Arizona's Top 25 high school boys basketball players - midseason

It's time to shake up my preseason Top 25 boys basketball players rankings with a midseason list.

Much has changed. A freshman has shown dominance around the basket not seen in Arizona since Richard Jefferson. Injuries have beset the preseason No.1 player, but he slipped only one spot. This list will change again when the season ends.

But here is my midseason Top 25, a listing of the top players in the state, regardless of class.

No. 1 Marvin Bagley III, Tempe Corona del Sol, 6-10, Fr.

After missing the first four games, still rehabilitating from a summer foot injury, Bagley asserted himself quickly, showing remarkable toughness to go with God-given talents for a freshman. This is no ordinary freshman. He has been ranked by some recruiting outlets as the No.1 player in the country for his class for some time. He was named Most Outstanding Player of the Visit Mesa Challenge and had 20 points, five rebounds and a block against Sierra Canyon sophomore Cody Riley, considered by some as the top sophomore in the country.

No. 2 Markus Howard, Gilbert Perry, 5-11, So.

He leads the state in scoring at a 31-points-a-game clip, but Howard twice has missed games now due to head injuries. He suffered a gash above his eye in a game against Mesa Westwood, causing him to need 12 stitches. Playing with an illness, he staggered across the court to make a hustle play and ended up hitting his head against the McClintock bleachers late in the championship game of McClintock's tournament. All-Arizona as a freshman, the Arizona State commit is not taking things for granted. He is a take-charge guy who knows when to take it strong to the basket when the game is on the line.

No. 3 Alex Barcello, Corona del Sol, 6-2, So.

This smart, tough, fast point guard knows only one speed – full speed. He is as pure a point guard that there is in Arizona. He thinks pass first, but knows when to take over. He is a very good outside shooter who isn't afraid to take the tough shots. He knows how to get his teammates involved, and was the best player on the court for most of the Hoophall West 65-64 loss against Sierra Canyon.

No. 4 Brandon Clarke, Phoenix Desert Vista, 6-7, Sr.

This San Jose State signee has improved as much as any player in the state, showing off a great knack for blocking shots and putting up double-doubles for points and rebounds. He is the main reason Desert Vista is off to a 14-1 start. San Jose State is going to be happy for a long time with this kid on the floor. Very unselfish, he makes his teammates better and impacts the game at both ends of the court with his hustle and skills.

No. 5 Dane Kuiper, Corona del Sol, 6-7, Sr.

Kuiper's scoring numbers aren't going to pop out. But it is what he does in other departments that make him easily a top-five player in the state. New Mexico is getting an incredibly unselfish player who emphasizes defense and getting teammates involved. He only had five points against Sierra Canyon, but he nailed the big 3 with a minute left that gave Corona del Sol a two-point lead, and he handed out eight assists in the game.

No. 6 Michael Bibby, Phoenix Shadow Mountain, 6-2, Jr.

He only slips below the top-five because of the knee injury that has caused him to play in only nine games. He may not be back the rest of the season, depending on how recovery goes from a procedure he underwent Tuesday in Los Angeles. He could be out six weeks. But when Bibby played, Shadow Mountain was a much better team. He averaged 15 points and seven assists for the defending Division II champions.

No. 7 Nate Renfro, Tucson Sahuaro, 6-7, Sr.

This Grand Canyon University signee can pop out and make 3-pointers, and he can post low and knock down short jumpers. He has keyed Sahuaro's 14-game winning streak, averaging 19.9 points, 9.5 rebounds and 3.5 blocks. He also leads the team with 65 assists and 26 steals.

No. 8 J.J. Rhymes, Phoenix Shadow Mountain, 6-4, Jr.

With junior point guard Michael Bibby likely out for the remainder of the season with a knee injury, it's up to Rhymes to pick up the offensive slack. He also had added responsibility of rebounding after Carlos Johnson moved last summer to the Bay area. Rhymes has delivered. He played magnificently in a loss to Las Vegas Findlay Prep. He averages 20 points and five rebounds for a team that has had to reinvent itself with departures and injuries.

No. 9 N'Keal Harry, Chandler, 6-4, Jr.

He plays all over the court, any position, sparking the Wolves with his deft outside shooting and slashing moves to the basket. He is a highly recruiting wide receiver in football who is just getting warmed up on the basketball court. In his first six games after finishing his football season with a state championship, Harry made himself known, averaging 25 points and 10 rebounds.

No. 10 Brock Gardner, Chandler Tri-City Christian Academy, 6-7, Jr.

In his first seven games, Gardner averaged 27.6 points, 7.7 rebounds and four assists for the Charter Athletic Association school. He had a high of 42 points of 14 of 23 shooting against Skyline Tech. He keeps getting college attention across the country because of his versatility and skills.

No. 11 Kenzo Nudo, Scottsdale Chaparral, 6-4, Sr.

This shooting guard has become more of a slashing scorer this season, crashing the boards, and leading Chaparral on defense, as well. The Grand Canyon signee is averaging 22.4 points and five rebounds for the Firebirds.

No. 12 Marcus Shaver, Phoenix St. Mary's, 6-1, So.

Shaver has played in only nine games because of a hip injury, but when he's on the court, St. Mary's is a totally different team. He is averaging 24.4 points. He had 41 points against Tucson Sunnyside early in the season. He has 36 assists and 16 steals.

No. 13 Delano Jones, Tempe, 5-11, Sr.

Quick, fast, tremendous scorer. He was the leading scorer in the Visit Mesa Challenge, and helped put Desert Vista on the ropes, before Tempe faded late in the showcase. Jones has help with good athletes around him and knows how to get the ball to those guys. But when the game is on the line he knows how to take over.

No. 14 Cameron Satterwhite, Gilbert Christian, 6-3, Jr.

With star forward Mitchell Lightfoot ineligible since the sixth game, Satterwhite has had to take over. He has been up for it. He leads the Division II team with 18.2 points and 5.9 rebounds a game. Satterwhite is smooth and quick, a good outside shooter who plays his best against the best team. He had 22 points against Corona del Sol and 34 against Perry, two of the top Division I teams.

No. 15 Byron Murphy, Scottsdale Saguaro, 6-1, Jr.

Murphy is a highly sought-after defensive back/receiver in football, but the kid loves basketball and it shows. He has totally changed the way Saguaro has played since joining the team. Saguaro goes from being below average to very good with Murphy on the floor. He dazzles with his passes and moves. A solid point guard.

No. 16 Terrence Johnson, Vail Cienega, 6-3, Sr.

This high-flying wing has Cienega out to an 11-2 start. He is averaging 16.2 points and 4.4 assists, playing all over the court. He helped give Fountain Hills its only loss of the season in a holiday tournament, scoring 21 points and handing out four assists.

No. 17 Craig Randall, Shadow Mountain, 6-3, Sr.

Randall has moved into fulltime point guard with Bibby out. He is averaging 19.4 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.9 assists. He had trouble breaking DeMatha's press in the Hoophall West, but he is a very good scorer, who is capable of taking Shadow Mountain deep in the state tournament.

No. 18 Elijah Thomas, Peoria Sunrise Mountain, 6-5, Jr.

Tremendous athlete who plays every position. He helped Sunrise Mountain win a holiday tournament. He is averaging 18.1 points, 3.4 assists, 7.3 rebounds and 2.1 steals for a 12-1 team.

No. 19 Trevor Baker, Phoenix Pinnacle, 6-2, Sr.

He has become the go-to guy on a reinvented team who opens up the floor with his ability to knock down 3s. Baker is averaging 14.7 points and 5.3 rebounds. He has made 30 of 79 3-pointers. Pinnacle relies on his leadership.

No. 20 Obi Megwa, Phoenix Central, 5-10, Sr.

This is the glue to a fast and furious, pressing Central team that can score in a hury. He leads the break, gets his teammates involved and he can score the ball.

No. 21 Famoun Miller, Central, 6-5, Sr.

He plays outside and inside very well. A go-to guy in crunch time, Miller draws double teams, but knows how to get the ball out to an open teammate for points. Unselfish and tremendously talented on a 13-2 team.

No. 22 Amiri Chukwuemeka, McClintock, 5-11, Jr.

Who knows where the Chargers would be without this dazzling point guard. They are 10-5 with Chukwuemeka averaging 24.2 points and 4.2 assists. He has gone over 1,000 career points. He is the heart and soul of his team.

No. 23 Rees Plummer, Glendale Deer Valley, 6-5, Sr.

This guy just shows up, playing with a continual high motor. He crashes the boards as hard as anybody. He can pull up for the 3. Strong inside-outside presence who makes the Skyhawks go. Drawing double coverage, he is averaging 21 points and seven rebounds for a 10-win team.

No. 24 Kendall Barnes, Avondale Westview, 6-1, Jr.

He leads an over-achieving team with 18.2 points and 2.4 steals a game. He was instrumental in Mesa's first loss of the season, scoring 30 points in the first round of the McClintock Shootout. He followed that with 20 points, going up against Chukwuemeka in a win over McClintock. Great leader.

No. 25 Jose Estrada, Nogales, 5-8, Jr.

This point guard has stepped up big against the better competition. He had 31 points on 10 of 17 shooting, 4 of 8 from the 3-point arc, in a 91-61 rout of Tucson Sunnyside. He had 11 assists in a 70-66 win over Oro Valley Canyon del Oro. He is averaging 14 points and 5.7 assists for 14-4 Apaches.