With the college and high school basketball seasons scheduled to begin in a couple of weeks (at least at this juncture), let’s take a revised, updated look at the nation’s top 50 prep senior prospects. During the last few months, many elite players have made their college decisions, as our current rankings (below) indicate.
Especially note the recent verbal commitments of forwards Paolo Banchero (to Duke) and Jabari Smith (to Auburn), plus wing guard D’Marco Dunn (to North Carolina). Each is a likely McDonald’s All-American next fall.
As we’ve indicated previously, the nation’s premier senior prospect, Emoni Bates (who has announced for Michigan State), appears to be the best high school talent since LeBron James! The need for more physical strength is his primary limitation at the present time.
FALL HOOP RANKINGS OF THE PREP CLASS OF 2021
| RANK | NAME | HGT | POS | TOWN/ST/HS | COLLEGE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emoni Bates | 6-9 | BF/WF | Ypsilanti (MI) Aim High Acad | MICH. ST. |
| 2 | Paolo Banchero | 6-10 | BF | Seattle (WA) O’Dea | DUKE |
| 3 | Jonathan Kuminga | 6-9 | WF | Hillside (NJ) Patrick School | NBA G League |
| 4 | Jaden Hardy | 6-4 | WG/PG | Henderson (NV) Coronado | NBA G League |
| 5 | Chet Holmgren | 7-0 | C/BF | Minneapolis (MN) Minnehaha Acad | Undecided |
| 6 | Patrick Baldwin | 6-10 | WF/BF | Sussex (WI) Hamilton | Undecided |
| 7 | Caleb Houstan | 6-8 | WF | Montverde (FL) Academy | MICHIGAN |
| 8 | Jarace Walker | 6-7 | WF | Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy | Undecided |
| 9 | D’Marco Dunn | 6-4 | WG | Fayetteville (NC) Westover | UNC |
| 10 | Dontrez Styles | 6-7 | WF/BF | Kinston (NC) High | UNC |
| 11 | Adrian “A.J.” Griffin | 6-7 | WF | White Plains (NY) Arch. Stepinac | DUKE |
| 12 | Jabari Smith | 6-8 | BF | Tyrone (NC) Sandy Creek | AUBURN |
| 13 | Michael Foster | 6-9 | BF | Phoenix (AZ) Hillcrest Academy | Undecided |
| 14 | Langston Love | 6-4 | WG | Montverde (FL) Academy | Undecided |
| 15 | Hunter Sallis | 6-4 | PG/WG | North Omaha (NE) Millard | Undecided |
| 16 | Kennedy Chandler | 6-1 | PG | Memphis (TN) Briarcrest Christian | TENNESSEE |
| 17 | Aminu Mohammed | 6-5 | WF | Washington (DC) Greenwood Lab | Undecided |
| 18 | Efton Reid | 7-0 | C | Richmond (VA) Steward School | Undecided |
| 19 | Trevor Keels | 6-5 | WG/WF | Fairfax (VA) Paul VI Catholic | Undecided |
| 20 | Harrison Ingram | 6-7 | WF/WG | Dallas (TX) St. Mark’s | STANFORD |
| 21 | Moussa Diabate | 6-9 | BF | Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy | Undecided |
| 22 | Charles Bediako | 6-11 | C | St. Catharines (ON) Andrews Osborne Acad | Undecided |
| 23 | Zion Harmon | 5-10 | PG | Benton (KY) Marshall County | WESTERN KY. |
| 24 | Kendall Brown | 6-7 | WF | Cottage Grove (MN) East Ridge | BAYLOR |
| 25 | Max Christie | 6-6 | WG | Rolling Meadows (IL) High | MICH. ST. |
| 26 | Peyton Watson | 6-6 | WF | Long Beach (CA) Poly | UCLA |
| 27 | Franck Kepnang | 6-10 | C | West Chester (PA) Westtown School | OREGON |
| 28 | Matthew Cleveland | 6-6 | WG | Alpharetta (GA) Pace Academy | FLORIDA ST. |
| 29 | Isael Silva | 6-2 | PG | Carmichael (CA) Jesuit | STANFORD |
| 30 | Jonas Aitoo | 7-0 | C/BF | Charlotte (NC) Liberty Heights Athletic | Undecided |
| 31 | J.D. Davison | 6-3 | WG/PG | Letohatchee (AL) Calhoun | Undecided |
| 32 | Trey Kaufman | 6-8 | BF | Sellersburg (IN) Silver Creek | Undecided |
| 33 | Nate Bittle | 6-10 | BF | Central Point (OH) Crater | OREGON |
| 34 | Jerrell Colbert | 6-10 | C | San Antonio (TX) Wagner | LSU |
| 35 | Roosevelt Wheeler | 6-10 | C | Richmond (VA) John Marshall | Undecided |
| 36 | Jalen Warley | 6-4 | WG | West Chester (PA) Westtown School | FLORIDA ST. |
| 37 | Carter Whitt | 6-3 | PG | Wolfeboro (NH) Brewster Academy | WAKE FOREST |
| 38 | Breon Pass | 6-0 | WG/PG | Reidsville (NC) High | NC STATE |
| 39 | Rashool Diggins | 6-3 | WG/PG | Warminster (PA) Archbishop Wood | VILLANOVA |
| 40 | Micawber Etienne | 6-10 | C | Wolfeboro (NH) Brewster Academy | Undecided |
| 41 | Lucas Taylor | 6-6 | WF/WG | Wake Forest (NC) Heritage | Undecided |
| 42 | Malaki Branham | 6-4 | WG | Akron (OH) St. Vincent-St. Mary | OHIO STATE |
| 43 | 43. Bryce McGowens | 6-4 | WG/PG | Piedmont (SC) Wren | Undecided |
| 44 | Ryan Mutombo | 6-11 | C | Atlanta (GA) Lovell | GEORGETOWN |
| 45 | Trey Patterson | 6-8 | BF | Somerset (NJ) Rutgers Prep | VILLANOVA |
| 46 | Bobby Pettiford | 6-0 | PG | Creedmore (NC) South Granville | LOUISVILLE |
| 47 | John Butler | 6-11 | C/BF | Mauldin (SC) Christ Church Episcopal | FLORIDA STATE |
| 48 | Bryce Hopkins | 6-5 | WF/WG | Oak Park (IL) Fenwick | Undecided |
| 49 | K.J. Adams | 6-6 | WF | Austin (TX) Westlake | KANSAS |
| 50 | Kaden Perry | 6-9 | BF | Battle Ground (WA) High | GONZAGA |