Top 5 players in 2016 class

 It’s very beautiful that you think all these guys will be nba all-stars. But anyways I can’t have Harry and Dennis in the top 5 with their injuries, it just too much uncertainity. Before injury though I would have Dennis tied with Josh for the #1 spot and Harry just slightly behing at 3. 

But now I would go…

1. Josh Jackson

2. De’aaron Fox

3. Rawle Alkins

4. Jayson Tatum

5. Malik Monk

 It’s very beautiful that you think all these guys will be nba all-stars. But anyways I can’t have Harry and Dennis in the top 5 with their injuries, it just too much uncertainity. Before injury though I would have Dennis tied with Josh for the #1 spot and Harry just slightly behing at 3. 

But now I would go…

1. Josh Jackson

2. De’aaron Fox

3. Rawle Alkins

4. Jayson Tatum

5. Malik Monk

 I don’t know why but I just can’t get behind the De’aaron Fox hype train.. I feel like when both goes are heading to draft day Dennis Smith will be ahead of him on big boards. But I could very well be wrong

 I don’t know why but I just can’t get behind the De’aaron Fox hype train.. I feel like when both goes are heading to draft day Dennis Smith will be ahead of him on big boards. But I could very well be wrong

Is Isaac Humphries in the top 5?

Left school a year early due to genius level intellect and is getting minutes for Kentucky at 17yo.

Makes it hard to judge. But how many HS bigs would get burn for UK right now?

Is Isaac Humphries in the top 5?

Left school a year early due to genius level intellect and is getting minutes for Kentucky at 17yo.

Makes it hard to judge. But how many HS bigs would get burn for UK right now?

 I want to put Malik Monk in the Top 5 but I can’t argue with your list. This class is going to be special 

 I want to put Malik Monk in the Top 5 but I can’t argue with your list. This class is going to be special 

 I know some people think he’s just a highlight reel guy, but it blows my mind that people don’t automatically put Thon Maker on here. 

 I know some people think he’s just a highlight reel guy, but it blows my mind that people don’t automatically put Thon Maker on here. 

I’m judging all of these guys simply as high school prospects, not taking into consideration what their NBA future may hold.

  1. Josh Jackson- A couple of years ago before he went to Prolific Prep there was speculation that he might reclassify to 2015 but Josh himself quickly turned it down. If he was in college right now I whole heartedly believe he would be the #2 pick behind Simmons, maybe even pushing for the #1 spot because he is THAT GOOD. No brainer #1 in the high school class of 2016, he legitimately does it all. Perfect size, great shot, knows how to use his lenght on defense. We can all go on and on about him but I’ll stop there.

2. Harry Giles (when healthy)- Harry has a good inside game on offense and I was truly looking forward to how he would be competing this year on Oak Hill who is known to be one of the best high school teams year in and year out. I think all of their starters have commited to D-1 schools and a couple of them such as Mario Kelger is a top 30 player. The national schedule would have been so good for his development.

3. Thon Maker- Thon over the past 18 months looks like he extended his range to the 3 point line, which is like WHOA. A 7 footer who is an ELITE shot blocker and now can extend the defense on the other end of the floor with his outside shot, that’s just insane. Maker could end up pushing Giles out of the #2 spot in my book just because now Giles will have sat out two years of his high school career, but other than that these two are close. Also, Thon has grown as a player every year which you have to like, three years ago if you watched his mixtapes the joke was for every mixtape that makes Maker look like a GOD there is 5 more mixtapes that will make him look like he’s never played basketball in his life. 

4. Dennis Smith (when healthy)- I’ll admit a little bias here because I’m a huge fan of his, even though most people have him in their top 5, but I think he’s the best PG prospect since John Wall (Yikes). I may be a victim of the hype with Smith but just seeing him get to the bucket and dunking on anyone is a thing of beauty. Other than how much I love him on the offensive end his on ball defense as a PG is better than anyone I’ve seen in recent memory.

5. Miles Bridges- Again, Miles gets into my top 5 because of how much he’s grown as a player. He has become one of those SF prospects that just seems to rise like we saw Stanley Johnson go from late 20’s in the summer to a top player in the class by the end of his senior year. The best trait with Bridges is he is a teammate, does everything he is good at and at the same time doing everything he can to make his teammates better.

I’m judging all of these guys simply as high school prospects, not taking into consideration what their NBA future may hold.

  1. Josh Jackson- A couple of years ago before he went to Prolific Prep there was speculation that he might reclassify to 2015 but Josh himself quickly turned it down. If he was in college right now I whole heartedly believe he would be the #2 pick behind Simmons, maybe even pushing for the #1 spot because he is THAT GOOD. No brainer #1 in the high school class of 2016, he legitimately does it all. Perfect size, great shot, knows how to use his lenght on defense. We can all go on and on about him but I’ll stop there.

2. Harry Giles (when healthy)- Harry has a good inside game on offense and I was truly looking forward to how he would be competing this year on Oak Hill who is known to be one of the best high school teams year in and year out. I think all of their starters have commited to D-1 schools and a couple of them such as Mario Kelger is a top 30 player. The national schedule would have been so good for his development.

3. Thon Maker- Thon over the past 18 months looks like he extended his range to the 3 point line, which is like WHOA. A 7 footer who is an ELITE shot blocker and now can extend the defense on the other end of the floor with his outside shot, that’s just insane. Maker could end up pushing Giles out of the #2 spot in my book just because now Giles will have sat out two years of his high school career, but other than that these two are close. Also, Thon has grown as a player every year which you have to like, three years ago if you watched his mixtapes the joke was for every mixtape that makes Maker look like a GOD there is 5 more mixtapes that will make him look like he’s never played basketball in his life. 

4. Dennis Smith (when healthy)- I’ll admit a little bias here because I’m a huge fan of his, even though most people have him in their top 5, but I think he’s the best PG prospect since John Wall (Yikes). I may be a victim of the hype with Smith but just seeing him get to the bucket and dunking on anyone is a thing of beauty. Other than how much I love him on the offensive end his on ball defense as a PG is better than anyone I’ve seen in recent memory.

5. Miles Bridges- Again, Miles gets into my top 5 because of how much he’s grown as a player. He has become one of those SF prospects that just seems to rise like we saw Stanley Johnson go from late 20’s in the summer to a top player in the class by the end of his senior year. The best trait with Bridges is he is a teammate, does everything he is good at and at the same time doing everything he can to make his teammates better.

 I started a thread about Bridges and his lack of hype where i said the the difference between him and Jackson is minimal, i got a bunch of negs because while that might not exactly be the case, i see Bridges as a top player in. the class and he was not receiving hype in the forum.

I also compared him to Stanley Johnson in that thread. He is not the most creative playmaker but he bullies players his height inside and has a very nice shot from deep. 

 I started a thread about Bridges and his lack of hype where i said the the difference between him and Jackson is minimal, i got a bunch of negs because while that might not exactly be the case, i see Bridges as a top player in. the class and he was not receiving hype in the forum.

I also compared him to Stanley Johnson in that thread. He is not the most creative playmaker but he bullies players his height inside and has a very nice shot from deep. 

 I am going to exclude Giles and Smith who were both locks for top 5 players in this class when healthy.  However the jury is out on whether or not Giles can recover from 2 blown out knees and Smith from his first.  

1.  Josh Jackson-  Just straight up nasty.  He is a high competitor in this class, and is straight up fast twitch muscle.  

2.  Jayson Tatum-  He has an incredible offensive skillset and just outsmarts whoever is guarding him.  Look for him to become even more effective when he puts on some weight. 

3.  De’Aaron Fox- I don’t think he is John Wall, but the guy has made me eat my words, so he may be.  Great combination of speed, and athleticism.  

4.  Malik Monk- Incredible athleticism, puts up points in a hurry, and is super hard to cover off the dribble.

5.  Rawle Alkins- This guy is criminally underrated on scout.com.  He dominated guys ranked a lot higher than him on that list in the Adidas gauntlet and pretty much scored at will.  He and Jackson are the two most competitive players in this class IMHO.  

 I am going to exclude Giles and Smith who were both locks for top 5 players in this class when healthy.  However the jury is out on whether or not Giles can recover from 2 blown out knees and Smith from his first.  

1.  Josh Jackson-  Just straight up nasty.  He is a high competitor in this class, and is straight up fast twitch muscle.  

2.  Jayson Tatum-  He has an incredible offensive skillset and just outsmarts whoever is guarding him.  Look for him to become even more effective when he puts on some weight. 

3.  De’Aaron Fox- I don’t think he is John Wall, but the guy has made me eat my words, so he may be.  Great combination of speed, and athleticism.  

4.  Malik Monk- Incredible athleticism, puts up points in a hurry, and is super hard to cover off the dribble.

5.  Rawle Alkins- This guy is criminally underrated on scout.com.  He dominated guys ranked a lot higher than him on that list in the Adidas gauntlet and pretty much scored at will.  He and Jackson are the two most competitive players in this class IMHO.  

 Top 5 I’d probably have Jackson, Giles, Tatum and Fox with the last slot still open.  

Markelle Fultz is a guy I don’t see mentioned in this thread and I think he has all the tools to surpass Smith Jr as the 2nd best PG prospect in what is shaping up to be a loaded class for that position.  He’s not quite the athlete that Fox is, but he does have very good size for the point with big hands and long arms.  I think he’s a better half court PG than either Smith or Fox and is a better shooter/defender than Smith is.  He’s 6’4 with a good handle, a creative passer, good defender with good shot-creating ability.  Plus he’s a DeMatha kid so you know he’s getting coached up well.

Jonathan Isaac is another guy in the class who’s a late bloomer but is more physically talented than a few guys ranked above him.  He’s one of those late growth spurt guys who retained some of his guard skills/coordination but is now at 6’10.  I personally think he’s more naturally talented than Tatum, but isn’t nearly as advanced mentally or physically.  He’s more athletic but also has better range on his jumper atm. He’s got very pretty jumper with in effortless release, but he needs to clean up his shot selection.  He’s more of a long-term guy, but I think his upside is top 3 in this class.

 Top 5 I’d probably have Jackson, Giles, Tatum and Fox with the last slot still open.  

Markelle Fultz is a guy I don’t see mentioned in this thread and I think he has all the tools to surpass Smith Jr as the 2nd best PG prospect in what is shaping up to be a loaded class for that position.  He’s not quite the athlete that Fox is, but he does have very good size for the point with big hands and long arms.  I think he’s a better half court PG than either Smith or Fox and is a better shooter/defender than Smith is.  He’s 6’4 with a good handle, a creative passer, good defender with good shot-creating ability.  Plus he’s a DeMatha kid so you know he’s getting coached up well.

Jonathan Isaac is another guy in the class who’s a late bloomer but is more physically talented than a few guys ranked above him.  He’s one of those late growth spurt guys who retained some of his guard skills/coordination but is now at 6’10.  I personally think he’s more naturally talented than Tatum, but isn’t nearly as advanced mentally or physically.  He’s more athletic but also has better range on his jumper atm. He’s got very pretty jumper with in effortless release, but he needs to clean up his shot selection.  He’s more of a long-term guy, but I think his upside is top 3 in this class.