It provides our ranking of the top 100 High School Juniors Class of 2019 Nationally , along with all signings and verbal commitments to-date (published on March 3, 2017).
| Rank | Player | Ht. | Cl. | Pos. | Hometown, State | College | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | R.J. Barrett | 6'7 | 2019 | WF | Montverde (Academy) FL | He does have an age advantage & we would like him to become a better outside shooter. However, he does have a great combination of size, skills, & athleticism, has gotten it done consistently on the biggest stages at the high school level, & is the primary reason why Montverde Academy has been one the top teams in the nation each of the last two years. Bottom line, he's just better than all of his peers right now & deserves the #1-ranking until some takes it away from him. | |
| 2. | Vernon Carey | 6'10 | 2019 | PF | Ft. Lauderdale (University School) FL | If we're ranking players based only on size, potential, & athleticism, then this strong physical athletic 4-man might deserve the nod as the best player in the class. He also has taken his game to another level this winter, is an aggressive rebounder, & he makes a living going strong to the basket & bringing the house down with what seems like one power dunk slam after another. He also continues to grow & has a great pedigree (his father was an offensive tackle for the Miami Dolphins). | |
| 3. | Charles Bassey | 6'11 | 2019 | PF | San Antonio (St. Anthony's Catholic) TX | Bassey was the consensus #1-ranked player nationally in the class a year ago. However, this long fluid athletic 4-man's game is more finesse than power and, when compared with a lot of other players in the class, his development appears to have a stagnated, On the other hand, it is hard to argue with his ability to run the court, good ball handling & passing skills, soft touch on his jump shot, & the fact that he can score in a variety of ways. | |
| 4. | Scottie Lewis | 6'5 | 2019 | WF | Tinton Falls (Ranney) NJ | Lewis is another guy who gets some consideration for top player honors in the Class of 2019 & he is second to none in the open court & when it comes time to play above the rim & finish off transition. His outside shooting & ball handling passing skills have really improved, plus he also is versatile enough to play multiple positions, rebounds well for his size, & has extremely quick hands & feet, which allows him to block more than his share of shots. | |
| 5. | Chandler Lawson | 6'8 | 2019 | PF | Memphis (East) TN | To say that Lawson has incredible length & an unbelievable pedigree might be an understatement and one has to also like his skill level, ability to play multiple positions, & just how good he can be when he turns up the heat & takes over the game. On the other hand, he will need to become a tougher customer & become more consistent, if he wants to keep up with his two older brothers who both are starters at the University of Memphis & younger brother who could end up being the best player in the family. | |
| 6. | Chol Marial | 7'1 | 2019 | C | Cheshire (Academy) CT | The fact that this long athletic shot blocking big man is not one of the top five-ranked players nationally in the class is really a testament to the star power in the Class of 2019. Marial will need to get bigger & stronger physically & continue to develop his offensive repertoire, but he runs the court, has quick hands & feet, is an intimidating presence at the defensive end, & he is still only just beginning to scratch the surface in terms of reaching his upside & potential, | |
| 7. | Trendon Watford | 6'9 | 2019 | WF | Mountain Brook (H.S.) AL | We're talking about somebody with all of the ingredients necessary to be even better than his older brother (Christian Watford), who was a four-year starter & a double-digit scorer at Indiana University. What Watford does best is score & he does so it a variety of ways. However, it's also hard not to like the fact that he has excellent skills, gets more than his share of rebounds, is capable of playing just about any position on the court, & still has plenty of upside & potential. | |
| 8. | Cassius Stanley | 6'5 | 2019 | 2G | North Hollywood (Harvard-Westlake) CA | Stanley is another guy with a major age advantage (he will be almost 20-years-old when he graduates from high school) and, as a result, he may not have as much upside & potential as some others in the Class of 2019. But that doesn't diminish the fact that he has a tremendous wing span. quick hands & feet, & a knack for being able to use his strength and athleticism to be a match-up problem when he goes strong to the basket & attacks the rim. | |
| 9. | Bryan Antoine | 6'4 | 2019 | 2G | Tinton Halls (Ranney) NJ | Antoine is another guy who is capable of scoring in a variety of ways & he has a great combination of length, athleticism, skills, & versatility, which allows him to play either guard spot. He also is the perfect complement to Scottie Lewis, as they promise to form one of the best one-two punches in both the high school & club team ranks for the rest of the current season & each of the next two years. | |
| 10. | Tyger Campbell | 5'11 | 2019 | PG | La Porte (La Lumiere) IN | Campbell gets the nod as the best pure point guard in the class based on his great feel for the game, excellent court savvy, terrific ball handling & passing skills, & knack for being able to run the show. He also is good at finishing through contact & is equally adept when it comes time to slash to the basket, pull-up & hit the mid-range jumper, & beat you with his outside shooting. | |
| 11. | LeMelo Ball | 6'2 | 2019 | PG | Chino Hills (H.S.) CA | UCLA | To say that "he never saw a shot that he didn't like," or "he is capable of putting up prolific numbers" both would be major understatements. Remember, this is the guy who has never had any fears, always plays at a pell-mell pace, & was the sidekick to his two older brothers a year ago on an undefeated National Championship Team. And he has grown six inches in the last year, continues to impress with his ball handling & passing skills, & had one game recently when he scored 92 points. |
| 12. | Patrick McCaffery | 6'9 | 2019 | PF | Iowa City (West) IA | McCaffery is one of those guys whose value is on rise thanks to his high skill level, ability to run court, deceptive athleticism, & explosiveness to the basket. He does need to get stronger physically, but handles the ball extremely well for somebody his size, can knock down the outside shot, & has an excellent pedigree (his parents both played Division I basketball & his father is a Division I head coach). He's also overcome more than his share adversity after being diagnosed with thyroid cancer several years ago. | |
| 13. | D.J. Jeffries | 6'7 | 2019 | WF | Olive Branch (H.S.) MS | This long athletic multi-dimensional 3-man is best described as "a more well-rounded LaQuinton Ross." What Jeffries does best is score & he can does so with his ability to post up on the block, with his mid-range jump shot, & with his ability to knock it down from behind the arc. He well need to get bigger & stronger physically, but can put the ball on the floor & is a very effective rebounder & shot blocker. | |
| 14. | A.J. Lawson | 6'7 | 2019 | 2G | Brampton (CTA Preparatory School) ON | We're talking about somebody who has grown seven inches in the last year-and-a-half & has the versatility, skills, & athleticism necessary to play anywhere from the one-to-the-four-spot. He also has great length, rebounds well for his size, knows how to compete, & can both light it up from behind the arc & make a living attacking the basket. But what really gets us excited is the fact that we think he's only just beginning to scratch the surface in terms of reaching his upside and potential & he's arguably the biggest sleeper on this list. | |
| 15. | Cole Anthony | 6'1 | 2019 | PG | Briarwood (Archbishop Molloy) NY | It looks like this crafty point guard is a chip off the old block (his father is Greg Anthony) with his great ball handling & passing skills, high basketball IQ, willingness to make those around him better, explosiveness in transition, & ability to get to the rim & finish with either hand. He will need to bigger & stronger physically & develop more of a shooter's mentality, but he does have a soft touch on his jump shot & he does know how to get his shot off the dribble. | |
| 16. | Precious Achiuwa | 6'7 | 2019 | PF | Newark (St. Benedict's) NJ | He's really more of a four than a three right now based on his length, athleticism, ability to get to score around the basket, & the fact that he gets more than his share of rebounds. He will need to bigger & stronger physically & improve his perimeter skills, but he does bring a lot energy to the table, can knock down the mid-range shot, & is very explosive when it comes time to slash to the basket. | |
| 17. | Sahvir Wheeler | 5'8 | 2019 | PG | Houston (Christian) TX | Texas A&M | Talk about a great pedigree! His parents met a Rucker Park & his father (Teddy Wheeler), who learned how to play the game on the playgrounds of NYC, is now a successful high school coach. So it comes as no surprise that Wheeler has a high basketball IQ, excellent court savvy, & great point guard skills. He also has a competitive edge, will pick your pocket defensively, and, whether it be knocking down the outside shot or driving to the basket & challenging the trees in the paint, he has no fear. |
| 18. | Okyeka Okongwu | 6'9 | 2019 | C | Chino Hills (H.S.) CA | Okongwu has extremely quick hands & feet, a tremendous wing span, & special knack for getting it done both on the boards & blocking more than his share of shots. He also finishes well off transition and, with his ability to get the outlet pass out in a hurry & with pinpoint accuracy, he has been the unsung hero one of the best & most exciting teams in the nation each of the last two seasons. | |
| 19. | P.J. Fuller | 6'5 | 2019 | 2G | Seattle (Nathan Hale) WA | We're talking about somebody with big time athleticism, and, with his quick hands & feet & explosiveness in transition, Fuller is a thoroughbred in an up tempo setting & he makes a living attacking the basket. He also has really improved his outside shooting, and, if he gets bigger & stronger physically & understands the art of being quick, but not in a hurry, the sky's the limit with regard to his upside & potential. | |
| 20. | James Wiseman | 6'10 | 2019 | C | Nashville (Ensworth) TN | Wiseman has the size, frame, & wing span necessary to be an excellent rebounder, shot blocker, & rim protector. He also is extremely mobile for somebody his size, has a soft touch both around the basket & out to 15-feet with his mid-range jump shot. The fact that he is a lefty, is the right age for his class, & is still oozing with upside & potential are just added bonuses. | |
| 21. | Wendell Moore | 6'5 | 2019 | WF | Concord (Cox Mill) NC | Moore has a great combination of strength, speed, quickness, & athleticism, which makes him a match-up problem when he attacks the basket and/or defends smaller guys out on the perimeter. He also is an excellent rebounder, but will need to improve his outside shooting & develop more of an outside shooter's mentality, if he is going to live up to all of the early hype that dates back to when he was just bigger & stronger than everybody else during his middle school days. | |
| 22, | Balsa Koprivica | 7'1 | 2019 | C | Ft. Lauderdale (University School) FL | Koprivica is ranked a lot higher by others in the business, but that's based more on potential than being a finished product. He has improved his mobility, agility, & coordination, does a good job running the court, & has good skills around the basket. He also has tremendous length & is a excellent shot blocker, but he is not a tough customer & he lacks a takeover mentality. | |
| 23. | Mercedes Leech | 6'5 | 2019 | 2G | Poplar Bluff (H.S.) MO | What this silky smooth athletic wing forward does best is excel in an up tempo sitting, play above the rim, & finish off transition. He also has an excellent motor & a quick release on his jump shot, which he can knock down from both mid-range & well behind the arc. The fact that he's a lefty & his best days are still ahead of him are just added bonuses. | |
| 24. | Samba Kane | 6'10 | 2019 | C | Aurora (Regis Jesuit) CO | Kane was one of the big revelations when we saw him last fall at the Panogs All-West Frosh/Camp & he really impressed us with his ability to rebound, block shots, set picks & screens, & quickness to the rim, although there were times when we would have liked him to finish better. He also knows how to compete, is very fluid, mobile, & athletic and, after arriving from The Senegal, has only been the United States for about six months. | |
| 25. | Christian Brown | 6'6 | 2019 | WF | Columbia (A.C. Flora) SC | Brown is a big time athlete & a force to be reckoned with when he goes coast-to-coast & finishes off transition. He also has a competitive edge, an improving outside shot, & an impressive pedigree that includes a mother who played on two girls Class 2A State Championship Teams, an uncle who was a running back at the University of South Carolina, & an aunt who was a star basketball player in high school & played in the first women's professional football league. | |
| 26. | Kahlil Whitney | 6'6 | 2019 | WF | Roselle (Catholic) NJ | Whitney was one of those guys who came out of the woodwork when we saw him this past summer at the 2016 NY2LA Sports Summer Jam & it's hard not be enamored with his length & athleticism, the fact that he has the skills necessary to play both inside & outside, & an impressive pedigree. And just like his father (Kelly Whitney), who played at Marshall High School & Seton Hall University, Whitney decided to go East when he transferred last summer from Solorio High School to Roselle Catholic. | |
| 27. | Matthew Hurt | 6'8 | 2019 | PF | Rochester (John Marshall) MN | Hurt has deceptive athleticism & the skills necessary to play both inside, thanks to his ability to score in the post, & outside, thanks to the soft touch & range that he has on his jump shot. He will need to get bigger & stronger physically, but it's also difficult not to like has a long wing span, high basketball IQ, excellent feel for the game, & the fact that his best days are still ahead of him. | |
| 28. | Keion Brooks | 6'8 | 2019 | WF | Ft. Wayne (Northside) IN | Brooks is one of those guys who does a little bit of everything and, with his size, versatility, length, athleticism, & ability to put up prolific numbers, he projects as a big time wing forward. He will need to develop into a more consistent 3-point shooter, but he is capable of scoring in a variety of ways and, when the outside shot is dropping, there are those in our business that think he deserves top 10 consideration nationally in the Class of 2019. | |
| 29. | Isaiah Stewart | 6'8 | 2019 | PF | Rochester (McQuaid Jesuit) NY | Stewart was sidelined with a broken tailbone at the U.S. Junior National tryouts last fall and, as a result, has been out-of-sight/out of mind this season. However, that does not the fact that he is both a dominant force & physical presence at the defensive end & is very aggressive to the basket & capable of putting up prolific numbers at the offensive end. | |
| 30. | Raymond Hawkins | 6'9 | 2019 | PF | Oakland (Bishop O'Dowd) CA | Hawkins is a strong physical athletic rim protector who makes a living blocking shots, rebounding, & scoring around the basket. He also has long arms, good hands, plays with a competitive edge, & is very mobile around the basket. However, what really get us excited is the fact that he still has plenty of upside & is a long way away from fulfilling his potential. | |
| 31. | Juwan Gray | 6'6 | 2019 | WF | West Columbia (Gray Collegiate) Academy) SC | Gray has big time athleticism & he makes a living going coast-to coast, playing above the rim,, & finishing off transition. He also has a competitive edge, is an excellent rebounder, has the versatility necessary to defend just about any position, & his outside shooting & ball handling skills are getting better. On the other hand, he will need to stronger physically & get better with his left hand. | |
| 32. | Sherif Kenney | 6'4 | 2019 | 2G | Upper Marlboro (Rock Creek Christian Academy) MD | Kenney has been one of the top-ranked players nationally in the Class of 2019 dating back to his middle school days, but dropped off our radar screen a year ago after he left Arlington (Bishop O'Connell) VA. He's strong, versatile, athletic, & extremely talented and, in addition to being able to make a living slashing to the basket & finishing at the rim, it looks like he is evolving into a point guard. | |
| 33. | Armaan Franklin | 6'2 | 2019 | 2G | Fishers (H.S.) IN | Franklin is an athletic 2-guard with good ball handling & passing skills, a great nose for the ball & the ability to rebound extremely well for somebody his size, & excellent moves & explosiveness to the basket. However, what really got our attention were the seven 3-pointers that he knocked down in the round of 16 of the playoffs & the fact that he was the catalyst for a team that advanced all the way to the title game in the 15-Under Division of the 2016 NY2LA Sports Summer Jam. | |
| 34. | Grant Sherfield | 6'2 | 2019 | 2G | Ft. Worth (Crowley) TX | Whether it be off the dribble. coming off screens, pulling up from downtown, hitting the mid-range jump shot, or attacking the basket, what this 6'2 athletic 2-guard does best is put up prolific numbers. He also has a high basketball IQ, is developing better ball handling & passing skills, & has the speed & quickness necessary to be an excellent defender, plus his best days still appear to be ahead of him. | |
| 35. | Rylan Jones | 6'0 | 2019 | PG | Salt Lake City (Olympus) UT | Jones' father was an assistant coach at Utah State for eight years and now is the Director of Basketball Operation at the University of Utah and, as a result, it should come a no surprise that he has excellent point guard skills, great court savvy, a high basketball IQ, & a knack for making those around him better. And, in addition to being like a coach on the floor, Jones also can knock down the outside shot & is an intense competitor and tough hardnosed defender. | |
| 36. | Andrew Nembhard | 6'4 | 2019 | 2G | Montverde (Academy) FL | Nembhard is kind of like a jack-of-all-trades with his versatility, athleticism, & ability to play either guard spot, be a good facilitator, both get to the basket & knock down the outside, defend against both bigger & smaller guys, & play in both an up tempo & half-court setting. He will need to get bigger & stronger physically & develop more of a takeover mentality, but we suspect that will come in time. | |
| 37, | Jordan Mitchell | 6'7 | 2019 | WF | Gahanna (Lincoln) OH | Mitchell has the ball handling & passing skills, ability to score in a variety of ways, a high basketball IQ, & the natural talent necessary to be one of the elite players nationally in the Class of 2019, However, he does not have elite athleticism, is not a tough customer, & has not yet shown that he has the alpha dog mentality necessary to achieve greatness. | |
| 38. | Jake Kyman | 6'6 | 2019 | WF | Rancho Santa Margarita (Santa Margarita) CA | What Kyman lacks in speed, quickness, & athleticism, he more than makes up for with his toughness & competitive edge, great nose for the ball, & the fact that he has a soft touch & is an excellent 3-point shooter. He also has good ball handling & passing skills, a high basketball IQ, & the versatility necessary to play both inside & outside, plus he seems to get better every time we see him play. | |
| 39. | Terry Armstrong | 6'5 | 2019 | 2G | Davison (H.S.) MI | After transferring last summer from Flint (Carman-Ainsworth) MI to Marietta (Wheeler) GA, this explosive 2-guard has returned home and, once again, is drawing Miles Bridges-like comparisons. Armstrong has the skills necessary to play anywhere out on the perimeter, but what he does best is play above the rim & make a living bringing the house down with his acrobatic moves to the basket & strong finishes at the rim. | |
| 40, | Tyrese Maxey | 6'3 | 2019 | 2G | Garland (South Garland) TX | Maxey is an athletic 2-guard who is at his best when he is slashing to the basket, finishing at the rim. & putting up prolific numbers. He does tend to be a streaky outside shooter, but also knows how to defend, has a good motor, understands the pace of the game, and, after being slowed a year ago by injuries, the value of his stock is very much on the rise. | |
| 41. | Nobal Days | 6'9 | 2019 | C | Racine (Racine Park) WI | Days is one of the more intriguing prospects in the class due to his size, athleticism, & ability to rebound, block shots, & be an intimidating presence at the defensive end. He also has good footwork, is an excellent passer out of the post, & he seems to get more than his share of put backs. & offensive boards. On the other hand, he is not a tough customer & has yet to show that he has the takeover mentality necessary to live up to all of the early hype & expectations. | |
| 42. | Ethan Anderson | 6'0 | 2019 | PG | Los Angeles (Fairfax) CA | Anderson is more of an undersized 2-guard than a pure point guard based on the fact that what he does best is score. He also has good strength, deceptive speed & quickness, a competitive edge, & a knack for being able to make tough shots both in traffic & from out on the perimeter. On the other hand, his ultimate fate will likely be determined by how much more he continues to grow. | |
| 43. | Jared Jones | 6'9 | 2019 | PF | Mableton (Pebblebrook) GA | Auburn | Jones appears to be an excellent early catch for the Tigers, because he is a good old-fashioned strong physical athletic 4-man who makes a living blocking shots, rebounding, scoring around the basket. He also runs the court, can pop out & hit the 12-footer, & still has a long way to go in terms of reaching his upside & potential. And the fact that he might not be done yet growing is just an added bonus. |
| 44. | Blake Hinson | 6'7 | 2019 | PF | Deltona (H.S.) FL | This strong physical tough hardnosed combo forward started receiving big time offers to play football back when was in 8th Grader, but now appears to be destined to play basketball. Not only is Hinson a match-up problem around the basket with his ability to score, rebound, & carve out space in the post, but he also has the ball handling skills necessary to play out on the perimeter, is a very good 3-point shooter, & has shown that he is capable of putting up prolific numbers. | |
| 45. | Dekeyvan "KyKy" Tandy | 6'2 | 2019 | 2G | Hopkinsville (University Heights) KY | This 6'2 2-guard has the speed & quickness necessary to create all kinds of havoc in the open court & he makes a living using his explosiveness to get to the basket & finish at the rim. He also shoots it very well from behind the arc & is capable of putting up prolific numbers (he averaged 26.4 ppg, as a freshman, is currently averaging 23.3 ppg this season, & appears to be well on his way toward rewriting all of the scoring records in the Bluegrass State. | |
| 46. | Kobe Brown | 6'7 | 2019 | WF | Huntsville (Lee) AL | Brown is one of those guys who lacks a true position. He grew up with the ball in his hands, but does not have the elite speed & quickness necessary to defend & blow past smaller & quicker guards. He also does not shoot the ball well enough to be considered a pure wing & he will need another inch or two to be a dominating presence in the post. On the other hand, he really knows how to play the game & has big time talent & a great future. | |
| 47. | De'Vion Harmon | 6'2 | 2019 | 2G | Denton (Guyer) TX | Harmon is more of a slasher than a shooter, but it's hard not to like his speed, quickness, and athleticism, ability to make things happen in an up tempo setting, & the way he goes strong to the basket. He will need to work on his outside shooting & ball handling & passing skills, but he is an excellent defender, rebounds well for his size, & has that competitive edge that comes from being a former football player. | |
| 48. | B.J. Mack | 6'8 | 2019 | C | Charlotte (Christian) NC | Virginia Tech | Mack is a 6'8, 250-pound physical specimen with good low post skills, an aggressiveness on the boards, & an ability to finish through contact that draws Elton Brand-like comarisions. Needless to say, he doesn't take any prisoners around the basket & he should be exactly what the doctor ordered for the Hokies when he arrives on campus two-and-a-half years from now. |
| 49. | Antwan January*** | 6'10 | 2019 | C | Woodland Hills (Taft) CA | At 6'10, 225 pounds, January has the size, length, athleticism, & natural talent necessary to become one of the top big men in the Class of 2019. He also knows what he is, which is dominating physical presence in the post. However, just like his older brother (Anthony January), he has been allergic to going to class throughout much of his high school career and, as a result, appears to be a high risk/high reward kind of guy. | |
| 50. | Francis Chibuike-Okoro | 6'9 | 2019 | C | Normal (Community West) IL | Chibuike-Okoro is more of a work in progress than a finished product, but it's hard not be impressed with his big time athleticism & ability to run the court, rebound, blocked shots, & score around the basket. And, when one finds out that he had never played the game before arriving in this country several year ago from Nigeria, it's pretty clear that his best days are still ahead of him. | |
| 51. | Taylor Currie | 6'9 | 2019 | PF | Clarkston (H.S.) MI | We're talking about a very skilled 6'9 face-up four-man who can really shoot the basketball, has good hands & feet, & runs the floor extremely well for somebody his size. He also is versatile enough to be effective both in the low post & the high post & he now checks in as the second highest ranked sophomore in the state after transferring this past summer from Worthington (Christian) OH. | |
| 52. | David Johnson | 6'5 | 2019 | 2G | Louisville (Trinity) KY | Johnson has a good combination of skills, versatility, & athleticism, but we're still not sure whether he has the mentality of a pure point guard or the outside shot necessary for the 2-guard spot. On the other hand, he does have good ball handling & passing skills for somebody his size, he has excellent moves to the basket, & can pull up & hit the mid-range jumper, plus his best days are still ahead of him. | |
| 53. | Isaiah Wong | 6'2 | 2019 | 2G | Lawrence Township (Notre Dame) NJ | Whether it be getting to the basket or knocking down the outside shot, what Wong does best is score. And he does so with either hand & he makes a living getting to the foul line & completing the 3-point play the old-fashioned way. He also is an excellent defender & appears to have ice in his veins, as is evident by the fact that he has a history of making big shots at crunch time. | |
| 54. | Joey Baker | 6'7 | 2019 | WF | Fayetteville (Trinity Christian) NC | Baker is an athletic white kid with good hops, excellent skills, a tough hardnosed demeanor, & the ability to score in a variety of ways. He will need to get bigger & stronger physically, but he gets more than his share of rebounds, has good ball handling & passing skills for somebody his size, may grow some more, & still has plenty of upside & potential. | |
| 55. | Malcolm Dandridge | 6'8 | 2019 | PF | Memphis (East) TN | Dandridge is a rapidly developing 4-man who runs the court & can be tenacious in the post with his ability to rebound, block shots, & go strong to the basket. He also has good hands, excellent length, the ability to pass out of the post, & a blue collar work ethic, which allows him to be one of the unsung heroes on one of the best high school teams in the nation. | |
| 56. | Romeo Weems | 6'5 | 2019 | WF | New Haven (H.S.) MI | Weems is a strong physical athletic combo forward with the versatility & skills necessary to be very effective both inside & outside. He is an excellent rebounder & knows how to score on the block, plus he can handle the ball, defend multiple positions, & can at least keep you honest with his outside shooting. | |
| 57. | Jeremiah Francis | 6'3 | 2019 | PG | Pickerington (Central) OH | Francis is a pure point guard with a pass first mentality, a high basketball IQ, & a knack for being able to control the pace of the game, which he likely has learned from his father (Jerry Francis). who is a former college coach & player at Ohio State. He also has good size & strength for his position & has improved his outside shooting, but lacks the elite speed, quickness, & athleticism that he will need to be able to finish a the rim once he gets to a higher level. | |
| 58. | Isaiah Mobley | 6'8 | 2019 | PF | Temecula (Rancho Christian) CA | This 6'8 skilled hybrid 4-man has an incredible wing span, runs the court extremely well, & is capable of scoring in a lot of ways. We would like him to become a tougher customer around the basket, but he does handle the ball extremely for somebody his size, gets more than his share rebounds, is an outstanding student, & has a tremendous pedigree. | |
| 59. | Zimife Nwokeji | 6'7 | 2019 | WF | Tallahassee (MacClay) FL | Whether it be finishing off transition or knocking down the outside shot, what this 6'7 wing forward does best is score. It's also hard not to be impressed with his length & athleticism, moves & explosiveness to the rim, & the fact that he's only just beginning to scratch the surface in terms of reaching his upside & potential. | |
| 60. | Qudus Wahab | 6'11 | 2019 | C | Ashburn (Virginia Academy) VA | At 6'11, 235 pounds, Wahab is a strong physical athletic big man who runs the court, is active in the post & goes strong to the basket, & is a force to be reckoned with at the defensive end with his ability to rebound, block shots, & protect the rim. However, what really gets us excited is that fact that he's one of the most rapidly improving big men in the class & still has plenty of upside & potential. | |
| 61. | Donte Scott | 6'7 | 2019 | WF | Philadelphia (Imhotep Charter) PA | Scott has gotten lost in the shuffle this year on a team that featured Daron Russell & David Beatty. However, he shoots the ball extremely well from behind the arc, has an excellent mid-range game, & has good moves & a knack for being able to get to the rim, which means he projects as a big time scorer down the road. And the fact that he may grow some more & rebounds well for his position makes him all the more intriguing. | |
| 62. | Quinn Slazinski | 6'8 | 2019 | WF | Houston (Westbury Christian) TX | Slazinski has always had a reputation for being an excellent 3-point shooter with deep range on his jump shot. And, with every inch he grows, he becomes all the more intriguing, because we're talking about somebody who also is very fundamentally sound, knows how to compete, is versatile enough to play multiple positions, & can score in a variety of ways. | |
| 63. | Isaac Johnson | 6'10 | 2019 | PF | American Fork (H.S.) UT | Johnson definitely will need to get bigger & stronger physically (he currently checks in a 6'10, 185 pounds). However, it's hard not to like his length, mobility, & versatility & the soft touch & accuracy that he has on his jump shot makes him somebody that you have to guard in the high post. And he may not be done growing, which means we're talking about a potential 7-footer. | |
| 64. | Josh Nickelberry | 6'4 | 2019 | 2G | Fayetteville (Trinity Christian) NC | This 6'4 explosive 2-guard teams with Joey Baker to form what promises to be one of the most lethal one two punches in the high school ranks each of the next two years. Obviously what Nickelberry does best is score & he can do so both off-the-catch & off-the-dribble. He also has good moves to the basket, has a good mid-range game, & is young for his class. | |
| 65. | Justin Moore | 6'2 | 2019 | 2G | Hyattsville (DeMatha) MD | Moore has the distinction of being one of the few players to ever play on the varsity as a freshman at DeMatha & he was also battle tested last year against older players in the 17-Under Division on the NIKE circuit. He will need to get stronger, but can play either guard spot, knows how to compete, has a good nose for the ball, & can score in a variety of ways. | |
| 66. | Antavion Collum | 6'7 | 2019 | PF | Memphis (East) TN | Collum is versatile & athletic enough to play either forward spot, but what he does best is score around the basket & be a dominant force on the boards. He also plays with a lot of effort, can defend against both bigger & smaller guys, can knock down the mid-range jump shot, & has good ball handling & passing skills for somebody with his size & position. | |
| 67. | Oscar Tshiebwe | 6'8 | 2019 | PF | Grundy (Mountain Mission) VA | We're talking about a 6'8 physical specimen originally from the Congo & it's hard not to like the way he runs the court, rebounds, blocks shots, & does the dirty work around the basket. His offensive repertoire & post moves are still a work in progress, but he has only been in the country about a year & is oozing with upside & potential. | |
| 68. | Jaime Jaquez | 6'5 | 2019 | WF | Camarillo (H.S.) CA | We liked his versatility & athleticism enough to rank him #9 overall in camp when we saw him last fall at the Pangos All-West Frosh/Soph Camp. Not only does he have good ball handling & passing skills for somebody his size, but he also has good hops, is active on the boards, has a good mid-range game, & is difficult to stop in an up tempo setting. | |
| 69. | Makhi Mitchell | 6'9 | 2019 | C | Forestville (Bishop McNamara) MD | At 6'9, 225 pounds, Mitchell is a true post player who is very effective with his ability to block shots, rebound, & score around the basket. He also has good hands, dunks with authority, & can both face-up or score with his back to the basket. The fact that he has a twin brother (Makhel Mitchell) who missed his freshman year due to an injury, but also has a big time future, makes the story even more interesting. | |
| 70. | Chris Harris | 6'2 | 2019 | 2G | Garland (South Garland) TX | What he does best is score and, whether it be slashing to the basket, pulling up from mid-range, or knocking down the outside shot, this 6'2 athletic 2-guard is capable of putting up prolific numbers. He also has good strength & excellent speed & quickness, but tends to be a feast or famine guy, as consistency is not always his forte. | |
| 71. | Kobe Langley | 6'1 | 2019 | 2G | High Point (Southwest Guilford) NC | Virginia Tech | Langley is versatile enough to play either guard spot, but what he does is take advantage of his speed & quickness when it comes time to slash to the basket. He also is an excellent 3-point shooter & provides the perfect complement to his twin bother (Keyshaun Langley) on what promises to be one of the best high school teams in the state for each of the next two years. |
| 72. | Naheem McLeod | 7'0 | 2019 | C | Plymouth Meeting (Plymouth Whitemarsh) PA | McLeod will need to get bigger & stronger physically, but he is a legitimate 7-footer and, although he is not yet finished product, the improvement that he has made from last year to this year is like night & day. And, with his ability to score around the basket, rebound, & block shots, he is a true rim protector. | |
| 73. | Ashton Hagans | 6'3 | 2019 | PG | Covington (Newton) GA | Hagans is an excellent floor general with good ball handling & passing skills, a knack for being able to get his teammates involved, & the speed & quickness necessary make a living off transition & finishing at the rim. He will need to get stronger physically, but does have good size for his position, can knock down the outside shot, & the ability to pick your pocket at the defensive end. | |
| 74. | Maxwell Lorca-Lloyd | 6'9 | 2019 | PF | Northfield (Northfield-Mount Hermon) MA | We're talking about a long athletic 4-man with a high motor & the ability to rebound, block shots, & finish strong at the rim. He also is one of those guys who has improved dramatically in the last year & now has the footwork, post moves, & offensive skills necessary to make a strong case for being the #2-ranked player in the class from New England. | |
| 75. | Julien Franklin | 6'5 | 2019 | WF | Villa Park (H.S.) CA | Franklin is a long skinny versatile athletic wing with excellent body control, good ball handling and passing skills for somebody his size, the ability to knock down the outside shot, & a great nose for the ball, which allows him to make plays & get more than his share of rebounds. However, it's his upside & potential & the fact that he will likely continue to grow that really gets us excited. | |
| 76, | Marquis Walker | 6'0 | 2019 | PG | Westchester (St. Joseph) IL | Walker is a strong physical combo guard with good ball handling & passing skills, plenty of poise & court savvy, & he makes a living attacking the basket & finishing at the rim. He also has a good mid-range game, can knock down the outside, has a competitive edge, & is a tough hardnosed defender. | |
| 77. | Kofi Cockburn | 6'11 | 2019 | C | Middle Village (Christ the King) NY | Originally from Jamaica & checking in at 6'11, 250 pounds, Cockburn is a mammoth physical presence in the post. And, while his defense is still ahead of his offense, he does have strong moves to the basket & is tough to stop when he gets the ball in his comfort zone. He also has only been playing the game for a couple of years and, as a result, his best days are still ahead of him. | |
| 78. | Jamon Kemp | 6'6 | 2019 | WF | Seattle (Garfield) WA | Kemp will need to get stronger physically & he does not have the same killer instinct that his father (Shawn Kemp) had back in the day. However, he does look like his father & it's hard not to like his athleticism, the fact that he has a soft touch on his jump shot, & can both shoot & slash. He also has the ability to rebound, blocks shots, & be a good defensive player. | |
| 79. | Eric Dixon | 6'7 | 2019 | WF | Abington (Friends) PA | At 6'7. 250 pounds, we're talking about strong physical power forward in the true sense of the word. He has also an unorthodox lefty style, moves well for his size & position, knows how to get position, & uses his body to get more than his share of rebounds. The fact that he also can step out & keep you honest from mid-range is just an added bonus. | |
| 80. | Niven Glover | 6'5 | 2019 | 2G | Orlando (Oak Ridge) FL | This 6'5 athletic 2-guard makes a living off transition, playing above the rim, & finishing with a multitude of acrobatic & spectacular dunks. He will need to become more consistent from behind the arc, but, when the jump shot is falling, is capable of putting up prolific numbers & is much better than his current ranking. | |
| 81. | Bryce Willis | 6'4 | 2019 | 2G | New Rochelle (Iona Prep) NY | Willis is hard to evaluate, because we're talking about a cerebral -2-guard who does a lot things well, but has yet to really distinguish himself in any one aspect of the game. He does have good length & athleticism, is versatile enough to play multiple positions, can attack the basket, & has the potential necessary to be an excellent defender. | |
| 82. | Charles Smith | 6'5 | 2019 | 2G | Houston (Westbury Christian) TX | Smith is another one of those guys who can just flat out score & this 6'5 bouncy athletic 2-guard impressed us with his ability to both shoot & slash when we saw him last fall at the John Lucas Midwest Invitational Camp. He has a nice stroke on his jump shot, can shoot it off both the catch & the bounce, plays with a lot energy, & has a knack for getting to the foul line. | |
| 83. | Marvin Price | 6'5 | 2019 | 2G | Baltimore (Patterson) MD | Price is a year older than most of the players in his class, but it's still hard not to like the fact that he can flat out score. And, in addition to being able to both slash to the basket & knock down the outside shot, he also has good strength & athleticism, brings a lot of energy to the table, & is an excellent rebounder for his size & position. | |
| 84. | Jared Lucas | 6'3 | 2019 | 2G | Hacienda Heights (Los Altos) CA | Lucas is an explosive 2-guard with a competitive edge, good moves to the basket, & the ability to knock down the outside shot. He also is equally adept when he comes time to slash to the basket, rebounds well for his size & position, & was good enough when we saw him last fall to be ranked #4 overall at the Pangos All-West Frosh/Soph Camp. | |
| 85. | John Bol-Ajak | 6'10 | 2019 | C | Exton (Church Farm) PA | He is originally from Kenya & has only been in the United States a couple of years. However, we're talking about somebody with has a good understanding of the game, is an excellent rebounder & shot blocker, & has good moves around the basket. He also runs the court, can step out & knock down the mid-range shot, & knows what he is, which is a true center. | |
| 86. | Alonzo Gaffney | 6'8 | 2019 | PF | Cleveland (St. Joseph) OH | This 6'8 long athletic power forward lacks post moves, a mid-range game, & an outside shooting touch, but is quick to the basket, gets more than his share of rebounds, & blocks more than his share of shots. He also handles the ball well for his size, has a high basketball IQ, & has an excellent pedigree (his father played at the University of Cincinnati back in the early 80's). | |
| 87. | Walter Talley*** | 6'7 | 2019 | PF | Chandler (Tri-City Christian) AZ | Originally apart of the Class of 2018 & transplanted from Brooklyn, NY, we're talking about another one of those guys who wants to be a wing forward, but is ideally suited for the 4-spot. What he does best is use his length & athleticism to run the court, rebound, block shots, & defend in the post. | |
| 88. | D.J. Burns | 6'9 | 2019 | C | Rock Hill (York Prep) SC | At 6'9, 240-pounds, Burns is a strong physical big man who has drawn comparisons to the likes of Elton Brand, Zach Randolph, & Kennedy Meeks. And, while he still has long way to go to be that good, he is a lefty & he scores around the basket & from mid-range. The fact that he's a force at the defensive end, garners more than his share of rebounds, & has plenty of upside makes him all the more intriguing. | |
| 89. | Keyshaun Langley | 6'0 | 2019 | PG | High Point (Southwest Guilford) NC | Virginia Tech | Just like his twin brother (Kobe), this 6'0 point will need to get bigger & stronger physically, However, unlike his brother, Langley is better with the ball in his hands & he has the basketball IQ & skills necessary to step in & run the show for the Hokies in two-and-a-half years. He also was the catalyst on a 27-3 team a year ago & one of the best high school teams in the state this time around. |
| 90. | Zach Harvey | 6'4 | 2019 | 2G | Topeka (Hayden) KS | Harvey has good length & athleticism & the ball handling & passing skills necessary to run the point. However, what he does best score. And, whether it be using his moves & quickness to the rim, pulling up & hitting the mid-range shot, or bearing you with his outside shooting, this guy has a knack for putting up impressive numbers. | |
| 91. | Assane Diouf | 7'2 | 2019 | C | Denver (East) CO | We're talking about somebody who checks in at 7'2, 240 pounds, has a 7'4 wing span, & is a force to be reckoned with around the basket. He is still more of a potential guy than a finished product, but it his hard not to like his athleticism, the ways he runs the court, his tenacity on the boards, & the way he burst onto the national radar screen when we saw him last fall at the Pangos All-West Frosh/Soph Camp. | |
| 92. | C.J. Walker | 6'7 | 2019 | WF | Orlando (Christian Prep) FL | Walker is a long lanky 6'7 wing forward with big time athleticism & the ability to play above the rim & be a thoroughbred in transition. He also has improved his ability to put the ball on the floor & knock down the outside shot, but what really gets us excited is the fact that he may continue to grow & still has plenty of upside & potential. | |
| 93. | Dexter Shouse | 6'4 | 2019 | 2G | Indianapolis (Lawrence North) IN | We're talking about somebody who excelled at multiple sports & was touted as one of the top players in his class nationally at an early age, However, he has been missing in action for several years. On other hand, he does have a good combination of strength & athleticism & he has always been able to put up impressive numbers. | |
| 94. | Anthony Harris | 6'2 | 2019 | 2G | Fairfax (Paul VI) VA | Harris has the ball handling & passing skills, feel for the game, & ability to get his teammates involved necessary to be a point guard. However, what he does best is use his speed & quickness get to the basket & finish at the rim. He also has soft touch on his jump shot from mid-range & is an outstanding defender. | |
| 95. | Seth Lundy | 6'5 | 2019 | WF | Philadelphia (Roman Catholic) PA | This 6'5 athletic wing forward does everything well & he is especially effective when it comes to time to get to the rim, where he finishes with either hand & makes a living getting to the foul line & completing the 3-point play the old-fashioned way. He also runs the court well, has a nice mid-range jump shot, & is a good defender. | |
| 96. | Joshua Pierre-Louis | 6'1 | 2019 | PG | Roselle (Catholic) NJ | He's the younger brother of Temple bound Nate Pierre-Louis & together they formed one of the best back duos in the nation this past season. The younger brother is an explosive point guard with good ball handling & passing skills, excellent speed and quickness, & a knack for being able to get to the basket & pretty much score at will. | |
| 97. | Drew Timme | 6'9 | 2019 | C | Richardson (Pearce) TX | We're talking about a good old-fashioned back to the basket big man with good skills, excellent moves, & a knack for being able to score in a variety of ways. He also is equally effective going either direction, is a good passer out of the post, knows how to use his body to be a physical presence in the post, & gets more than his share of rebounds. | |
| 98. | Malik Hall | 6'6 | 2019 | WF | Bel Air (Sunrise Christian) KS | We were impressed with his ability to play both inside & outside when we saw him earlier this year at the Penny Hardaway Hoopfest. He has good quickness & athleticism, a soft touch on his jump shot, can both shoot & slash, is an excellent defender, & the sky is the limit if he continues to grow (he's grown four inches in the last two years). | |
| 99. | Pierre Crockrell | 6'0 | 2019 | PG | Napa (Prolific Prep) CA | Crockrell is a heady floor general with good ball handling & passing skills, a high basketball IQ, excellent court savvy, & a knack for making those around him better. He will need to get bigger & stronger physically, but is explosive in transition, brings a lot energy to the table, & creates plenty of havoc at the defensive end. | |
| 100. | Matt Van Komen | 7'3 | 2019 | C | Lebi (H.S.) UT | Van Komen reminds us of Shawn Bradley with his incredibly lean frame & ability to get up & down the floor extremely well for somebody so big & so young. However, he has no lateral quickness, can't rebound of out of his area, & can't score, except when he gets an occasional put-back. However, like they say, you can'y teach somebody to be 7-feet and, with a 6'5 mother, it's probably safe to say that he's not done growing. |