Jason Pratt:
Future150 Senior Recruiting Analyst. Covering high school basketball nationally.
Nashville, TN (Future150) -- With the start of another school year upon us, it's time to reward the players from this summer who proved their worth on the recruiting circuit with their impressive play.
Other than 2014 star Andrew Wiggins, nobody stood out more than Texas power forward Julius Randle, who is Future150's unanimous choice for the #1 player in the country for the class of 2014.
At 6'8" and 235 pounds, he showed his continued evolution as a player this summer. He can easily play both the small forward and power forward position, and on the defensive end of the floor, can guard four positions easily. What makes him even more appealing as a prospect is the fact that he plays with an unmatched intensity every time he takes the floor.
Shooting guard Aaron Harrison slides in at #2 in our latest rankings. Over the past two years, he has shown steady growth in his overall game and completely dominated this summer while playing with his brother Andrew for the Houston Defenders. While he has always been a gifted shooter, he has improved drastically working without the ball, as well as creating for himself with the ball in his hands. He also has improved his ball-handling skills and is beginning to show potential to play point guard at points at the college level.
Chicago star Jabari Parker drops to #3 in the country, but can easily rise back to the top of the class with a strong senior season. Future150 absolutely loves his skill set and overall feel for the game. He is a legitimate 6'8" and reminds us of a Carmelo Anthony-type player. He is also a very special kid off the court who has an extremely bright future ahead of him.
Bay Area star Aaron Gordon checks in at #4 in the rankings. He very well may be the most exciting player in America, and showed that with his breathtaking play at the Nike Peach Jam last month. While he has always had the athleticism of a future pro, he now is adding a face-up game and outside jump shot to his arsenal. This makes him a very dangerous prospect, one who could rise even further in the rankings in the near future.
Future Florida Gator Chris Walker is the #5 player in the country in our latest rankings, but if we were ranking prospects based on "potential", he could easily be considered for the number one slot.
The 6'10" power forward oozes potential and his game is still a work in progress. He is an elite big man when it comes to running the floor for easy baskets and is a very good rebounder on both ends of the floor. He, like Aaron Gordon, is also beginning to develop a consistent face-up game on the offensive end of the floor, which doesn't bode well for future SEC opponents.
Checking in at #6 in the country is Michigan shooting guard James Young, one of hottest uncommited prospects still on the board. Andrew Harrison stills holds the distinction as the best point guard in the 2013 class, and currently sits at #7 in the country.
Another Florida Gator commit lands in the top 10, with Kasey Hill climbing up to #8 in the rankings. North Carolina native and Tar Hell commitment Isaiah Hicks keeps his position at #9 in America, and will be an immediate contributer in Chapel Hill in 2013. Rounding out the top 10 in Future150's latest rankings is Virginia point guard Anthony Barber who is an absolute blur in the open floor.
With our latest rankings, there are several players who saw their stock rise dramatically. No player impressed us more in the 2013 class over the spring and summer season than Indiana point guard Demetrius Jackson, who rose from #65 all the way up to #11. He is not only one of the most athletic prospects in the class, but is becoming one of the most consistent as well.
Future Arkansas Razorback big man Bobby Portis climbs 10 spots up to #12. Rondae Jefferson, the 6'7" jack-of-all-trades point-forward, continues his improvement by rising six spots to #13.
Tennessee big man Austin Nichols makes a significant jump from #27 all the way to #14. The 6'8" forward has the look of a young Tyler Zeller and is wanted by many of the best programs in the country right now.
Small forward prospect Kuran Iverson climbs five spots to #39, and could end up well inside the top 20 if his game stays consistent during his season season at Fishburne Military School (VA).
West Charlotte High School (NC) big man Kennedy Meeks proved to be one of the best passing big men we've seen at the high school level in several years, making his value rise considerably. He now is at #45 in our rankings.
Heading the newcomers list is Loan Peak High School's (UT) Eric Mika at #53. Future Louisville Cardinal and stud point guard Terry Rozier sits at # 83. One of the top newcomers to the list is combo guard Sam Singer out of Miami, FL at #88. He played well and had a huge July which turned a ton of heads in the recruiting world. Coming in at #92 player in the country is Connecticut commit Kentan Facey, who hails from New York.
Comments:
Be the first to post. Just use the form below.