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Class of '02, position by position

Click here for more on this story
Posted: Wednesday June 13, 2001 3:25 PM
Updated: Thursday June 14, 2001 8:27 PM
  Inside Game - Brick Oettinger - Recruiting Watch

Since the May 15 end of the spring national signing period, our focus has been upon the high school class of 2002 (rising seniors). Based on our revised and updated rankings of the class of 2002, we will provide below a pre-summer listing (position by position) of the premier rising senior prospects. Using a term popularized some 30 years ago by veteran scout Bill Cronauer of the B/C Scouting Service and B/C All-Stars Camp, we call these lists "national positioners."

For each position, we'll not only identify in rank order the top 25 prospects in the class of 2002, but also specify "who's hot" and/or "who's not." All of this, of course, is subject to change in response to the results of the upcoming NBA Players Association Camp in Washington (D.C.), the Youth Development Festival at Colorado Springs, and a host of major camps and tournaments throughout the month of July.

ALL CAPS are used to identify early verbal commitments.

Note that fifth-year preps are included in the rankings, since they will be recruitable just like all other members of the class of 2002. Also, notice how many players reportedly are transferring from all over the nation to private academies in North Carolina! Examples from our lists below (with their home state in parentheses) include DeMarshay Johnson (California), Eric Davis (New Jersey), Kelly Whitney (Illinois), J.R. Morris (Wisconsin), David "Bone" Bell (Pennsylvania) and John Winchester (New Jersey).

Top 25 Rising Senior Centers
Player  Ht.  High School  College 
1. Amare Stoudemire  6-11  Orlando (Fla.) Cypress Creek  MEMPHIS 
2. Sani Ibrahim  6-11  Winchendon (Mass.) Winchendon School    
3. Shelden Williams  6-10  Midwest City (Okla.) High    
4. Jason Fraser  6-9 1/2  Amityville (N.Y.) High    
5. Torin Francis  6-10  Marion (Mass.) Tabor Academy    
6. Paul Davis  6-10  Rochester Hills (Mich.) Rochester  MICHIGAN STATE 
7. DeAngelo Collins  6-10  Inglewood (Calif.) High    
8. Alexander Johnson  6-10  Albany (Ga.) Dougherty  GEORGIA 
9. Kevin Bookout  6-8 1/2  Stroud (Okla.) High    
10. Eric Williams  6-9  Wake Forest-Rolesville (N.C.) High    
11. Keith Butler  7-0  Winchendon (Mass.) Winchendon School    
12. Michael Thompson  6-10  New Lenox (Ill.) Providence Catholic  DUKE 
13. DeMarshay Johnson  6-9  Creedmoor (N.C.) Christian Faith    
14. Christopher Hunter  6-11  Gary (Ind.) Westside    
15. Alou Kane  6-11  Dyke (Va.) Blue Ridge School    
16. Michael Doe  6-10  Fort Walton Beach (Fla.) Choctawhatchee    
17. Theodis Tarver  6-9  Monroe (La.) Carroll    
18. Darryl Jacobs  6-11  Pittsfield (Me.) Maine Central Instit.  PITTSBURGH 
19. Roy Enright  6-9  Omaha (Neb.) Burke  NEBRASKA 
20. Ike Diogu  6-9  Garland (Texas) High    
21. Kevin Young  6-10  Homestead (Fla.) Berkshire School    
22. Kelly Orchard  6-10  Bountiful (Utah.) High    
23. Chris Grimm  6-11  Brighton (Mich.) High    
24. Ted Skuchas  6-11  Fort Washington (Pa.) Germantown Acad.    
25. Akin Akingbala  6-10  East Greenwich (Conn.) Brunswick    
Who's Hot: Amare Stoudemire, Jason Fraser
Who's Not: Michael Thompson, Christopher Hunter, Ted Skuchas

 

Top 25 Rising Senior Power Forwards
Player  Ht.  High School  College 
1. Shavlik Randolph  6-10  Raleigh (N.C.) Needham Broughton    
2. Sean May  6-8  Bloomington (Ind.) North    
3. Chris Bosh  6-9  Dallas (Texas) Lincoln    
4. Greg Brunner  6-8  Charles City (Iowa) High IOWA    
5. Mario Boggan  6-7  Chatham (Va.) Hargrave Military Acad.    
6. Travis Garrison  6-81/2  Hyattsville (Md.) DeMatha Catholic    
7. Yusuf Baker  6-81/2  Orlando (Fla.) Evans    
8. Kelly Whitney  6-8  Creedmoor (N.C.) Christian Faith  MICHIGAN 
9. Chris Williams  6-7  Cedar Hill (Texas) High    
10. Curtis Withers  6-8  Charlotte (N.C.) West Charlotte    
11. Marcus White  6-8  Chicago (Ill.) Whitney Young    
12. Ricky Cornett  6-71/2  Homewood (Ill.) Christian    
13. Fabian Davis  6-61/2  Raleigh (N.C.) Bonner Academy    
14. Nicholas Kern  6-8  St. Louis (Mo.) Vashon    
15. Tyler Best  6-8  Lafayette (Ind.) Central Catholic    
16. Matt Gorman  6-9  Watertown (N.Y.) High    
17. Elliott Poole  6-6  Chicago (Ill.) Farragut Academy    
18. Chuck Davis  6-8  Selma (Ala.) Southside    
19. Steve Novak  6-9  Brown Deer (Wisc.) High    
20. Donte Minter  6-71/2  Mt. Ulla (N.C.) West Rowan    
21. Taj Gray  6-8  Wichita (Kans.) East    
22. Jamaal Walls  6-7  Los Angeles (Calif.) Crenshaw    
23. Justin Johnson  6-8  Merrillville (Ind.) High    
24. Delco Rowley  6-8  Indianapolis (Ind.) Arlington    
25. Sean Mallon  6-9  Spokane (Wash.) Ferris  GONZAGA  
Who's Hot: Greg Brunner, Fabian Davis, Delco Rowley.
Who's Not: Mario Boggan, Marcus White, Donte Minter
 

Top 25 Rising Senior Small Forwards
Player  Ht.  High School  College 
1. Lenny Cooke  6-61/2  Oakdale (Conn.) St. Thomas More    
2. Rashad McCants  6-4  New Hampton (N.Hamp.) School  NORTH CAROLINA 
3. Carmelo Anthony  6-7  Mouth of Wilson (Va.) Oak Hill  SYRACUSE 
4. Evan Burns  6-8  Los Angeles (Cal.) Fairfax    
5. Kelenna Azubuike  6-6  Tulsa (Okla.) Victory Christian    
6. Matt Trannon  6-7  Flint (Mich.) Northern    
7. Denham Brown  6-51/2  Toronto (Ont., Can.) Bathurst Heights    
8. Lester Abram  6-51/2  Pontiac (Mich.) Northern  MICHIGAN 
9. Curtis Sumpter  6-7  Brooklyn (N.Y.) Bishop Loughlin    
10. Kennedy Winston  6-7  Pritchard (Ala.) Blount    
11. Matt Walsh  6-6  Fort Washington (Pa.) Germantown  FLORIDA 
12. Trent Strickland  6-51/2  Hendersonville (N.C.) East Henderson  WAKE FOREST 
13. Rashad Anderson  6-6  Lakeland (Fla.) Kathleen    
14. Bobby Jones  6-61/2  Compton (Cal.) Dominguez    
15. Derrick Byars  6-7  Memphis (Tenn.) Ridgeway    
16. Derek Burditt  6-7  Marrero (La.) John Edret  CALIFORNIA 
17. Francisco Garcia  6-7  Cheshire (Conn.) Cheshire Academy    
18. Cortez Davis  6-7  Chatham (Va.) Hargrave Military Acad.    
19. J.R. Morris  6-5  Creedmoor (N.C.) Christian Faith Center    
20. Alex Carmona  6-5  Troy (Oh.) High    
21. Ricardo Billings  6-4  Detroit (Mich.) Rogers Academy    
22. Lee Melchionni  6-71/2  Fort Washington (Pa.) Germantown  DUKE 
23. Johnnie Jackson  6-6  Memphis (Tenn.) Fairley    
24. Stanley Gaines  6-71/2  Chicago (Ill.) Providence St. Mel    
25. Brandon Roy  6-6  Seattle (Wash.) Garfield    
Who's Hot: Lenny Cooke, Carmelo Anthony, Denham Brown
Who's Not: Matt Walsh, Lee Melchionni
 

Top 25 Rising Senior Wing Guards
Player  Ht.  High School  College 
1. J.J. Redick  6-5  Roanoke (Va.) Cave Spring  DUKE 
2. Bracey Wright  6-31/2  The Colony (Tex.) High    
3. Jimmy McKinney  6-4  St. Louis (Mo.) Vashon    
4. Antonio Lawrence  6-41/2  Jacksonville (Fla.) Andrew Jackson    
5. Maurice Ager  6-4  Detroit (Mich.) Crockett    
6. Hassan Adams  6-31/2  Los Angeles (Calif.) Westchester    
7. Chadd Moore  6-2  Mouth of Wilson (Va.) Oak Hill Acad.    
8. Rob Hite  6-2  Cincinnati (Ohio) Winton Woods    
9. Greg Brown  6-11/2  Milwaukee (Wisc.) Vincent    
10. Cameron Bennerman  6-41/2  Chatham (Va.) Hargrave Military Acad.    
11. Marcus Watkins  6-4  College Station (Texas) A&M Consolidated    
12. DeAngelo Alexander  6-41/2  Midwest City (Okla.) High    
13. Chris McCray  6-4  Capitol Heights (Md.) Fairmont Hgts.  MARYLAND 
14. Michael Ford  6-11/2  Macon (Ga.) Northeast    
15. Jason Forte  6-4  Bay Springs (Miss.) High    
16. Randy Foye  6-3  Newark (N.J.) Eastside    
17. Jonathan Modica  6-5  Fayetteville (Ark.) Smackover  ARKANSAS 
18. Maurice Wade  6-3  Milwaukee (Wisc.) Vincent    
19. Will Holloman  6-11/2  Jacksonville (Fla.) Wolfson    
20. Shawan Robinson  6-2  Raleigh (N.C.) Leesville Road    
21. Richard Joyce  6-5  Mouth of Wilson (Va.) Oak Hill  WAKE FOREST 
22. David Bell  6-6  Durham (N.C.) Mt. Zion Christian Acad.    
23. Rion Powell  6-3  Cleveland (Ohio) Benedictine    
24. David Teague  6-4  North Bridgton (Me.) Bridgton Acad.  PURDUE 
25. Vincent Grier  6-5  Raleigh (N.C.) Bonner Academy    
Who's Hot: J.J. Redick, Jimmy McKinney, Maurice Ager
Who's Not: Jonathan Modica, Richard Joyce
 

Top 25 Rising Senior Point Guards
Player  Ht.  High School  College 
1. Raymond Felton  6-1  Latta (S.C.) High  NORTH CAROLINA 
2. Anthony Roberson  6-1  Saginaw (Mich.) High    
3. Sean Dockery  6-2  Chicago (Ill.) Julian    
4. Jarrett Jack  6-4  Worcester (Mass.) Worcester Academy    
5. John Gilchrist  6-1  Virginia Beach (Va.) Salem    
6. Gerry McNamara  6-1  Scranton (Pa.) Bishop Hannan  SYRACUSE 
7. Chris Rodgers  6-3  Portland (Ore.) Woodrow Wilson  ARIZONA 
8. Daniel Horton  6-3  Cedar Hill (Tex.) High    
9. Daniel "Dee" Brown  6-0  Maywood (Ill.) Proviso East    
10. Allen Ray  6-1  Bronx (N.Y.) St. Raymond's    
11. Elijah Ingram  6-0  Jersey City (N.J.) St. Anthony's    
12. Bryan Hopkins  5-11  Dallas (Texas) Lincoln    
13. Justin Gray  6-2  Mouth of Wilson (Va.) Oak Hill Acad.    
14. Marshall Strickland  6-2  Winchendon (Mass.) Winchendon School    
15. Mario Moore  5-11  Antioch (Tenn.) High  VANDERBILT 
16. Brandon Stockton  5-10  Glasgow (Ky.) High  KENTUCKY 
17. Jeff Horner  6-3  Mason City (Iowa) High  IOWA 
18. Jeremy Monceaux  6-1  Birmingham (Ala.) Parkway Christian    
19. Taquan Dean  6-3  Neptune (N.J.) High  LOUISVILLE 
20. Deron Williams  6-2  The Colony (Texas) High    
21. Brandon Worthy  6-2  San Jose (Calif.) Mt. Pleasant    
22. Todd Galloway  5-11  Middleburg (Va.) Notre Dame    
23. Chris Quinn  6-1  Dublin (Ohio) Coffman  NOTRE DAME 
24. Jason McKinney  5-10  Inglewood (Calif.) High    
25. Jermaine Thomas  6-2  Frederick (Md.) Thomas Johnson    
Who's Hot: Raymond Felton, Anthony Roberson, Allen Ray, Justin Gray
Who's Not: Elijah Ingram, Jeff Horner
 

Regional Notes

Transfers from one university to another, a few late signings, and the most recent verbal commitments capture our attention this week.

EAST

  • 6-6 Lynchburg (Va.) Virginia Episcopal School senior small forward Darrio Scott (No. 176 in the spring edition of the Prep Stars Recruiter's Handbook) signed late with George Washington. An all-state choice, he averaged 24.5 points, 9.6 rebounds and 3.1 steals per game this past season, when he connected on 57 percent of his field goal attempts.

  • 6-6 Villanova sophomore combo forward Aaron Matthews, who averaged 5.1 points and 3.5 rebounds per game last season and started 21 games before being suspended indefinitely for an unspecified violation of team rules, will transfer to either Delaware State or St. Bonaventure.

  • 6-91/2 Penn State sophomore power forward/center Marcus Banta will transfer to a yet undetermined school.

    SOUTH

  • East Carolina signed both 6-10 Senegalese insider Moussa Badiane, who has been playing in France, and 6-9, 220-pound power forward/center Jason Herring of Philadelphia (Pa.) Christian. This past season, Herring averaged 18 points and 10 rebounds per game.

  • 6-2 freshman wing guard Trey Guidry is transferring to Illinois State from N.C. State, where he averaged 3.1 points per game and hit 43 percent of his 3-point tries.

    There are strong rumors that Virginia may soon gain a very early verbal commitment from promising 6-3 combo guard J.R. Reynolds, who averaged over 20 points per game last season as a sophomore at Roanoke (Va.) Catholic.

    MIDWEST

  • 6-8 Wabash (Ind.) High senior power forward Ramon Diaz, a native of Caguas (Puerto Rico) who attracted interest from Valparaiso, Wright State and others, will walk on at Purdue. Last season he averaged 20 points and 13 rebounds per game for the junior varsity. He was not allowed to play for the varsity because his parents did not establish residency in Wabash.

  • 6-8 Michigan signee Kelly Whitney (No. 95 in the class of 2001), will attend Creedmoor (N.C.) Christian Faith Center as a fifth-year prep in the fall to enhance his academic credentials. Last season he averaged 20.1 points and 8.3 rebounds per game at Chicago (Ill.) Marshall as a senior. He still intends to ultimately play for the Wolverines.

  • 6-51/2 lefty swingman Lester Abram, a highly regarded (see above) rising senior at Pontiac (Mich.) Northern, has reconfirmed an early verbal commitment to Michigan. He had briefly withdrawn the commitment when Brian Ellerbe was fired as Wolverines' head coach and replaced by Tommy Amaker.

    SOUTHWEST

  • 6-5 Collin County (Texas) Community College wing Chris Warren, one of the top 200 junior college sophomores in the nation, is expected to announce his collegiate decision shortly from among South Carolina, Wyoming, Old Dominion and Nevada. He has visited all four schools and will be eligible to play next season.

    WEST

  • 6-2 sophomore wing guard Jon Crispin, who averaged 7.3 points per game last season as a starter, recently announced he is transferring to UCLA. He visited both the Bruins and Georgia in late May and then opted for Steve Lavin's program over the Bulldogs of former UCLA coach Jim Harrick.

    Brick Oettinger is talent evaluator for the Prep Stars Recruiter's Handbook and recruiting columnist for the ACC Area Sports Journal. For more information on either publication, call 1-800-447-7667.


     
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