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Top 100 Player Rankings

Lexington, Ky- We spent the summer bouncing from city-to-city and event-to-event in search of the best 100 rising seniors in the country.  It wasn’t easy taking a list of almost 200 candidates and cutting it in-half, but after days of reviewing notes and game tape, we have settled on an official list.  The guy in the picture on the left lays claim to the number one spot.  Read the rest of this story for the other 99.

Cream of the Crop

It's safe to say that we've seen enough of the class of 2008 to know that it doesn't have as much talent as the classes of 2006 and 2007 had. 

After all, the class of 2006 included Greg Oden (Ohio State/NBA), Kevin Durant (Texas/NBA), Mike Conley (Ohio State/NBA), and Brandan Wright (UNC/NBA).  That's basically a who's-who of talent from the 2007 NBA Draft.

The class of 2007 has the same type of star power as the '06 class.  In fact, experts project that the top pick in next year's draft will be one of four guys: OJ Mayo (USC), Michael Beasley (Kansas State), Eric Gordon (Indiana), or Derrick Rose- all class of 2007 prospects.

The class of ‘08 doesn’t have many players (at least yet) that are sure-fire high lottery picks.  There aren't any Odens, Durants, or Mayos in this class.

Having established that we may have been spoiled with special talent during the last couple of years, we’re still not ready to call the 2008 class a weak crop.  There are far too many elite players in this class to do that.

And heading the bunch is Brandon Jennings.

The long and skinny crotch-rocket of a point guard that is already a YouTube star (http://youtube.com/watch?v=VJpqtynQOAM) has been considered one of the nation’s elite guards since his early days when he played ball at Compton's Dominguez High School.

Jennings now runs the point for national powerhouse Oak Hill Academy (a team he helped to a mythical national tilte last summer).  After a terrific junior season at Oak Hill, he has put together an equally impressive run in AAU and camp ball.

Jennings was one of the very best prospects at the Las Vegas Easter Classic, Pangos All-American Camp, Cactus Classic, NBA Player’s Association Camp, Reebok U, and Reebok Summer Championships. 

No other player in the nation has dominated that many top events.  He can flat outplay any guard in the country when he wants to and his play this summer has been good enough to cement his status as the top prospect in this class.

Jennings is the only player to receive a PpR of Franchise Pro (likely lottery pick and NBA All-Star).

The only players that we saw this summer that impressed us enough to compete with Jennings for the top spot were Tyreke Evans and Greg Monroe- the two highest rated unsigned seniors in the country.

Evans could be the most talented basketball player in all the land.  A long-armed, 6’5 combo guard, he is nearly impossible to guard one-on-one.  He is a shifty creator off-the-dribble and has the type of handle that’ll cause a defender to trip over his own feet.  Throw in a rainbow jumper that is among the best in the nation, and we see him as a big-time scorer from day one at the next level. 

In fact, Evans was the #1 ranked player in the 2008 class until last summer and he has enough talent to be the top player.  But he started the summer with some ground to make up and while he's played well, missing events such as Peach Jam just won’t cut it when your going after a guy like Brandon Jennings. 

That leads us to Greg Monroe- the nation’s unanimous #1 ranked big man. 

Monroe is a highly skilled 6’10 player with a frame that gets wider as it gets higher.  He has the ability to get a defensive rebound and take the ball coast-to-coast for a score.  He is multidimensional in the sense that he can play the perimeter or post up inside where he finishes well with either hand.  This summer, we have begun to really appreciate his unselfishness and passing ability.  All-in-all Monroe has a great deal of talent and understanding of the game for a player his size.  

There are, however, a couple of reasons that he is ranked hehind Jennings and Evans on this list.

For starters, he seems to lack a real killer instinct.  It’s not unusual to see Brandon Jennings or Tyreke Evans take over a game and put up a cocky 30+.  Monroe, on the other hand, almost always plays solid and shows flashes of tremendous talent, but he’ll rarely blow you away. 

While he can put the ball on the floor and finish a driving dunk, he is not nearly the athlete a guy like Michael Beasley is.  He’s a capable midrange shooter, but he will never be one to fill-it-up like Kevin Durant.  And he has as much upside as any player in this class, but probably not as much as a guy like Anthony Randolph (LSU). 

He’s a likely NBA Draft lottery pick in a couple of years (possibly the top pick) and we think he’ll be a fine pro player… but a future-NBA star?  We’re not convinced, yet.

On the Rise

Samardo Samuels, Ed Davis, Jrue Holiday, Delvon Roe, and Al-Farouq Aminu all started the summer as guys that could contend for the top spots in the rankings. 

While Samuels, Holiday, and Roe have maintained their status for the most part, Ed Davis and Al-Farouq have stalled out and haven’t developed as fast as we expected them to.  That created room for some players to climb the charts, and the two that capitalized were Will Buford and DeMar Derozan.

We first saw Buford play this AAU season at the King James Classic where he led the D1 Greyhounds to the championship game.  He proved to have an effortless scoring game at that event and we marked him down as a player to keep a close eye on this summer. 

Buford proved his worth as a top 10 player nationally earlier this month when he was the best scoring guard at the loaded Reebok U.  He was one of the camp's leading scorers and you got the feeling it came easy.

We expect him to be an immediate impact player at Ohio State and we're projecting him as a higher rated wing than Daequan Cook, who was the 21st player taken in the 2007 NBA Draft.

Right behind Buford is DeMar Derozan, a guy that has improved his stock more than any other player this spring and summer. 

After entering the AAU season as a top-50’sh prospect, DeRozan was dominant at the Cactus Classic and Pangos All-American Camp.  But his real coming-out-party came three weeks ago when he was the top player at the Lebron James US Skills Academy.

He is a 6’6 wing with an accurate jump shot from 18-feet to 3-point range.  DeRozan is also an excellent leaper and he scores points in a hurry in transition.  He has all the makings of a future NBA shooting guard.

Although there aren’t any other newcomers to the top 10, there are a number of players that have significantly improved their ranking with their play this summer:

• 6’4 Elliot Williams didn’t join our national top 25 until April but has since climbed all the way to 11th.
• 7-footer Tyler Zeller didn’t start the summer with a huge reputation, but he is now considered one of the nation’s top big men and has earned a top 15 national ranking.
• 6’5 Scotty Hopson dropped out of our top 50 after a mediocre high school season, but his recent play at USA Basketball and Lebron James Academy has him back in the top 25.
• 6’7 Tony Mitchell wasn’t even on our radar prior to the start of AAU ball, but after a breakout performance at NBPA Camp, his stock has shot through the roof.
• 6’10 Tony Woods has taken his game to another level this summer and is now on the verge of cracking the top 25.
• 5’11 Kemba Walker wasn’t ranked among our top 75 in the spring rankings, but he has solidified his status as one of the nation’s top point guards and earned a top 30 ranking.
• 6’8 Olek Czyz was a new name to us when we first saw him play Easter weekend in Vegas.  Now, he's on everyone's radar and moves well into the top 50.
• 6’4 Elston Turner was one of the biggest surprises at the NBPA Camp and Reebok U, and has solidified himself as a legit top 50 prospect.
• 6’6 DeQuan Jones is one of the best athletes in the nation and he’s becoming one of the best players also.  He cracks the top 50 for the first time.
• 6’7 Lance Goulbourne is a lot better than we had previously realized.  After his play at Lebron James Academy and Peach, he moves into the top 75.

The Top 100 Prep Basketball Players in the Graduating Class of 2008
Ranked according to their current talent level and college (and NBA) upside.

1.  Brandon Jennings 6’1 PG Mouth of Wilson (VA) Oak Hill ARIZONA Franchise Pro
Ultra quick playmaker with a slick handle that is a dangerous scorer and excellent passer.

2.  Tyreke Evans 6’5 CG Aston (PA) American Christian UNDECIDED Pro
Long and tall combo guard that is a creative ball handler and has a deadly rainbow fade-away jumper.

3.  Greg Monroe 6’10 CF Monroe (LA) Helen Cox UNDECIDED Pro
Very skilled big man that scores, passes, rebounds and block shots. Tremendous upside.

4.  Samardo Samuels 6’9 PF Newark (NJ) St. Benedict LOUISVILLE Pro
Big body warrior that is nearly unstoppable inside and always a factor on the boards.

5.  Jrue Holiday 6’3 SG N. Hollywood (CA) Campbell Hall UCLA Pro
The nation’s top shooting guard. Complete package- handles, scores, passes and tough defender.

6.  William Buford 6’4 SG Toledo (OH) Libbey OHIO STATE Pro
Smooth scoring guard that can effortlessly fill it up from anywhere on the court.

7.  DeMar Derozan 6’6 SF Compton (CA) High USC Pro
Made a name for himself as a high-flying dunker, but has a rapidly improving skill set and outside shot.

8.  Delvon Roe 6’7 SF Lakewood (OH) St. Edward MICHIGAN STATE Pro
Elite level athlete that plays bigger than his size and has a great motor. Potential big-time scorer.

9.  Al-Farouq Aminu 6’8 SF Norcross (GA) High WAKE FOREST Pro
Athletic forward with a 7-foot wingspan that has a solid perimeter game and is an excellent rebounder.

10. BJ Mullens 7’0 C Canal Winchester (OH) High OHIO STATE Pro
Solid-bodied and mobile 7-footer with a soft touch and a handful of nice post moves.

11. Elliot Williams 6’4 SG Collierville (TN) St. George’s UNDECIDED Pro
Skinny and long combo guard that has become a big time scorer this spring. Elite athlete.

12. Willie Warren 6’3 SG Mouth of Wilson (VA) Oak Hill UNDECIDED Pro
Power guard that can really score the ball. Good shooter with range and athletic finisher.

13. Ed Davis 6’8 PF Richmond (VA) Benedictine UNC Pro
Long and athletic lefty with a solid post game and skill set.

14. Tyler Zeller 7’0 PF Washington (IN) High UNDECIDED Pro
Runs the court better than any 7-footer in the country and he has a great deal of skill for his size.

15. Devin Ebanks 6’8 SF Oakdale (CT) St. Thomas More INDIANA Pro
Skinny and long forward that can handle and shoot. Draws comparisons to Rudy Gay.

16. Howard Thompkins 6’8 PF Mouth of Wilson (VA) Oak Hill GEORGIA Pro
Skilled power forward that stuffs the stat sheets in the scoring and rebound columns.

17. Malcolm Lee 6’3 PG Riverside (CA) John W. North UCLA Pro
Fast, tall and long point guard that gets in the lane and makes plays and shoots it from outside.

18. JaMychal Green 6’8 PF Montgomery (AL) St. Jude UNDECIDED Pro
This strong athlete is still a little raw offensively but improving in that area. Leaves his mark defensively.

19. DeAndre Liggins 6’6 GF Wolfeboro (NH) Brewster Academy KENTUCKY Pro
Long point-forward that handles, makes plays and scores points. Can play multiple positions.

20. Michael Dunigan 6’9 C Chicago (IL) Farragut Academy OREGON Pro
The meanest big man on the circuit loves to use his solid frame to bully opponents inside.

21. Darius Miller 6’6 SF Maysville (KY) Mason County UNDECIDED Pro
Good athlete with a polished offensive game that finishes strong, shoots it well and knows how to defend.

22. Ty Walker 7’0 C Wilmington (NC) New Hanover WAKE FOREST Pro
Rapidly improving and mobile 7-footer that has a great deal of upside because of his size and athleticism.

23. Scotty Hopson 6’5 GF Hopkinsville (KY) University Heights MISS ST Pro
Long athlete on the wing with a nice shooting touch, improving slashing game and a great deal of upside.

24. Drew Gordon 6’9 PF San Jose (CA) Archbishop Mitty UCLA Pro
Excellent athlete that excels defensively, on the boards and in transition.

25. Tony Mitchell 6’7 SF Swainsboro (GA) High ALABAMA Pro
Smooth wing with a nice scoring game and a rapidly improving stock.

26-100:

26. Kenny Kadji 6’10 C Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy FLORIDA Pro
27. Terrelle Pryor 6’6 GF Jeannette (PA) High UNDECIDED Big Time
28. Tony Woods 6’10 FC Rome (GA) High WAKE FOREST Big Time
29. Iman Shumpert 6’3 SG Oak Park (IL) Oak Park & River Forest UNDECIDED Big Time
30. Kemba Walker 5’11 PG New York (NY) Rice UCONN Big Time
31. Angel Garcia 6’10 PF East Chicago (IN) Central UNDECIDED Big Time
32. Nate Miles 6’6 SF San Antonio (TX) Cornerstone Christian UCONN Big Time
33. Sylven Landesberg 6’6 SF Flushing (NY) Holy Cross UNDECIDED Big Time
34. Yancey Gates 6’9 PF Cincinnati (OH) Withrow CINCINNATI Big Time
35. Travis Releford 6’4 SG Shawnee Mission (KS) Bishop Miege KANSAS Big Time
36. Troy Gillenwater 6’7 PF Fitchburg (MA) Notre Dame Prep UNDECIDED Big Time
37. J’Mison Morgan 6’9 C Dallas (TX) South Oak Cliff UNDECIDED Big Time
38. Olek Czyz 6’8 PF Reno (NV) High UNDECIDED Big Time
39. Jeff Withey 7’0 C San Diego (CA) Horizon ARIZONA Big Time
40. Wesley Witherspoon  6’7 GF Lilburn (GA) Berkmar UNDECIDED Big Time
41. J’Covan Brown 6’2 SG Port Arthur (TX) Memorial UNDECIDED Big Time
42. Romero Osby 6’8 SF Meridian (MS) Northeast Lauderdale MISS ST Big Time
43. Elston Turner 6’4 SG Roseville (CA) High WASHINGTON Big Time
44. Emmanuel Negedu 6’7 PF Wolfeboro (NH) Brewster Academy ARIZONA Big Time
45. DeQuan Jones 6’6 SF Marietta (GA) Wheeler UNDECIDED Big Time
46. Chris Braswell 6’8 PF Hyattsville (MD) Dematha Catholic GEORGETOWN Big Time
47. Jerime Anderson 6’1 PG Anaheim (CA) Canyon UCLA Big Time
48. Eloy Vargas 6’9 PF Plantation (FL) American Heritage UNDECIDED Big Time
49. Chris Singleton 6’8 CF Dunwoody (GA) High UNDECIDED Big Time
50. Rotnei Clarke 5’11 PG Claremore (OK) Verdigris UNDECIDED Big Time
51. Matt Humphrey 6’4 SG Chicago (IL) Hales Franciscan OREGON Big Time
52. JT Thompson 6’6 CF Kings Mountain (NC) Hope Christian VIRGINIA TECH Big Time
53. Bud Mackey 6’3 SG Georgetown (KY) Scott County INDIANA Big Time
54. Olu Ashaolu 6’7 CF Houston (TX) Christian Life UNDECIDED Big Time
55. Mike Rosario 6’2 CG Jersey City (NJ) St. Anthony RUTGERS Big Time
56. Anthony Jones 6’10 SF Houston (TX) Yates UNDECIDED Big Time
57. Henry Sims 6’10 C Baltimore (MD) Mount Saint Joseph  GEORGETOWN Big Time
58. Larry Drew 6’0 PG Woodland Hills (CA) William Howard Taft NORTH CAROLINA Big Time
59. Kevin Jones 6’8 CF Mount Vernon (NY) High UNDECIDED
60. Renaldo Woolridge 6’8 SF N Hollywood (CA) Harvard-Westlake UNDECIDED Big Time
61. Terrance Henry 6’9 PF Monroe (LA) Carroll UNDECIDED Big Time
62. Nasir Robinson 6’5 SF Chester (PA) High PITT Big Time
63. Kris Joseph 6’7 SF Washington (DC) Archbishop Carroll SYRACUSE High Major
64. Xavier Gibson 6’10 FC Dothan (AL) Northview UNDECIDED High Major
65. Luke Babbitt 6’8 PF Reno (NV) Galena NEVADA High Major
66. Anthony Crater 6’0 PG Flint (MI) Southwestern Academy OHIO STATE High Major
67. Kenny Frease 6’11 C Massillon (OH) Perry XAVIER High Major
68. Steve Tchiengang  6’9 PF Montverde (FL) Academy UNDECIDED High Major
69. Matt Simpkins 6’9 PF Sacramento (CA) Capital Christian UNDECIDED High Major
70. Lance Goulbourne 6’7 CF Princeton (NJ) The Hun School UNDECIDED High Major
71. John Brandenburg 6’11 C St. Louis (MO) DeSmet Jesuit UNDECIDED High Major
72. Drazen Zlovaric 6’9 SF Cleveland (TN) High UNDECIDED High Major
73. Murphy Holloway 6’7 SF Irmo (SC) Dutch Fork UNDECIDED High Major
74. Korie Lucious 5’11 PG Milwaukee (WI) Pius Xi MICHIGAN STATE High Major
75. Jordan Theodore 6’1 PG Paterson (NJ) Catholic SETON HALL High Major
76. Sean Mosley 6’4 SG Baltimore (MD) St. Frances Academy UNDECIDED High Major
77. Carrick Felix 6’5 SF Goodyear (AZ) Millennium UNDECIDED High Major
78. Tyreese Breshers 6’6 PF Los Angeles (CA) Frederick K C Price WASHINGTON High Major
79. Brett Thompson 6’11 Vienna (IL) High ST. LOUIS High Major
80. DJ Seeley 6’4 SG Modesto (CA) Christian CALIFORNIA High Major
81. Frankie Sullivan 6’2 CG Uniontown (AL) Robert C Hatch UNDECIDED High Major
82. Andrew Steele 6’3 CG Birmingham (AL) John Carroll High UNDECIDED Major
83. Catalin Baciu 7’0 C Fletcher (NC) Veritas Christian Academy CLEMSON High Major
84. Walter Offutt 6’3 SG Indianapolis (IN) Warren Central OHIO STATE
85. Travis Leslie 6’5 SF Norcross (GA) Wesleyan UNDECIDED High Major
86. Cordell Passley 6’2 PG Indianapolis (IN) Pike UNDECIDED High Major
87. Draymond Green 6’6 PF Saginaw (MI) High MICHIGAN STATE High Major
88. Ralph Sampson 6’11 C Duluth (GA) Northview UNDECIDED High Major
89. Courtney Fortson 5’11 PG Patterson (NC) School UNDECIDED High Major
90. Jared Berggren 6’10 C Princeton (MN) High UNDECIDED High Major
91. Mark McLaughlin 6’4 SG Kenmore (WA) Inglemoor WASHINGTON STATE High Major
92. Jarrett Mann 6’5 SF Middletown (DE) High STANFORD High Major
93. Philip Jurick 6’11 C Chattanooga (TN) East Ridge TENNESSEE High Major
94. Nick Williams 6’4 SG Le Flore (AL ) High MARQUETTE High Major
95. Allan Chaney 6’8 PF New London (CT) High UNDECIDED High Major
96. Brad Tinsley 6’3 CG Oregon City (OR) High UNDECIDED High Major
97. Paul Williams 6’3 SG Detroit (MI) Renaissance UNDECIDED High Major
98. Chris Babb 6’4 SG Arlington (TX) The Oakridge School UNDECIDED High Major
99. Rashanti Harris 6’9 FC Columbus (MS) New Hope UNDECIDED High Major
100. Jeremy Green 6’3 SG Austin (TX) Bowie STANFORD High Major

You can contact Nathan McCauley at Nathan@HoopsReport.com