Austin Rivers headlines High School Hoop Top 50
Words. High School Hoop
Austin Rivers (photo. Kelly Kline)
The most distinct difference in the HSH/2K Sports national Top 50 player ranking and everyone else’s is that we disregard class. To us, a baller is a baller; doesn’t matter how old you are or when you’re slated to graduate.
Our rankings also aren’t based on what type of prospect you’ll be in the future, what college you pick or don’t pick, or what city you’re from. For this updated version of the Top 50 — the first we’ve done since the Class of 2010 seniors graduated — all that matters is what you did on this summer’s AAU circuit and what you did last season. We had eyes and ears at pretty much every major event, and saw every player on this list multiple times. So without further ado, check out the brand-new Top 50.
Topping the list is Austin Rivers, the Winter Park (Fla.) rising senior two-guard who was No. 2 on the previous list under reigning 2K Sports Player of the Year Jared Sullinger. Now that Sullinger is preparing to start his freshman season at Ohio State, Rivers takes over top dog status. The 6-3 scorer is at the center of a recruiting battle between Duke, Florida, Kentucky and others, and is fresh off a co-MVP performance at the Elite 24 game in Venice Beach on national TV.
While Rivers and No. 2 Quincy Miller are still making their college decisions, the next five players in the top seven are at least verbally committed: Michael Gilchrist (Kentucky), Marquis Teague (Kentucky), Brad Beal (Florida), Myck Kabongo (Texas) and James McAdoo (North Carolina).
Position-wise, it’s pretty spread out, though there are only two true centers — Andre Drummond, Rakeem Christmas and DaJuan Coleman — in the top 25.
The West Coast didn’t have a good showing in the previous Top 50, but are better represented here. It helps that Kabongo transferred to Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.) for next season, and he’s joined by teammate Nick Johnson (#27), as well as Las Vegas’ Shabazz Muhammad, Oakland’s Jabari Brown, Seattle’s Tony Wroten Jr., and Portland’s Kyle Wiltjer, among others.
Austin deserves it! Dude is sick.
Naaah man Rivers is a ballhog! Give me Quincy Miller #1! I agree with how high Tyler Lewis is ranked. He’s a monster.
[...] Drummond rose to #10 on the new HSH national Top 50 on the strength of his 2010 summer. The 6-10 center from St. Thomas Moore (Oakdale, Conn.) was [...]