All-time Grassroots Hoops Underclass Player of the Year honorees among juniors, sophomores and freshmen going back to 1970 as selected by HOOP SCOOP Editor Ronnie Flores.
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Juniors:
2021 — Jalen Duren, Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) 6-10 C
2020 — Patrick Baldwin Jr., Hamilton (Sussex, Wis.) 6-8 F
2019 — Sharife Cooper, McEachern (Power Springs, Calif.) 6-0 PG
2018 — Vernon Carey Jr., University School (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) 6-9 PF
2017 — Marvin Bagley III, Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.) 6-10 PF
2016 — DeAndre Ayton, Hillcrest Academy (Phoenix, Ariz.) 7-0 C
2015 — Harry Giles III, Wesleyan Christian Academy (High Point, N.C.) 6-10 PF
2014 — Ben Simmons, Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) 6-9 F
2013 — Jahlil Okafor, Whitney Young (Chicago, Ill.) 6-9 C
2012 — Jabari Parker, Simeon (Chicago, Ill.) 6-8 F
2011 — Tony Parker, Miller Grove (Lithonia, Ga.) 6-9 C
2010 — Austin Rivers, Winter Park (Winter Park, Fla.) 6-3 G
2009 — Brandon Knight, Pine Crest (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) 6-3 G
2008 — Lance Stephenson, Lincoln (Brooklyn, N.Y.) 6-5 G
2007 — Delvon Roe, St. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio) 6-8 F
2006 — O.J. Mayo, North College Hill (Cincinnati, Ohio) 6-5 G
2005 — Greg Oden, Lawrence North (Indianapolis, Ind.) 7-0 C
2004 — Louis Williams, South Gwinnett (Snellville, Ga.) 6-2 G
2003 — Sebastian Telfair, Lincoln (Brooklyn, N.Y.) 6-0 PG
2002 — LeBron James, St. Vincent-St. Mary (Akron, Ohio) 6-7 G
2001 — Shavlick Randolph, Broughton (Raleigh, N.C.) 6-9 F
2000 — Tyson Chandler, Dominguez (Compton, Calif.) 7-0 C
1999 — DeShawn Stevenson, Washington (Easton, Calif.) 6-5 G
1998 — Marvin Stone, Grissom (Huntsville, Ala.) 6-9 F
1997 — Jaron Rush, Pembroke Hill (Kansas City, Mo.) 6-5 F
1996 — Anthony Perry, St. Anthony (Jersey City, N.J.) 6-3 G
1995 — Tim Thomas, Paterson Catholic (Paterson, N.J.) 6-9 F
1994 — Stephon Marbury, Lincoln (Brooklyn, N.Y.) 6-2 PG
1993 — Allen Iverson, Bethel (Hampton, Va.) 6-1 PG
1992 — Randy Livingston, Isidore Newman (New Orleans, La.) 6-4 PG
1991 — Jason Kidd, St. Joseph (Alameda, Calif.) 6-4 PG
1990 — Chris Webber, Detroit Country Day (Birmingham, Mich.) 6-10 C
1989 — Ed O’Bannon, Artesia (Lakewood, Calif.) 6-9 F
1988 — Kenny Anderson, Archbishop Molloy (Jamaica, N.Y.) 6-1 PG
1987 — Alonzo Mourning, Indian River (Chesapeake, Va.) 6-10 C
1986 — Lloyd “Swee’Pea” Daniels, Andrew Jackson (Queens, N.Y.) 6-8 G
1985 — J.R. Reid, Kempsville (Virginia Beach, Va.) 6-10 C
1984 — Ben Wilson, Simeon (Chicago, Ill.) 6-8 F
1983 — Danny Manning, Page (Greensboro, N.C.) 6-11 F
1982 — Dwayne “Pearl” Washington, Boys & Girls (Brooklyn, N.Y.) 6-2 PG
1981 — Bruce Douglas, Quincy (Quincy, Ill.) 6-3 G
1980 — Patrick Ewing, Rindge & Latin (Cambridge, Mass.) 7-0 C
1979 — Earl Jones, Mount Hope (Mount Hope, W.Va.) 7-0 C
1978 — Ralph Sampson, Harrisonburg (Harrisonburg, Va.) 7-3 C
1977 — Dwight Anderson, Roth (Dayton, Ohio) 6-3 G
1976 — Albert King, Fort Hamilton (Brooklyn, N.Y.) 6-6 F
1975 — Darrell Griffith, Male (Louisville, Ky.) 6-4 G
1974 — Bill Cartwright, Elk Grove (Elk Grove, Calif.) 7-0 C
1973 — Moses Malone, Petersburg (Petersburg, Va.) 6-10 C
1972 — Cliff Pondexter, San Joaquin Memorial (Fresno, Calif.) 6-7 F
1971 — Robert Parish, Woodlawn (Shreveport, La.) 7-0 C
1970 — Raymond Lewis, Verbum Dei (Los Angeles, Calif.) 6-1 G
1969 — Tom McMillen, Mansfield (Pa.) 6-11 C
1968 — Mel Davis, Boys (Brooklyn, N.Y.) 6-6 SF
1967 — Ralph Simpson, Pershing (Detroit) 6-5 SF
Sophomores:
2021 — D.J. Wagner, Camden (Camden, N.J.) 6-3 G
2020 — Emoni Bates, Lincoln (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 6-8 F
2019 — Patrick Baldwin Jr., Hamilton (Sussex, Wis.) 6-8 F
2018 — Jalen Suggs, Minnehaha Academy (Minneapolis, Minn.) 6-3 G
2017 — R.J. Barrett, Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) 6-7 G
2016 — Romeo Langford, New Albany (Ind.) 6-4 G
2015 — DeAndre Ayton, Balboa City School (San Diego, Calif.) 7-0 C
2014 — Josh Jackson, Consortium College Prep (Detroit) 6-7 F
2013 — Malik Newman, Callaway (Jackson, Miss.) 6-3 G
2012 — Andrew Wiggins, Huntington Prep (Huntington, W.Va.) 6-7 F
2011 — Jabari Parker, Simeon (Chicago, Ill.) 6-7 F
2010 — Perry Ellis, Wichita Heights (Wichita, Kan.) 6-8
2009 — Michael Gilchrist, St. Patrick (Elizabeth, N.J.) 6-7 F
2008 — DeShaun Thomas, Bishop Luers (Fort Wayne, Ind.) 6-7 F
2007 — Lance Stephenson, Lincoln (Brooklyn, N.Y.) 6-5 G
2006 — Tyreke Evans, American Christian (Aston, Pa.) 6-4 G
2005 — O.J. Mayo, North College Hill (Cincinnati, Ohio) 6-4 G
2004 — Greg Oden, Lawrence North (Indianapolis, Ind.) 7-0 C
2003 — Monta Ellis, Lanier (Jackson, Miss.) 6-3 SG
2002 — Sebastian Telfair, Lincoln (Brooklyn, N.Y.) 6-0 PG
2001 — LeBron James, St. Vincent-St. Mary (Akron, Ohio) 6-6 G
2000 — Anthony Roberson, Saginaw (Saginaw, Mich.) 6-1 G
1999 — Dajuan Wagner, Camden (Camden, N.J.) 6-2 G
1998 — Marcus Taylor, Waverly (Lansing, Mich.) 6-3 G
1997 — Keith Bogans, DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.) 6-4 G
1996 — Jason Thomas, Dominguez (Compton, Calif.) 6-5 F
1995 — Vernon “Schea” Cotton, Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) 6-5 F
1994 — Tim Thomas, Paterson Catholic (Paterson, N.J.) 6-9 F
1993 — Terrance Roberson, Buena Vista (Saginaw, Mich.) 6-8 F
1992 — Luis Felipe Lopez, Rice (New York, N.Y.) 6-4 SG
1991 — Rasheed Wallace, Simon Gratz (Philadelphia, Pa.) 6-10 F
1990 — Donta Bright, Dunbar (Baltimore, Md.) 6-5 F
1989 — Chris Webber, Detroit Country Day (Birmingham, Mich.) 6-9 C
1988 — Darrin Hancock, Griffin (Griffin, Ga.) 6-6 F
1987 — Kenny Anderson, Archbishop Molloy (Jamaica, N.Y.) 6-0 PG
1986 — Alonzo Mourning, Indian River (Chesapeake, Va.) 6-9 C
1985 — Brian Shorter, Simon Gratz (Philadelphia, Pa.) 6-6 F
1984 — Trevor Wilson, Cleveland (Reseda, Calif.) 6-7 F
1983 — Lowell Hamilton, Providence-St. Mel (Chicago, Ill.) 6-6 F
1982 — Duane Ferrell, Calvert Hall (Towson, Md.) 6-5 F
1981 — Winston Bennett, Male (Louisville, Ky.) 6-5 F
1980 — Curtis Hunter, Southern (Durham, N.C.) 6-5 F
1979 — Pat Ewing, Rindge & Latin (Cambridge, Mass.) 6-11 C
1978 — Earl Jones, Mount Hope (Mount Hope, W.Va.) 7-0 C
1977 — Antoine Carr, Wichita Heights (Wichita, Kan.) 6-8 C
1976 — Cornelius Thompson, Middletown (Middletown, Conn.) 6-6 F
1975 — Wayne McKoy, Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, N.Y.) 6-8 F
1974 — Darrell Griffith, Male (Louisville, Ky.) 6-4 SG
1973 — Larry Gibson, Dunbar (Baltimore) 6-9 C
1972 — Stan Rome, Valdosta (Ga.) 6-4 SF
1971 — Bob “Jeep” Kelley, Schenley (Pittsburgh) 6-2 SG
1970 — Bob Hawkins, Pershing (Detroit) 6-2 SG
1969 — Les Cason, East Rutherford (N.J.) 6-9 C
1968 — Tom McMillen, Mansfield (Pa.) 6-10 C
Freshmen:
2020 — Derik Queen, St. Frances Academy (Baltimore, Md.) 6-8 F
2020 — D.J. Wagner, Camden (Camden, N.J.) 6-2 G
2019 — Emoni Bates, Lincoln (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 6-8 F
2018 — Michael Foster Jr., Washington (Milwaukee, Wis.) 6-9 C
2017 — Jalen Suggs, Minnehaha Academy (Minneapolis, Minn.) 6-3 G
2016 — Charles Bassey, St. Anthony (San Antonio, Texas) 6-10 C
2015 — Marvin Bagley III, Corona del Sol (Tempe, Ariz.) 6-10 C
2014 — Jalek Felton, Mullins (Mullins, S.C.) 6-2 G
2013 — Eron Gordon, North Central (Indianapolis, Ind.) 6-2 G
2012 — Malik Newman, Callaway (Jackson, Miss.) 6-2 G
2011 — Dakari Johnson, St. Patrick (Elizabeth, N.J.) 6-10 C
2010 — Jabari Parker, Simeon (Chicago, Ill.) 6-6 F
2009 — DaJuan Coleman, Jamesville-Dewitt (Dewitt, N.Y.) 6-8 C
2008 — Tony Wroten Jr., Garfield (Seattle, Wash.) 6-3 G
2007 — Brandon Knight, Pine Crest (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) 6-3 G
2006 — Lance Stephenson, Lincoln (Brooklyn, N.Y.) 6-4 G
2005 — Tyreke Evans, American Christian (Aston, Pa.) 6-4 G
2004 — O.J. Mayo, North College Hill (Cincinnati, Ohio) 6-4 G
2003 — Demond Carter, Reserve Christian (Laplace, La.) 5-10 G
2002 — Tasmin Mitchell, Denham Springs (Denham Springs, La.) 6-7 F
2001 — Sebastian Telfair, Lincoln (Brooklyn, N.Y.) 5-11 PG
2000 — LeBron James, St. Vincent-St. Mary (Akron, Ohio) 6-5 G
1999 — Sheldon Williams, Midwest City (Midwest City, Okla.) 6-6 F
1998 — Dajuan Wagner, Camden (Camden, N.J.) 6-1 G
1997 — Marcus Taylor, Waverly (Lansing, Mich.) 6-2 G
1996 — Marvin Stone, Grissom (Huntsville, Ala.) 6-9 F
1995 — Jaron Rush, Pembroke Hill (Kansas City, Mo.) 6-5 F
1994 — Vernon “Schea” Cotton, Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) 6-5 F
1993 — Ronnie Fields, Farragut Academy (Chicago, Ill.) 6-1 G
1992 — Stephon Marbury, Lincoln (Brooklyn, N.Y.) 6-0 PG
1991 — Luis Felipe Lopez, Rice (New York, N.Y.) 6-4 SG
1990 — Rashard Griffith, King (Chicago, Ill.) 6-11 C
1989 — Roderick Rhodes, St. Anthony (Jersey City, N.J.) 6-5 F
1988 — Chris Webber, Detroit Country Day (Birmingham, Mich.) 6-8 C
1987 — Damon Bailey, North Lawrence (Bedford, Ind.) 6-1 G
1986 — Kenny Anderson, Archbishop Molloy (Jamaica, N.Y.) 5-11 PG
1985 — Anthony Peeler, Paseo (Kansas City, Mo.) 6-3 G
1984 — Barry Young, Mt. Hebron (Ellicott City, Md.) 6-7 F
1983 — Nick Anderson, Prosser (Chicago, Ill.) 6-2 G
1982 — Greg “Boo” Harvey, Jackson (Queens, N.Y.) 5-11 G
1981 — Billy King, Sterling Park (Fairfax, Va.) 6-5 F
1980 — Winston Bennett, Male (Louisville, Ky.) 6-4 F
1979 — Patrick Ford, Cass Tech (Detroit, Mi.) 6-4 F
1978 — Manual Forrest, Moore (Louisville, Ky.) 6-5 F
1977 — Earl Jones, Mount Hope (Mount Hope, W.Va.) 6-10 C
1976 — Raymond McCoy, Bloom Township (Chicago Heights, Ill.) 6-0 PG
1975 — Cornelius Thompson, Middletown (Conn.) 6-5 SF
1974 — Wayne McKoy, Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, N.Y.) 6-8 PF
1973 — Glen Grunwald, East Leyden (Franklin Park, Ill.) 6-6 PF
1972 — Larry Gibson, Dunbar (Baltimore) 6-8 C
1971 — Karlton Hilton, Maury (Norfolk, Va.) 6-4 PF
1970 — Cliff Pondexter, San Joaquin Memorial (Fresno, Calif.) 6-6 SF
Senior Player of the Year:
(If different than Mr. Basketball USA pick)
2002 — Carmelo Anthony, Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) 6-7 F
1964 — Westley Unseld, Seneca (Louisville, Ky.) 6-7 C
1957 — Tony Jackson, Thomas Jefferson (Brooklyn, N.Y.) 6-4 F
Note: ESPN selections 2010-2012; EA SPORTS selections 2003-2009; Student Sports selections prior to 2003; Selections are based on high school accomplishment, not future college/pro potential, and are reflective of those that lead their teams to state championships. The editors of StudentSports.com do not knowingly select fifth-year players, and those ineligible due to age or academics, Mr. Basketball USA or to its various All-American teams.
Ronnie Flores is the Publisher and Editor of GrassrootsHoops.net. He can be reached at ronlocc1977@yahoo.com. Don’t forget to follow him on Twitter: @RonMFlores
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