These are HoopsNext’s rankings of the Top 25 players in the high school class of 2010. We took Scouts.com’s, Rivals.com’s and ESPN’s rankings and took the average of where every player ranked and then used those averages to calculate the Top 25 for this list. I will be adding scouting reports to this section every few days until I get through all 25 players. Let me know what you think of the list in the comment sections below.
1. Harrison Barnes SF 6’8” 209 lbs. North Carolina
- Has the ‘it’ factor. Great character guy who finds ways to win. Has one of the highest basketball IQ’s in his class.
- At 6’8” 209 lbs, he has the prototypical size for the wing position. Has the frame to put on more muscle.
- Able to score in every way imaginable. Can stroke it from deep, has a killer mid-range game and can get to the hoop off the dribble and finish with either hand. Utilizes the triple-threat position better than any player in this class.
- Good passer that always keeps his head up while dribbling and is able to find the open man.
- Silky smooth player that always plays the game under control and at his pace.
- Solid defender that uses his length to create havoc for opposing teams.
In my opinion, if high school players were still eligible to enter the draft, Barnes would be battling it out for the first overall pick in the 2010 draft. This kid is going to be a VERY special player. Likely the number 1 pick in the 2011 draft.
2. Brandon Knight PG 6’3” 183 lbs. Undecided
- Very smart kid on and off the court. Has a 4.2 GPA to go along with a high basketball IQ.
- Great speed and vision on the court. Explosive first step and changing speeds with the ball in his hands allows him to get to the hoop whenever he pleases. Also uses a nice cross-over dribble to get into the paint.
- Prefers to go right. Needs to mix in a few drives left at the next level to keep defenses honest.
- Improving jump shot that will open things up for him as he continues to progress.
- Great energy on the court. Always active and playing hard.
- Good on-ball defender due to size, speed and most importantly, effort.
As of right now, Knight has not decided what college he will attend next fall. Florida, UConn, Kansas, Miami and Kentucky are all still on his radar. If I had to guess, I would say that he stays home in Florida and plays for the Gators. Whatever program that he goes to, will be getting a very good floor general. Potential lottery pick in the 2011 draft.
3. Jared Sullinger PF 6’8” 262 lbs. Ohio State
- An absolute beast down low in the paint. Uses size and strength to be a dominant scorer in the post.
- Has a very good understanding of how to position himself in the post. Always creates good angles for his teammates to get the ball down low to him. Has terrific hands which allow him to catch bullet passes from penetrating guards.
- Big time rebounder who owns the glass. Will pull double-digit boards for Ohio St on a nightly basis.
- Has some perimeter skills as well. Solid ball handler and he can also shoot it out to 18 feet.
- A coaches son that brings all of the intangibles. Toughest player on this list.
Sullinger will produce right away for the Buckeyes. He is an absolute man-child at 6’8” 262 lbs. There are better NBA prospects that are rated lower than him on this list, but he just might be the best recruit out of anyone on this list, Barnes included, because he will probably stay in school for a few years to prove to scouts that he can be effective despite being a little on the short side for a NBA PF. The recent success of Paul Millsap and Carl Landry will help him convince scouts that he can be effective in the pro’s despite being an inch or two shorter than the average power forward.
4. Perry Jones PF 6’11” 220 lbs. Baylor
5. Kyrie Irving PG 6’1” 172 lbs. Duke
6. Tobias Harris PF 6’8” 210 lbs. Tennessee
7. Josh Shelby PG 6’3” 183 lbs. Undecided
8. Will Barton SG 6’6” 161 lbs. Memphis
9. Tristan Thompson 6’9” 230 lbs. Texas
10. Reggie Bullock SG 6’6” 190 lbs. North Carolina
11. C.J. Leslie PF 6’8” 205 lbs. Undecided
12. Josh Smith C 6’10” 270 lbs. UCLA
13. Fabricio Melo C 7’0” 274 lbs. Syracuse
14. DeShaun Thomas SF 6’7” 221 lbs. Ohio State
15. Jelan Kendrick SG 6’5” 186 lbs. Memphis
16. Terrence Jones SF 6’8” 219 lbs. Undecided
17. Joe Jackson PG 5’11” 175 lbs. Memphis
18. Cory Joseph PG 6’3” 180 lbs. Undecided
19. Adreian Payne 6’9” 215 lbs. Michigan State
20. Patric Young 6’9” 220 lbs. Florida
21. Jereme Richmond 6’7” 195 lbs. Illinois
22. Dion Waiters 6’4” 210 lbs. Syracuse
23. Kendall Marshall 6’4” 180 lbs. North Carolina
24. Cameron Clark 6’6” 184 lbs. Oklahoma
25. Roscoe Smith 6’8” 190 lbs Undecided
