Every year, Rivals.com releases their list of the top 150 prospects in a given class. We here at CA/CO Prep Sports took a look at this list and found some very interesting things!
If you asked your average basketball junkie, most would think that the states of California, Illinois and New York would produce the most HS level basketball talent. After analyzing the list, only one of these 3 states is in the top 3 in terms of the number of prospects on the 150 list.
1. Georgia-GA leads the nation with 14 prospects on the list. In recent years, GA has become arguably the nations top prep basketball state. Schools like Norcross HS have made their name on the national scene and the AAU club the Atlanta Celtics played host to current NBA stars Josh Smith and Dwight Howard. With the expansion of the Atlanta metropolitan area, GA's talent level should only rise.
2. CA/NJ- Jersey and the Golden State tie with 11 prospects a piece. With national powerhouses like St. Benedicts and St. Anthony's it is not totally surprising to see NJ putting out big time talent. CA is a players paradise. There is competition in every gym. Los Angeles puts out players that range in style from Aaron Afflalo and Gilbert Arenas to Tyson Chandler and Teyshaun Prince. Oakland is one of the most historically rich basketball towns, and The Town loves to produce big guys like Drew Gooden, Leon Powe and Cal's Devon Hardin.
3. FL- It isn't just UF that is strong in basketball these days. With 2 major metropolitan areas in Tampa and Miami, it isn't hard to put out some of the top talent in the country. Edgewater and Clearwater HS's are big time programs. One of Florida's home grown boys? Vince Carter.
4. North Carolina- While the Carolina state is rich in College tradition with Duke, North Carolina, Wake Forest and NC State, the high school scene has picked up as well. While NC is putting out talent, much of it is transplant talent due to the high volume of Prep Schools. For example, the star of the Pendletton School, Matt Simpkins, is from Northern California.
Others of Note: TX 7, IL 7, NY 6, VA 6
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Monday, December 3, 2007
Top Ten
Now for the good stuff, here are the top 10 CO basketball teams as of 12/04/2007.
1. Denver East- Simply put, the Thorton brothers are dominating. Combining for 49 points against Doherty, the brothers helped east down the #4 team in Colorado 79-70. When the Angels get star Mookie Gilbert back, Rudy Carey should have his 3rd state title in 5 years.
2. ThunderRidge- This program has no excuse to ever be out of the top 5 as they are just that deep with talent. Coach Joe Ortiz has the talent and the experience to get this team to the Coors Event Center yet again.
3. Poudre- Dallas Elmore and company dispensed Xavier Howard-less Smoky Hill this past week to boot the Buffaloes out of the top 10. If the rest of Poudre can step up when Elmore is focused on, this team could be simply dangerous!
4. Doherty- The loss to #1 East drops the Spartans only one spot. Doherty has some big shoes to fill from last year, but has the talent to do it. The league games against Reggie Jackson and Palmer will be exciting.
5. Mullen- Two Final Fours and a state championship are things that programs often dream about. For Coach Cutrell and the Mustangs that is the level of expectations that they must live up to. Cutrell has built Mullen into a perennial powerhouse and with stars Terrance Dent and Stan Jones, I don't see Mullen falling to short of those expectations.
6. Cherry Creek- They have talent year in and year out and this year is no exception. Trey Eckloff is looking to have a monster senior year and lead CC back to Boulder. Will he have enough support from his fellow Bruins?
7. Palmer- This team could catapult up these rankings very soon. Reggie Jackson has a very capable cast around him and should they split with Doherty, I like them come tourny time. For now though, Palmer is at #7.
8. Boulder- Word is that this group of seniors has changed their attitude and set their sights on playing up the hill on campus come later in the season. Will the Panthers finally live up to their potential?
9. Wheat Ridge- One of the taller teams in the state and they should have a favorable league schedule. Will the Farmers have the guard play to compete with the state's elite? Early indications are negative, but the post play is enough to warrent a top 10 ranking.
10. Fairview- Coach Lee has all three components of a team to make a run for CEC; they have a great PG, a star on the wing, and they play great defense. Fairview could shoot up the rankings and gain a #1 seed coming tourny time, or they could finish mid pack in the Centennial and make a Cinderella run at the title.
1. Denver East- Simply put, the Thorton brothers are dominating. Combining for 49 points against Doherty, the brothers helped east down the #4 team in Colorado 79-70. When the Angels get star Mookie Gilbert back, Rudy Carey should have his 3rd state title in 5 years.
2. ThunderRidge- This program has no excuse to ever be out of the top 5 as they are just that deep with talent. Coach Joe Ortiz has the talent and the experience to get this team to the Coors Event Center yet again.
3. Poudre- Dallas Elmore and company dispensed Xavier Howard-less Smoky Hill this past week to boot the Buffaloes out of the top 10. If the rest of Poudre can step up when Elmore is focused on, this team could be simply dangerous!
4. Doherty- The loss to #1 East drops the Spartans only one spot. Doherty has some big shoes to fill from last year, but has the talent to do it. The league games against Reggie Jackson and Palmer will be exciting.
5. Mullen- Two Final Fours and a state championship are things that programs often dream about. For Coach Cutrell and the Mustangs that is the level of expectations that they must live up to. Cutrell has built Mullen into a perennial powerhouse and with stars Terrance Dent and Stan Jones, I don't see Mullen falling to short of those expectations.
6. Cherry Creek- They have talent year in and year out and this year is no exception. Trey Eckloff is looking to have a monster senior year and lead CC back to Boulder. Will he have enough support from his fellow Bruins?
7. Palmer- This team could catapult up these rankings very soon. Reggie Jackson has a very capable cast around him and should they split with Doherty, I like them come tourny time. For now though, Palmer is at #7.
8. Boulder- Word is that this group of seniors has changed their attitude and set their sights on playing up the hill on campus come later in the season. Will the Panthers finally live up to their potential?
9. Wheat Ridge- One of the taller teams in the state and they should have a favorable league schedule. Will the Farmers have the guard play to compete with the state's elite? Early indications are negative, but the post play is enough to warrent a top 10 ranking.
10. Fairview- Coach Lee has all three components of a team to make a run for CEC; they have a great PG, a star on the wing, and they play great defense. Fairview could shoot up the rankings and gain a #1 seed coming tourny time, or they could finish mid pack in the Centennial and make a Cinderella run at the title.
Players to Watch
We all know about the stars of Colorado like Dallas Elmore, Trey Eckloff and Demetrius Thorton, but who are the top players in each class that could have break out years?
Freshman: T.J. Adams (Silver Creek)- Adams stands at about 6'4 and is as coordinated as it gets at that age. Despite the lack of a consistent outside shot, Adams is a strong rebounder and has a high motor at all times. It looks like Adams will be starting for the Raptors and Coach Banning, so he should have plenty of opportunities to succeed.
Sophomores: Nick Tomsick (Broomfield)- Tomsick should be the next great guard to wear an Eagles uniform. Tomsick performed very well in the Rocky Mountain Fall Showcase and is looking to lead Broomfield towards a state title in 4A.
Juniors: Beau Gamble (Fairview)- I can't say how much I like his game. He is a quick point guard who simply does not turn the ball over. He is every coaches dream PG. Gamble also possesses a great shot. Gamble will be the beneficiary of double teams on fellow teammate Travis Shepherd.
Seniors: Mitchell Frasier (Boulder)- While Frasier is a common name to CO HS basketball junkies, many out side of the Centennial League know about this athletic guard. Frasier posses the passing ability of a point guard, the shooting of a shooting guard, and the athleticism of a power forward. Look for him to possibly lead the Centennial League in scoring.
Freshman: T.J. Adams (Silver Creek)- Adams stands at about 6'4 and is as coordinated as it gets at that age. Despite the lack of a consistent outside shot, Adams is a strong rebounder and has a high motor at all times. It looks like Adams will be starting for the Raptors and Coach Banning, so he should have plenty of opportunities to succeed.
Sophomores: Nick Tomsick (Broomfield)- Tomsick should be the next great guard to wear an Eagles uniform. Tomsick performed very well in the Rocky Mountain Fall Showcase and is looking to lead Broomfield towards a state title in 4A.
Juniors: Beau Gamble (Fairview)- I can't say how much I like his game. He is a quick point guard who simply does not turn the ball over. He is every coaches dream PG. Gamble also possesses a great shot. Gamble will be the beneficiary of double teams on fellow teammate Travis Shepherd.
Seniors: Mitchell Frasier (Boulder)- While Frasier is a common name to CO HS basketball junkies, many out side of the Centennial League know about this athletic guard. Frasier posses the passing ability of a point guard, the shooting of a shooting guard, and the athleticism of a power forward. Look for him to possibly lead the Centennial League in scoring.
League Rankings
1. Centennial: With 4 of the top 10 teams in the state, it is hard to argue against this choice. Over the past 5 years the Centennial league has only won a single state title, but has produced 6 Final Four teams including an All-Centennial Final Four.
2. Denever Prep League: While not all the schools are 5A, the DPL has a total of 3 teams ranked the top 10 of their respective top 10 polls. Included in those rankings are Colorado's #1 Denver East, defending 4A champion Lincoln and 4A powerhouse Thomas Jefferson.
3. Continental: The Continental league may not be as deep in terms of good teams as the Centennial, but they are more competitive in the middle than the DPL. ThunderRidge again leads the way for the conference with Gateway, Arapahoe and Regis leading the middle.
2. Denever Prep League: While not all the schools are 5A, the DPL has a total of 3 teams ranked the top 10 of their respective top 10 polls. Included in those rankings are Colorado's #1 Denver East, defending 4A champion Lincoln and 4A powerhouse Thomas Jefferson.
3. Continental: The Continental league may not be as deep in terms of good teams as the Centennial, but they are more competitive in the middle than the DPL. ThunderRidge again leads the way for the conference with Gateway, Arapahoe and Regis leading the middle.
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