Ranking the prep class of 2021

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

RANKNAMEHGTPOSTOWN/ST/HSCOLLEGE
1Emoni Bates6-9BF/WF Ypsilanti (MI) Aim High AcadMICH. ST.
2Paolo Banchero6-10BFSeattle (WA) O’DeaDUKE
3Jonathan Kuminga6-9WFHillside (NJ) Patrick SchoolNBA G League
4Jaden Hardy6-4WG/PG Henderson (NV) CoronadoNBA G League
5Chet Holmgren7-0C/BFMinneapolis (MN) Minnehaha Acad Undecided
6Patrick Baldwin6-10WF/BF Sussex (WI) HamiltonUndecided
7Caleb Houstan6-8WFMontverde (FL) AcademyMICHIGAN
8Jarace Walker6-7WFBradenton (FL) IMG AcademyUndecided
9D’Marco Dunn6-4WGFayetteville (NC) WestoverUNC
10Dontrez Styles6-7WF/BF Kinston (NC) HighUNC
11Adrian “A.J.” Griffin6-7WFWhite Plains (NY) Arch. StepinacDUKE
12Jabari Smith6-8BFTyrone (NC) Sandy CreekAUBURN
13Michael Foster6-9BFPhoenix (AZ) Hillcrest AcademyUndecided
14Langston Love6-4WGMontverde (FL) AcademyUndecided
15Hunter Sallis6-4PG/WG North Omaha (NE) MillardUndecided
16Kennedy Chandler6-1PGMemphis (TN) Briarcrest ChristianTENNESSEE
17Aminu Mohammed6-5WFWashington (DC) Greenwood LabUndecided
18Efton Reid7-0CRichmond (VA) Steward SchoolUndecided
19Trevor Keels6-5WG/WF Fairfax (VA) Paul VI CatholicUndecided
20Harrison Ingram6-7WF/WG Dallas (TX) St. Mark’sSTANFORD
21Moussa Diabate6-9BFBradenton (FL) IMG AcademyUndecided
22Charles Bediako6-11CSt. Catharines (ON) Andrews Osborne Acad Undecided
23Zion Harmon5-10PGBenton (KY) Marshall CountyWESTERN KY.
24Kendall Brown6-7WFCottage Grove (MN) East RidgeBAYLOR
25Max Christie6-6WGRolling Meadows (IL) HighMICH. ST.
26Peyton Watson6-6WFLong Beach (CA) PolyUCLA
27Franck Kepnang6-10CWest Chester (PA) Westtown SchoolOREGON
28Matthew Cleveland6-6WGAlpharetta (GA) Pace AcademyFLORIDA ST.
29Isael Silva6-2PGCarmichael (CA) JesuitSTANFORD
30Jonas Aitoo7-0C/BFCharlotte (NC) Liberty Heights Athletic Undecided
31J.D. Davison6-3WG/PG Letohatchee (AL) CalhounUndecided
32Trey Kaufman6-8BFSellersburg (IN) Silver CreekUndecided
33Nate Bittle6-10BFCentral Point (OH) CraterOREGON
34Jerrell Colbert6-10CSan Antonio (TX) WagnerLSU
35Roosevelt Wheeler6-10CRichmond (VA) John MarshallUndecided
36Jalen Warley6-4WGWest Chester (PA) Westtown SchoolFLORIDA ST.
37Carter Whitt6-3PGWolfeboro (NH) Brewster Academy WAKE FOREST
38Breon Pass6-0WG/PG Reidsville (NC) HighNC STATE
39Rashool Diggins6-3WG/PG Warminster (PA) Archbishop WoodVILLANOVA
40Micawber Etienne6-10CWolfeboro (NH) Brewster AcademyUndecided
41Lucas Taylor6-6WF/WG Wake Forest (NC) HeritageUndecided
42Malaki Branham6-4WGAkron (OH) St. Vincent-St. MaryOHIO STATE
4343.  Bryce McGowens6-4WG/PGPiedmont (SC) WrenUndecided
44Ryan Mutombo6-11CAtlanta (GA) LovellGEORGETOWN
45Trey Patterson6-8BFSomerset (NJ) Rutgers PrepVILLANOVA
46Bobby Pettiford6-0PGCreedmore (NC) South GranvilleLOUISVILLE
47John Butler6-11C/BFMauldin (SC) Christ Church Episcopal FLORIDA STATE
48Bryce Hopkins6-5WF/WG Oak Park (IL) FenwickUndecided
49K.J. Adams6-6WFAustin (TX) WestlakeKANSAS
50Kaden Perry6-9BFBattle Ground (WA) HighGONZAGA