2009 High School Rankings Released

After a busy summer of tracking the top prep talent in the country, from events in Philadelphia (RBK Camp), Las Vegas (adidas Super64 & Reebok Summer Championships), Dallas (adidas Nations), Portland (Nike Global Challenge) and New York City (Elite 24) plus watching footage of numerous players, we present our High School Rankings including top 50 rising seniors, top 25 rising juniors, and top 5 rising sophomores. While the current high school talent pales in comparison to recent years (2007 and 2008), there's some extremely talented prospects to focus on nonetheless.

High School Rankings

Class of 2009

	John Wall

Beginning with the rising senior class of 2009, John Wall tops the list with his off the charts quickness and explosiveness from the point guard position. He still must work at improving his jumpshot and polish his point guard skills. While still raw, his size, 6'4, and vision combined with his athleticism gives him the edge as the top prospect in the senior class. Provided Wall continues working hard, he's the odds on favorite to be the top overall pick in 2010.

Next up in the senior class is Xavier Henry who has prototypical size and athleticism for the 2-guard position. He missed the end of the summer due to injury but his polished skills and upside give him the nod over a handful of talented bigmen in the class.

Coming in third is Derrick Favors who could be the most dominant player on the high school level. His ability to impact both ends of the floor and his non-stop motor, giving strong effort every time out, makes his outlook extremely bright. He'll need to improve his range and offensive game, but has a lot to work with, and should be an impact guy from the time he sets foot on a college floor.

6-9 bigman DeMarcus Cousins shows a great deal of potential with a 7-foot-6 wingspan and soft touch on his shot. He's already got a strong body and solid offensive skills. The question marks with Cousins surround his intensity and desire. He may have even more upside than Favors, but he doesn't always show up or give his all every minute on the floor.

Speaking of potential, while John Henson has some major work to do on his body, he shows a lot of upside due to his speed in the open floor and offensive skills. He displays the ability to knock down mid-range shots and a willingness to compete. Great news for North Carolina fans as there's a good chance he'll be around for a few seasons as he lacks the freakish athleticism of a Brandan Wright, meaning he must put on some bulk before attempting a jump to the pros.

Kenny Boynton may lack a true position as a 6-2 scoring guard, but his killer instinct and competitiveness is second to none. He lacks great form on his shot but it's highly effective. He may lack the upside of some other players in this class, but he's as ready as anyone to impact the college game and develop into a pro.

Although he has slipped on some rankings, Dominic Cheek has a very polished offensive game and the length and athletic ability to continue to improve. He needs to add strength to his frame but his mid-range game is advanced for a high schooler.

The West Coast checks in beginning with Jordan Hamilton who's game is both smooth and mature. Hamilton shows the ability to bring the ball up and make plays for others with his vision and passing ability. Wouldn't he work well, ala Lamar Odom, in a Phil Jackson-style triangle offense?

The summer's biggest riser Avery Bradley leapfrogged high school and AAU teammate Abdul Gaddy. Although Gaddy has better size for his position, Bradley's combination of length (wingspan), athleticism, picture perfect jumpshot and ability to defend (he might be the best defender in the class) will allow him to overcome his size deficiency.

Squeaking into the top ten by the skin of his teeth is Renardo Sidney who after his first two years in high school was the clear cut top prospect in the class and appeared destined for greatness. Those lofty expectations have been severely decreased and there are fears that his immense talents are being wasted. While the game comes extremely easy to him when he tries, the problem is he rarely sustains any intensity level and focus. The right college situation will be key for his development and future.

Class of 2010

	Brandon Knight

After much deliberation, Iowa wing Harrison Barnes grabbed the top spot among the 2010 class. Barnes combines superb athleticism with a smooth offensive game, and the prerequisite size and athleticism to play on the wing. His excellent showing at the Nike Global Challenge in Portland gave him the edge over classmates Knight and Thompson.

Charging hard for the top spot in the class, Florida point guard Brandon Knight makes the game appear very easy. His lightning quick first step makes him extremely difficult to guard. He shows excellent scoring ability and a developing ability to create for others.

Texas commit Tristan Thompson has the look and feel of a star. He's 6-8 with a perfect physique to play the 3 at the highest level. Right now though he has a lot of work to do at making the transition for a PF into a SF. Barnes, Knight and Thompson round out the top three rising junior prospects.

Class of 2011

While he still has bouts of inconsistent play, it's amazing to think that Seattle based sophomore to be Tony Wroten is 1993 born. In Vegas, he looked to be among the top 3-5 players overall in high school regardless of class.

He's a bigtime athlete with huge upside but will need to grow a few inches to truly become special. His unselfishness and vision in particular make him very intriguing and the clear cut top prospect in his class.

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