RIVALS150: 2016 | 2017
MORE: Ten things to know about 2016 Rivals150
As far as classes go, 2017 is still in the early stages of development. Between now and when the class gets a final ranking in April of 2017, the pool of potentially rankable prospects is going to grow significantly.
As the class ranking moves from a top 100 to a true Rivals150, though, it was the right time to make some changes and that's certainly happened with power forward Wendell Carter ascending to the top of the class.
Here are 10 things to know about the 2017 Rivals150:
Wendell Carter is the new No. 1 player, for now.
1. New No. 1
Ever since people began ranking the class of 2017, 7-footer DeAndre Ayton has been nearly universally hailed as the top player/prospect in the class. Make no mistake, the native of the Bahamas, who plays at San Diego (Calif.) Balboa City, still has considerable potential. However, the question that kept coming up was this: Has Ayton been playing like the No. 1 player in the country?
And if he hasn't, then who has?
Our answer to the second part is Wendell Carter, which should tell you what the answer to the first question is. At 6-foot-10 and 245 pounds the product of Atlanta (Ga.) Pace has outstanding size, is a fine athlete and is a skilled offensive player, who is equally strong on the defensive end. His combination of size and two-way play give him the edge for now.
The race for No. 1 in 2017 is one that is tight between four players and they all made their case. At No. 2, point guard Trevon Duval is clearly the top perimeter player in the class and is just as good, or better, as any of the highly celebrated 2016 point guard class. Checking in at No. 3 is Michael Porter, an incredibly gifted offensive player with the ability to shoot and handle the ball while pushing 6-foot-10. Finally, there's Ayton, who at No. 4 could prove to be quite underrated and has the tools to take the No. 1 spot back if he starts to dominate around the rim on both ends of the floor as he has shown flashes of being able to do in the past.
2. Second tier
While that group of Carter, Duval, Porter and Ayton has some separation from the pack, power forwards Mohamed Bamba and Billy Preston, Nos. 5 and 6 respectively, aren't far off the pace. Skinny and long-limbed, Bamba is a blend of Jermaine O'Neal and Marcus Camby as 17-year-olds. He has all the physical tools, he's just lacking strength and confidence at times.
Preston has strength, skill and versatility. He crashes the glass and already looks like a college player with his 6-foot-9, 230 pound-frame. Preston has improved considerably in the last year and if he continues to produce as he has, those ahead of him had better watch out because he is on the verge of breaking down the next wall.
3. The fives
There are 24 five-star prospects and four of them are newly minted. The highest-ranked of the new five-stars is No. 15 Ikey Obiagu. The best shot blocker in the class - and perhaps in all of high school basketball - moves up from No. 24 overall to No. 15. The next highest of the new new five-stars is athletic forward Kevin Knox (No. 16), who currently plays both the power and small forward spots but projects as a big three with plus athleticism and skill. Also earning fifth stars are point guard Jaylen Hands (No. 23) and shooting guard M.J. Walker (No. 24).
Brandon McCoy's aggressive nature let to his big jump.
4. The real McCoy
The biggest mover inside of the five-star realm was near 7-footer Brandon McCoy. The San Diego (Calif.) Morse product moves from No. 20 to No. 9 overall. At the moment, this could be a roll of the dice but McCoy has looked better each time we've seen him. He's probably the most aggressive of any big man in looking for his offense and with his size, athleticism and confidence we feel he's about to make a major breakthrough.
MORE: Ten things to know about 2016 Rivals150
As far as classes go, 2017 is still in the early stages of development. Between now and when the class gets a final ranking in April of 2017, the pool of potentially rankable prospects is going to grow significantly.
As the class ranking moves from a top 100 to a true Rivals150, though, it was the right time to make some changes and that's certainly happened with power forward Wendell Carter ascending to the top of the class.
Here are 10 things to know about the 2017 Rivals150:
Wendell Carter is the new No. 1 player, for now.
1. New No. 1
Ever since people began ranking the class of 2017, 7-footer DeAndre Ayton has been nearly universally hailed as the top player/prospect in the class. Make no mistake, the native of the Bahamas, who plays at San Diego (Calif.) Balboa City, still has considerable potential. However, the question that kept coming up was this: Has Ayton been playing like the No. 1 player in the country?
And if he hasn't, then who has?
Our answer to the second part is Wendell Carter, which should tell you what the answer to the first question is. At 6-foot-10 and 245 pounds the product of Atlanta (Ga.) Pace has outstanding size, is a fine athlete and is a skilled offensive player, who is equally strong on the defensive end. His combination of size and two-way play give him the edge for now.
The race for No. 1 in 2017 is one that is tight between four players and they all made their case. At No. 2, point guard Trevon Duval is clearly the top perimeter player in the class and is just as good, or better, as any of the highly celebrated 2016 point guard class. Checking in at No. 3 is Michael Porter, an incredibly gifted offensive player with the ability to shoot and handle the ball while pushing 6-foot-10. Finally, there's Ayton, who at No. 4 could prove to be quite underrated and has the tools to take the No. 1 spot back if he starts to dominate around the rim on both ends of the floor as he has shown flashes of being able to do in the past.
2. Second tier
While that group of Carter, Duval, Porter and Ayton has some separation from the pack, power forwards Mohamed Bamba and Billy Preston, Nos. 5 and 6 respectively, aren't far off the pace. Skinny and long-limbed, Bamba is a blend of Jermaine O'Neal and Marcus Camby as 17-year-olds. He has all the physical tools, he's just lacking strength and confidence at times.
Preston has strength, skill and versatility. He crashes the glass and already looks like a college player with his 6-foot-9, 230 pound-frame. Preston has improved considerably in the last year and if he continues to produce as he has, those ahead of him had better watch out because he is on the verge of breaking down the next wall.
3. The fives
There are 24 five-star prospects and four of them are newly minted. The highest-ranked of the new five-stars is No. 15 Ikey Obiagu. The best shot blocker in the class - and perhaps in all of high school basketball - moves up from No. 24 overall to No. 15. The next highest of the new new five-stars is athletic forward Kevin Knox (No. 16), who currently plays both the power and small forward spots but projects as a big three with plus athleticism and skill. Also earning fifth stars are point guard Jaylen Hands (No. 23) and shooting guard M.J. Walker (No. 24).
Brandon McCoy's aggressive nature let to his big jump.
4. The real McCoy
The biggest mover inside of the five-star realm was near 7-footer Brandon McCoy. The San Diego (Calif.) Morse product moves from No. 20 to No. 9 overall. At the moment, this could be a roll of the dice but McCoy has looked better each time we've seen him. He's probably the most aggressive of any big man in looking for his offense and with his size, athleticism and confidence we feel he's about to make a major breakthrough.
