Jason Pratt:
Future150 Senior Recruiting Analyst. Covering high school basketball nationally.
Jackson, MS (Future150) -- After just one season at the high school level, superstar freshman Malik Newman helped lead Mississippi power Callaway High School to a Class 5A state title. Along the way, he posted gaudy numbers. His 22.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, and sheer dominance of his older peers, along with stellar offseason AAU performances, made it easy for us at Future150 to claim him as the best freshman in the country right now.
The 6-foot-3, 170-pound shooting guard is as physically imposing as any other player in the class of 2015. He has a devastating first-step that he uses to get to the basket at will. He also has the ball-handling skills of a point guard and picks his spots wisely in order to create open shots for himself. He is a phenomenal shooter and could potentially turn into a devastating point guard by the end of his high school career.
What sets him apart from his classmates right now is his thirst to get better. He rivals past prep stars such as Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and O.J. Mayo with his devotion to the game. He is a scary prospect right now, and he is only getting better.
Breathing down Malik Newman's neck at No. 2 in the rankings is Texas star Mickey Mitchell. Playing alongside rising senior star Julius Randle, he carved his own niche at Prestonwood Christian, where the 6-foot-7, 185-pound small forward showed off his always-improving game.
He is an elite athlete known for his ability to thrown down powerful dunks in traffic, as well as follow-up slams off of missed shots. What sets him apart from other elite players his age is his outstanding passing ability. While he won't ever be a point guard at the college level or beyond, he has better court vision than most lead guards.
Coming in at No. 3 in the rankings is New Jersey big man Karl Towns Jr. The 6-foot-10 forward/center prospect hails from the same high school that produced NBA all-star Andrew Bynum, St. Joseph's (NJ). As a freshman, he averaged better than 12 points and 10 rebounds per game. He excels on the defensive end of the floor as a shot-blocking machine. He has the versatility of a small forward, as well as the physicality to play power forward or center.
Another big man who made the biggest jump in the rankings from #41 to No.4 is Evangelical Christian School (TN) star Skal Labissierre. The 6-foot-10, 180-pound power forward burst onto the American prep scene after arriving from Haiti after the terrible earthquake two years ago. He is an extremely skilled youngster who has the look of a prospect who could slide into a small forward role when all is said and done.
Rounding out the top five is Marcus LoVett Jr.. The Providence High School (CA) standout is already a legend in southern California. As a freshman, he averaged an incredible 31.7 points per contest, to go along with 4.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 3.1 steals. While his statistics show you a scorer, this southpaw is a true point guard with an explosive first step and a flair for making breathtaking passes.
No. 6 in the Future150 rankings is Bishop Gorman High School (NV) big man Stephen Zimmerman. The 6-foot-10 power forward/center's game is coming along nicely, and should be a top five player in the 2015 class for the remainder of his high school career.
Checking in at No. 7 is 6-foot-3 Texas shooting guard King McClure. Following him at No. 8 is 6-foot-3 New Jersey point guard Isaiah Briscoe. Jeremy Treaudo, a 6-foot-5 shooting guard, lands at No. 9 in the latest Future150 rankings.
Rounding out the top 10 is Wisconsin big man Diamond Stone. The 6-foot-10, 215-pound bruising power forward evolved before our very eyes all season long, and is already a dominating force on the national level.
There were several players who made significant jumps in the rankings after solid high school seasons and Spring AAU. Luke Kennard come in at No.11 after we saw him at King James. He is a fundamental player and coaches dream due to he can do it all. He plays with a high motor and can score on all three levels. His best attribute might be his ability to take players to the post and go to work.
Willie Jackson, a 6-foot-3 shooting guard out of Athens Christian School (GA), used a spectacular freshman season to catapult himself to No. 13 in the national rankings, after previously being unranked.
Dwayne Bacon out of Florida moved up from #45 to No. 21 due to several dominating performances at the Knox Vegas Heat, King James and Wallas Prather tournaments. He can play multiples positions and is a exceptional ball handler for a guard his size.
Malachi Richardson, a 6-foot-6 shooting guard from Trenton Catholic (NJ) made his debut in the rankings at No. 23. Another debut prospect is KeVaughn Allen. The 6-foot-3 shooting guard from North Little Rock High School (AR) comes in at No. 24.
Shelleke Brown, a 6-foot-6, 260-pound bruising power forward, used a dominating performance at the Future150 Main Event in Atlanta last month to secure a top 50 ranking in the freshman class, landing at No. 49.
The class of 2015 is a bit of a mystery at this point, but there appear to be several stars who will lead this pack of talented players over the next three years. However, look for more and more talented youngsters to come out of the woodwork as we steamroll through the AAU season. Stay tuned to Future150 for the latest news on tomorrow's future stars.
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