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EXCLUSIVE FEATURES
FALL RECRUITING CLASS RANKINGS
November 9, 2005
The fall signing period is once again upon us, and the nation's commitments turn into binding signatures. Beginning Wednesday, college coaches who had been forced to whisper behind the scenes how excited they are about their recruiting classes now can stand on the mountaintop and shout the word to the masses.
And no one is more jubilant than Roy Williams. North Carolina's head man, fresh off his first national championship last spring, signed a recruiting class that will put the Tar Heels in contention for more glory. One of the top signees is big-time wing guard Wayne Ellington. more...
PREP PHENOMS: SPECIAL REPORT
August 17, 2005
Since we began our special look at hoops phenoms a few years ago, the players mentioned have included LeBron James, Greg Oden, O.J. Mayo, Vernon Macklin and Billy Walker, among others.
This year, we once again have listed 20-plus high promising youngsters. more...
CLASS OF 2003 REPORT CARD
February 18, 2004
As the stretch drive for conference titles and March Madness begins, it's a good time to take a quick look at this year's freshman class -- the guys we said would make the biggest early contributions in college.
Looking at the big picture, it's pretty clear that the Class of 2003 lacks the overall impact level of the Class of 2002, when numerous freshmen made a big early splash. However, it's only fair to mention that some of the very best players -- including LeBron James, Kendrick Perkins, Ndudi Ebi and Travis Outlaw -- never showed their skills to college fans. more....
WINTER RISERS AND FALLERS
January 13, 2004
Now that we're at the approximate mid-point of the high school season, let's take a close look at those players who have performed either markedly better or worse than one might expect, based upon pre-season reputation.
One player who's stock is very much on the rise is Oak Hill Academy guard Rajon Rondo, a quickster who has improved his decision-making tremendously since the summer camps. He remains undecided on a college choice this winter. more....
BRICK: HIGH SCHOOL SUPERLATIVES
December 17, 2003
Every year we identify the very best high school seniors and juniors, in terms of specific basketball skills and attributes. This year, the senior class is particularly outstanding, hence there are many more individuals who deserve mention in some of the categories than we have room for. Consequently, our focus will be upon the several best seniors for each item. more....
BRICK: SENIOR CLASS SOLID ON WINGS
October 14, 2003
Previously, we took at look the best point guards in the Class of 2004, along with a comparison with the best point guards in the Class of 2003.
This week we'll do the same things with the nation's best wing guards and wing forwards. Interestingly, the current seniors are deep and truly outstanding at point guard and big men -- and are much better as an overall class -- but no better than 2003 when it comes to wings. more....
BRICK: TOP POINT GUARDS
September 29, 2003
This is our first of three pre-season looks at the senior class, broken down into categories of point guards, wings and post players. Here we're focusing on point guards, a position that is very strong in the Class of 2004.
The first comment about this group of point guards is the group's strength over last year's crop of floor generals. The fifth-ranked point guard nationally, Texas-bound star Daniel Gibson, arguably would have been No. 1 at his position last year! more....
BRICK: TOP 20 YOUNG PHENOMS
September 8, 2003
Almost exactly a year ago, we introduced 13 particularly precocious young prospects from the high school classes of 2005 (current juniors), 2006 (sophs) and 2007 (frosh). While not all of them met our expectations for progress and accomplishments during the past 12 months, most did, and still other young phenoms also emerged from the woodwork.
We've taken a look at the 20 most promising underclassmen in America, and not all of the names are yet familiar to recruitniks. more....
AAU 17-UNDERS: THE AFTERMATH
August 5, 2003
Although the 2003 AAU 17-Under Nationals near Orlando, Fla., featured 132 teams from around the nation, only a handful of the national elite played in this prestigious event. Regardless, the competition was highly intense, and there were some magnificent games.
One of the very best seniors in attendance was the one known as "Big Baby," massive post player Glen Davis. more....
NIKE RECAP: JEFFERSON, GAY EXCEL
July 16, 2003
We were at the Nike All-America Camp in Indianapolis for three days (July 6-8) and saw each of the approximately 185 participants in four games. While we had to miss the final two days of the camp in order to spend the same amount of time at the adidas ABCD Camp in New Jersey, we had enough looks at the Nike Camp to identify the best players at this fine event.
Here's our view of the top 40 seniors, 25 juniors and 15 sophomores (a class that is loaded!) at the Nike Camp. First, though, a few comments are necessary. more....
ADIDAS RECAP: HOWARD,
LIVINGSTON ARE
STANDOUTS
July 16, 2003
We attended the final three days (July 9-11) of the adidas ABCD Camp in Teaneck (NJ) and viewed each of the approximately 200 participants in action anywhere from three to five times. This always strong camp, which goes head to head with the Nike All-America Camp, was loaded with elite rising senior point guards but lacked the prime young (especially sophomore) big men that the Nike Camp featured.
Before we list our choices as the adidas ABCD Camp’s best 55 seniors, 20 (actually 21) juniors and 10 sophs, let’s briefly analyze the talent at this important event. more....
BRICK: SWIFT EXCELS AT PANGOS
June 4, 2003
Approximately 90 high school players attended the first Pangos Camp last weekend, which included very few (fewer than ten) participants who are not Division I prospects.
Surprisingly, the best senior at the camp may have been Southern Cal big man commitment Robert Swift, who has improved tremendously over the past year. After a couple of mediocre spring performances, guard Justin Cerasoli also was excellent. more....
BRICK: TOP-10 UNDECIDED SENIORS
April 23, 2003
On the seventh day of the month-long (April 16-May 15) national signing period, a surprisingly large number of elite high school senior frontcourtmen at least 6-8 in height have not yet decided firmly (or in some cases technically) on their destination for next season.
Our top-10 list below includes 6-8 Ohio superstar LeBron James, who is certain to enter this year?s NBA draft after violating the NCAA limit (for freshman eligibility) by playing in three major post-season all-star games. more....
PARADE TEAM HAS BIG SURPRISES
April 9, 2003
You may have seen the Parade Magazine All-America Team, which was published in early April. This year marked the 47th annual edition of the All-America Team, which consists of 40 players divided into four teams.
Unlike the prestigious McDonald?s All America, the Parade team includes underclassmen as well as seniors. Also unlike McDonald's, Parade doesn't have a game associated with its All-America Team. Parade always has had some interesting choices for its All-American team, and this year was no exception. more....
BRICK: FULL MCDONALD'S RECAP
March 28, 2003
Given the lack of defense played by many of the participants in the 26th annual McDonald?s All-American Game this week in Cleveland, imagine how many points famed 6-8 Akron (OH) St. Vincent-St. Mary WF LeBron James would have scored if his perimeter jump shot had not gone AWOL!
Below is our take on the individual performances in the game, which obviously will play a role in our upcoming spring rankings to be released in the next few weeks. more....
MCDONALD'S PRIMER: TIME TO SHINE
March 26, 2003
While most of the nation is focused on the upcoming NCAA regionals, high school recruitniks will direct their attention Wednesday night to the annual McDonald's All-American game, which tips off tonight in Cleveland and will be televised by ESPN.
Over 20 of the nation's best seniors will battle for bragging rights, as most will be making their national television debuts. more....
MCDONALD'S ALL-AMERICA BREAKDOWN
March 24, 2003
As one of the McDonald's All-American Game's 31 selection committee members, we are pleased that the selection process resulted this year in the most accurate choices that we can recall in the storied history of this event.
All 24 of the high school seniors who have been named to play Wednesday in Cleveland are ranked among our early season top 33 prospects in the Class of 2003. Let's take a look at exactly how these choices came to pass, and how some other worthy players, such as LSU-bound wing Regis Koundjia, did not get selected. more....
"OTHERS" OFFER REAL CHALLENGE IN 2003
March 13, 2003
It isn't nice, but it's true: The 24 "other" Division I conferences -- and the smattering of independent schools -- typically get the table scraps from the power leagues when it comes to recruiting.
And while that likely always will be true to some extent, the Class of 2003 served as an uprising for college basketball's neglected lower echelon. more....
OLLIE'S ODYSSEY: BIG MAN READY FOR AAU WARS
March 13, 2003
Here's the latest installment of "Ollie's Odyssey," a profile of talented Chicago junior big man Ollie Bailey. Bailey will be a regular on the touring circuit this spring and summer, following an impressive junior season.
In this installment Bailey discusses his team's breakdown toward the end of the season, as well as his summer travel plans and an early look at his recruitment, which includes schools very familiar to hoops fans. more....
PAC-10 STRONG AT TOP
February 25, 2003
The Pac-10 enjoyed a successful recruiting haul with the Class of 2002, so it's no surprise that conference programs had fewer scholarships to offer a year later.
The low numbers obviously dragged down the conference's collective recruiting ranking, but the quality of this year's recruits is good, and it's downright fantastic at the very top. more....
BIG EAST BOASTS PARITY, IF NOT SUPERS
February 18, 2003
The Big East currently stands sixth in Class of 2003 recruiting success. Overall, the results have been pretty good, as 29 of the nation's top 200 high school seniors and four of the top 70 junior college prospects are headed to the conference.
Perhaps the best of the lot is top-35 big man Chris Taft, who doesn't put up eye-popping numbers but is a good rebounder and low-post presence. more....
BIG 12 EFFORTS SOLID, IF NOT SPECTACULAR
January 29, 2003
Big 12 schools, which made a big impact in the NCAA tournament last year and feature some heavyweight teams again this season, currently stand fourth overall in recruiting success for the Class of 2002.
Two Big 12 schools, Kansas and Oklahoma, have landed signing classes that rank among the top 10 in the nation, while Kansas State emerged with a top-20 caliber quintet of signees. more....
FRESHMAN REPORT: CLASS OF 2002
It's nearly halfway into the season, so it's time for our annual look at the nation's top freshmen. Because of the rash of underclassmen who continue to bolt for the NBA and the overall strength of the Class of 2002, freshmen this season are making a huge impact.
Before you even begin discussing the college rookies, however, you have to give credit to hard-working Amare Stoudemire. Last season's No. 1 prospect has lived up to that ranking and then some this year with the Phoenix Suns. more....
OLLIE'S ODYSSEY: BIG WIN FOR BIG MAN
January 14, 2003
The following is the latest installment of "Ollie's Odyssey", a look inside the latest in the line of elite Farragut (Ill.) big men, Ollie Bailey, one of the top juniors in Chicago.
We had a good week with wins over Alston and Crane this past week. Crane was undefeated and the top team in the city and when we came in, our coach was telling us not to listen to the negativity. A lot of people were saying that we didn't have a chance, but we came in with a positive mind. more....
BRICK EXAMINES CONFERENCE USA
January 10, 2003
Although on a per school basis the 14 Conference USA teams finished sixth among the 31 Division I leagues in fall 2002 recruiting success, by sheer numbers CUSA schools fared better during the fall signing period than any other league except the SEC.
In this column let's look in depth at the fall signees/commitments (41) and mid-year transfers (1) to Conference USA schools. more....
BRICK TAKES A LOOK AT THE SEC
January 7, 2003
This past fall, the 12 Southeastern Conference members either signed or gained oral commitments from a larger number of highly regarded prospects than any other league in the nation.
Out of 36 fall recruits, a total of 28 of them were ranked pre-season among the top 200 high school seniors or the top 70 junior college prospects. The top SEC recruit was Olu Famutimi, who gave Razorbacks coach Stan Heath a franchise player for the future. more....
A football school? Isn’t that what the University of Oklahoma is supposed to be? Isn’t that what everybody says? Isn’t it?
But keep that hush-hush. And don’t anybody tell Kelvin Sampson’s basketball team, which is coming off an appearance in the Final Four. more....
BRICK: POWER CONFERENCES LEAD RACE
December 26, 2002
Taking a look at the results from last month's signing period, it should not be at all surprising that the seven "power conferences" among the 31 current Division I leagues lead the way in the recruiting of prime high school and junior college prospects.
Those seven conferences are the Southeastern, Conference USA, Big Ten, Big 12, Big East, Atlantic Coast and Pacific-10. more....
OLLIE'S ODYSSEY
December 20, 2002
Note: The following is the second installment of "Ollie's Diary", a look inside Farragut (Ill.) big man Ollie Bailey, one of the top juniors in the nation.
I couldn't wait to get out and play our second game, especially since it had been so long ? about two weeks - since our first game and because I didn't play so well in the season-opener. We beat Chicago Manley, 74-60, tonight (Wednesday) and I finished with 16 points, 10 rebounds, a block and 2 assists. The biggest thing was that I didn't have any fouls, which was kind of weird since I fouled out of the first game without scoring any points. more....
BRICK: IMPORTS HIGHLIGHT UNSIGNED TALENT
December 17, 2002
This week let's take a look at some other seniors who were not ranked in our pre-season top 200 (though Mike Cook has made the winter top 200), but who have emerged as prime prospects, and are being heavily recruited by some high Division I programs and closely watched by others.
Interestingly, several of the more prominent names on our 25-player list below are natives of other nations who are presently playing for high school or prep schools in the USA. more....
BRICK: THE BEST OF WHO'S LEFT
December 9, 2002
While Division I schools have three weeks after the close of the fall signing period (November 13-20 this year) to turn in national letters of intent to conference offices and the NCAA, nearly all of the results are now known.
What's clear beyond a doubt is that a very high number (approximately 85 percent) of the nation's best high school seniors made fall decisions rather than waiting until the spring. more....
INTRODUCING: OLLIE'S DIARY
December 4, 2002
Note: The following is the first installment of "Ollie's Diary", a look inside Chicago (IL) Farragut big man Ollie Bailey, a 6-7 junior big forward who's a high-major prospect from the Class of 2004.
Our school is located on the west side of Chicago and we have a lot of tradition here. We've had a lot of great players come through - Ronnie Fields, Kevin Garnett, Michael Wright and Elliott Poole. The school has had a long line of successful big men and I'm trying my best to be the next one. more....
BRICK: THE TOP JUNIOR GUARDS
November 29, 2002
Following up on our last column which featured the premier frontcourt prospects in the high school junior class, let's turn now to the top guards in the Class of 2004.
When it comes to guards, this class is particularly loaded with blue-chippers. The point guards are especially outstanding, but the wing guards are awfully good (and plentiful), too. One of the very best is Houston combo guard Daniel Gibson, a national top-10 prospect. more....
BRICK: TOP JUNIOR FRONTCOURT PROSPECTS
November 11, 2002
Though prep seniors cannot sign their letters of intent until Wednesday, this week we're taking an early look at the Class of 2004. In this column we've ranked the best frontcourt prospects in the junior class. Among those positions considered are centers, big forwards and wing forwards.
Heading into the season, 6-9 center Al Jefferson tops the list, but he's going to receive strong challenges over the next year from his elite peers. more....
TOP 25 HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL POLL
November 4, 2002
We asked experts from around the nation to weigh in with their thoughts on this season's best high school basketball teams. Below is our preseason look at the top 25 high school teams in America.
The name at the top of the list should come as no surprise. Steve Smith's Oak Hill Warriors, perhaps the nation's very best high school program, once again is stocked with top players and will make a run at the mythical national championship. more....
BRICK: PAUL, SHAKUR LEAD THIN GROUP OF POINTS
November 1, 2002
Our fifth and final pre-season national positioner focuses upon the point guards in the high school senior class.
This is not an especially exceptional crop at the top, as no point guard is currently ranked among the best seven prospects (regardless of position) in the Class of 2003, and just 15 point guards are among the top 100 prep seniors. more....
BRICK: ELITE WING GUARDS DOMINATE POSITION
October 25, 2002
The next to last of our pre-season national positioners presents the wing guards.
Within the Class of 2003, this position is of average strength and depth overall, although relatively thin in elite talent, as only three wing guards (Von Wafer, Shannon Brown and Michael Jones) currently rank among our top 25 prospects in the senior class. more....
BRICK: WING FORWARDS STRONG AT TOP
October 14, 2002
The natural position for the two best prospects in the high school senior class ? LeBron James and Luol Deng ? happens to be wing forward, while eight more of the most promising 34 players in the Class of 2003 also play that same position.
At the top, then, the senior wing forwards are extremely strong. Depth-wise, however, the position is just average, as a total of 40 wing forwards (exactly 20 percent) are on our fall list of the top 200 seniors in the nation, compared with 50 big forwards. more....
BRICK: RATING THE BIG FORWARDS
October 9, 2002
Last week we began an in-depth look at the high school senior class by focusing on the centers. Now let's turn to the big forwards, a position that is arguably the deepest in this class.
Topping the crop are Texan Ndudi Ebi (who recently committed to Arizona over Texas and Duke) and Californian Leon Powe (headed for Cal), both among the best five overall prospects in the Class of 2003. more....
BRICK: AMERICA'S TOP SENIOR CENTERS
October 1, 2002
The two positions that generally are thinnest in big-time talent are center and point guard. The current senior centers are just an average group; they certainly don't compare with the Class of 2001, which offered four of the top eight picks in the NBA draft.
Still, there arguably are more than 25 senior centers capable of being significant contributors and perhaps more than that at the big-time collegiate level more....
Twenty-five players. Twenty-five All-Americans. Because we know that so many of our readers want to read as much information as possible on the nation's elite prospects, we've compiled unique, in-depth player profiles for our national top-25 seniors.
Included are statistics, AAU affiliation, accolades, Brick Oettinger's exclusive player evaluations, first-hand reports from the major camps and more! See the profiles....
BRICK: EARLY LOOK AT TOP RECRUITING CLASSES
September 19, 2002
It?s just September, nearly two months away from the fall national signing period, and already over 60 percent of the nation's top-50 high school seniors have announced verbal commitments!
Let?s take a close look now at which colleges have reaped the greatest recruiting dividends thus far. Read full story....
PROGRAM PROFILES -- BY REGION
September 16, 2002
Here we are, mid-September, 2002, and many of the nation's top high schooler's have made their college decisions.
Check out the links below to see the latest recruiting information on roughly 30 programs -- broken down by region -- not covered under our Program Profiles section at PrepStars.com, as taken from the upcoming fall edition of the Recruiter's Handbook. Read full story....
BRICK: YOUNGSTERS MAKE AN IMPACT
September 10, 2002
We've written in this space previously that the junior class is loaded with blue-chip talent. But in addition to the top stars from the Class of 2004, let?s turn briefly to the sophomores, freshmen, and even a highly-precocious eighth grader. Read full story....
BRICK: THE NATION'S TOP 25 JUNIORS
August 27, 2002
We've focused our most recent contributions on the high school senior class, headed, of course, by superstar LeBron James. The rest of that class isn?t awful, but it certainly doesn?t match the depth of blue-chip talent with the rising juniors.
The bottom line is that the Class of 2004 could ultimately develop into an exceptional one, especially at the top. Read full story....
BRICK: POST-SUMMERS RISERS
August 14, 2002
Last week we presented our new postseason top 25 for the Class of 2003, and in this space you'll get a look at the players who rose the most during the spring and summer ... and those who dropped.
Regis Koundjia was one of the players who improved his reputation most. Read full story....
BRICK: POST-SUMMER TOP 25
August 8, 2002
Now that the summer games are over and the parade of commitments begun, it's time to take our first post-summer look at the Class of 2003.
In this column we'll release our brand new post-summer top 25. Broken wrist aside, LeBron James is the undisputed top dog in the Class of 2003. Read full story....
BRICK: NIKE, ABCD RANKINGS
July 18, 2002
The mad rush of summer events is halfway over. And as is the case every year, the biggest noise was made at the Nike All-American and adidas ABCD camps.
Check out whose stock is soaring and whose is plummeting, and who simply came from nowhere to erupt onto the national scene. Read full story....
BRICK: STRUGGLING PLAYERS AIM FOR REBOUND
June 25, 2002
This week we'll take a look at some highly-touted rising seniors whose reputations have slipped somewhat, for a wide variety of reasons.
These players are likely to be among the most hungry, with the most to prove, at major summer events. It happens every year: a player who'd been maligned for months -- or even years -- will torch the competition in July and soar into the national elite. Jackie Butler, who'd like to turn pro out of high school, hopes that he'll reclaim his top-five spot after this summer. Read full story....
FROM THE HISTORY BOOKS
From the Summer, 2002 Recruiter's Handbook
Class of 1982 had plenty of success stories, too many tragedies and disappointments Read full story....
BRICK: SPRING RISERS SHOOT UP CHARTS
June 19, 2002
Each year after the major spring and early summer events, several players emerge from the pack to significantly improve their national ranking. This week we'll take a look at those who helped themselves the most -- and how they did it.
Among the Class of 2003, the four players who have proven this spring to be a good deal better than their March reputations are LA WF Vakeaton "Von" Waffer, fellow Louisianan Brandon Bass (6-7 BF/WF), WI C Brian Butch and NC PG Chris Paul (orally committed to Wake Forest). Read full story....
BRICK: USA JUNIOR FINALISTS INCLUDE SURPRISES
June 10, 2002
USA Basketball will be represented at the 18-under COPABA Junior World championship on July 24-28 by 12 players. After an early June tryout in Colorado Springs, 16 hopefuls remain in contention for a berth on the squad. The finalists will battle from July 14-22 in Miami to make the final cut.
Some of the names who made the team -- and some who didn't -- were a major surprise to hoops observers. Read full story....
BRICK: TEXAS EMERGES AS TALENT HOTBED
June 3, 2002
On the national scene, among the most important developments in high school basketball within the past couple of years is the sudden large number of Texans who rank as elite prospects.
Some close observers of the collegiate scene considered super-quick Texas Longhorn point guard T.J. Ford as the No. 1 college freshman based on his play during the 2001-02 season. One of the Class of 2003's finest is forward Ndi Ebi.Read full story....
BRICK: CONFERENCE RECRUITING RANKINGS
May 24, 2002
Now that nearly all of the roundball recruiting results are in for the 2001-02 academic year, let?s compare conferences to determine which ones? members fared best.
As usual, the power conferences made out best. CA WF Evan Burns, headed to UCLA, was the Pac-10's top recruit. Read full story....
BRICK: SPRING SIGNING PERIOD OVERVIEW
May 20, 2002
Now that the spring national signing period (April 10-May 15) has ended, it's to analyze the most significant recruiting developments.
As always, top programs were affected by the NBA, transfers, academic situations and -- last but not least -- spring signings. Read full story....
BRICK: POSTSEASON ALL-AMERICANS
May 9, 2002
Now that we're approaching the late spring and our coverage of the Class of 2002 is winding down, it's time to present our postseason high school All-America.
Except for players who did not perform in a single game during the 2001-02 season, every high school player is eligible for consideration, regardless of class in school, academic credentials, off-court problems, recent injuries or anything else. Read full story....
BRICK: TAKING A LOOK AT SENIOR PERIMETER PLAYERS
May 2, 2002
Last week we covered the centers and big forwards in the senior class, and this week we've focused upon the very best wing forwards, wing guards and point guards in the Class of 2002. There wasn't as much movement with these guys as much as the insiders. One player who upheld his lofty reputation was top wing forward Carmelo Anthony. Read full story....
BRICK'S TRAIL TALK: NEW RANKINGS FOR SENIOR INSIDERS
April 25, 2002
With the high school postseason complete, we'll begin unveiling our new spring rankings for the nation's top high school players. This week, Brick Oettinger takes a look at the 50 best big men in the senior class. There's no change at the very top, with Amare Stoudemire holding onto the No. 1 ranking among post players, but there was plenty of movement overall within the top 10. Read full story....
BRICK'S TRAIL TALK: ANTHONY, MCCANTS PERFORM BEST IN MAJOR ALL-STAR GAMES
April 16, 2002
By far the three most prestigious and talent-laden post-season high school all-star games this year were the McDonald?s All American Game; the Nike-sponsored Jordan Brand Capital Classic, which featured 12 McDonald?s All Americans; and the EA Sports Capital Classic, where 10 McDonald?s All Americans were in action.
In other years we might have included the Kentucky Derby Festival Classic or the Nike Hoop Summit (USA vs. International), but not this year. Nike moved its support from the Derby to the Cap Classic, and there was no Hoop Summit, though reportedly the game may be resurrected in the next year or two. Read full story....
BRICK'S TRAIL TALK: PARADE ALL-AMERICA IMPROVES CREDIBILITY
April 8, 2002
For the past 46 years, Sunday newspaper supplement Parade Magazine has offered a post-season All-America High School Boys Basketball Team that is selected by "coaches, scouts and recruiters," excluding many notable analysts within the industry.
In the past we've been critical of Parade?s choices, but we must admit that this year?s 40-man team, announced in the March 31 issue of the magazine, is one of the best, most credible efforts we?ve seen from Parade. Read full story....
BRICK'S TRAIL TALK: SENIOR SURPRISES DRAW SPRING INTEREST
March 28, 2002
Now that the 2001-02 high school and junior college seasons are over, let?s focus upon a baker?s dozen -- plus two -- of players whose stocks have risen fast and high this year. Only two of them were on our lengthy pre-season lists on PrepStars.com.
One player who has emerged as a spring priority is explosive leaper Marcus Morrison. Read full story....
BRICK'S TRAIL TALK: HOW THE CONTENDERS STACK UP ON RECRUITING PAPER
March 21, 2002
At this time of the year, it?s always interesting -- and revealing -- to look at the Sweet 16 teams remaining in the NCAA Division I Tournament in terms of the high school reputations of the players.
Which teams have the most highly recruited players (McDonald?s All Americans, in particular), and which teams feature the fewest players who were heralded in high school as big-time prospects? Read full story....
BRICK'S TRAIL TALK: ACC SIGNEES HEAD UP MCDONALD'S TEAM
March 15, 2002
When the 24 selectees for the highly prestigious 25th annual McDonald?s High School All American Game were announced February 27 on ESPN, we (as one of the 35 members of the selection committee) felt good about the results.
After all, 19 of the 20 players we voted for on the final ballot made the game, and -- unlike some previous years -- all of the add-ons by committee chairman Morgan Wootten were at least ranked among the top 50 seniors nationally at PrepStars.com. Read full story....
BRICK'S TRAIL TALK: TELFAIR HEADS LOADED SOPHOMORE CLASS
March 6, 2002
It?s obviously very early to talk at length about high school sophomores, but let?s introduce some of the more intriguing young prospects, even though our list and rankings will change considerably during the next two years.
This class appears to be deep in talent and features an abundance of Deep South frontcourt players. Read full story....
BRICK'S TRAIL TALK: A DEEPER LOOK AT JUNIORS
February 28, 2002
Last week we introduced the high school junior class by listing 55 potentially elite prospects (11 per position) from the Class of 2003, while noting that perhaps 10 others at each position also might ultimately develop into national top-50 caliber players.
One such player is J.R Reynolds, a talented combo guard who already has committed to Virginia. Read full story....
BRICK'S TRAIL TALK: AN EARLY LOOK AT TOP JUNIORS
February 22, 2002
This week, we?ll take an initial look at the most prominent high school juniors (Class of 2003) in the nation. We've listed 10 players at each position, plus "One to watch" who hasn?t had quite as much national notoriety (yet) as the others.
One player who has received plenty of exposure is Kendrick Perkins, arguably the nation's top center. Read full story....
PREPSTARS.COM VIDEO EXCLUSIVE!
February 19, 2002
PrepStars.com and Zoom Culture are proud to unveil our latest offering -- a free sampling of three video clips that are superior to any prep video footage previously seen on the Web!
In our first installment, decide for yourself if Shavlik Randolph has the muscle and athleticism to star at the big-time college level, or if he'll fall under the immense shadow of hulking center Eric Williams. Then take a quick peek at Brian Johnson, one of the very best sophomores in the nation. more....
BRICK'S TRAIL TALK: LEBRON TOPS OVERALL RANKINGS
February 14, 2002
It?s late enough in the season that all the votes for the prestigious McDonald?s High School All-American team are in and counted, though the results have not yet been announced.
Our focus this week is upon the nation?s current prep elite, regardless of class in school or even whether they are presently able to play for their high school team. Read full story....
BRICK'S TRAIL TALK: NON-POWER SCHOOLS TO REMAIN DANGEROUS
February 11, 2002
Based on this year's recruiting results, the nation's power conferences (ACC, Big East, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-10, SEC and C-USA) will continue to dominate the college basketball landscape.
But look no further than Gonzaga or Hampton -- both of whom knocked off higher-touted schools in last year's NCAA tournament -- for proof that playing good basketball doesn't require membership in a big conference. New Mexico signee Ashanti Cook (pictured above) is one of the highest-touted recruits of the group. Read full story....
BRICK'S TRAIL TALK: PAC-10 CLASSES VERY BALANCED
January 31, 2002
In the category of team recruiting, no Pacific-10 school lured a national top-15 caliber recruiting class this past fall, although Arizona (No. 17) came close, and UCLA (No. 30), California, Arizona State, Stanford, Washington and Southern Cal each grabbed one of the best 65 crops.
In fact, within this well-balanced conference only Washington State (which has two available scholarships to give this spring) can be considered to have had just-average recruiting results thus far. UCLA has a small class, but Bruins recruit Evan Burns (pictured above) is one of the nation's best prospects. Read full story....
SPECIAL
REPORT: A LOOK AT THE NATION'S COLLEGE FRESHMEN
January 28, 2002
As the second half of conference play begins, it's time to take a look back to the very recent past -- the Class of 2001.
We have the scoop on last spring's top 100 seniors; see who has surpassed expectations thus, and who has struggled to make a smooth transition from high school to college ... or the NBA. more....
BRICK'S TRAIL TALK: PARITY RULES IN BIG 12
January 25, 2002
While five other conferences may have come out better overall in fall recruiting results than the Big 12, that certainly doesn?t mean that Big 12 schools fared poorly.
To the contrary, four members of this league landed November crops that rank among the nation?s top 30, and several other schools also landed solid classes. Texas A&M will get a boost from marquee signee Antoine Wright, a smooth wing with advanced offensive tools. Read full story....
JUCO RECRUITS LEAD CONFERENCE USA
January 16, 2002
Among the more than 30 Division I basketball conferences in the nation, the 14-team Conference USA ranks fifth in recruiting success after the November 14-21 fall signing period.
C-USA schools didn?t fare particularly well with the best high school prospects; they snared none of the top 25 seniors, just two of the top 50, nine of the top 100 and 17 of the top 200 players in the prep Class of 2002.
On the other hand, five C-USA members gained significant potential help by inking highly touted junior college sophomores. more....
BRICK EXAMINES THE BIG EAST
January 10, 2002
Four Big East schools have fall recruiting crops ranked among the nation?s top 20, while six others fared reasonably well, and Providence used its sole extended scholarship wisely. The remaining three league members (Georgetown, Rutgers and Pittsburgh) each have at least one scholarship to give this spring and hopefully will get better qualitative results then.
Villanova (with the nation?s No. 4 recruiting class), Syracuse (No. 10), Connecticut (No. 14) and Notre Dame (No. 18) are the Big East schools that recruited best in the fall, followed (in order) by Seton Hall, Virginia Tech, Miami-FL, Boston College, St. John?s and West Virginia. more....
BRICK TAKES A LOOK AT THE BIG TEN
January 3, 2002
The conference whose members combined to finish third in fall recruiting results, behind only the ACC and SEC and directly ahead of the Big East, is the Big Ten.
Actually there are 11 schools in the Big Ten, and they wound up landing (at this juncture, counting two verbal commitments) a total of two of the nation?s top 10 high school seniors, four of the top 25, six of the top 50, 15 of the top 100 and 23 of the top 200 prep prospects, plus two well-regarded junior college sophomores. more....
BRICK SIZES UP THE SEC
December 21, 2001
For many years now the SEC has been a national basketball power, and the Class of 2002 recruiting haul will ensure that the league maintains its place among the national elite. The SEC pulled in the second-best crop of fall recruits, trailing only the ACC in our league rankings. more....
BRICK BREAKS DOWN ACC FALL RECRUITING CLASS
December 11, 2001
The ACC garnered -- by far -- the nation's best crop of recruits in the fall signing period. Duke and North Carolina rank No. 1 and No. 2 nationally, with Maryland, Georgia Tech and Wake Forest also landing outstanding classes. more....
ACC
DOMINATES FALL RECRUITING
December 4, 2001
The ACC came out first in fall recruiting because its schools snared eight of the top 22 prep seniors, 13 of the top 50 and 20 of the top 100. Our primary emphasis, remember, is upon quality rather than quantity of recruits. more....
VILLANOVA STAKES POSITION FOR BIG EAST RUN
December 3, 2001
Jay Wright has been able to do something at Villanova in just a few months that Steve Lappas couldn?t do in a decade.
Wright, using his connections and those of his assistants, has managed to raid New York of most of its top talent this year. more....
FALL RECRUITING CLASS RANKINGS
November 30, 2001
The November came and went in a hurry, and it's time to see exactly who did what on the recruiting trail this fall.
Everyone wants to believe that their school has the most exciting group of signees, but our national rankings separate fact from fiction.
Florida continues to stockpile talent; this year's stellar haul is led by star point guard Anthony Roberson. Check it out!
NATIONAL
SUPERLATIVES: AMERICA'S BEST DUNKERS
November 28, 2001
The individuals we consider the best high school leapers/dunkers come in a wide array of sizes and positions, ranging from 5-11 point guards to 6-10 centers. In fact, a 5-11 PG, Texan Bryan Hopkins, is No. 1 among the Terrific 13 and compares favorably with nearly any run/jump athlete you can think of.
At the other extreme, the goal-shaking slams of super 6-10 FL C/BF Amare Stoudemire have ferocity and velocity rarely equaled. more....
NATIONAL SUPERLATIVES: LOCKDOWN DEFENDERS
November 15, 2001
Continuing our series of superlatives, this week we'll focus upon the premier defensive stalwarts nationally among high school seniors.
Players are divided into two categories: post defenders and perimeter defenders, in recognition of the fact that some considerably different attributes separate the two. Note that the category of perimeter defenders includes both wings and point guards. more....
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