last year may have been Hurley's single best coaching job yet, as he took at a team with two high-major players and led it to the mythical national championship, as the squad finish as the No. 1 ranked team in America in the postseason poll. Along the way, St. Anthony's defeated St. Patrick's in a showdown of the nation's top two teams and arguably the most hyped game in New Jersey history. The national
title was the second for the Friars in just the last four years. A number of key players from the 2010-11 national championship team have graduated, including talented, heady point guard Myles Mack, but with Hurley in charge, St. Anthony's will always be a force.
Not only does coach Hurley return to the bench for the North Jersey powerhouse, so does the team's top player from last year, Kyle Anderson (pictured on left). A 6'8 point guard/power forward who is headed to UCLA, Anderson is one of the top five players in the senior class. An elite player with a basketball IQ beyond measure, Anderson did a great job as the team's main post player last year, while also being a secondary ballhandler. He is the most versatile player in the nation and the unquestioned leader of the Friars. Anderson transferred over from Paterson Catholic (NJ) upon its closing after the 2009-10 school year and it took him just one season to bring a national title to St. Anthony's.
As fantastic as Anderson is, he has a great deal of help from his fellow Friars, a deep bunch of players, especially in the backcourt. The presence of Josh Brown and Tariq Carey will allow for Anderson to play down low again, as those two players are both capable floor generals. Brown, a junior, had a fantastic summer and showed he is a superb lead guard in addition to the already known info that he was talented two guard. An athletic slasher at the point, he can run the offense and either score it himself or distribute the ball. Tariq Carey spent three years at Newark Eastside (NJ) and briefly attended St. Benedict's (NJ)—ranked #35—to start this year before coming over to St. Anthony's. The senior is another athletic point who can both score and distribute.
Hofstra-bound Jimmy Hall and hard-nosed Jerome Frink, both seniors, are the main frontcourt options in addition to Anderson. Hall, a New York City native, has a great motor and can really finish around the basket. Frink is another kid who plays hard and he knows how to use his length at the defensive end to make plays. Small forward Rashad Andrews is the other key 2012 player for the Friars. The solid wing is a nice member of the rotation and is capable of a big game. In addition to Brown, a couple of other juniors will play key roles for the Friars this season. Hallice Cooke, a sharpshooting two guard, had a superb summer and will see his playing time drastically increase this year. He can really hurt a defense if given any room from deep. Kentrall Brooks, a long power forward, provides depth in the frontcourt. He was on the JV team last year and will look to make some noise with the big boys in 2011-12.
Jordan Forehand is a player who gives coach Hurley depth in the backcourt. He is a tough player who can get to the basket off the bounce. Eddy Dominguez is the other player who will likely be a part of the Friars' rotation. St. Anthony's is an elite program that also has a claim to being the most storied one in the country. On paper, this team has a similar one to last year's group, which finished with the No. 1 ranking. It is not out of the question for the Friars to do that yet again.
9. WHITNEY YOUNG (Chicago, Ill.) DOLPHINS
The last couple of years have been disappointing ones for Whitney Young, as it has had great talent and major expectations, but lost quite a few games both seasons. This year just might be different for head coach Tyrone Slaughter and his squad, as the Dolphins have some budding stars, including one of the best big men in the nation regardless of class. Whitney Young may well be better the
season or two after this one, but this team is going to compete for the top spot in Illinois and quite possibly even more.
The focal point of the Whitney Young team is Jahlil Okafor (pictured on right), a 6'10 center who is merely a sophomore. The big, skilled low post presence is ranked as the No. 2 player in the class of 2014 and is an elite talent regardless of age. Okafor is nimble and active around the cup despite his large frame and he is capable of having a major impact on games. The young big man rebounds the ball well, knows how to score, plays tough defense, and has a good motor. He is comfortable playing around the basket, something that is relatively uncommon amongst younger players.
Okafor is not the only big-time talent that Whitney Young has down low. He teams with 6'9 power forward Thomas Hamilton, Jr. to form an elite interior duo for the boys from Chicago. Hamilton is a top 15 player in the junior class and has a unique skill set for a kid his size. He has a large frame that lends itself to being a post player and although he is indeed effective down low, Hamilton can also step out and shoot the ball. In addition to Okafor and Hamilton, coach Slaughter has another player who is a top 15 prospect in his class in the form of Paul White, a sophomore small forward. White, a long and skilled wing, is a matchup nightmare and his overall ability can really impact a game. He checks in, in the top 15 of the 2014 class, but has a game well beyond his years.
The Dolphins have two players who are more than capable of adeptly running the show for this high-powered team. One of them is sophomore Miles Reynolds, a talented young player with a bright future who is part of that loaded 2014 group at Whitney Young. The other one is diminutive senior Derrick Randolph. Although he is quite undersized, Randolph has superb quickness and can facilitate an offense. In addition to the 2013 and 2014 big men than Tyrone Slaughter has to work with, his squad also features Colorado State-bound Jermaine Morgan on the low blocks. A bruiser around the cup, Morgan knows how to use his size and strength to his advantage. Keith Langston is junior shooting guard for the Dolphins who is somewhat of a do-it-all player at both ends of the floor, as he will not wow you, but he is effective.
In addition to Morgan, Whitney Young has another senior who is committed to DI school in shooting guard Gabriel Snider. He is headed to Illinois-Chicago and should see an increased role this season. Fellow 2012 players Jordan Smith and Nate Brooks are the other important pieces for the Prairie State team. If Whitney Young can finally find the element that it has been lacking the last couple of seasons, this could be the time it finally does indeed finish amongst the nation's elite.
10. WICHITA HEIGHTS (Wichita, Kan.) FALCONS
Of the teams in the final top 25 from the 2010-11 season, only three of them finished the year with an unblemished record. One of those team was Wichita Heights, who checked in as the No. 5 ranked team in the United States on the final list. The Falcons have won a ridiculous amount of games over the past three seasons and their winning ways will not stop this year. Head coach Joe Auer may
well have his best team yet at Heights this season and the team will looking to make even more noise than it has over the past couple years.
The superstar of the team is Perry Ellis (pictured on left), a 6'8 power forward who is headed to Kansas to play his college ball. Ellis is ranked amongst the top 20 seniors in the nation and is one of the most productive players around. In fact, assuming he continues the pace his has been at for his first three years, Ellis will go down as arguably the greatest high school basketball player in the history of the Sunflower State. He is the three-time defending Gatorade State Player of the Year and he has won a extremely large number of games so far in his high school career. He will be looking to go out on top.
While Ellis is the one who gets all the attention and publicity for Heights, he is not the only standout that the team has. Gavin Thurman, who is headed to Missouri State, a versatile 6'7 power forward for the Falcons. He is a newcomer to the team, transferring over for his senior year of high school. Thurman is a talented player who can fit at either forward position, which is something Ellis can do as well. The addition of Thurman means that opposing teams will not be able to only key in on one member of the Wichita Heights frontcourt, as Thurman may well make a defense pay if they focus too much on Ellis.
While those are the only two players headed to Division I programs from the Heights team, they do have another player who is going to play basketball at the scholarship level in college. Terrance Moore signed a National Letter of Intent to play at Emporia State, a Division II hoops program. Moore is a key piece of coach Auer's squad as he is the top guard on the roster. It will likely be Moore's responsibility to run the show and facilitate things. If he is able to do that effectively and efficiently, then this Heights team could climb to even greater levels than it has in the past.
The thing that has held Wichita Heights back from being mentioned with the nation's elite is its schedule. As a public school in a state not known for basketball, the Falcons play a fairly weak schedule. Despite that fact as well as the team's lack of depth, this is one of the best teams in the country and a group of players that only knows how to win when the take the court.
Note- photo on the top left is of Brandon Ashley and is courtesy of Findlay Prep basketball; all other photos are from http://www.scout.com/
Note- ESPN, MaxPreps and Rivals used as sources for information
The college basketball season kicked off for a few teams on Monday evening and the high school basketball season is right around the corner. In fact, it has even started for a few teams. Thus, it is time for Northstar Basketball Basketball to release its preseason rankings of the top 100 high school teams in America.
The top 100 list will be released in five segments, plus a comprehensive list at the end with some notes on the rankings.
For each team, I will
provide an overview of the squad. With each segment, the size of the
overview will increase and be filled with more information.The rankings include both public and private schools, but not prep schools. For these purposes, prep schools are defined as schools that have fifth-year players and/or post-grads, plus all NEPSAC schools. Thus, teams such as Arlington Country Day (FL), Brewster Academy (NH), Christ School (NC), New Hampton (NH), Notre Dame Prep (MA), St. Mark's (MA), Tilton School (NH), and Wesleyan Christian Academy (NC) are ineligible.
Without further ado, here is the fifth segment of Northstar Basketball's National Preseason High School Top 100. This segment will include the teams ranked 11 through 25. Segment one (teams 76-100) can be seen by clicking Here, segment two (51-75) can be seen Here, segment three (26-50) can be seen Here and segment four (11-25) can be seen Here.
1. FINDLAY PREP (Henderson, Nev.) PILOTS
For the second consecutive season, Findlay Prep open the season as the No. 1 ranked team in Northstar Basketball's National Preseason High School Top 100. Last year the Pilots struggled—by their standards—to a four-loss season and a finish at No. 11 in the final top 25. Despite losing a couple top 25 players (Myck Kabongo & Nick Johnson) and another top 75 2011 prospect (Amir Garrett), Findlay Prep added some high-level transfers and should be even better in 2011-12.
The main offseason addition for Michael Peck's squad was Brandon Ashley, an Arizona-bound 6'7 power forward who is ranked in the top 10 in the Northstar Basketball Post-July 2012 Top 150. One of the nation's elite prospects, Ashley is an athletic player who can really score the ball. He will be the best player on the Findlay Prep squad. The team's other two primary transfers are also seniors, but they are new members of the Findlay backcourt.
Dominic Artis is a top 100 player who has made vast improvements to his game and is now one of the top floor generals in the class of 2012. A recent Oregon commitment, Artis knows how to run the show and play on a team with multiple star players. The Pilots also welcome Amadeo Della Valle, a guard from Brazil about whom people have been raving all fall. While Northstar
Basketball has not yet seen Della Valle in person, by all accounts—both from talking to people and reading about him—he is a terrific talent who could be one of the best guards in the senior class.The second best player on this Findlay squad is Anthony Bennett, an absolute beast down low who also has face-up shooting ability. A native of Canada, Bennett is one of the top 15 players in the class of 2012 and is the top returnee for Michael Peck's squad. The other important returning players are top 50 senior Winston Shepard (pictured on right) and top 60 junior Nigel Williams-Goss. Both of them are in their third year at the Las Vegas-area school. Shepard is a matchup nightmare on the wing, while Williams-Goss is yet another talented floor general for the Pilots.
UNLV-bound junior forward Christian Wood is a versatile junior forward who is also a transfer to Findlay Prep and he will be a big part of the rotation. Matt Willms and Kingsley Okoroh are quality big men who provide some great depth in the frontcourt and are the two tallest players on the Findlay roster. Nick Madray is another forward that Michael Peck can use. This is a team with fantastic talent, excellent depth and a winning mentality. This is the team that Northstar Basketball feels is the very best in the nation entering the 2011-12 high school season.
2. BISHOP GORMAN (Las Vegas, Nev.) GAELS
There are only two teams in the top 100 from the state of Nevada and they are ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in the country. Checking in just behind their Silver State brethren as the second ranked team in the country is Bishop Gorman. Much like Findlay, Gorman opened the 2010-11 season in the top 10 (at No. 9) and ended in disappointing fashion, failing to even win a state title and outside of the top
50 in the nation. However, the Gaels return basically every key player from that team and will undoubtedly be improved this year.The headliner of head coach Grant Rice's squad is easy to determine, as Bishop Gorman's roster includes 6'6 small forward Shabazz Muhammad (pictured on left), the nation's No. 1 ranked player in the class of 2012. Muhammad will almost certainly be the best player on the floor each and every time the Gaels take the floor this season. A hard playing wing with athleticism and skill, Muhammad can certainly carry a team. However, that is not something he will need to do with this loaded group.
In addition to the top senior in the nation, Bishop Gorman has a trio of seniors committed to Division I programs, two of whom are going to a BCS school and the other of whom may well have been able to. Rosco Allen, a top 75 senior, is a versatile wing who is a major mismtach due to his blend of size, length, and shooting ability. He is headed to Stanford, while fellow forward Ben Carter is also going to play in the Pac-12, at Oregon. Carter has a similar game to Allen, which will give defenses fits trying to matchup with both of them. UNLV-commit Demetris Morant is the squad's top post player and the bruising big man is a superb rebounder and shot blocker.
The other key member of the frontcourt is Stephen Zimmerman, a 6'9 freshman who is considered one of the best 2015 players in the nation. He will have an impact for the Gaels from day one and adds another major threat to an already multifaceted team. Rashad Muhammad, the younger brother of Shabazz, is a quality wing in his own right and he took can score the ball, while football standout Ronnie Stanley is a major presence down low. One of Zimmerman's fellow freshmen, Nick Blair could have an impact for Gorman as well.
Noah Robotham could be the key to the team's season, as he will need to be an effective floor general run the offense efficiently for the Gaels to reach their full potential. There is not a big-time point guard on the roster, so Robotham's ability to play the position truly could make or break the team's season, but he does have the basketball IQ to do it. Last year it was a pair of teams from North Jersey teams that held down the top two spots in the rankings for much of the season. This time around Northstar Basketball feels it will be two teams from the Las Vegas area that will fill those spots leading up to big-time showdown. Nevada may not be known for basketball, but this year that could change.
3. OAK HILL ACADEMY (Mouth Of Wilson, Va.) WARRIORS
Oak Hill Academy just might the be most storied high school basketball program in the country. Head coach Steve Smith churns out elite players and McDonald's All-Americans on a yearly basis and the Warriors are always in the hunt for the mythical national title. Last year was a fairly disappointing season for OHA, who opened at No. 2 in the preseason rankings. The team lost four games and had two of its top players removed from the roster—they subsequently left school—during the season and the Warriors finished with four losses and a No. 9 finish. Led by a bevy of transfers to go with some talented returnees, OHA should be better this season.
Four future high-major players transferred to Oak Hill Academy in the offseason and outside of Findlay Prep, no team has more BCS level talent. The top two headliner transfers were a pair of guards in 6'3 D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera of Indianapolis and 5'11 Tyler Lewis of Raleigh. Both of them are top 50 players in the 2012 class and can do a variety of things on the court. Smith-Rivera, a Georgetown commitment, is a combo guard who can easily play the two next to Lewis and there he will able to do what he doe best, which is score the ball. Lewis is one of the most exciting players in the nation, a flashy, crafty lead guard who is adept at setting up teammates. In addition, the
North Carolina State-bound Lewis is also a top-notch scorer.The other two key transfers for OHA were Jordan Tebbutt and Ikenna Iroegbu. Tebutt, a small forward from Oregon, is one of a whopping six top 100 seniors on the Oak Hill roster. A tough kid with a good motor, Tebbutt will likely not be counted upon to be a star for the Warriors, but rather to play his role and defend. Iroegbu is a top 50 junior who provides nice depth behind Lewis at the lead guard spot. A heady floor general with quickness, Iroegbu is best non-senior on Steve Smith's roster.
In addition to those four, Oak Hill also added a couple nice post players in the summer. Seniors Montarius Hall and Darion Clark are both more than capable of handling duties around the cup and they will need to do so, as most of OHA's talent is on the wing and at the guard spots. They will play alongside one of the team's best returnees in AJ Hammons (pictured on right), a Purdue-bound center who is pushing 7-foot. Hammons has about as much physical talent one could ask for in a young post player and if he learns to play hard each time out, Oak Hill could be even better than the No. 3 ranking.
The top two players returning from last season for the Warriors are a couple wings from Atlanta who are top 65 players in the 2012 class. Jordan Adams, a UCLA-bound small forward, is one of the top scorers in the country. A deceptive athlete who can stroke it from beyond the arc, Adams is a superb talent. His AAU teammate, Memphis-pledge Damien Wilson, is a long small forward with big-time athleticism who is capable of some highlight reel dunks. They team with Smith-Rivera and Lewis to form a fantastic quartet of players who can really fill up a score sheet. Oak Hill's other key returnee is RJ Curington, who played a minor role last season, but will be counted upon for much more in 2011-12. If Oak Hill's six talented newcomers mesh well with the four main returnees, this could be the best Warriors team of the past several years.
4. HUNTINGTON PREP (Huntington, W.Va.) EXPRESS
In a short period of time, Rob Fulford has built Huntington Prep into a burgeoning national powerhouse. With a Canadian pipeline and some nice homegrown talent mixed in, this should be the best Express team ever. Just like the three teams above it, the Huntington Prep opened the 2010-11 season in the top 10 (at No. 8) and did not quite meet expectations. The Express did have a quality season though and finished as one of 10 Honorable Mentions outside the top 25. The top eight
players on the 2011-12 team will be in their first full season at school and a few of those newcomers are big-time talents, including one potential future superstar.The best player on this elite team is merely a sophomore, 6'7 small forward Andrew Wiggins (pictured on left). A native of Canada, Wiggins is the No. 1 ranked player in the class of 2014. Long, athletic, strong, and skilled, Wiggins is one of the best long term prospects in the nation regardless of class. He has experience playing up two years on the AAU circuit as well as playing up just one year and carrying a team, both of which will come in handy this year.
In addition to Wiggins, Huntington Prep welcomes three other members of the CIA Bounce AAU program from north of the border. Just one of those players, Missouri-bound small forward Negus Webster-Chan, is a senior. Webster-Chan is a long wing who can have an impact on the game when he gets his motor going. Xavier Rathan-Mayes is a talented junior guard who is capable of beating defenders off the bounce and scoring the basketball. Tanveer Bhullar will be the tallest player on the court very time Huntington Prep plays as the junior. who is improving as a game, stands 7'3. In addition to those players, power forward Stefan Jankovic is another CIA Bounce player who will be playing a full season for the Express for the first time, as the skilled Missouri-commit transferred over during the 2010-11 season.
Outside of Wiggins, the two best Huntington Prep newcomers are seniors from the Midwest. Elijah Macon is the squad's top post player, and West Virginia-bound native of Ohio is a tough big man who does the dirty work down low. While the top 100 prospect is limited offensively, Macon can really rebound the ball and does a nice job defensively. Just over a dozen spots outside the top 100 is Javontae Hawkins of Michigan, a shooting guard who will play for South Florida. He will be counted upon to take some of the pressure off Wiggins on the wing. Coach Fulford also has another senior newcomer from the Midwest, Ohioan Evan Payne. He may well be counted upon to run the point, as the team's expected starting point guard, Ray Lee, was dismissed from the team soon after the start of school and is now back at #20 Romulus (MI).
Besides Jankovic, the best returnee for the Express is Gabriel Williams-Otor, a junior power forward. Although he will not play a major role for West Virginia's top team, Williams-Otor does provide quality depth in the frontcourt. Assuming some Payne or Rathan-Mayes, or a combination of the two, can solidify the point guard spot, this is going to be a terrific team. Although there are so many newcomers, many of them are alreay used to playing together, which bodes well for team chemistry.
5. MONTVERDE ACADEMY (Montverde, Fla.) EAGLES
After a long, successful run as the head coach at Montverde, Kevin Sutton was surprisingly dismissed after the 2010-11 season despite again finishing amongst the top 35 teams in the nation and with just four losses. Replacing him is Kevin Boyle, the 2011 Naismith High School Coach of the Year. Boyle spent approximately two decades at St. Patrick's in Elizabeth, N.J. and built the program into a national
powerhouse that churned out elite players and future pros. Without Boyle and a host of players who left following his departure, St. Pat's is ranked #73 entering the season. Meanwhile, Montverde Academy enters the 2011-12 season with a top five ranking and as the best team in Florida.While Boyle is the the most important offseason addition for the Eagles, he is not even close to the only one. However, it a returning player who will be the focal point of the Montverde squad. Kasey Hill (pictured on right), a top 10 2013 prospect, is one of the best point guards in the nation regardless of class. A true floor general, Hill is adept at both scoring the basketball and distributing it. He is quick with the rock and knows what to do with. In addition, he is the type of player who will benefit from having big-time talent around him, which is exactly what he will have this season. In fact, Montverde has arguably the single deepest roster of any team in the nation and will have quality players all over the court at any time.
In addition to Hill, Boyle has three other ranked players at his disposal. One of those is Florida-bound senior Michael Frazier, who comes to Montverde for his senior year. A Tampa, Fla. native, Frazier is a sharpshooter who can destroy a defense from beyond the arc when he is on his game. The team's top senior is Clemson-commit Landry Nnoko, a 6'10 center who is an absolute menace at the defensive end. While he has much work to do offensively, Nnoko is one of the best shotblockers in the country and is also superb on the glass. He is not even the best post prospect on the team though, as that honor goes to another 6'10 center, sophomore Dakari Johnson. The No. 6 ranked player in the 2014 class, Johnson is a manchild with a developing game and terrific agility and mobility for his large frame. He attended St. Patrick's as a freshman and followed Boyle to Montverde. The sophomore star will be ineligible for in-state games, per the FHSAA, but from what I gather he will be able to play against out-of-state foes.
Junior forward Chris Davenport is another Sunshine State native who is also a superb talent. He does his offensive damage around the cup, but can extend to the perimeter at the other end. Davenport is long, active and tough. Along with Frazer and Nnoko, Montverde has two other seniors who have committed to Division I programs. Anthony J.P. Cortesia is a power forward who will attend Ole Miss and he will be a vital member of the frontcourt, especially in the games Johnson must sit out. Patricio Garino is a small forward with good size on the wing and he will play ball at George Washington, where Kevin Sutton is now an assistant coach.
Juniors Kevin Kabore and Roger Mbah a Moute provide depth at the four and three respectively. Kabore is still developing, but he has nice length and athleticism that will allow him to make an impact. Mbah a Moute, the younger brother of ex-UCLA standout Luc Richard, is a tough wing with a nice overall game. The other players who could have an impact this season are Michael Enanga and Evan Taylor. Assuming this loaded, deep team can work together and adjust to the demands of first year head coach Kevin Boyle, the Eagles of Montverde Academy will be flying high this season.
6. SIMEON (Vincennes, Ill.) WOLVERINES
Checking in at No. 6 in the preseason top 100 is Simeon, the top ranked public school in the country and one of just three in the top 14 of the list. The Chicago-area school is the alma mater of Derrick Rose and is coming off a superb season in which the Wolverines dropped just two contests and finished the season ranked in the top 15 on a national level. As great as Simeon will be this year, the squad should actually be even better in 2012-13, as five of its top seven players are currently juniors.
Regardless, head coach Robert Smith has a team this season that will do some major damage.The unquestioned superstar of this team is 6'8 small forward Jabari Parker (pictured on left), the No. 2 ranked player in the class of 2013. The son of former NBA player Sonny Parker is an absolute stud on the basketball court and is arguably the best player in the country regardless of class. Parker can do anything he wants on the court, from rebound to defend to shoot the 3-pointer to attack the basket. Possessing a high basketball IQ, Paker is also a versatile player who knows how to carry the load and lead his team. Even if a team is somehow able to slow him down as a scorer, he is talented enough to hurt a team anyway.
Despite how special of a player is, it is not as though Simeon is by any means a one-man team. There are three other future high-major Division I players on this roster, including two who are nationally ranked. The Wolverines' top guard is Kendrick Nunn, a point guard who is amongst the top 25 players in the United States in the class of 2013. Nunn is a big-time player who does a fantastic job of scoring the ball from the lead guard spot. The athletic junior is also more than capable of distributing the rock and getting his teammates involved in the action. Steve Taylor, the only Simeon player committed to a Division I program, just missed on a top 50 ranking in the senior class and is a versatile combo forward who continues to get better and better. Best suited as a face-up four man, Taylor can stroke it from beyond the arc as well as score around the basket.
The other high-major recruit that coach Robert Smith has to work with is Jaylon Tate, a junior point guard. When he is at the one, Nunn is capable of moving over to the two and purely being a scorer. If Tate, a transfer, can improve his consistency and mesh with his new teammates, this Simeon squad will be downright scary. The backcourt attack does not end with Tate, though. The Wolverines have two other quality point guards, in senior Jelani Neely and junior Brandon Clemons. Neely gets overshadowed by his top-tier teammates, but he is certainly a talented player in his own right. Clemons yet another player capable of providing time at the one, as coach Smith could use a number of different lineups as a result.
Last but certainly not least of the key Simeon players is Kendall Pollard, a quality junior wing. While he might not have ideal height, is a nice player nonetheless. What Simeon is lacking is a true low post player, although both Parker and Taylor do have the ability to play down low. If someone can step up down low, the top team in the state of Illinois in the preseason should be able to retain that ranking come April.
7. MARCUS (Flower Mound, Texas) MARAUDERS
The Marauders were expected to be good in 2010-11, but it was difficult to foresee just how great the Lone Star State squad would truly be. The team rattled off a 36-1 record and finished the season as the No. 6 ranked team in the country. Marcus is one of four teams that finished in last season's top 10 that also open this campaign in that same elite group. Danny Henderson's team will look to accomplish what another fellow Texas public school did in 2009-10, which is win the mythical national championship. However, rather than doing it with a high-powered offensive
attack like Yates—ranked #18 in this poll—did, Marcus will look to do so with fantastic defensive pressure.The heart and soul of the Marauders is Marcus Smart (pictured on right), a 6'4 shooting guard who is headed to Oklahoma State University. Ranked amongst the top 25 players in the senior class, Smart is an elite talent and he is also one of the hardest playing kids in the nation. When a player combines that sort of effort with elite skill, he is usually a special prospect, and that is what Smart is. A lockdown defender, Smart is capable of playing the one, two or three—and do so effectively at each one. He is a great fit for the Marcus defense and the type of player and leader that all great teams must have.
Although Smart is the only ranked player on the Marauder roster, he is not the team's only talented player. In fact, Marcus has two other seniors who are committed to quality Division I programs at, at least the mid-major level. Phil Forte, an undersized shooting guard, is headed to Oklahoma State along with Smart. What Forte lacks in height at the two guard spot, he makes up for in in sheer shooting ability, as he is one of the very best marksmen in the country regardless of class. Forte is a major offensive weapon due to his long range stroke. Nick Banyard, a New Mexico-bound power forward, is the primary low post player for Marcus. Although the backcourt duo of Smart and Forte get most of the publicity, Banyard could be the key to the team in many ways as he will need to be a defensive force down low and score around the bucket.
Ricky Roberts is another member of this Marcus squad who can get the job done on the hardwood. He is overshadowed in the backcourt by Smart and Forte, but he provides yet another scoring option for the Marauders. In addition, he used to playing with the team's big-time trio, as they all run together on the AAU circuit with Texas Assault. The final key member of the Lone Star State team is AJ Luckey, who is also a member of the talented Marcus backcourt.
With a elite defense and superb team play, Marcus is a squad that is greater than one would think by merely looking at its roster. Smart is a major leader and the type of player who can carry a team and relishes the opportunity to do so. Danny Henderson's boys open the season as the best team in the Texas and the No. 2 public school squad in the country. The Marauders have the potential to be even better than that if they play their brand of basketball with consistency.
8. ST. ANTHONY'S (Jersey City, N.J.) FRIARS
Only three high school basketball coaches are in the Basketball Hall of Fame. One of them is Bob Hurley, the head coach of the St. Anthony's Friars for about four decades. Last year may have been Hurley's single best coaching job yet, as he took at a team with two high-major players and led it to the mythical national championship, as the squad finish as the No. 1 ranked team in America in the postseason poll. Along the way, St. Anthony's defeated St. Patrick's in a showdown of the nation's top two teams and arguably the most hyped game in New Jersey history. The national
title was the second for the Friars in just the last four years. A number of key players from the 2010-11 national championship team have graduated, including talented, heady point guard Myles Mack, but with Hurley in charge, St. Anthony's will always be a force.Not only does coach Hurley return to the bench for the North Jersey powerhouse, so does the team's top player from last year, Kyle Anderson (pictured on left). A 6'8 point guard/power forward who is headed to UCLA, Anderson is one of the top five players in the senior class. An elite player with a basketball IQ beyond measure, Anderson did a great job as the team's main post player last year, while also being a secondary ballhandler. He is the most versatile player in the nation and the unquestioned leader of the Friars. Anderson transferred over from Paterson Catholic (NJ) upon its closing after the 2009-10 school year and it took him just one season to bring a national title to St. Anthony's.
As fantastic as Anderson is, he has a great deal of help from his fellow Friars, a deep bunch of players, especially in the backcourt. The presence of Josh Brown and Tariq Carey will allow for Anderson to play down low again, as those two players are both capable floor generals. Brown, a junior, had a fantastic summer and showed he is a superb lead guard in addition to the already known info that he was talented two guard. An athletic slasher at the point, he can run the offense and either score it himself or distribute the ball. Tariq Carey spent three years at Newark Eastside (NJ) and briefly attended St. Benedict's (NJ)—ranked #35—to start this year before coming over to St. Anthony's. The senior is another athletic point who can both score and distribute.
Hofstra-bound Jimmy Hall and hard-nosed Jerome Frink, both seniors, are the main frontcourt options in addition to Anderson. Hall, a New York City native, has a great motor and can really finish around the basket. Frink is another kid who plays hard and he knows how to use his length at the defensive end to make plays. Small forward Rashad Andrews is the other key 2012 player for the Friars. The solid wing is a nice member of the rotation and is capable of a big game. In addition to Brown, a couple of other juniors will play key roles for the Friars this season. Hallice Cooke, a sharpshooting two guard, had a superb summer and will see his playing time drastically increase this year. He can really hurt a defense if given any room from deep. Kentrall Brooks, a long power forward, provides depth in the frontcourt. He was on the JV team last year and will look to make some noise with the big boys in 2011-12.
Jordan Forehand is a player who gives coach Hurley depth in the backcourt. He is a tough player who can get to the basket off the bounce. Eddy Dominguez is the other player who will likely be a part of the Friars' rotation. St. Anthony's is an elite program that also has a claim to being the most storied one in the country. On paper, this team has a similar one to last year's group, which finished with the No. 1 ranking. It is not out of the question for the Friars to do that yet again.
9. WHITNEY YOUNG (Chicago, Ill.) DOLPHINS
The last couple of years have been disappointing ones for Whitney Young, as it has had great talent and major expectations, but lost quite a few games both seasons. This year just might be different for head coach Tyrone Slaughter and his squad, as the Dolphins have some budding stars, including one of the best big men in the nation regardless of class. Whitney Young may well be better the
season or two after this one, but this team is going to compete for the top spot in Illinois and quite possibly even more.The focal point of the Whitney Young team is Jahlil Okafor (pictured on right), a 6'10 center who is merely a sophomore. The big, skilled low post presence is ranked as the No. 2 player in the class of 2014 and is an elite talent regardless of age. Okafor is nimble and active around the cup despite his large frame and he is capable of having a major impact on games. The young big man rebounds the ball well, knows how to score, plays tough defense, and has a good motor. He is comfortable playing around the basket, something that is relatively uncommon amongst younger players.
Okafor is not the only big-time talent that Whitney Young has down low. He teams with 6'9 power forward Thomas Hamilton, Jr. to form an elite interior duo for the boys from Chicago. Hamilton is a top 15 player in the junior class and has a unique skill set for a kid his size. He has a large frame that lends itself to being a post player and although he is indeed effective down low, Hamilton can also step out and shoot the ball. In addition to Okafor and Hamilton, coach Slaughter has another player who is a top 15 prospect in his class in the form of Paul White, a sophomore small forward. White, a long and skilled wing, is a matchup nightmare and his overall ability can really impact a game. He checks in, in the top 15 of the 2014 class, but has a game well beyond his years.
The Dolphins have two players who are more than capable of adeptly running the show for this high-powered team. One of them is sophomore Miles Reynolds, a talented young player with a bright future who is part of that loaded 2014 group at Whitney Young. The other one is diminutive senior Derrick Randolph. Although he is quite undersized, Randolph has superb quickness and can facilitate an offense. In addition to the 2013 and 2014 big men than Tyrone Slaughter has to work with, his squad also features Colorado State-bound Jermaine Morgan on the low blocks. A bruiser around the cup, Morgan knows how to use his size and strength to his advantage. Keith Langston is junior shooting guard for the Dolphins who is somewhat of a do-it-all player at both ends of the floor, as he will not wow you, but he is effective.
In addition to Morgan, Whitney Young has another senior who is committed to DI school in shooting guard Gabriel Snider. He is headed to Illinois-Chicago and should see an increased role this season. Fellow 2012 players Jordan Smith and Nate Brooks are the other important pieces for the Prairie State team. If Whitney Young can finally find the element that it has been lacking the last couple of seasons, this could be the time it finally does indeed finish amongst the nation's elite.
10. WICHITA HEIGHTS (Wichita, Kan.) FALCONS
Of the teams in the final top 25 from the 2010-11 season, only three of them finished the year with an unblemished record. One of those team was Wichita Heights, who checked in as the No. 5 ranked team in the United States on the final list. The Falcons have won a ridiculous amount of games over the past three seasons and their winning ways will not stop this year. Head coach Joe Auer may
well have his best team yet at Heights this season and the team will looking to make even more noise than it has over the past couple years.The superstar of the team is Perry Ellis (pictured on left), a 6'8 power forward who is headed to Kansas to play his college ball. Ellis is ranked amongst the top 20 seniors in the nation and is one of the most productive players around. In fact, assuming he continues the pace his has been at for his first three years, Ellis will go down as arguably the greatest high school basketball player in the history of the Sunflower State. He is the three-time defending Gatorade State Player of the Year and he has won a extremely large number of games so far in his high school career. He will be looking to go out on top.
While Ellis is the one who gets all the attention and publicity for Heights, he is not the only standout that the team has. Gavin Thurman, who is headed to Missouri State, a versatile 6'7 power forward for the Falcons. He is a newcomer to the team, transferring over for his senior year of high school. Thurman is a talented player who can fit at either forward position, which is something Ellis can do as well. The addition of Thurman means that opposing teams will not be able to only key in on one member of the Wichita Heights frontcourt, as Thurman may well make a defense pay if they focus too much on Ellis.
While those are the only two players headed to Division I programs from the Heights team, they do have another player who is going to play basketball at the scholarship level in college. Terrance Moore signed a National Letter of Intent to play at Emporia State, a Division II hoops program. Moore is a key piece of coach Auer's squad as he is the top guard on the roster. It will likely be Moore's responsibility to run the show and facilitate things. If he is able to do that effectively and efficiently, then this Heights team could climb to even greater levels than it has in the past.
The thing that has held Wichita Heights back from being mentioned with the nation's elite is its schedule. As a public school in a state not known for basketball, the Falcons play a fairly weak schedule. Despite that fact as well as the team's lack of depth, this is one of the best teams in the country and a group of players that only knows how to win when the take the court.
Note- photo on the top left is of Brandon Ashley and is courtesy of Findlay Prep basketball; all other photos are from http://www.scout.com/
Note- ESPN, MaxPreps and Rivals used as sources for information
Posted by northstarbball at 11/11/2011 10:00 AM 
Categories: Class of 2013, Class of 2014, Rankings, Class of 2012, Links, Class of 2011, Class of 2015
Tags: Findlay Prep Oak Hill Academy Bishop Gorman Huntington Prep Montverde Academy Simeon Marcus St. Anthonys Whitney Young Wichita Heights ESPN MaxPreps Rivals Myck Kabongo Nick Johnson Amir Garrett Michael Peck Oregon UNLV Arizona Anthony Bennett Brandon Ashley Dominic Artis Christian Wood Amadeo Della Valle Nigel WilliamsGoss Matt Willms Kingsley Okoroh Nick Madray Scout.com Grant Rice Stanford Rosco Allen Demetris Morant Ben Carter Shabazz Muhammad Noah Robotham Stephen Zimmerman Rashad Muhammad Pac12 Ronnie Stanley Nick Blair Steve Smith DVauntes SmithRivera Tyler Lewis Georgetown North Carolina State Jordan Tebbutt Ikenna Ireogbu Darion Clark Montarius Hall RJ Curington Damien Wilson AJ Hammons Jordan Adams UCLA Memphis Purdue Andrew Wiggins CIA Bounce Canadian basketball Nevada basketball Missouri South Florida West Virginia Negus WebsterChan Tanveer Bhullar Xavier RathanMayes Stefan Jankovic Ray Lee Javontae Hawkins Evan Payne Elijah Macon Gabriel WilliamsOtor Kevin Boyle Kevin Sutton St. Patricks Kasey Hill Florida Clemson George Washington Ole Miss Michael Frazier Landry Nnoko FHSAA Dakari Johnson Anthony J.P. Cortesia Chris Davenport Patricio Garino Kevin Kabore Roger Mbah a Moute Michael Enanga Evan Taylor Sonny Parker Jabari Parker Illinois Robert Smith Derrick Rose Steve Taylor Kendrick Nunn Jaylon Tate Kendall Pollard Brandon Clemons Jelani Neely Marcus Smart Phil Forte Nick Banyard AJ Lucky Ricky Roberts Oklahoma State Nex Mexico Texas Assault Bob Hurley Hofstra Myles Mack Josh Brown Tariq Carey Newark Eastside St. Benedicts Jerome Frink Jimmy Hall Rashad Andrews Hallice Cooke Kentrall Brooks Jordan Forehand Eddy Dominguez Tyrone Slaughter IllinoisChicago Jahlil Okafor Paul White Thomas Hamilton Jr. Colorado State Jermaine Morgan Miles Reynolds Derrick Randolph Nate Brooks Jordan Smith Gabriel Snider Perry Ellis Kansas Gavin Thurman Missouri State Terrance Moore Emporia State Joe Auer
Categories: Class of 2013, Class of 2014, Rankings, Class of 2012, Links, Class of 2011, Class of 2015
Tags: Findlay Prep Oak Hill Academy Bishop Gorman Huntington Prep Montverde Academy Simeon Marcus St. Anthonys Whitney Young Wichita Heights ESPN MaxPreps Rivals Myck Kabongo Nick Johnson Amir Garrett Michael Peck Oregon UNLV Arizona Anthony Bennett Brandon Ashley Dominic Artis Christian Wood Amadeo Della Valle Nigel WilliamsGoss Matt Willms Kingsley Okoroh Nick Madray Scout.com Grant Rice Stanford Rosco Allen Demetris Morant Ben Carter Shabazz Muhammad Noah Robotham Stephen Zimmerman Rashad Muhammad Pac12 Ronnie Stanley Nick Blair Steve Smith DVauntes SmithRivera Tyler Lewis Georgetown North Carolina State Jordan Tebbutt Ikenna Ireogbu Darion Clark Montarius Hall RJ Curington Damien Wilson AJ Hammons Jordan Adams UCLA Memphis Purdue Andrew Wiggins CIA Bounce Canadian basketball Nevada basketball Missouri South Florida West Virginia Negus WebsterChan Tanveer Bhullar Xavier RathanMayes Stefan Jankovic Ray Lee Javontae Hawkins Evan Payne Elijah Macon Gabriel WilliamsOtor Kevin Boyle Kevin Sutton St. Patricks Kasey Hill Florida Clemson George Washington Ole Miss Michael Frazier Landry Nnoko FHSAA Dakari Johnson Anthony J.P. Cortesia Chris Davenport Patricio Garino Kevin Kabore Roger Mbah a Moute Michael Enanga Evan Taylor Sonny Parker Jabari Parker Illinois Robert Smith Derrick Rose Steve Taylor Kendrick Nunn Jaylon Tate Kendall Pollard Brandon Clemons Jelani Neely Marcus Smart Phil Forte Nick Banyard AJ Lucky Ricky Roberts Oklahoma State Nex Mexico Texas Assault Bob Hurley Hofstra Myles Mack Josh Brown Tariq Carey Newark Eastside St. Benedicts Jerome Frink Jimmy Hall Rashad Andrews Hallice Cooke Kentrall Brooks Jordan Forehand Eddy Dominguez Tyrone Slaughter IllinoisChicago Jahlil Okafor Paul White Thomas Hamilton Jr. Colorado State Jermaine Morgan Miles Reynolds Derrick Randolph Nate Brooks Jordan Smith Gabriel Snider Perry Ellis Kansas Gavin Thurman Missouri State Terrance Moore Emporia State Joe Auer
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