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Sara Jane Gamelli

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In its inaugural season, the NBA In-Season Tournament is set to see its first semifinals, where four teams remain in contention for the championship. In this article, I will break down the games for Thursday, Dec. 7

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The first-ever NBA In-Season Tournament Knockout Rounds continue TODAY with the Semifinals on ESPN and TNT!

5:00pm/et: Pacers/Bucks
9:00pm/et: Pelicans/Lakers pic.twitter.com/fSsNI9nAQF

— NBA (@NBA) December 7, 2023

Tonight, there four teams that remain in the running for the first ever NBA In-Season Tournament trophy. For the Eastern Conference, the Indiana Pacers will matchup with the Milwaukee Bucks, beginning at 5 p.m. EST on ESPN. For the Western Conference, the New Orleans Pelicans will face the Los Angeles Lakers, starting at 9 p.m. EST on truTV/TNT. With the Final Four set, both games are single elimination matchups. With the Finals scheduled for Dec. 9, which teams will move onto the final round? Here you will find the NBA betting odds, lines, schedule, and predictions for the NBA In-Season Tournament Semifinals.

NBA In-Season Tournament Schedule

Semifinals: Thursday, Dec. 7

• ESPN, 5 p.m. ET: Indiana Pacers (+170) vs. Milwaukee Bucks (-205) (-5): O/U 257.5
• TruTV/TNT, 9 p.m. ET: New Orleans Pelicans (+110) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (-2) (-130): O/U 231

Championship Game: Saturday, Dec. 9

• ABC, 8:30 p.m. ET: TBD

NBA In-Season Tournament Championship Odds

• Milwaukee Bucks: +170
• Los Angeles Lakers: +240
• New Orleans Pelicans: +360
• Indiana Pacers: +425

^{*Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook}

NBA Eastern Conference: Indiana Pacers vs. Milwaukee Bucks

The Indiana Pacers (11-8, 4-3 away) will face the Milwaukee Bucks (15-6, 10-1 home) at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. After knocking the Boston Celtics out of the first round, the Pacers have earned their first trip to the NBA In-Season Tournament final four. Undefeated in the tournament, Indiana continues to knock off teams left and right with the lowest payroll in the NBA. With slightly over $126 million on the books for 2023, Indiana caught the Celtics sleeping in the quarterfinals. Having original odds of +3800 to win the tournament, the Pacers now have the fourth best odds at +425 to win it all.

The Indiana Pacers stun the Boston Celtics and advance to the Semifinals

Monday evening, Indiana stunned the Boston Celtics, cruising to a 122-112 victory, followed by a Buddy Hield three-pointer at the end of regulation. As I've mentioned before in several articles, the emergence and stardom of Tyrese Haliburton, along with several role players, makes them one of the prime teams in the Eastern Conference. As expected, Indiana, led by head coach Rick Carlisle, leads the NBA in offensive efficiency and pace per game. Shooting over 50 percent from the field and long range, Indiana held Boston to just 29.3 percent. Furthermore, their pace of play disrupted the Celtics defense, not allowing them to adjust, specifically in transition.

While Boston dominated on the boards, especially second chance points, the Pacers forced 17 turnovers on the Celtics, which led to 14 total fast break points. Playing with high momentum and pace, the Pacers had 7 players finish with points in double figures. With his first ever career triple double, Tyrese Haliburton finished with 26 points, 13 assists, and 10 rebounds, on 55.6 % field goal and 45.5 three-point shooting. After 16 lead changes, the Pacers mainly kept a lead from the middle of the third quarter until the end of regulation. Buddy Hield finished with 21 points and 2 steals, while Obi Toppin, Myles Turner, Bruce Brown, Aaron Nesmith, and Bennedict Mathurin combined for 72 points, 4 steals, 26 rebounds, and 9 assists.

The Pacers play at a high pace, and it's disrupting the opposing defenses

It's no secret the Pacers are balling out this year, hitting the over on totals 16 times, and rank third in three-point percentage. The Celtics, who have an elite defense from the top down, couldn't top Haliburton anywhere on the court, for that matter. In fact, if I didn't watch the NBA, I would've thought this was game 7 of the NBA Finals. Not letting off the gas pedal for 48 minutes, the Pacers played fast, and stayed aggressive.

When it comes to defending past pace basketball, it often doesn't give teams ample amount of time to set up reads and plays defensively. For the Pacers, at any given moment, could be up half court and have a shot off within two to the seconds. This is one of the most dangerous aspects of this team, and they are simply fun and exciting to watch. While Haliburton is rising to stardom in front of our eyes, the Pacers have a ton of role players who couldn't find their stride with their old teams. With Aaron Nesmith and Obi Toppin finding the right opportunities, this Pacers team is filled with talent and depth. Tonight, I don't expect the pace to change against the Milwaukee Bucks, who also play at a higher speed.

The Pacers have the lowest payroll in the NBA

Indiana may not be the favorites to outright win the tournament at +450, however, they have the most passion and determination out of all the teams left. With a payroll just over $126 million for this season, not one person was sitting during the final stretch of their last matchup against the Celtics. Having felt like a true playoff atmosphere, the Pacers, along with the fans are looking forward to this opportunity, especially since the organization has never won an NBA Championship. And this is why I love the tournament, it gives younger teams a chance to compete, even on a small scale. Their last victory over Boston was a monumental statement, and they should bring that same energy into tonight's game.

While Haliburton has broken into the MVP conversation, the guard is averaging a career high 26.9 points, and an incredible 11.9 assists per game. While tonight won't be an easy task, it's hard to full fade Haliburton and what the Pacers are doing right now. In fact, Indiana defeated the Bucks 126-124 back on Nov 9, expect a great matchup out of these two teams.

Injuries

Pacers:
Jalen Smith, F: OUT

Bucks:
Pat Connaughton, G: OUT

Season Statistics & Betting Trends

^{*ATS-Against the Spread}

Indiana Pacers

• Indiana Pacers: 3-2 in their last 5 games.
• 5-5 in their last 10 games.
• ATS Record: 11-8-0
• O/U Record: 16-3-0
• 3-2 ATS in their last 5 games.
• 5-5 ATS in their last 10 games.
• O/U is 3-2 in the last 5 games.
• O/U: 9-2 in the last 10 games.
• 1st in Offensive Rating (123.6)
• 28th in Defensive Rating (120.2)
• 1st in Points Per Game (128.8)
• 1st in Pace: 104.05
• Opponent Points Per Game: 125.2 (29th)
• Three-Point Percentage: 38.8 % (3rd)
• Rebounds Per Game: 39.5 (31st)
• Indiana ATS won last 10 games: Philadelphia 76ers (+6.5), Atlanta Hawks (+3.5), Detroit Pistons (-9.5), Miami Heat (+4.5), Boston Celtics (+4.5)

“We can compete with anybody who’s on the floor.”

it’s gameday in VEGAS! pic.twitter.com/yckwQP2NfW

— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) December 7, 2023

The Bucks had their best offensive game of the year

Similar to Indiana, the Milwaukee Bucks are undefeated in the NBA In-Season Tournament and will head to Vegas to play the Pacers. Having put up 125.5 points per game in group play, followed by Eastern Conference best +11.5-point differential, the Bucks will have their biggest test this evening. With the fourth most salary cap in the NBA ($185 M), Milwaukee is 10-2 in their last ten games, after a rough 6-4 start. With the addition of star guard Damian Lillard, the Bucks are the No. 2 seed team in the East and put up nearly 122 points per game. Although they haven't been as sharp defensively, the Bucks are a serious threat to win the Tournament and NBA Championship this season.

On Thursday evening, Milwaukee faced the New York Knicks, who were a wild card team, along with the Phoenix Suns. Blowing out New York 146-122, Giannis Antetokounmpo finished a double-double, and him and Lillard combined for 63 points. With six players finishing with points in double-figures, the Bucks shot over 60 percent from the field and beyond the arc. In fact, outrebounding the Knicks led to 22 second chance points, and the Bucks finished with 12 steals, forcing the Knicks to turnover the ball 16 times. By the way, all of those shooting statistics are season highs for the Bucks.

Milwaukee certainly put their talents on full display against the Knicks, it was arguably one of their best games of the year offensively. While it's been the story of the duo in Lillard and Giannis, Malik Beasley put on a show for 18 points. With the Knicks known as one of the best defensive teams in the league, the Bucks were able to dominate and then some.

Tonight's matchup total is the highest since 1991

Considering tonight is a prime matchup with the two highest scoring offenses, the total of 257.7 is the highest of any total since 1991. With that said, with a trophy and cash on the line, that's a heck of a total. While it may or may not be a high scoring affair, averaging 30.2 points, 10.7, 5.2 assists, 1.3 blocks, and 1.3 steals, Antetokounmpo is playing at an elite level. Coming off four straight double-doubles, Giannis now enters the final four, averaging 27.4 points, 2 steals, 8.6 rebounds, and 6.6 assists in the tournament. Tonight, he faces the Pacers with a career average of 22.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists, in 36 total matchups.

Given the Milwaukee Bucks and Indiana Pacers average a combined 250.6 points per game, bettors are looking at pace and defensive numbers as factors as well. While the Bucks have been a complete powerhouse on offense, if the Celtics couldn't stop Haliburton and the Pacers, who can?

Lillard and Giannis are starting to gel

Prior to the start of the season, both Giannis and Lillard stated their chemistry was going to take time. Able to trust the process, Milwaukee has figured out how to balance the two superstars, which the help of their role players. Although the two haven't run the pick and roll nearly as much as expected, Milwaukee is 8-2 in their last ten games, and 5-1 in their last six. While Giannis is putting up career numbers in some respects, Lillard averaged 25.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 6.9 assists in 19 games played. In fact, Lillard is averaging 41.6 % from three, 26.8 points, and 8.1 assists in the last ten games.

Milwaukee Bucks

• Milwaukee Bucks: 4-1 in their last 5 games.
• 8-2 in their last 10 games.
• ATS Record: 9-11-1
• O/U Record: 14-7-0
• 3-2 ATS in their last 5 games.
• 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games.
• O/U is 4-1 in the last 5 games.
• O/U: 7-3 in the last 10 games.
• 3rd in Offensive Rating (119.2)
• 22nd in Defensive Rating (115.3)
• 3rd in Points Per Game (122.3)
• 5th in Pace: 102.63
• Opponent Points Per Game: 118.3 (24th)
• Three-Point Percentage: 38.4 %
• Rebounds Per Game: 43.5 (20th)
• Milwaukee ATS won last 10 games: Charlotte Hornets (-8), Dallas Mavericks (-2), Washington Wizards (-9.5), Boston (+6), Miami Heat (-4.5), Atlanta Hawks (-6.5), New York Knicks (-4.5)

Giannis scored 54 points vs. the Pacers on November 9th.

: @betwayusa pic.twitter.com/5l543nz1Fp

— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) December 7, 2023

Predictions:

Giannis Antetokounmpo double-double
Tyrese Haliburton 25+ points
Damian Lillard O 29.5 points + assists

NBA Western Conference: New Orleans Pelicans vs. Los Angeles Lakers

The New Orleans Pelicans (12-10) will play the Los Angeles Lakers (13-9) tonight, starting at 9 p.m. ET. Finishing 3-1 in group play, New Orleans went on to defeat the Sacramento Kings 127-117 in the NBA In-Season Tournament quarterfinals. Riddled by injuries, the Pelicans finally have a healthy squad, which poses a threat to the Los Angeles Lakers tonight.

Let me guess, you bet over Zion Williamson points last game, I did too. Only putting up 10 points, 3 steals, and 6 rebounds in 28 minutes, Williamson had enormous help from his teammates. With Brandon Ingram leading the way with 30 points and 6 assists, all five starters finished with points in double figures. With Trey Murphy III back healthy off the bench, both him and C.J. McCollum combined for 33 points alone. With their offensive on display, the Pelicans finished the night shooting 54 percent from the field, and 45.2 percent from three. Crashing the rebounds and dominating in the paint was key for the Pelicans against the Kings.

The Pelicans are a sleeper team in the Western Conference

I've said this before, New Orleans was one of the top teams in the Western Conference, before losing Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram to injuries last season. With the Pelicans holding a majority of the lead against the Kings since the 2nd quarter, second chance points mattered. Middle of the road in terms of offensive and defensive efficiency, the Pelicans will face the Lakers, who have the 9th best defense.

The story of this year continues to be the elevation and dominance of forward Brandon Ingram. Averaging 23.7 point this season, the Pelicans forward is putting up big numbers during the tournament. Averaging 27.4 points, 6 rebounds, and 6.2 assists, Ingram will once against face his former team on one of the biggest stages tonight.

In group play, the Pelicans finished with a +8.3-point differential, limiting opponents to 107.5 points per game, which was third best in the west. With heavy hitters in their starting lineups, the return of Trey Murphy III gives New Orleans a deep bench, along with José Alvarado and Jordan Hawkins. While Ingram has risen as a star for the Pelicans, they have tons of talent around them to beat this Lakers team tonight.

Injuries

Pelicans:
Matt Ryan, F: OUT

Lakers:

Jarred Vanderbilt, F: GTD
LeBron James, F: GTD
Anthony Davis, F: GTD
Gabe Vincent, G: OUT

Season Statistics & Betting Trends

^{*ATS-Against the Spread}

New Orleans Pelicans

• New Orleans Pelicans: 3-2 in their last 5 games.
• 6-4 in their last 10 games.
• ATS Record: 13-8-1
• O/U Record: 10-12-0
• 3-2 ATS in their last 5 games.
• 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games.
• O/U is 3-2 in the last 5 games.
• O/U: 4-6-0 in the last 10 games.
• 14th in Offensive Rating (114.2)
• 14th in Defensive Rating (112.8)
• 12th in Points Per Game (114.6)
• 12th in Pace: 100.41
• Opponent Points Per Game: 113.4 (17th)
• Three-Point Percentage: 35.7 (19th)
• Rebounds Per Game: 44.1 (T-14th)
• New Orleans ATS won last 10 games: Minnesota Timberwolves (+7.5), Sacramento Kings (+2, +1.5, +3), Los Angeles Clippers (+5.5), Philadelphia 76ers (-2.5), San Antonio Spurs (-12.5).

The Semifinals are set.

We face the Lakers on Thursday at 8 PM CT on @NBAonTNT/@truTV pic.twitter.com/PpNNIDtkKF

— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) December 6, 2023

Los Angeles Lakers

• Los Angeles Lakers: 3-2 in their last 5 games.
• 7-3 in their last 10 games.
• ATS Record: 10-12-0
• O/U Record: 9-13-0
• 3-2 ATS in their last 5 games.
• 6-4-0 ATS in their last 10 games.
• O/U is 3-2 in the last 5 games.
• O/U: 4-6-0 in the last 10 games.
• 24th in Offensive Rating (110.6)
• 9th in Defensive Rating (111.4)
• 20th in Points Per Game (112.2)
• 11th in Pace: 100.48
• Opponent Points Per Game: 113 (16th)
• Three-Point Percentage: 29.5 (29th)
• Rebounds Per Game: 44.1 (14th)
• Los Angeles ATS won last 10 games: Portland Trail Blazers (-9.5), Utah Jazz (-7.5), Cleveland Cavaliers (+4.5), Detroit Pistons (-7.5), Houston Rockets (-4.5, Phoenix Suns (-1.5)

An exclusive look at the squad's win over Phoenix to earn their ticket to Vegas

Mini-Movie: IST Quarterfinals

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) December 7, 2023

While the Lakers season started off a bit rocky, Darvin Ham's plan is failing when it comes to limiting LeBron James minutes. while LeBron and Anthony Davis have proven their value to the organization, the story has been about trusting the bench and the role players. In a thrilling matchup on Tuesday evening, the Lakers defeated the shorthanded Phoenix Suns 106-103 in dramatic fashion. While James and Davis combined for 58 points, it was Austin Reaves who came up clutch off the bench with 20 points.

The Lakers bench has been inconsistent and hurt

While the Lakers season has been widely inconsistent, it's proven that LeBron and Davis have to play, and play a good volume of minutes in order to win matchups. While LeBron wants to trust a majority of his teammates, Russell, Reddish, Prince, and Hachimura combined for just 24 points. For a player that's in his 21st season at 38 years old, that sort of production is not going to cut it for the Lakers. Davis, who's averaging 23 points and 12.6 rebounds per game, is coming off his 10th straight double-double, including 15 rebounds against Phoenix. His play tonight will be imperative against Valanciunas and Williamson.

While still undefeated in the NBA In-Season Tournament, the Lakers had a league best +18.5-point differential in group play, while averaging 123.5 points, and allowing 105 points per game. Tonight, they get a chance under a big stage, in front of national television, family, friends, and fans.

While the Lakers expressed their confidence in Reaves and various role players, it will be a tough matchup tonight against the Pelicans. With Reaves making the go ahead three with 15 seconds left, can he do it again tonight? Below are my predictions:

Predictions:

Pelicans +2
Anthony Davis- Double-Double
Brandon Ingram 20 + points
C.J McCollum O 3.5 assists

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Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter at Ballislife, and Sports Content Creator on Twitch and TikTok. She has a focus on the NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane currently resides in Connecticut/NYC area with her Cat and Dog. SJ has her undergraduate degree from the University of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in business administration.

The post NBA Betting: In-Season Tournament Semifinals Odds & Predictions appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

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The Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets had a rather physical matchup Saturday night, involving several technical fouls, and the ejection of Rockets head coach Ime Udoka.

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One thing has been made clear, LeBron James beef with Dillon Brooks and head coach Ime Udoka is here to stay, so get your popcorn out.

The Los Angeles Lakers (12-9) hosted the Houston Rockets (8-9) at home Saturday night at Crypto.com Arena. With their third matchup in less than a month, the Lakers once again take a 2-1 series lead over Houston. In what should've been a routine matchup between two western conference teams turned into a physical, emotional dog fight.

With the Lakers holding a career 148-88-win loss record against the Houston Rockets, many fans are left wondering why there is so much hostility between these two teams. First, there's been the Dillon Brooks versus LeBron matchup since last season. Second, there's a playoff history between these two organizations dating back to the 2009, 2004, 1999, 1996, 1991, and 1990 playoffs.

Although the Rockets haven't faced the Lakers in the playoffs in nearly 14 years, fans won't forget the way Hakeem Olajuwon and the Rockets beat Los Angeles with a 4-1 series win in the 1986 Western Conference finals. Saturday night, the defense told the story, and for the Lakers, they finally have a healthy roster.

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Prior to the game on Saturday evening, 84 percent of users on our threads account predicted the Lakers would get the win over the Rockets. They certainly got the victory, and it came in dramatic fashion. When introduced pre-game, Lakers fans made sure they expressed their feelings about Brooks amongst the entire arena. As expected, Brooks received several boos, as he was pumped up by his teammates.

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The LeBron James vs. Dillon Brooks rivalry was on full display

And so much for Lakers head coach Darvin Ham for limiting LeBron James minutes. For the oldest player in the game, 16 points, 1 block, 1 steal, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists in 35 minutes isn't too shabby. In fact, LeBron had several inside baskets in the low post in Dillon Brooks, which resulted in an immediate stare down. While James has downplayed his rivalry with Brooks, the body language speaks for itself.

For James, that prime matchup with Brooks dates back to the first round of the Western Conference playoffs last year. Although he hit some nice shots beyond the perimeter, Brooks finished the night -10 on the floor, with 10 points. In fact, Brooks finished with zero points when guarded by James, and shot 33 percent when guarded by Anthony Davis. If the Lakers can get this version of Davis, LeBron, and their rotational players on a nightly basis, they will be a force to be reckoned with in the west.

James is still performing at a high level

The leader in all-time points, No. 23 is still showing why he's one of the best players in the game. Averaging 24.4 points a game this season, LeBron showed no signs of slowing down at the age of 38. While the Lakers trailed for a better part of the first half, James was turning heads all night. Creating jab step lay ins, backdoor cuts, James put his athleticism on full display. While father time is creeping up, the man is creating 360-degree layup moves over Tari Eason and Jeff Green. Although LeBron had a decent night, he was loving the work his teammates put in beside him.

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Along with LeBron, Anthony Davis showed his defensive prowess, having 5 blocks, 27 points, 3 assists, and 14 rebounds in 37 minutes. With Davis as an elite rim protector, Houston's Alperen Segun finished with 21 points on 8-25 field goal shooting. With 11 steals as a team, the Lakers were able to crash the boards and put up 13 total second chance points. As a whole, the Lakers held the Rockets to just 40.4 percent shooting from the field, and 35.5 percent from long range. For a team that allows opponents to score 114 points a game, the Lakers arguably had their best defensive outing of the season, next to their 100-95 victory over the Phoenix Suns.

The Lakers bench steps up massively

With a two man-game with LeBron and Davis, the Lakers had 6 players finish with points in double-figures, including Austin Reaves and Max Christie off the bench. Offensively, the Lakers unit did what they were supposed to do to help out AD and James. Bullying the Rockets in the paint, Hams team utilized the mismatches and got the foul calls they wanted. They finished 19-27 from the free-throw line, compared to the Rockets, who had just 18 free-throw attempts. The return of Vanderbilt and Reddish created a ton of physicality against the Rockets this matchup. Although Houston beat LA on the boards, the Lakers starting five had 31 total rebounds, including 6 from Taureen Prince.

Lebron and Ime Udoka exchange words

It's no secret Ime Udoka was hired to turn the Houston Rockets franchise around after a 22-60 finish last season. With last year's free agency signing of Fred VanVleet, Houston arguably had the steal of the draft with rookie Cam Whitmore and Amen Thompson. Having previous success with the Boston Celtics, it's evident Udoka wants to win. In order to win, the Rockets need to play hard fought basketball and compete night to night. Visibly frustrated by their recent play, the Rockets remain winless on the road. Following a technical foul in the second quarter, Udoka was ultimately ejected late in the game.

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For Laker fans, Brooks and Udoka immediately become the villain since their disputes with the King. A feud that's likely to stay, originated from common foul on Cam Reddish against Tari Eason. From there, Reddish made it known he was upset, which caused tensions to rise on both sides. While words were exchanged between the Rockets head coach the LeBron, Brooks blamed the officiating.

In his 21st season in the NBA, LeBron James seemed rather unbothered by the situation post-game. Bringing in some comedic relief. he even went out of his way to tell the press it looked "rather friendly." While he stated him and Udoka "were talking about how much we enjoyed thanksgiving," both head coaches had harsh words.

Whether the ejection was warranted, the was a clear disrespect felt by Udoka after James walked over to the sidelines. With one more regular season matchup between these two teams in January, tensions will sure be high.

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Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter at Ballislife, and a Sports Content Creator on Twitch and TikTok. She has a focus on the NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane currently resides in Connecticut with her Cat and Dog. SJ has her undergraduate degree from the University of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in business administration.

The post "Fired up" Rockets lose to the Lakers, 107-97. appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

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There are thirteen games on the NBA slate today, beginning at 7 p.m. EDT and the last starting at 10 p.m. EDT. There are two prime time games appearing on ESPN, which include the Lakers vs. Clippers and New Orleans Pelicans vs. the Oklahoma City Thunder. Here you will find the NBA betting odds, stats, trends, player prop bets, and predictions for Wednesday, November 1.

13-game slate tonight! #KiaTipOff23

Zion and the Pelicans vs. SGA and the Thunder
Clippers vs. Lakers in the Battle of LA

: ESPN, NBA App
: https://t.co/x0DNPls50S pic.twitter.com/quDJua28Dc

— NBA (@NBA) November 1, 2023

NBA Daily Game Odds for 11/1

^{*Odds courtesy of Draft Kings Sportsbook*}

Bucks (-198) @ Raptors (+164)
Blazers (+142) @ Pistons (-170)
Pacers (+450) @ Celtics (-625)
Pelicans (+136) @ OKC (-162)
Wizards (+295) @ Hawks (-375)
Nets (+180) @ Heat (-218)
Cavs (+200 @ Knicks (-245)
Nuggets (-130) @ Timberwolves (+110)
Hornets (+120) @ Rockets (-142)
Bulls (+160) @ Mavericks (-192)
Grizzlies (+110) @ Jazz (-130)
Kings (+225) @ Warriors (-278)
Clippers (+205) @ Lakers (-258)

CJ McCollum O 4.5 Assists (-150)

Game 1 of Year 11, CJ came out hot.@CJMcCollum | @Gatorade pic.twitter.com/1v1l532dYX

— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) October 26, 2023

Season Stats PPG: 18.3 | FG: 39.6 % | 3 PT: 38.5 % | FT: 70 % | REB: 4.4 | AST: 6 | STL: 2.3 | BLK: 0.3

Career Stats vs OKC Thunder: PPG: 18.9 | FG: 42.5 % | 3 PT: 40.2 % | FT: 91.3 % | REB: 3.8 | AST: 3.6 | STL: 0.6 | BLK:0.3

New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum is certainly fitting nicely with a semi-healthy New Orleans Pelicans team. 2-1 on the season, McCollum leads the backcourt, in which he's averaging over 18 points per game this season. If Brandon Ingram is out for tonights matchup, Jordan Hawkins should get the start alongside McCollum. Even with Ingram out last game against the Warriors, McCollum still tallied five assists.

If you're betting on the NBA, McCollum had more than 4.5 assists in all three this games this season, including six against the Memphis Grizzlies, and seven against the New York Knicks. In three head-to-head games against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Pelican guard hit this prop in two of three matchups, and 60 percent in his last five games. It's important to note, this prop his over 60 percent in his last 30 games, and 65 percent last season.

McCollum will face a Thunder team that allows the 27th most assists per game (27.8). 3-1 on the season, the Thunder are coming off a 124-112 victory over the Detroit Pistons, in which they allowed Killian Kayes Cade Cunningham to dish out a combined 12 assists.

Why CJ McCollum will hit over 4.5 assists

Number 3 is dishing over six assists a game on the season, which is 2.4 more than his career average. Last year, the Pelicans had an incredible start, although they lost stars Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram to hamstring and toe injuries. With Zion Williamson back in the lineup, McCollum has several scoring options in Jonas Valanciunas, Herbert Jones, even rookie Jordan Hawkins.

If you're betting on the NBA, this is a rejuvenated Pelicans team, who's been primary lifted by McCollum leading the back court. For a team that ranks in the top terms of pace, I expect C.J McCollum to pass over 4.5 assists tonight.

Tyler Hero O 23.5 Points (-115)

Tyler led us tonight with 28 points (5 3s), 6 rebounds & 6 assists. pic.twitter.com/zR5RZQWMX2

— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) October 28, 2023

Season Stats PPG: 25.3 | FG: 42 % | 3 PT: 38.2% | FT: 93.3 % | REB: 5.3 | AST: 4 | STL: 1.3 | BLK: 0

Career Stats vs Brooklyn Nets: PPG: 15.3 | FG: 38.9 % | 3 PT: 25.5 % | FT: 96.6 % | REB: 4.2 | AST: 3.2 | STL: 0.9 | BLK:0

Tyler Hero has been one of the shining lights in a Miami Heat team thats 1-3 on the season. With Caleb Martin out with injury, Hero has become the top scorer in Miami. I especially like this prop for tonight, considering Bam Adebayo, Jimmy Butler, Kevin Love, and Haywood Highsmith are all game time decisions.

If you're betting on the NBA, Hero leads Miami with 25.3 points per game, and is coming off a 35 point performance against the Milwaukee Bucks. The Heat will face a young Brooklyn Nets team who is 1-2 on the season, and allow the 26th most points per game (120). Facing the Nets at home, Hero will likely be the Heat's top scoring option until everyone is healthy. Although Jimmy Butler's Knee injury is reportedly not serious, Hero has shown why he can be the number one scoring option in Miami.

Tyler Hero is an elite shooter

Hero over 23.5 points hit the over in 50 percent of games against Brooklyn since January of 2023. This newly structured Brooklyn Nets team looks very different, as they allowed the 19th worst three-point percentage per game (.364).

In his fifth season with the Heat, Hero is averaging career highs in points, and minutes. Averaging 39 minutes in four games, the guard has has plenty of shot volume. In four matchups , the Heat guard is averaging 22 field goal attempts per game. Having shot 40 percent from the three in 75 percent of games this season, I'm taking over points tonight.

In addition to 25 points scored against the Bucks, Hero had ten free throw attempts, and get's a juicy matchup with the Nets who have allowed back-to-back 125+ point games.

P.J Washington O 21.5 PTS/AST/REB (-125)

PJ Washington tonight:

25 Points
5 Rebounds
2 Assists
66% FG pic.twitter.com/jQ5E1DwJDX

— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) October 26, 2023

Season Stats PPG: 17.7 | FG: 55.6 % | 3 PT: 36.4 % | FT: 70.8 % | REB: 5.5 | AST: 2.3 | STL: 0.9 | BLK: 1

Career Stats vs Houston Rockets: PPG: 12.3 | FG: 57.7 % | 3 PT: 45.5 % | FT: 44.4 % | REB: 6.8 | AST: 3.5 | STL: 0.8 | BLK: 1.2

Charlotte Hornets forward P.J Washington is having a monster season, given Charlotte has started the season 1-2. Averaging a career high of 17.7 points, Washington has hit over 21.5 points, rebounds, and assists 100 percent of the matchups against the Houston Rockets, and six of the last ten games. In his last matchup against Brooklyn, the forward had 15 points, 12 rebounds, and two assists in 35 minutes.

Why P.J Washington over props will hit tonight

Tonight, the Hornets will face the Rockets who rank 21st in points allowed (116), and rank in the bottom 27th in rebounding. Washington has been off the a hot start, scoring double digits in points in three straight games, and 45 combined field goal attempts through three games. His average of 6.7 rebounds is a career high, and and Hornets are second in the league in assists percentage (71.4). Although they've struggled with the deep ball, Washington has plenty of options to pass to on the rebounds, including LaMelo Ball, Terry Rozier, and Gordon Hayward.

After signing a three-year $48 million extension this offseason, Washington has impressed in all areas, especially with his aggressiveness. If you're betting on the NBA, he should feast against the Houston Rockets team who's winless so far on the season. I'm more confident in the points and assists, as Alperen Sengun is averaging nearly nine rebounds a game for Houston.

LA Clippers +6.5 (-110)

The Los Angeles Clippers made headlines this week, when they made a blockbuster trade for All-Star James Harden, Although he won't suit up for tonight's matchup, both Kawhi Leonard and Paul George will be available to play against the city rival Lakers.

I originally took Clippers +6 early this afternoon, given George and Leonard were both questionable on the injury report. 3-1 on the season, the Clippers will face the Lakers at home, but does that really matter since they share the same arena?

Overall, the health of George and Kawhi has been vital for the Clippers. 3-1 against the spread this season, the Lakers are 2-2 on the season, and 0-4-0 against the spread. In their last ten matchups, the Clippers are undefeated against the lakers, and are 9-1 against the spread.

The Lakers made several acquisitions off season, including Christian Wood, Jaxson Hayes, Gabe Vincent, and Taurean Prince. They barely skimmed by the Orlando Magic in their last victory, and will need time to develop chemistry. The most challenging question is what version of Anthony Davis will we see on a nightly basis, and how can Darvin Ham manage LeBron James minutes.

Why the Clippers will cover the spread

Same city rival games are always exciting, and if you're betting on the NBA I like the Clippers +6.5. Coming off two straight wins against the Orlando Magic and San Antonio Spurs, the Clippers are 6th in offensive efficiency, and first overall in defense. The most brilliant part? They acquired James Harden without parting ways with any of their starters. Yes, the bench will be thin tonight with Nic Batum, Robert Covington, Marcus Morris, and KJ Martin shipped off to Philadelphia.

Unclear if Filip Pestrusive or P.J. Tucker will be available for tonight's game, Clippers guard Terance Mann will be out. For the Lakers, they will be without Rui Hachimura. Cam Reddish and Gabe Vincent are listed as game time decisions.

I like the Clippers to cover the spread given the Lakers truly haven't found their stride together. They rank 18th in total offense, and middle of the road defensly. In order to capture victories they must play LeBron a significant amount of minutes. Coming off an 18 point performance, the trio of Russell Westbrook, Paul George, and Kawhi Leonard should be able to keep up with the Lakers.

The post NBA Betting Odds & Predictions for November 1 appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

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The Orlando Magic (2-0,1-0 Away) will matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers( 1-2, 1-0 Home) on the road tonight. With a 60 percent chance to win, the Lakers will look to bounce back from a 132-127 overtime loss against the Kings. For the Magic, they remain undefeated on the road, capturing victories over Portland and Houston. Here you will find the NBA betting odds, stats, trends, player prop bets, and predictions for Monday, October 30.

Monday night hoops @OrlandoMagic vs. @Lakers
10:30 PM ET | NBA TV pic.twitter.com/5YYcHBbxQG

— NBA TV (@NBATV) October 30, 2023

Orlando Magic vs. Los Angeles Lakers Odds

Magic vs. Lakers under 218 points

Although it may be early in the NBA season, the Magic are top team defensively, and the Los Angeles Lakers rank in the top half on the defensive end. Filled with youthful talent, Orlando starts the season undefeated, while the Lakers are 1-2. For the Magic, they've had easier matchups so far, both against the Houston Rockets and Portland Trail Blazers, both sub .500 teams. For the Lakers, they've matched up with the Kings, Suns, and Nuggets, whom are all projected to be top teams in the West this season.

While the Magic are 0-2-0 versus totals, the Lakers are 1-2-0. For Los Angeles, they had several off season acquisitions after being swept by the Nuggets in the playoffs. With several new pieces (Taurean Prince, Gabe Vincent, Jaxon Hayes, Cam Reddish, and Christian Wood) Darvin Ham now has the challenge of putting it all together. While it takes time to develop chemistry, Ham also has the challenge of managing LeBron James minutes.

The Lakers have the depth and talent to average nearly 130 points on any given night, especially if Anthony Davis can play to his max potential. Though three games, the Lakers rank 19th in offensive rating (106.4), averaging 111.3 points per game. Only averaging 29.1 percent from three-point range, Los Angeles also ranks near the bottom in field goal percentage (40). So far, James and Davis average a combined 48.7 points per game, with D'Angelo Russell sitting in third with 14 points a game.

The Lakers for sure rely on their bench outside their starting five, which includes Rui Hachimura, along with the players I stated above. Averaging 26.3 points as a bench unit, any of these players have the capability to take over games and score. Tonight, they play a Magic defense thats ranks third in defensive rating, and allows the least amount of most scored in the league.

Why the under can hit this game

Jamahl Mosley, Head Coach of the Orlando Magic, prides himself on leading a top defensive team. Led by Franz Wagner and Cole Anthony, Orlando has several dogs on defense, including Jalen Suggs. Although their lead over Portland wasn't significant, they held the Trail Blazers to 39.8 percent field goal, and 28.1 percent three-point shooting. In their season debut, the Magic held the Rockets to 86 points on 40.5 percent field goal shooting.

Defensively, the Magic impressed Portlands head coach Chauncey Billups, in which they made the Blazers miss six of their last seven shots in the final quarter. They also held the opposition to just 38 point scored in the paint, which should be a challenging task tonight.

As elite as they've been on defense, the Magic are tied 8th with the Brooklyn Nets and Boston Celtics in offensive rating (113.5). Not just one star scoring a majority of the points, Orlando has a well balanced attack. With mainly a clean slate of health tonight, Orlando will post likely start Jalen Suggs, Markelle Fultz, Wendell Carter Jr., Franz Wagner, and Paolo Banchero. Additionally, the Magic are second in the league in bench points per game (48.5)

Overall, the totals split 1-1 last season, and the over/under is 5-5 in their last ten games. Last season, the Magic finished one of the worst teams in the league, and 40-42-0 against the over/under. If you're betting on the NBA, the under is your safest bet, especially with LeBron James listed as probable. With both teams ranking in the bottom half in pace, I except this to be a relatively low scoring game tonight.

Season Statistics & Betting Trends

*Includes 22-23 season*

Orlando Magic

• Orlando Magic: 2-3 in their last 5 games.
• 5-5 in their last 10 games.
• ATS Record: 2-0-0
• O/U Record: 0-2-0
• 2-3 ATS in their last 5 games.
• 6-3-1 ATS in their last 10 games.
• O/U is 1-4 in the last 5 games.
• O/U: 3-7 in the last 10 games.
• 9th in Offensive Rating (113.5)
• 3rd in Defensive Rating (95.8)
• T 19th in Points Per Game (109)
• 25th in Pace: 95.75 (30)
• Opponent Points Per Game: 91.5 (1)
• Three-Point Percentage: 29 % (27)
• Rebounds Per Game: 51 (3)
• Orlando ATS won last 10 games: Brooklyn (-1.5), Memphis (+6.5), Washington (-4.5), Detroit (-11), Houston (-4.5), Portland (-4)

game #3 ? showtime

: @Lakers
: Los Angeles, CA
: 10:30 PM ET
: https://t.co/NqrLMU9CCD
: @BallySportsFL + @NBATV
: 96.9 The Game pic.twitter.com/mbV6LyLKVL

— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) October 30, 2023

Los Angeles Lakers

• Los Angeles Lakers: 1-4 in their last 5 games.
• 3-7 in their last 10 games.
• ATS Record: 0-3-0
• O/U Record: 1-2-0
• 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games.
• 4-6 ATS in their last 10 games.
• O/U is 2-3 in the last 5 games.
• O/U: 5-5 in the last 10 games.
• 19th in Offensive Rating (106.4)
• 15th in Defensive Rating (110.5)
• 13th in Points Per Game (111.3)
• 15th in Pace: 100.99
• Opponent Points Per Game: 115.6 (T 18)
• Three-Point Percentage: 33.9 (16)
• Rebounds Per Game: 46.3 (12)
• Lakers ATS won last 10 games:  Golden State (-2.5, -3.5), Denver (+5.5)

The week ahead -- @Cincoro x #LakeShow pic.twitter.com/xbMoIj7uXO

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) October 30, 2023

Head-to-head stats: Magic vs. Lakers

Season Matchups: 2022-2023
Lakers won the season series 2-0

Game 1: Lakers 129, Magic 110 (Lakers +2.5, O 237.5)
Game 2: Lakers 111, Magic 105 (Orlando +6.5, Under 229.5)

Injuries

Magic

• Kevon Harris, G: Day-to-Day

Lakers

• Jarred Vanderbilt, PF : OUT (Heel)
• Jalen Hood-Schifino, G: OUT
• Lebron James, F: Probable
• Cam Reddish: Probable
• Rui Hachimura: Probable

Franz Wagner O 18.5 Points (-110)

Franz Wagner is NASTY pic.twitter.com/bUywRuTtJF

— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) October 25, 2023

Season Stats PPG: 21 | FG: 39.3 % | 3 PT: 37.5 % | FT: 93.3 % | REB: 4.5 | AST: 2.5 | STL: 1 | BLK: 0.5

Career Stats vs Los Angeles: PPG: 17.8 | FG: 48.3 % | 3 PT: 27.8 % | FT: 76.5 % | REB: 5 | AST: 4 | STL: 0.8 | BLK:0.5

Franz Wagner is certainly having a fantastic start to the season. In two games, Wagner is averaging over 20 points a game and has been a difference maker for the Magic. The Lakers are a middle of a road defensive team, allowing teams to shoot 35 percent from downtown. For Wagner, over 18.5 points has hit in two straight games this season, including 23 against Portland, and 19 against Houston. Although this prop hit only 50 percent in the last ten games, Wagner has taken a huge leap forward for the Magic.

Coming off back-to-back solid games, Wagner faces a Laker team that allows 116.6 points which is 20th in the league. The lowest he's scored was 15 points agains the Lakers, and last scored 21 points against them in March of 2023. Through the first two games, the forward has six made threes, a part of his game he worked on in the off season. If LeBron James is out for tonight's matchup, I will be even more confident on this pick.

Why this prop will hit

It's clear there are several scoring options for the Magic. However, both Wagner and Banchero have emerged as leaders of this team on a nightly basis. Averaging 18.6 points per game in his sophmore year, Franz is extremely versatile, competitive, and has a deadly step back shot. Although Banchero has emerged as their "best player," Wager is extremely efficient in spacing the floor.

If you're betting on the NBA, Franz Wagner over 18.5 points hit 56 percent in 2022-2023, and 53 percent in his last fifteen games. Despite only shooting under 40 percent from both the field and the three point line, I'm more confident he can put up more points.

Cole Anthony 15+ Points, Rebounds, Assists

Cole Anthony masterclass pic.twitter.com/82KTFFwTj9

— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) October 26, 2023

Season Stats PPG: 19 | FG: 51.9 % | 3 PT: 44.4 % | FT: 66.7 % | REB: 6 | AST: 2 | STL: 0 | BLK: 0.5

Career Stats vs Los Angeles: PPG: 13 | FG: 34.8 % | 3 PT: 33.3 % | FT: 64.3 % | REB: 4.2 | AST: 4.2 | STL: 0.8 | BLK:0.5

Sometimes I like to pick the safest bet, and that is Cole Anthony over 15 + Points, Rebounds, and assists. If you're betting on the NBA and choosing not to set up a parlay, I would be confident in taking Anthony over 18.5. This prop has hit in his first two games against Houston and Portland, and 50 percent in two games against the Lakers. A rising star in the NBA, Anthony hit this prop 90 percent in the last ten games, and 14 of the last 15 games. Hitting in the last five games, it's extremely hard to fade this prop.

This year, the Lakers rank 25th in rebounds allowed, and 16th in total assists (25.7). Even off the bench, Anthony has been averaging strong numbers. Imagine if he was a starter for Orlando? Although he's been a primary bench player, the guard is averaging 26 minutes a game, and is shooting extremely efficient from the field (51.9 percent). The fact that Cole Anthony has a combined 27 shot attempts in two games, makes me even more comfortable about this pick.

Stay tuned for more NBA betting related articles. Click here

Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter at Ballislife, and Sports Content Creator on Twitch and TikTok. She has a focus on the NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane currently resides in Connecticut/NYC area with her Cat and Dog. SJ has her undergraduate degree from the University of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in business administration.

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The NBA is back today! pic.twitter.com/4ireEdRhfD

— www.ebooksnet.com (@Ballislife) October 24, 2023

It's official, the 2023 NBA season starts tonight. The Denver Nuggets, the reigning champions, will take on the Los Angeles Lakers on their home court. Having a home opener record of 60-16, the Nuggets will face the Lakers for the first time since their 4-0 sweep in last year's Western Conference Finals. The newly revamped Phoenix Suns will matchup against Golden State on the road tonight. Here you will find the WNBA betting odds, statistics, trends, and predictions for Tuesday, October 24.

How to watch the matchups

The Los Angeles Lakers will matchup against the Denver Nuggets tonight. The matchup will begin at 7:30 p.m. ET, at Ball Arena, located in Denver, Colorado. The Phoenix Suns will play the Golden State Warriors, starting at 10 p.m. ET, Chase Center, located in San Fransisco, California. If you're betting on the NBA and interested in watching, the game will air on TNT.  For the best betting odds, stats and analysis, here is information to know.

Daily Game Odds: Los Angeles Lakers @ Denver Nuggets

Joker and LBJ are two of the league's premier passers at their positions

Take a look at some of the best dimes from their careers ahead of #KiaTipOff23!

LAKERS/NUGGETS, 7:30 PM ET, TNT pic.twitter.com/ZAsUgZHFPR

— NBA (@NBA) October 24, 2023

*Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook*

Lakers: +164
Nuggets: -198
Spread: Lakers +5 (-108), Nuggets -5 (-112)
Total: O 228 (-115)/ U 228 (-105)

Daily Game Odds: Phoenix Suns @ Golden State Warriors

Brian Windhorst on the Suns BIG3: "They have the potential to be the No. 1 offense in the history of the NBA."pic.twitter.com/fqj0kNq9Dp

— www.ebooksnet.com (@Ballislife) October 24, 2023

*Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook*

Suns: +130
Warriors: -155
Spread: Suns +3.5 (-115), Warriors -3.5 (-105)
Total: O 233.5 (-112)/ U 233.5 (-108)

Injuries

Lakers

Jarred Vanderbilt (heel) ruled out for season opener on Tuesday.

— Underdog NBA (@Underdog__NBA) October 23, 2023

-Jalen Hood-Schifino: OUT

-Jarred Vanderbilt: OUT (Heel)

Nuggets

-Julian Strawther: Day-To-Day (Right Ankle Sprain)

-Jay Huff: Day-To-Day (Ribs)

-Vlatko Cancar: OUT (Left Knee)

Suns

Shams: Devin Booker (toe) "50-50" for season opener Tuesday; will warm up and try to play.

— Underdog NBA (@Underdog__NBA) October 24, 2023

-Devin Booker: Game Time Decision (Toe)

-Bradley Beal: Game Time Decision (Back)

-Damion Lee, OUT (Knee)

Warriors

Draymond Green (ankle) ruled out for Tuesday.

— Underdog NBA (@Underdog__NBA) October 23, 2023

-Draymond Green: OUT (Ankle)

Lakers + 5 (-108)

GOT A GAME TODAY

4:30 PM PST
NBA on TNT
ESPN LA 710/1330 KWKW pic.twitter.com/DOvfqeepqY

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) October 24, 2023

It's opening night, and the Los Angeles Lakers will be in town to see the Denver Nuggets receive their championship rings. After getting swept by the Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals last season, this will be a revenge game for the Lakers. After finishing the season 43-39, and failing to win a championship, the Lakers overhauled their roster this offseason.

Yes, the Nuggets are at home, and have a 60-16 in season openers. Conversely, the Lakers are 0-5 in their past five season openers. The Nuggets kept their main Championship core, with the exclusion of Bruce Brown and Jeff Green, which will give the Lakers some sort of advantage. For Los Angeles they have the new acquisitions of Gabe Vincent, Christian Wood, Taurean Prince, Cam Reddish, Jaxson Hayes, Maxwell Lewis, and Jalen Hood-Schifino. In addition, the Lakers have a fully healthy LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

It's unclear how long the Lakers will need to develop chemistry with these additional assets. One advantage Los Angeles has over the Nuggets is their bench depth. Either the Lakers will struggle early on with this new lineup, or Denver will have a tough time coming up with a plan defensively. Either way, this is a matchup the Lakers have been eyeing since they were swept 4-0.

Why the Lakers will cover

If you look at last years playoffs, yes, the Lakers didn't win a game against the Nuggets. The point differential wasn't astronomical, given Denver won by an average of 6 points over four games. With two games decided by 5 points or less, I have full confidence the Lakers will be able to cover the +5.5 spread tonight.

I'm going to full fade the Nuggets at home spread wise, and their 4-1 record in season openers in the past. They retained one of the best starting lineups in the NBA, one that's won together and has chemistry. The Lakers have a much stronger bench than Denver, and these two teams are 5-5 against the spread in the last ten games. With a 4-6 record against the Nuggets over the last ten, I'll stick with the spread.

Warriors vs. Suns Over 228 Points (-115)

Make
'Em
Look pic.twitter.com/yjLRm5UPME

— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) October 24, 2023

Tonight, is a highly anticipated matchup between the Golden State Warriors and the Phoenix Suns. After playing three seasons in Phoenix, Chris Paul was traded to the Warriors for Jordan Poole just after Bradley Beal was traded to the Suns. Tonight will be his homecoming against his former team, the Suns.

Phoenix has a new big three in Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, and will have to wait to see them on the court together. Beal was already ruled out for tonights game with a back injury, and Booker is "50/50" to play. For the Warriors, they will be without Draymond Green with an ankle injury.

Both eliminated in the Western Conference Finals, the Warriors and Suns are projected to be two top teams in the West. Still without those players, Phoenix and Golden State have high power offenses. In their last ten matchups, the over hit five times, and the Warriors finished 44-34-4 against totals last season. Second in the league in offensive, Golden State averaged 119 points per game, and that was with Klay Thompson and Steph Curry out for some games. Defensively, the Warriors struggled, and finished 115.1 in defensive rating.

For the Suns, they made a splash for Kevin Durant in the middle of last season, and finished 42-39-1 against totals. With the departure of Deandre Ayton and Chris Paul, this team should generate a ton of offense, even with Beal out tonight.

I expected for this game to hit the over, especially with two high powered offenses on opening night. Not the best teams defensively, it should be an absolute showdown tonight.

Best bet: LeBron James/Nikola Jokic to score 20 + Points
Odds Boost Draft Kings: +100

In his 21st NBA season, Lakers star LeBron James has no plans on slowing down. He's averaging 25.6 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 6.4 assists in 20 openers. For Jokic, He's averaged 17.3 points and 9 rebounds in 8 season openers. Having averaged over 20 points in the past two openers, LeBron has scored over 20 points in three straight opening days.

Two of the best stars in the league, I expect James and Jokic to show out tonight. James is averaging over 26 points a game against the Nuggets in his career, and scored over 20 points in each of the four playoff matchups against Denver. In his prime, the Joker hasn't scored below 20 points since Game 1 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals against Minnesota.

Stay tuned for more NBA betting related articles. Click here

Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter at Ballislife, and Sports Content Creator on Twitch and TikTok. She has a focus on the NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane currently resides in Connecticut/NYC area with her Cat and Dog. SJ has her undergraduate degree from the University of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in business administration.

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The 2023 NBA Summer League is finally underway after a busy free agency week.? There are a total of five games tonight, although we will be focusing on the Miami Heat vs. Los Angeles Lakers.? The Lakers had a fantastic free agency, and the Heat continue to wait on Damian Lillard. The two teams will play tonight at 6 PM EST, at the Golden 1 Center, located in Sacramento, California. Also, if you're looking to watch or bet on the game, it will air on ESPN2.? If you are looking for the best betting odds and stats, here is information to know.

Future 2023-2024 NBA Championship Odds:

*Odds courtesy of DraftKings*

Miami Heat:?+900
Los Angeles Lakers:?+1200

NBA Summer League

*Odds courtesy of DraftKings*

Heat: +120
Lakers: -140
Over/Under: 163
Spread: -2.5 Lakers

Heat Summer League Roster

Position? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?Height? ? ? ? ? Weight? ? ? ? ? ?Age? ? ? ? ? ? ? School? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?Acquired
(F)Nikola Jovic? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 6-11? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?225 lbs.? ? ? ? ? ?20? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?#27 Pick 2022
(F)Jamal Cain? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 6-7? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?205 lbs.? ? ? ? ? ?24? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?Oakland? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Signed 7/15/22.
(G)Dru Smith? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 6-3? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?200 lbs.? ? ? ? ? ?25? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?Missouri? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Signed 7/1/23.
(F) Jamie Jaquez Jr.? ? ? ? ?6-7? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?220 lbs.? ? ? ? ? 22? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?UCLA? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? #18 2-23
(C) Orlando Robinson? ? ?6-11? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?245 lbs.? ? ? ? ? 22? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?Fresno St.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Signed 7/6/22.
(G) Jamaree Bouyea? ? ? ? 6-2? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?180 lbs.? ? ? ? ? 24? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?San Fran? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Signed 7/1/23.
(G) Justin Powell? ? ? ? ? ? ?6-6? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?200 lbs.? ? ? ? ? ?22? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?Washington St.
(G) Chase Audige? ? ? ? ? ? 6-4? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 200 lbs.? ? ? ? ? ?24? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?Northwestern
(G) Caleb Daniels? ? ? ? ? ? 6-4? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 210 lbs.? ? ? ? ? ?24? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?Villanova
(G) Trenton Massner? ? ? ?6-2? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 175 lbs.? ? ? ? ? ?23? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?Western Illinois
(G) Alondes Williams? ? ? 6-4? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 205 lbs.? ? ? ? ? ?25? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?Wake Forest
(F)Drew Peterson? ? ? ? ? ? 6-9? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 205 lbs.? ? ? ? ? ?24? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?USC
(F) Taylor Funk? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 6-9? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 220 lbs.? ? ? ? ? ?26? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?Utah State
(F)Ja'von Franklin? ? ? ? ? ? 6-7? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 210 lbs.? ? ? ? ? ?24? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?Georgia Tech
(C)Brandon McCoy? ? ? ? ? ?7-0? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 250 lbs.? ? ? ? ? ?26? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?UNLV
(C)Patrick Gardner? ? ? ? ? 6-11? ? ? ? ? ? ? 250 lbs.? ? ? ? ? ?24? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?Marist

Roster courtesy of the NBA

Lakers Summer League Roster

Position? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?Height? ? ? ? ?Weight? ? ? ? ? ? Age? ? ? ? ? ? ?School? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?Acquired
(G)Max Christie? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?6-5? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 190 lbs.? ? ? ? ? ? ?20? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?Michigan State? ? ? ? #35 Pick 2022
(G)Jalen- Hood Schifino? ? ? 6-6? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?215 lbs.? ? ? ? ?? ? 20? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?Indiana? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? #17 Pick 2023
(G)Scotty Pippen Jr.? ? ? ? ? ? ?6-1? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?185 lbs.? ? ? ? ?? ? 22? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?Vanderbilt? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Signed 7/1/22.
(F) Maxwell Lewis? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 6-7? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?205 lbs.? ? ? ? ? ? ?20? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?Pepperdine? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?from DEN
(F) Cole Swider? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 6-9? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?220 lbs.? ? ? ? ? ? ?24? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?Syracuse? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?Signed 7/1/22.
(C) Colin Castleton? ? ? ? ? ? ? 6-11? ? ? ? ? ? ?231 lbs.? ? ? ? ? ? ?23? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?Florida
(F) Alex Fudge? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?6-8? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?189 lbs.? ? ? ? ? ? ?20? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?Florida
(G) Damion Baugh? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?6-4? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?194 lbs.? ? ? ? ? ? 22? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?TCU
(F) LG Figueroa? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 6-6? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?200 lbs.? ? ? ? ? ? 25? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Oregon
(C) Sacha Killeya-Jones? ? ? ? 6-11? ? ? ? ? ? ?220 lbs.? ? ? ? ? ? 24? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Kentucky
(F) Paris Bass? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 6-8? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?200 lbs.? ? ? ? ? ? 27? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Detroit Mercy
(G)Bryce Hamilton? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?6-4? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 205 lbs.? ? ? ? ? ?22? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? UNLV
(G) D'Moi Hodge? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?6-4? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 185 lbs.? ? ? ? ? ?24? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Missouri

Heat Players to Watch

Nikola Jovic

2022-2023 NBA Season:? 5.5 PPG | 2.1REB | 0.5 STL | 0.1 BLK | 94.7 % FT | 22.9 % 3PT | 40.1% FG.

Nikola Jovic was the 27th overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft and has a chance to show the Heat why they drafted him. Although Jovic only has 15 career games under his belt due to a back stress reaction, he impressed last year in summer league.? We saw him score 25 points and drained three's last summer against the Warriors and has gained size in the offseason.

Although the Heat wait on star Damian Lillard, it's highly unlikely they will trade Center Bam Adebayo if they do acquire Lillard. With the resigning of Kevin Love, Jovic will certainly have some competition against Orlando Robinson and Thomas Bryant.??

The Heat anxiously await the development of their Serbian center, who has excellent basketball IQ, and is a potential three-level scorer.? With the loss of Gabe Vincent and Max Strus, Miami will need more shooting power, along with big men to back up Adebayo.?

Jamie Jaquez Jr.?

2022-2023 College Season: 17.8 PPG | 8.2 REB | 1.5 STL | 0.6 BLK | 77 % FT | 31 % 3PT | 48% FG.

The Heat shocked the world when they drafted UCLA Star Jamie Jaquez Jr. 17th overall in the 2023 NBA Draft.? Led by Head Coach Erik Spoelstra, the Heat have an amazing system when it comes to the development of rookies and undrafted players.? Jaquez has great size and is a force on the defensive end.? In addition, he played all four years for UCLA, and now has the chance to develop under an elite system created by Pat Riley and Erik Spoelstra.

He is an extremely hard-working individual who will fit in well with the system, and he brings elite perimeter defense to this Miami team.? Jaquez Jr. averaged more than 1 steal a game and has excellent footwork and passing skills. The Heat averaged the least number of points per game last season, and Jamie Jaquez Jr. is NBA ready, and could most likely play and guard multiple positions.

Lakers Players to Watch

Jalen Hood-Schifino?

2022-2023 College Season: 13.5 PPG | 4.1 REB | 0.8 STL | 0.3 BLK | 77 % FT | 33 % 3PT | 45 % FG.

All eyes will be on the rookie this summer.?

Jalen-Hood-Schifino was drafted 17th overall in the 2023 NBA draft by the Lakers, and last played for Indiana.? Although the Lakers have a tremendous amount of talent and depth in their backcourt, Hood-Schifino could find a spot in the rotation, especially if he impresses this summer. Initially the selection of Hood-Schifino was a surprise for many Lakers fans, but here's what we need to watch for:

Hood-Schifino only had one season in collegiate basketball and needs some development in his game.? He's on the taller side for a guard, and we saw him play hard defense, especially in the NCAA Tournament.? Although he needs to work on his three-point shot Hood-Schifino excels with the mid-range jumper and is capable of guarding multiple positions due to his size.? He also has the ability to get to the basketball and facilitate the ball.? It will be fun to watch him tonight.??

Max Christie

2022-2023 NBA Season: 3.1 PPG | 1.8 REB | 0.2 STL | 0.2 BLK | 87.5 % FT | 41.9 % 3PT | 41.5 % FG.

Max Christie was selected as the 35th overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft out of Michigan State. Although Christie didn't play many minutes, and averaged low numbers, it's time to watch how he produces in summer league.? There are rumors Max Christie added some weight in the off season and could be a serviceable guard in the NBA.? Also, the Lakers recently added a variety of talent in free agency, however, that doesn't mean Christie couldn't earn a rotation spot. With Schroder and Lonnie Walker IV gone in free agency, the door could open for Christie.

The Lakers ranked 27th in the league in three-point shooting last season and can use all the help they can get.? Poised to make a playoff run, Christie shot 66.7 percent from the field in three games against Denver and averaged 7.3 Points.? It's important to note, he averaged 7.3 points in only 15 minutes averaged per game.? Although Christie struggled from the three in the playoffs, he's a career 41.9 percent three-point shooter, and is an excellent shooter from the line.? The Lakers signing Gabe Vincent, Austin Reaves, D'Angelo Rusell, and Cam Reddish will most likely make it near impossible for Christie to get minutes. It's his time to shine and show what he can bring to the NBA in his second year.

Predictions:

?With the Damian Lillard trade talks going on, it is not certain Jamie Jaquez Jr. or Nikola Jovic will be on the roster if the Heat acquire him.? ?However, this is their chance to prove themselves to the organization and the rest of the league.? For the Lakers, we will see rookie Jalen Hood-Schifino show why he belongs in the NBA, and what he can bring to the team.?

I like the Lakers here, who have an abundance of talent, including Jalen Hood- Schifino and Scotty Pippen Jr., Max Christie, and Cole Swider. I think this game will be close, and I have the Lakers at -2.5.? I'm unsure of the money line since it's the first game of the summer league, and we are unsure how much each star will play.? I'll take the OVER here, since summer league is short, and this is the time for these players to show case their talents.??

Stay tuned for more basketball and betting related articles.?Click here for more NBA betting strategies.

For More NBA Betting Info & Game Predictions,?Follow us at @BallislifeBets.

Sara Jane is a full-time content creator,?focusing on both college basketball, the NBA, NFL, and writer of www.ebooksnet.com.?Don’t forget to follow her on Twitter/YouTube/Kick/Twitch/Instagram: @GGirlSports.

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The Miami Heat (39-34, 24-13 Home) are having a tumultuous?and disappointing season. Last year, the Heat finished 1st in the Eastern Conference, and lost in the Eastern Conference Finals. They won 6 of their last ten, and beat the Pistons last game, 112-110. The Heat look to get back on track against the Knicks. These two teams will play tonight at 7:30 PM EDT, located at Miami-Dade Arena, in Miami, Florida. The matchup will air on NBA league Pass, fuboTV, and Bally Sports. If you are looking for the best betting odds, here is information to know:

Betting Odds, Money Line, Spread, Under/Over

*All lines are taken from Draft Kings*

Money Line

Knicks: +105
Heat: -125

Over/Under: 224.5

Knicks: -110
Heat: -110

Spread:

Knicks: +2 (-115)
Heat: -2 (-105)

Season Matchup

Knicks are 2-0 vs. Heat this season.

Game 1: 2/2/2023: Knicks win 106-104 (Knicks at Home)

Going into this game, Miami was favored -3, and the Under/Over was 212. Knicks covered the spread, and the game hit the UNDER. These two teams kept the game close, and it ended with a Julius Randle slam to the hoop with seconds to go.

The Knicks and the Heat have squared off two times this season. For the first matchup, both teams were barely above .500.? ?RJ Barrett, a rising star in the NBA, added 30 points in 41 minutes. Barrett added 10 rebounds, 4 assists, and attempted a team high 23 shots. However, he shot 0-5 beyond the arc. Julius Randle, who is having a monstrous season, added 23 points, 10 rebounds, shot 8-18 from the field, and 3-9 from the 3-point. Quentin Grimes had himself a game, with 17 points on 6-9 shooting, along with 3-5 from the 3-point. Forward Cam Reddish and Guard Jalen Brunson were both out for this matchup. Both teams shot pretty even from the field, and the 3-point. The Knicks outrebounded the Heat 44-33, especially on the defensive side. The Knicks led in turnovers, with 18. However, they dominated in the paint 52-36, led by Julius Randle.

On the Heat side, Miami was without Guard Victor Oladipo. Center Bam Adebayo continued his dominance, adding 32 points, 9 rebounds, on 11-16 shooting from the field. Tyler Herro added some serious offense with 25 points on 22 field goal attempts. Kyle Lowry struggled with injuries this year and is getting used to a bench role. However, this game, Lowry struggled big time. He added 3 points on 1-7 shooting. Jimmy Butler had a quiet night, only posting up 10 points, and so did Caleb Martin.? Max Strus provided 17 points and could be an x factor in tonight’s game. Overall, Miami was outrebounded, had a low field goal percentage, and was outscored inside the paint.

Game 1: 3/3/2023: Knicks win 122-120 (Knicks at Home)

Going into this game, the money line was EVEN, and the Over/Under was 217. The New York Knicks covered the money line, and the OVER hit at 242. Once again, this game was decided by two points.

The New York Knicks outscored the Heat 71-56 in the first two quarters. Miami quickly took control over the 3rd and 4th quarters. The?Knicks shot 58 % from the field, and 41 percent from the 3-point. New York was outrebounded 39-34, and struggle from the free-throw line. Julius Randle had a monster game, adding 43 points, 9 rebounds and 8-13 from the 3-point line. Jalen Brunson was back in the lineup, added a nice 25 points, and RJ Barrett added 17. Ultimately Julius Randle’s fadeaway and 1 over Adebayo helped seal this game.

The Heat kept things close the entire game. Jimmy Butler rebounded with 33 points on 7-15 shooting and got to the free-throw line 22 times. Kevin Love recently joined the Heat and added 9 points. Tyler Herro had a huge shooting night, adding 29 points on 11-18, and 5-8 from the 3-point. As a team, the Heat scored 48 % from the 3-point, and 48 % from the field. The difference was the Knicks fast break points and points off turnovers.

Regular Season Recap

New York Knicks

Overall: 42-31 Home: 20-17 Away: 22-14 Last 10: 6-4

Led by head coach Tom Thibodeau, and Forward/Center Julius Randle, The Knicks are a decent team this season. By Christmas time, the Knicks were in the middle of a 5-game win streak and were 18-16. New York has key wins against Denver, Cleveland, Sacramento, Phoenix, Boston, Philadelphia, and Miami.

?Power Forward Julius Randle is in his 4th season with the Knicks. He’s averaging a career-high 25.6 points per?game and elevated his game play this year.? He averages 10.2 rebound per game, which is 8th in the league, and is 46.1 percent from the field. He’s averaging 27.1 points per game in March and exploded for 46 points against the Wizards. In addition, Guard Jalen Brunson was a great signing for the Knicks last offseason. After playing four years for the Mavericks, Brunson is averaging career-highs in points (23.8), steals (0.9), blocks (0.2), assists (6.2), 3-point percentage (41.3), and minutes (34.9). RJ Barrett is having another consistent shooting, although is 3-point shooting is down by nearly 3 percent this season.

This Knicks team is playing with tenacity, and Randle is coming of a 57-point game. Guards Quentin Grimes, Josh Hart, and Evan Fournier(occasionally) are nice bench options for the guard position.?

?Jalen Brunson spent four seasons alongside one of the best players in the league, Luka Doncic. However, he was never the top guy. Although Julius Randle is having an incredible year, Jalen Brunson has been not only a leader for this team. Brunson is a two-time champion with Villanova and knows what it takes to win.? This Knicks team is showing chemistry, and sometimes it takes more than putting up stats. They are top 5th in opponent 3-point percentage, 11th in points allowed, and are 3rd in the league in Rebounds. They rank middle of the pack in points scored, and top 11 in defense overall. New York is .500 in their division, which consists of top teams, Milwaukee, Philadelphia, Cleveland, and Boston.

Miami Heat

Overall: 39-34 Home: 24-13, Away: 15-21 Last 10: 6-4

Last season, the Miami Heat finished 1st in the Eastern Conference, at 53-29. They lost to the Boston Celtics, 4-3, in the Conference Finals, and had high expectations going into this season. They are currently sitting 7th in the Eastern Conference.

This season has been a different story for the Heat. The Heat lost P.J Tucker, and Markieff Morris in the off season. During the 2022-2023 NBA trade deadline, the heat shipped off Center Dewayne Dedmon to the Spurs for Cash Considerations. They added Forward Kevin Love in March to add more depth.

The Heat certainly have talent on this Roster. Although Star Forward Jimmy “buckets” Butler, leads the way for the heat, they have 7 players that average double-digits in points. That list includes Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro, Kyle Lowry, Max Struss, Caleb Martin, and Victor Oladipo. Jimmy Butler is averaging 22.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, and a career-high 53 field goal percentage. He’s been playing very well post all-star break, and always comes up clutch in the post season. With the injuries and declining play of Kyle Lowry, the Heat lack a true point?guard, and playmaker. They are 24th in the League in assists, which proves how desperately they need a playmaker. Although Kyle Lowry's future is unclear, the heat plan to use him on the bench. Lowry has struggled in many statistical categories, and Gabe Vincent has taken his role as starting point guard.

Before Christmas, Miami was a below .500 team at 16-17. Since Christmas, the Heat have gone 23-17. The Heat are 19-18 against above .500 teams, and 14-8 in games decided by 3 points or less. They are 5-5 in the month of March, after a sub .500 record in February. Although the Heat have talent, they rank last in the league in points per game, and 28th in rebounds. On the defensive end, they are top 2 in opponents points per game. Although they hold opponents to free throw attempts, they struggle against perimeter three pointers. This is a must win game for the Heat, who are 2.5 games ahead of the Atlanta Hawks in the 7th seed.

Injury Report

New York Knicks

PG Duane Washington (OUT)
G Trevor Keels(questionable)

Miami Heat

SF Caleb Martin (Questionable) Left Knee
PG Kyle Lowry (Questionable)- Expected to play.
C Cody Zeller (OUT)

Key Players

New York Knicks

Julius Randle

Julius Randle is having a career year. It’s important to note, Randle is coming off a career high 57 points in the Knicks loss against Minnesota. In his last two games against the Knicks, he’s averaging 33 points, 4 assists, and 10.2 rebounds. In the two matchup games, he’s shooting 50 % from the three-point, and 54.4 percent from the field. He’s averaging 28.7 points per game, 8 rebounds, and 45 percent from the field in March. Look for him to keep dominating both inside the paint, and on defense.

Jalen Brunson

Jalen Brunson is also having a career year. In two games against Miami, he’s averaging 25 points, 8 assists, shooting 42.9 percent from 3-point shooting, and 64.3 % from the field.? Although battling a foot injury, He’s been dominating the month of March, averaging 27.3 points per game, shooting 42.6 percent from the three, and 52.9 percent from the field. Look for Brunson to continue the hot streak on both sides of the ball, where he’s had 6 steals in March.

RJ Barrett

RJ Barrett has played exceptionally well in his two games against Miami this season. He’s averaging 23.5 points, 5 rebounds, and shooting 55.3% from the field. However, Barrett is 0% on 3-point shooting against Miami. Randle, Barrett, and Brunson have combined for 81.5 average points in the two-game series. Look for role players Josh Hart, Immanuel Quickley, and Quentin Grimes to step up as well.

Miami Heat

Jimmy Butler

Look for #22 to keep up his hot streak. In March, Butler is averaging 21.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 50 % from the 3-point line. In two games against New York this season, Butler is averaging 21.5 points, 5 assists, 50 percent from the three-point, and 42.9 percent from the field, down his season averaging 53 percent.

Bam Adebayo

Bam Adebayo has played very well against the Knicks this season. He’s averaged 25 points, 1.5 steals, 1.5 blocks, 6.5 rebounds, and 56.3 percent from the field. If he can outrebound Julius Randle, protect the rim, and get to the line, he could be a difference maker. Outrebounding the Knicks will be key here for the heat.

Tyler Herro

No one is playing better than Tyler Herro against the Knicks. He’s averaging 27 points in their matchups, 7 assists, 6.5 rebounds, and 50 % from the 3-point. If Caleb Martin can’t suit up, look for Kevin Love to step up. In addition to Max Struss, Oladipo, and Gabe Vincent are viable scoring options. However, Oladipo is averaging career-lows in points per game (10.1), and his shooting percentages are down this year.

Key Stats

? New York averages 115.4 points per game (14th in the league)

? Miami averages 109 points per game (30th in the League)

? New York ranks 11th in points allowed with 112.6 opponents points per game.

? Miami ranks 2nd in points allowed with 109.5 opponents points per game.

? New York ranks 3rd in rebounds per game with 46.3

? Miami ranks 28th in rebounds per game with 40.9

? New York ranks 22nd in point differential at + 2.7

? Miami ranks 2nd in point differential at -0.4

? New York ranks 24h in blocked shots with 4.0 per game.

? Miami ranks 30th in blocked shots with 3.1 per game.

? New York averages 34.9 percent from the 3-point, while Miami averages 33.8 from the 3-point.

LAST 10 GAMES + GAME PREDICTION

?SPREAD: Miami -2

-New York covered the spread in 6 of their last 10 games.

-Miami covered the spread in 4 of their last 10 games.

-New York has a 40-30-3 record ATS this season.

-Miami has a 26-44-3 record ATS this season.

-Miami is 11-24-2 in HOME games ATS this season.

-New York is 24-12-0 in AWAY games ATS this season.

In their two matchups this season, the Miami Heat lost against the Knicks by 4 points over two games.? Both teams are 6-4 in their last ten games. I like Miami -2 here.

MONEY LINE: Miami ML

-New York won the Money Line 6 out of their last 10 games

-Miami won the Money Line 6 of their last 10 games.

The Heat have lost the past two games against the Knicks. I think they avoid a sweep and pull off a win at home.

OVER/UNDER- UNDER

-New York Avg +/- vs O/U Line: +3.31

-Miami Avg +/- vs O/U Line: -1.0

-New York Overall O/U Record last 5 games: 5-5

-Miami O/U Record: 34-29-0

-New York hit the OVER 6 times in their last 10 games

-Miami hit the OVER 6 times in their last 10 games

I like the under here.? Although Julius Randle scored 57 points last game, can he do it again?? We will see.

For More Betting Info & Game Predictions, Follow us at @BallislifeBets

Sara Jane is a full-time content creator, focusing on both college basketball, the NBA, NFL, and writer of www.ebooksnet.com. Don’t forget to follow her on Twitter: @GGirlSports

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Achiuwa joins the No. 1 player in the country, James Wiseman (Memphis East), and four-star recruits Boogie Ellis (San Diego Mission Bay), D.J. Jeffries (Olive Branch, MS), Lester Quinones (IMG Academy, FL), Malcolm Dandridge (Memphis East) and Damion Baugh (Tennessee Prep).

Penny Hardaway’s squad will perform on the court, so we can't yet say if it's an all-time recruiting job, but his efforts got myself and my colleague Ronnie Flores on the discussion of the greatest recruiting classes of all time. So we started to dig, and dig, and dig some more.

Some 36 hours later, we had a list of 35 of the all-time great recruiting classes dating back to 1965 for your enjoyment, beginning with UCLA’s class of 1965.

*The list takes into consideration not only the player rankings in those respective classes (listed by number) by the most credible?recruiting lists we?could find, but also what immediate impact the class had during its time in college hoops.?College freshman were first eligible for varsity competition in the 1972-73 season. Classes are listed in chronological order.

1965 UCLA Bruins

Class: Lew Alcindor (aka Kareem Abdul-Jabbar), Lucius Allen, Lynn Shackelford, Kenny Heitz

Impact:?The freshman team, led by these four first-year guys, blew out the varsity team, 75-60, in the inaugural game inside of Pauley Pavilion. Alcindor, Allen, Shackelford and Heitz spent their first season competing against other freshman teams and junior college programs, winning those games by an average of 57 points in front of massive crowds. All four moved into the starting lineup as sophomores and ran off three straight national championships led by Alcindor, arguably the greatest college player ever.

1970 UCLA Bruins

Class: Bill Walton, Jamaal Wilkes, Greg Lee, Tommy Curtis, Vince Carson

Impact: The eventual best player in college basketball, Walton, and the rest of this class had to play freshman ball in 1971 and showed just how good they were as sophomores by going 30-0 and winning the ’72 title over Florida State. UCLA won it again in ’73 over Memphis, but fell to NC State in the ’74 Final Four in the last season of this storied class.

1972 Indiana Hoosiers

Class: Quinn Buckner, Scott May, Tom Abernethy, Jim Crews

Impact: This wasn’t an immediate satisfaction class, but it produced long-term success. May was academically ineligible in the 1972-73 season, but his ability was on full display during his sophomore year.?Bucker actually was an immediate impact freshman (10.8 ppg, 4.8 rpg) on a team that advanced?the the NCAA Final Four.?The Hoosiers went 31-1 in 1974-75 and lost to Kentucky in the regional finals, before going 32-0 in 1975-76, winning the national title over Michigan, 86-68. The ’75-76 Indiana squad is the last team in college basketball to finish a season undefeated.

1978 Louisville Cardinals

Class: Jerry Eaves, Scooter McCray, Wiley Brown, Derek Smith, Poncho Wright

Impact: After recruiting National Player of the Year Darrell Griffith and?Bobby Turner out of Louisville's Male High School in 1976, coach Denny?Crum missed out on big targets like Albert King and Magic Johnson in 1977?and didn’t bring in much of note that fall.?He needed to hit big going into?the 1979 season to surround Griffith with enough talent to make a run at?the program’s third Final Four in the Crum era. Although he didn’t land a?superstar, he brought in excellent depth and a gem in McRay, who was?joined a year later by his younger brother Rodney out of Mt. Vernon, N.Y.?Scooter and Smith were impact players and Eaves and Brown were good role?players as freshman. Even without Turner and an injured Scooter, who was?never the same after his freshman year, Smith and Brown stepped up around?Griffith to develop the program its first NCAA title in 1980. This deep?class made up the core of the team that made another NCAA Final Four?appearance in 1982.

1979 Kentucky Wildcats

Class: Sam Bowie (3), Derrick Hord (5), Dirk Minniefield (20), Charles Hurt (36)

Impact: Bowie and Hord came in as top five recruits and the 7-foot-1 Bowie averaged 12.9 points and eight rebounds per game as a freshman, but battled injuries throughout his career. Hord, Minniefield and Hurt were all solid pieces during their four year careers, but weren’t apart of the 1984 team which lost in the National Semifinals to Georgetown in Bowie’s fifth year.

1979 UCLA Bruins

Class: Darren Daye (9), Rod Foster (28), Michael Holton (43), Cliff Pruitt (95)

Impact: These four UCLA freshmen teamed with senior Kiki Vandeweghe to advance all the way to the NCAA title game, where it lost to Louisville led by Darrell Griffith. Larry Brown left for the NBA and left the program on probation in his wake and this group never achieved the projections set for it.

1982 Duke Blue Devils

Class: Johnny Dawkins (11), Mark Alarie (43), Weldon Williams (62), Jay Bilas?(74), David Henderson, Bill Jackman

Impact: After a rough second year in Durham 10-17, many fans were calling?for coach Mike Krzyzewski’s head, but this is the class that turned things?around. Sure, Duke went 11-17 in 1982-83, but it also saw Dawkins (18.1?ppg) develop into arguably the most important recruit in school history?and the player that started a Duke dynasty that won five NCAA?championships in the Coach K era. Alarie (10 ppg, 6.5 rpg), Henderson (9.1?ppg) and Bilas (8.8 rpg) were also impact freshmen and this group made up?the core of the team that advanced to the first Final Four in the?Krzyzewski era, losing to Louisville in the 1986 NCAA title game.

1985 Louisville Cardinals

Class: Tony Kimbro (4), Pervis Ellison (17), Kenny Payne (22), Keith Williams, Avery Marshall

Impact: After winning the 1980 NCAA title and advancing to the 1982 and?1983 NCAA Final Four, it looked like Denny Crum’s proud program wasn’t on?that level anymore after going 19-18 in 1985. A big reason for that was?senior guard Wilt Wagner had to take a red-shirt for an injury. Similar to?Scooter McCray in ’78 and Lancaster Gordon and Charles Jones in '80, Crum?found another Southern gem in Ellison. "Never Nervous” Pervis teamed up?with Wagner to lead the Cardinals to their second NCAA title in seven?seasons in 1986 and the Savannah, Ga. product was the first freshman ever?named MOP of the NCAA Tournament. Kimbro was a three-year starer and Payne?scored nearly 15 ppg as a senior.

1986 Syracuse Orange

Class: Derrick Coleman (6), Earl Duncan (15), Stephen Thompson (36), Keith Hughes, Matt Roe

Impact: Pearl Washington, a New York City playground legend, and cable?television, made Syracuse a household name in the mid 1980s and coach Jim?Boeheim used that to bring in some excellent recruiting classes around?that time. Although Washington left a season early for the NBA in 1986,?Syracuse’s recruiting class that season help the program get over the hump?and advance to its first NCAA Final Four, where it lost to Indiana in the?title game. Coleman (11.9 ppg, 8.8 rpg) starred immediately, Thompson was?a terrific four-year standout and Duncan (after sitting out as a Prop 48)?and Roe became valuable contributors on NCAA tournament teams after their?freshman seasons.

1988 Georgetown Hoyas

Class: Alonzo Mourning (1), Milton Bell (28), Ronny Thompson, Dikembe?Mutombo, John Turner (JUCO)

Impact: We were tempted to place the 1981 Georgetown class with No.?1 player Patrick Ewing, but we decided to place another John Thompson haul?with a No. 1 national player, Mourning (13.1 ppg, 7.3 rpg). What makes?this class unique is the emergence of Mutombo, a Congo native who attended?Georgetown on a USAID scholarship and spoke basically no English when he?arrived. Although Bell eventually transferred and Turner dropped out,?Mourning made the Hoyas a forced to be reckoned with right away as they?advanced to the Elite Eight and they were quite competitive with the Twin?Towers underneath for the next two seasons after that.

1989 Indiana Hoosiers

Class: Lawrence Funderburke (7), Pat Graham (15), Calbert Cheaney (31), Greg Graham (36), Chris Lawson (76)

Impact: This class was met with a lot of fanfare, especially with thoughts of pairing Funderburke with Bobby Knight, but the fun didn’t last long. Funderburke only lasted six games before transferring to Ohio State after he butted heads with coach Knight. Pat and Greg Graham were solid pieces, but Calbert Cheaney ended up being the gem of that Hoosiers’ class. Cheaney led Indiana to the 1992 Final Four and was the 1993 NCAA Player of the Year as a senior.

1990 North Carolina Tar Heels

Class: Eric Montross (2), Clifford Rozier (5), Derrick Phelps (12), Brian Reese (13)

Impact: All four played roles in their first seasons in Chapel Hill as UNC went to the Final Four in 1991, falling to Kansas, 79-73. Montross ended up leading the Tar Heels in scoring during their run to the 1993 NCAA national title where they defeated the next recruiting class on our list. Rozier ended up transferring to Louisville where he became an All-American, while Reese (11.3 points per game) and Phelps (8.1 ppg) started and played major roles in the title run.

1991 Michigan Wolverines

Class: Chris Webber (1), Juwan Howard (3), Jalen Rose (6), Jimmy King (9), Ray Jackson (76)

Impact: There is no class more highly publicized and analyzed than the famed Fab Five. Webber, Howard, Rose and King were McDonald’s All-Americans, and in fact, played on the same Mickey D’s team. The Wolverines reached back-to-back National Championship games in 1992 and 1993, but fell to Duke and North Carolina, respectively. One of the more interesting facts about this team is it never won a Big Ten championship.

1993 North Carolina Tar Heels

Class: Jerry Stackhouse (2), Rasheed Wallace (3), Jeff McInnis (26)

Impact: Stackhouse and Wallace were considered two of the top three players in the country along with Randy Livingston (LSU), while McInnis rounded out the trio of McDonald's All-Americans. Stackhouse and Wallace took some time away from returning starters Phelps and Reese and UNC faltered in the 1994 NCAA Tournament, falling in the second round to ninth-seeded Boston College.

1994 Michigan Wolverines

Class: Jerod Ward (3), Willie Mitchell (16), Maceo Baston (17), Maurice Taylor?(18), Travis Conlan

Impact: After Michigan’s Fab Five took college basketball by storm in?1992-93, Coach Steve Fisher had the hottest program in the country in the?mid 1990s. He parlayed that info fine recruiting classes in ’94 and ’95.?The ’94 group was labeled Fab Five II, but because leading recruit Ward?never developed as advertised, the program never returned to the NCAA?Final Four before facing NCAA sanctions at the end of the Fisher era.?Still, the 1994 group was productive in Ann Arbor, especially Taylor (12.4?ppg) and Baston, bookend forwards who were more tough than flashy in comparison to?their predecessors on the frontline.

1997 Duke Blue Devils

Class: Chris Burgess (1), Elton Brand (6), Shane Battier (7), William Avery (51)

Impact: Brand, Battier and Burgess were all McDonald’s All-American’s in 1997. Brand came in as an immediate double-double threat, averaging 13.4 points and 7.3 rebounds as a freshman. Avery (8.5 points), Battier (7.6) and Burgess (4.3) were strong supporting actors as freshmen. Duke lost to Kentucky in the Elite Eight in 1998, then fell to Connecticut in the 1999 National Championship game. Brand, a sophomore, led the team in scoring and rebounding that season and was the No. 1 pick in the 1999 NBA Draft by Chicago, while Avery went No. 14 to Minnesota.

1998 UCLA Bruins

Class: Dan Gadzuric (5), JaRon Rush (10), Ray Young (16), Matt Barnes (39), Jerome Moiso

Impact: Rush (11.4 points), Moiso (10.8 points) and Gadzuric (8.6 points) all showed early promise as long-term prospects, but things just didn’t click. The team didn’t meet expectations under Steve Lavin and Ray Young’s career didn’t pan out as most expected. The Bruins made a couple of decent NCAA Tournament runs, but the payer rankings of this group didn’t meet the on-court production.

1999 Kansas Jayhawks

Class: Nick Collison (22), Drew Gooden (26), Kirk Hinrich (46)

Impact: This class wasn’t as highly-touted as many on this list, but it was extremely productive. All three were immediate impact players as freshmen, Collison and Gooden both averaging double-figure scoring in their first season. All three of these recruits were on the 2001-02 team which lost to Maryland in the national semifinals, while Collison and Hinrich were on the squad which lost to Syracuse in the 2003 National Championship game.

2002 Illinois Fightin’ Illini

Class: Dee Brown (19), Deron Williams (38), James Augustine (87)

Impact: Bill Self brought in this class before he left for the Kansas job and the rankings of Brown, Williams and Augustine wouldn’t lend one to believe that this class belongs on the list, but the long-term impact of this trio earned it a spot. All three started from nearly every game their inaugural year and the rapport they built helped them reach the 2005 National Championship game under Bruce Pearl. Illinois lost to North Carolina, 75-70. One honorable mention recruiting class was Lou Henson’s haul in 1986 of Nick Anderson, Steve Bardo, Kendall Gill, Ervin Small and Larry Smith, but because of Prop 48 restrictions, Anderson and Small didn’t play their freshman season.

2002 North Carolina Tar Heels

Class: Raymond Felton (3), Sean May (6), Rashad McCants (8), David Noel

Impact: This trio had a rough start as all were thrust into starting roles under coach Matt Doherty. The 2002-03 Tar Heels went 19-16 overall, 6-10 in the ACC, and missed the NCAA Tournament. Doherty was out after that season and Roy Williams took over and turned the ship around. UNC won the 2005 NCAA Title over Illinois behind the production of McCants, May and Felton.

2002 Syracuse Orange

Class: Carmelo Anthony (1), Gerry McNamara (21)

Impact: This class is important for obvious reasons. Anthony opted to go to college instead of the NBA and the rest is history. Melo immediately became the premier scorer in the country and led the Orange to the 2003 NCAA National Championship. McNamara may have been the overlooked piece to this puzzle, but his 13.3 points per game and consistent long-range shooting was instrumental in Syracuse’s success. Some include Billy Edelin in this class, but he was a 2001 high school graduate who missed his freshman season due to suspension.

2004 Florida Gators

Class: Corey Brewer (29), Al Horford (48), Joakim Noah (67), Taurean Green (70)

Impact: This group didn’t look as good on paper as many on this list, but winning followed wherever it went. They all bought in to each other and coach Billy Donovan’s system which led to it being the last group to win back-to-back NCAA titles. The Gators took down UCLA in 2006 and a great Ohio State team in 2007. Noah, Horford, Brewer and Green all shared the wealth, averaging between 12 and 13.3 points per game in their junior seasons.?

2005 Kansas Jayhawks

Class: Julian Wright (7), Brandon Rush (13), Mario Chalmers (14), Micah Downs (33)

Impact: Rush started every game his freshman year, while Chalmers and Wright eventually played their way into starting roles. The Jayhawks fell to UCLA in the 2007 Elite Eight in this group’s sophomore year, but after Wright left for the NBA and Downs transferred to Gonzaga, Chalmers and Rush helped Kansas win a National Championship in 2008 over Memphis. Chalmers famously hit the game-winning shot.

2006 Ohio State Buckeyes

Class: Greg Oden (1), Daequan Cook (21), Mike Conley (28), David Lighty (41), Othello Hunter (JUCO)

Impact: This class was truly considered one of the best ever led by generational center, Greg Oden, who developed into the No. 1 pick in the 2007 NBA Draft. Oden averaged 15.7 points and 9.6 rebounds in his freshman campaign, while Conley (11.3, 6.1 assists) and Cook (9.8) took on big time roles as well. Ohio State made a run to the 2007 National Championship game where it fell to Florida.

2006 North Carolina Tar Heels

Class: Ty Lawson (3), Wayne Ellington (4), Brandan Wright (5), Alex Stepheson (62), Deon Thompson (80)

Impact: This class was top heavy for Roy Williams with Lawson, Ellington and Wright floating around the top 10 among the various rankings. Those three stepped in and contributed immediately, while Thompson and Stepheson played more complimentary roles. Wright went one-and-done, but the other four remained to help the Tar Heels made a Final Four run in 2008. Stepheson then transferred to USC and Ellington, Lawson and Thompson won a National Championship in 2009 over Michigan State.

2006 Texas Longhorns

Class: Kevin Durant (2), D.J. Augustin (17), Damion James (23), Dexter Pittman?(68)

Impact: Coach Rick Barnes used his connections with Montrose Christian?(Rockville, Md.) coach Stu Vetter to secure the services of Durant, the?nation’s No. 2 recruit behind Greg Oden who turned in one of the greatest?freshman seasons in NCAA history (25.8 ppg, 11.1 rpg) before being the No.?2 pick of the 2007 NBA Draft behind the same player. Barnes' haul also?included D.J. Augustin (14.4 ppg, 6.7 apg), the underrated James (7.6 ppg,?7. 2 rpg) and a fourth eventual NBA player and four-year contributor in?Pittman.

2009 Kentucky Wildcats

Class: John Wall (1), DeMarcus Cousins (3), Daniel Orton (15), Eric Bledsoe (23), Jon Hood (40), Darnell Dodson (JUCO)

Impact: John Calipari wasted no time bringing in big-time talent at Kentucky. Cal snagged five players in the top 40 and a four-star junior college transfer in Dodson. The Wildcats lost to West Virginia in the Elite Eight, then lost Wall, Cousins, Orton and Bledsoe to the NBA. It was considered a big disappointment.?

2010 Kentucky Wildcats

Class: Enes Kanter (3), Brandon Knight (6), Terrence Jones (13), Doron Lamb (21)

Impact: Kanter didn’t end up playing in his short stay at Kentucky and the Wildcats still managed to make a Final Four run. Knight (17.3 points), Jones (15.7) and Lamb (12.3) were the catalysts on that 2010-11 team which fell to UCONN, 56-55, in the national semifinals.

2011 Kentucky Wildcats

Class: Anthony Davis (1), Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (2), Marquis Teague (4), Kyle Wiltjer (22)

Impact: A recruiting class can’t get much better when three of the four guys you bring in start basically every game en route to a National Championship. Davis scooped up every award you can imagine, including Wooden Award and AP Player of the Year, as he averaged 14.2 points, 10.4 rebounds and 4.7 blocks per game, while Kidd-Gilchrist put up 11.9 points and 7.4 boards a contest. Davis and MKG were the top two picks in the 2012 NBA Draft and Teague went 29th to Chicago. Wiltjer played two solid seasons, but transferred to Gonzaga after his sophomore year in Lexington.

2013 Kentucky Wildcats

Class: Julius Randle (3), Andrew Harrison (5), James Young (6), Aaron Harrison (7), Dakari Johnson (9), Marcus Lee (19), Derek Willis (115)

Impact: Randle, Young and the Harrison twins started from the get-go, as the Wildcats had to make up for the departures of Davis, MKG, Teague, Terrence Jones and Doron Lamb whom all ended up being first round picks in the 2012 NBA Draft. Those four, along with sophomore Willie Cauley-Stein, led Kentucky to another National Championship appearance where it fell to Connecticut, 60-54. Randle and Young opted for the one-and-done route with Julius going to the Lakers at No. 7 and James to the Celtics at No. 17. The Harrison twins and Johnson stayed another year before making the jump to the pros. Lee had three average seasons before transferring back home to Cal.

2014 Duke Blue Devils

Class: Jahlil Okafor (1), Tyus Jones (4), Justise Winslow (12), Grayson Allen (17)

Impact: Okafor was an absolute beast at the college level, putting up 17.3 points and 8.5 rebounds a night in leading Duke to the 2015 NCAA National Title. Winslow (12.6 points, 6.5 rebounds) and Jones (11.8 points, 5.6 assists) flourished in their starting roles. Okafor (No. 3) and Winslow (No. 10) went in the Lottery of the 2015 NBA Draft and Jones was taken 24th overall.

2014 Kentucky Wildcats

Class: Karl-Anthony Towns (5), Trey Lyles (13), Tyler Ulis (21), Devin Booker (27)

Impact: If you look at the stat sheet for the 2014-15 Wildcats none of the numbers will blow you away. No player averaged more than 11 points per game, but the balance was clear as six Kentucky players scored between 6.4 and 11 points per night. Towns started every game, while Lyles made his way into 21 first five appearances. Booker and Ulis played key bench roles as Kentucky won its first 38 games of that season. The Wildcats run to a perfect season was halted by Wisconsin in the 2015 NCAA national semifinals. Towns was the No. 1 pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, Lyles went No. 12 and Booker No. 13.

2017 Duke Blue Devils

Class: Marvin Bagley III (2), Trevon Duval (4), Wendell Carter (7), Gary Trent Jr. (18), Alex O’Connell (58)

Impact: This was a much-heralded coup for Coach K. He grabbed three of the top seven players in the country, including Bagley who reclassified up a class to head to Durham. The lanky lefty was as good as advertised, dropping 20 points and 11 rebounds a night for the Blue Devils, while Trent, Carter and Duval all joined him in the starting five and averaged double-figure scoring. Duke won 29 games in 2017-18, but fell to Kansas, 85-81, in the Elite Eight. Bagley (No. 2) and Carter (No. 7) were selected early in the 2018 NBA Draft, but Trent fell to the second round and Duval went undrafted.

2017 Kentucky Wildcats

Class: Hamidou Diallo (10), Kevin Knox (11), Jarred Vanderbilt (12), P.J. Washington (15), Nick Richards (17), Quade Green (22), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (34)

Impact: Kentucky didn’t land any of the top five players in 2017 as it’s accustomed to doing basically every year, but this seven player haul was absolutely ridiculous for Calipari. All seven contributed in a big way before Vanderbilt lost his season early to injury. The Wildcats ended up struggling in SEC play, finishing fourth in the conference with a 10-8 record before falling to Kansas State in the 2018 Sweet 16.

2018 Duke Blue Devils

Class: R.J. Barrett (1), Cam Reddish (3), Zion Williamson (5), Tre Jones (14), Joey Baker (48)

Impact: Duke needed to reload in 2018 after losing its top five scorers to the NBA Draft and Coach K did so by bringing in three of the top five players in the country. Williamson’s impact was not only felt on the floor from the jump, but also on the airwaves and on social media as the viral dunking sensation was plastered all over every sports morning show you can think of. Barrett lived up to his lofty expectations, Reddish showed flashes of why many considered him one of the more versatile scorers in the country and Jones made sure the team was running like a well-oiled machine. The Blue Devils won 32 games before losing to Michigan State, 69-68, in the 2019 Elite Eight.

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The third day of the City of Palms Classic gave scouts, media, and fan in attendance a good glimpse into the future as No. 1 overall ranked senior DeAndre Ayton and No. 3 overall ranked Mohammad Bamba went head to head in a matchup ultimately decided by the supporting cast. The duel on paper was amazing as both teams fielded players with numerous HM offers. Between the two big men, Ayton scored 13 points and pulled in 13 rebounds, though he shot 4-17 from the field. Bamba on the other hand went 2-6 finishing with 6 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 blocks. Though not exciting numbers, it was a great matchup between the two big time prospects. On this day it would be the tandum of Cam Reddish (2018) and Brandon Randolph (2017) that would lead the Moose to victory. Both showed nice strokes from deep along with tough drives and big time dunks. Reddish registered a double-double with 21 & 13, while the UofA commit finished with 13 points. Others included in the video are Jake Forrester, Alfred Hollins, and Shamiel Stevenson. The final score was 52-43.

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The 2017-18 All-American Elite Team, now published for the 24th consecutive season and on the www.ebooksnet.com platform for the fourth time, includes 46 of the nation’s best seniors, led by Mr. Basketball USA R.J. Barrett of FAB 50 No. 1 Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.).

Sixteen seniors and four juniors, including National Junior of the Year Vernon Carey Jr. of FAB 50 No. 2 University School (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.), headline the 20-player overall first team.

A 30-player second team includes 30 additional seniors. It has been determined no juniors, sophomores or freshmen will supplant any of the seniors of the second team although underclassmen are indeed eligible. Barrett, last year’s National Sophomore Player of the Year, re-classified to the 2018 class.

In the 24 seasons of publishing annual All-American teams (we have retroactive teams dating back to the 1954-55 season), no freshman has ever made the first team. Last year’s national junior of the year, Marvin Bagley III of Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.), made the second team as a freshman in 2014-15 while at Corona Del Sol (Tempe, Ariz.). He left for college after his junior season at Sierra Canyon and is expected to be a high lottery pick in the 2018 NBA Draft after one season at Duke.

The class player of the year among tenth-graders on this year’s Underclass All-American team is 6-foot-3 guard Jalen Suggs of Minnehaha Academy (Minneapolis, Minn.). Last season, he was the first-ever underclass player of the year (dating back to the 1969-70 season) from the state of Minnesota and has been a varsity player since seventh grade. Suggs has led Minnehaha Academy to consecutive Class AA state titles. Our class player of the year among ninth-graders is center Michael Foster Jr. of Washington (Milwaukee, Wis.). The 6-foot-9 post player who is already committed to Arizona St. is the first-ever underclass player of the year from Wisconsin, which has two players on this year’s 10-man freshman All-American team.

Our national coach of the year is Josh Luedtke of Creighton Prep (Omaha, Neb.). He guided the Junior Jays to the NSAA Class A state crown with a 56-46 win over Bellevue West. It was the third state crown for Luedtke, whose program finished No. 46 in the final FAB 50 National Team rankings with a 26-1 mark. In 2015, the Junior Jays won the Class A crown and finished No. 49 in the FAB 50 at 27-2. In both seasons, Creighton Prep avenged its losses. The program won its first state crown under Luedtke’s leadership in 2008-09.

This performance-based All-American team is selected by National Grassroots Editor Ronnie Flores with input from Mr. Basketball USA panelists. It is chosen after the conclusion of the season, which makes this All-American team more reflective of players who made state championship runs. This honors squad has been chosen in its current format since the 1994-95 season and is powered by www.ebooksnet.com for the fourth consecutive season. This team is chosen regardless of class and is not exclusive or preferential for seniors named to the Ballislife All-American Game. To check out who has played in the Ballislife All-American Game the past eight years, please visit ballislifeallamerican.com. To view archived All-American teams published under this format, please visit GrassrootsHoops.net.

2017-18 All-American First Team

First Five

G — Foster Loyer, Clarkston (Mich.) 6-0 Sr.
One of the most highly-honored players ever from the state of Michigan, Loyer was a cinch choice for A.P. State Player of the Year and Mr. Basketball honors. As a junior, he led Clarkston to its first-ever state title whole scoring 29 points in the state title game and was even better this season. Loyer tallied 27 ppg, 4 rpg, 7 apg, and 3 spg for a team that won another Class A title with a 26-1 record and finished No. 25 in the FAB 50 rankings. In this year’s state semifinals, he netted 42 points and came back with 40 in the state title game, making 13-of-22 3-point shots and 17-of-18 from the free throw line. Loyer also put together a string of 199 consecutive made free throws during his career. Clarkston had a 95-6 record over his four years and Loyer was named all-state in each season.

G — R.J. Barrett, Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) 6-7 Sr.
Moves up from the fourth team to the highest individual honor a player can receive as this season’s Mr. Basketball USA honoree after leading Montverde Academy to a wire-to-wire FAB 50 No. 1 finish. Last season, he was the only tenth-grader on the All-American first team and was named national sophomore of the year before reclassifying up. The left-handed power guard was Montverde Academy’s leading scorer in each of his three seasons with the Eagles, including 22 ppg in 2016-17 and 28.7 ppg for this year’s unbeaten club that won 15 games against FAB 50 or previously ranked foes. Barrett led the Eagles to their fourth mythical FAB 50 national title by averaging 26.7 ppg in three wins at GEICO Nationals and is the third foreign-born national player of the year in the past six seasons, joining NBA players Andrew Wiggins (2013) and Ben Simmons (2015).

G — Romeo Langford, New Albany (New Albany, Ind.) 6-4 Sr.
Indiana’s favorite son since Damon Bailey, Langford finished his prep career with 3,002 points, No. 4 on the all-time state list. Bailey, the 1990 Mr. Basketball USA choice, is No. 1 with 3,134 points. Langford led New Albany to a Class 4A state crown as a sophomore and this past season it took a miracle shot to knock the team off in the state semifinals. For the season, Langford averaged 35.5 ppg and led New Albany to a 25-2 record and No. 28 FAB 50 ranking. The Hoosier State rejoiced when Langford decided to attend Indiana University.

F — Zion Williamson, Spartanburg Day School (Spartanburg, S.C.) 6-7 Sr.
Moves up from the second five after another successful season from a team and individual perspective despite missing nine games because of various injuries. As a junior, Williamson averaged 36.8 points and 13 rebounds per game and netted 51 points in a state title game victory. As a senior in 2017-18, Williamson led Spartanburg to a third consecutive SCISA Class 2A state title, as SDS went 20-8 and was regionally-ranked. Of those eight losses, the Duke recruit missed five of those games. For the season, he averaged 36.3 ppg, 11.3 rpg, 4.7 apg, 2.4 bpg and 3.6 spg while shooting 78 percent from the field. A national celebrity and arguably the most viral player of the mixtape generation, the Duke-bound Williamson finished his career with 3,202 points (32.0 ppg), 1,131 rebounds (11.3 rpg), 304 steals (3.0 spg) and 293 blocks (2.9 bpg).

F — Vernon Carey Jr., University School (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) 6-9 Jr.
Had a breakout junior campaign for the Sharks, leading them to the FHSAA Class 5A state crown with dominant performances. University School went 35-2 and finished No. 2 in the FAB 50, avenging its loss to No. 3 Oak Hill Academy with Carey going for 29 points while making 13-of-19 shots from the field. The son of a former NFL lineman, Carey averaged 20.3 ppg and made 27-of-42 shots from the field in three GEICO Nationals game, as University lost in the final to No. 1 Montverde Academy. Against stiff overall competition, Carey averaged 26.0 ppg, 10.4 rpg and 4 bpg while edging second teamer Nassir Little for Florida Mr. Basketball honors.

Second Five

G — Darius Garland, Brentwood Academy (Brentwood, Tenn.) 6-0 Sr.
With Garland at the helm, Brentwood Academy won a record-tying four consecutive TSSAA Division II-AA state crowns. After averaging 23 ppg and leading his team to a 30-2 mark as a junior, Garland stepped up to average 28.2 ppg, 5.3 rpg and 4.2 apg to lead the Eagles to a 25-5 record against a national schedule and a No. 34 FAB 50 ranking. One of the best pure point guards in the country, the Vanderbilt-bound Garland dished out 11 assists at the McDonald’s All-American Game. He also participated at the Jordan Brand Classic and was a three-time Mr. Basketball recipient for his classification.

G — Javonte Smart, Scotlandville Magnet (Baton Rouge, La.) 6-4 Sr.
One of the most highly-honored players in recent Louisiana lore, Smart earned Gatorade State Player of the Year and LSWA Mr. Basketball honors for the third consecutive season. After earning Class 5A MVP honors as a freshman, Smart led the Hornets to Division I state titles the past two seasons and was state tourney MVP twice. Smart has experience playing point guard for USA Basketball, but this season took on a big scoring role and had to play inside a majority of the time with spectacular results. He averaged 32.9 ppg, 10.2 rpg, and 5.9 apg for a 30-5 club. Smart scored 15 points and hit three 3-pointers in the Jordan Brand Classic and went for 21 points in the Ballislife All-American Game.

F — Emmitt Williams, Oak Ridge (Orlando, Fla.) 6-6 Sr.
More known for his football exploits as a youth, this late bloomer turned into one of the most explosive players in the country after starring at Lehigh Senior (Lehigh Acres, Fla.) as a freshman. He averaged 15.3 ppg and 11.2 rpg in ninth-grade and last season was one of the best players on a IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) team that finished 26-2 and No. 8 in the FAB 50. As a senior, Williams averaged 15.5 ppg and 11.3 rpg, for a team that won the FHSAA Class 9A state crown. Although the numbers seem modest, Oak Ridge had plenty of talent at its disposal and Williams’ team finished No. 8 in the FAB 50 against a tough schedule. Williams had 18 points and 11 rebounds against fellow LSU commit and second five selection Naz Reid, a record 44 points at the Jordan Brand Classic and turned in another MVP performance at the Ballislife All-American Game (31 points, 12 rebounds.).

F — Nassir Little, Orlando Christian Prep (Orlando, Fla.) 6-7 Sr.
Similar to Mitchell Robinson last season, Little used the post-season all-star circuit to catapult his All-American standing and he’s now considered the No. 2 prospect in the national 2018 class by 247Sports.com and Rivals.com. He was Team MVP at the McDonald’s All-American Game after scoring a game-high 28 points and grabbing five rebounds. He was also MVP at the Jordan Brand Classic after turning in a 24-point, 6-rebound performance. A Florida Mr. Basketball finalist along with Emmitt Williams, he came in No. 6 in the Mr. Basketball USA voting after leading OCP to its second consecutive Class 3A state crown. Bound for North Carolina, Little finished with senior season averages of 21.7 ppg and 9.2 rpg.

F — Naz Reid, Roselle Catholic (Roselle, N.J.) 6-10 Sr.
One of the biggest and most powerful post players in the country, Reid put it all together as a senior to lead Roselle Catholic to a championship campaign. Against a rugged in-state and national schedule, Reid averaged 16.5 ppg, 10.0 rpg, 6.5 apg, and 2.5 bpg for a team that finished 29-4 and No 14 in the FAB 50. Reid tries to incorporate some of Magic Johnson in his game and doesn’t mind going out on the perimeter, but when motivated he’s a dominant force on the block. Luckily for Lions’ fans, Reid was on his game all season long, as Roselle Catholic won the NJ TOC title while Reid was named NJ.com Player of the Year. For his career, Reid won three section titles and was part of two state and TOC title-winning clubs. The LSU recruit had 15 points and 11 rebounds (game-high) at the McDonald’s All-American Game and a team-high 23 points at the Ballislife All-American Game.

Third Five

G — Tre Jones, Apple Valley (Minn.) 6-2 Sr.
Although Apple Valley’s season ended in heart-breaking fashion in the Class 4A state finals, it doesn’t diminish from the individual success Jones had this season and the past five years. Similar to Jordan Brown, Darius Garland, Romeo Langford, and Foster Loyer, Jones moves up from the 2016-17 second team after averaging 22.7 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 5.9 assists for a 26-5 team. Jones joins his older Tyus as a state Mr. Basketball selection and All-American, which Tyus achieved in both 2013 and 2014 (second five). Jones, who like his older brother will play for Duke, led Apple Valley to two state titles and even played on the varsity as an eighth-grader while leading Apple Valley to a 143-13 mark in those five seasons.

G — Coby White, Greenfield (Wilson, N.C.) 6-3 Sr.
Netted the most career points of any player from the basketball-rich state of North Carolina (NCHSAA or NCISAA), breaking the NCHSAA record of former Eastern Alamance (Mebane, N.C.) standout JamesOn Curry (3,307). Although, NCISAA players can begin playing varsity ball in seventh grade, White only needed four seasons to amass his point total of 3,573. As a senior, White led Greenfield to the NCISAA Class 1A state final while averaging 30.2 ppg, 10.3 rpg and 9.1 apg. This year’s A.P. State Player of the Year, White is also a two-time Gatorade State POY. This North Carolina recruit played in the Jordan, McDonalds, and Ballislife All-American Games with his best performance being a 21-point, 5-rebound performance at the Jordan Brand Classic.

F — Keldon Johnson, Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) 6-6 Sr.
The emotional and statistical leader for one of the best teams in the country, Johnson led Oak Hill Academy to a 44-2 season and No. 3 FAB 50 ranking. One of the best practice players ever to play for long-time Oak Hill coach Steve Smith, Johnson averaged 22.1 ppg, 6.2 rpg, and 4.1 apg while supplying excellent defense. Those defensive abilities were evident in the McDonald’s All-American Game, where Johnson scored eight points and had three assists. Johnson is headed to Kentucky.

F — Jalen Smith, Mt. St. Joseph (Baltimore, Md.) 6-10 Sr.
One of the most highly-honored frontcourt players in the country, Smith led a regionally-ranked 35-4 club by averaging 23 points, 12.5 rebounds and three blocks per game. Blessed with tremendous length and shot blocking ability, this four-year standout led Mt. St. Joseph to 120 wins and four titles in the competitive Baltimore Catholic League. Not only was he a two-time BCL Player of the Year, he was also named Maryland Player of the Year by Gatorade twice in addition to being the Baltimore Sun’s All-Metro Player of the Year in consecutive seasons. This Maryland recruit scored 2,122 career points and had 14 points, nine rebounds and three blocks in the Jordan Brand Classic.

C — Jordan Brown, Prolific Prep (Napa, Calif.) 6-11 Sr.
After three successful seasons at Woodcreek (Roseville, Calif.), Brown continued his development at the academy-type program in California’s Napa Valley. The son of a former NBA Draftee, Brown averaged 21.5 ppg, 11.8 rpg, 3.7 apg, 1.8 bpg for one of the top academy teams in the country. He was a two-time all-state pick at Woodcreek, including last season when he averaged 26.3 ppg and 15.8 rpg while leading his team to the NorCal Open Division title. Brown also won a Gold Medal with Team USA at the 2016 FIBA 17U World Championship and was a McDonald’s All-American. Brown, who chose Nevada as the final elite player to make his college decision, had 26 points and eight rebounds in that national all-star game.

Fourth Five

G — Andrew Nembhard, Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) 6-4 Sr.
With the Eagles possibly fielding their best team in the Kevin Boyle era, we chose to place a second Montverde Academy player on our elite first team. That player is Nembhard, who recovered from a serious stomach ailment suffered near the end of his 2016-17 campaign to earn All-American acclaim. Similar to fellow Canadian and teammate R.J. Barrett, Nembhard re-classified to the 2018 class and made the most of his final high school season, running point guard duties while averaging 14 ppg, 4 rpg and 8 apg for the nation’s top-ranked team. Nembhard, who is from Vaughn, Ontario and will attend Florida, averaged 10.7 ppg and 8.3 apg in three victories at GEICO Nationals. He also had nine points, nine rebounds, six assists and three steals at the Jordan Brand Classic.

G — Quentin Grimes, College Park (The Woodlands, Texas) 6-5 Sr.
After the Cavaliers failed to make the playoffs in his first two seasons, Grimes’ stellar play changed the team’s fortunes the past two years. One of the country’s best scoring guards, he averaged 29.5 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game as a senior as College Park went 21-13 and won its first District Title in the Grimes era. Bound for Kansas, Grimes had a 50-point outing and was a relatively easy player of the year choice by the Houston Chronicle. Grimes closed his high school career with 14 points in the McDonald’s All-American Game and 15 points, nine rebounds and four steals in the Jordan Brand Classic.

F — Onyeka Okongwu, Chino Hills (Calif.) 6-9 Jr.
After a somewhat slow start to his junior campaign, Chino Hills struggled to adjust to the new offensive system of its third coach in three years, Okongwu became a dominant force once the Huskies figured out they would perform best with him as the focal point. He put forth stellar individual performances down the stretch, including a 38-point, 16-rebound, 5-block performance in a section title game victory. The Big O also had a 37-point, 17-rebound, 9-dunk performance in the playoffs and closed out the season with 27 points, 14 rebounds and five blocks in the CIF D1 state title game win. Okongwu averaged 28 ppg, 12 rpg and 4 bpg for a 26-11 team that won its final 11 games and the recent USC commit was named Cal-Hi Sports Mr. Basketball.

F — James Wiseman, Memphis East (Memphis, Tenn.) 6-11 Jr.
It was a tough decision for the final spots of the elite first team, but we went with this talented junior big man who missed six games because of an eligibility ruling over senior guard and teammate Alex Lomax (14.2 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 7.0 apg) and Class AAA Mr. Basketball Tyler Harris. Wiseman, netted a team-leading 18.5 ppg to go along with 8.2 rpg and 2.8 bpg for a 31-3 team that finished No. 4 in the FAB 50. Wiseman performed favorably against the other big men on East’s schedule and will be a serious Mr. Basketball USA candidate next season. Wiseman has committed to Memphis, where he’ll play for his high school coach this season at East: local legend Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway.

C — Charles Bassey, Aspire Academy (Louisville, Ky.) 6-10 Jr.
After earning National Freshman of the Year honors two seasons ago, Bassey has maintained his status as one of the nation’s top big men regardless of class. The powerful and nimble big man averaged 19.3 ppg, 11.4 rpg and 2.9 apg competing for an academy-type club that played most of its games on the Grind Session, which consisted of 32 core teams where basketball development is a major focus. Bassey has also starred in grassroots and international play, including 13 points and a game-high 16 rebounds in the World Select Team’s 89-76 victory over Team USA at the Nike Hoop Summit.

2017-18 All-American Second Team

G — James Akinjo, Salesian (Richmond, Calif.) 6-0 Sr.
F — Jamal Bey, Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.) 6-7 Sr.
F — Rechon “Leaky” Black, Cox Mill (Concord, N.C.) 6-7 Sr.
C — Bol Bol, Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.) 7-1 Sr.
F — Matt Bradley, Wasatch Academy (Mt. Pleasant, Utah) 6-3 Sr.
C — Moses Brown, Archbishop Malloy (Queens, N.Y.) 7-1 Sr.
G — Ayo Dosunmu, Morgan Park (Chicago) 6-4 Sr.
G — Devon Dotson, Providence Day (Charlotte, N.C.) 6-2 Sr.
G — Dane Goodwin, Upper Arlington (Columbus, Ohio) 6-5 Sr.
G — Mason Harrell, Carl Albert (Midwest City, Okla.) 5-8 Sr.
F — Jermaine Harris, Rock Creek Christian Academy (Upper Marlboro, Md.) 6-8 Sr.
G — Tyler Harris, Cordova (Memphis, Tenn.) 5-9 Sr.
F — Jaylen Hoard, Wesleyan Christian Academy (High Point, N.C.) 6-9 Sr.
F — Talen Horton-Tucker, Simeon (Chicago, Ill.) 6-5 Sr.
F — Brandon Johns, East Lansing (Mich.) 6-8 Sr.
F — Gerald Liddell, Steele (Cibolo, Texas) 6-7 Sr.
G — Alex Lomax, East Memphis (Memphis, Tenn.) 5-11 Sr.
G — Jordan McCabe, Kaukauna (Wis.) 5-10 Sr.
G — Mac McClung, Gate City (Va.) 6-2 Sr.
F — David McCormack, Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) 6-9 Sr.
F — E.J. Montgomery, Wheeler (Marietta, Ga.) 6-10 Sr.
F — Landers Nolley, Langston Hughes (Fairburn, Ga.) 6-7 Sr.
F — Daniel Oturu, Cretin-Derham Hall (St. Paul, Minn.) 6-10 Sr.
F — Kevin Porter, Rainier Beach (Seattle, Wash.) 6-5 Sr.
G — Immanuel Quickley, John Carroll (Bel Air, Md.) 6-3 Sr.
G — Jahvon Quinerly, Hudson Catholic (Jersey City, N.J.) 6-2 Sr.
F — Reggie Perry, Thomasville (Ga.) 6-8 Sr.
F — Cameron Reddish, Westtown School (West Chester, Pa.) 6-7 Sr.
G — Joe Wieskamp, Muscatine (Iowa) 6-6 Sr.
F — Robert Woodard, Columbus (Miss.) 6-6 Sr.

National Coach of the Year: Josh Luedtke, Creighton Prep (Omaha, Neb.)

Related: 2017-18 Underclass All-American Team | 2017-18 Mr. Basketball USA: R.J. Barrett

Note: ESPN selections 2010-2012; EA SPORTS selections 2003-2009; Student Sports selections prior to 2003; Selections are based on high school accomplishment, not future college/pro potential, and are reflective of those that lead their teams to state championships. The editors of www.ebooksnet.com do not knowingly select fifth-year players, and those ineligible due to age or academics, Mr. Basketball USA or to its various All-American teams.

Ronnie Flores is the national Grassroots editor of www.ebooksnet.com. He can be reached at [email protected]. Don't forget to follow him on Twitter: @RonMFlores

The post 2017-18 High School All-American Team Announced! appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

The two most prominent factors when it comes to honoring individual players for their high school basketball accolades are production and winning. That clearly is reflected in the results of the final 2017-18 Mr. Basketball USA Tracker powered by www.ebooksnet.com.

R.J. Barrett, a 6-foot-7 senior guard, led Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) to its fourth FAB 50 mythical national title in six seasons. The Eagles finished unbeaten at 36-0 and recorded their first-ever wire-to-wire No. 1 finish with the Ontario, Canada native leading every step of the way.

A couple of off-season happenings shaped this season's national player of the year race. The would-be top returning vote-getter in the final 2016-17 Mr. Basketball USA Tracker, 6-foot-10 Marvin Bagley of Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.), decided to join the 2017 recruiting class and enroll at Duke. Last season's National Junior of the Year finished as the No. 3 vote-getter and this season was the ACC Player of the Year and is expected to be one of the top picks in the 2018 NBA Draft.

Barrett followed in Bagley's footsteps and also re-classified, joining the 2018 class after earning National Sophomore of the Year honors and being the only tenth-grader to earn first team honors (fourth five) on our 2016-17 All-American Elite Team. Barrett didn't receive much national player of the year recognition as a sophomore (tied for 19th place), but things changed in July 2017 after he led Canada to the FIBA 19U World Cup title in Cairo, Egypt. Barrett was the leading scorer (21.6 ppg) in the event and recorded 38 points, 13 rebounds and five assists in a 99-87 semifinal win over Team USA.

Barrett's big summer was reflected in the preseason Mr. Basketball USA Tracker balloting. Every single scout on the 10-man tacker panel (see below) had him as their leading candidate or No. 2 for 2017-18 national player of the year honors. He received six first-place votes and finished with 96 points, five more than forward Zion Williamson of Spartanburg Day School (Spartanburg, S.C.), who was technically the highest returning vote-getter (No. 5 overall) from 2016-17 after Bagley left early for college. Williamson's 89 points included three first-place votes, five second-place votes, a third-place vote and a fifth-place vote.

All throughout this past season, Barrett wanted to prove he was the best player in the country and to put himself alongside the other Montverde Academy greats who have played for Kevin Boyle. In order to do that, Barrett felt Montverde Academy needed to win GEICO Nationals and the mythical national title. He accomplished that goal, as the Eagles did not lose a game while he averaged 28.7 ppg, 8.5 rpg, and 4.4 apg. Barrett averaged 26.7 ppg in the three games at GEICO Nationals, including 25 points and 15 rebounds in the 76-58 championship game victory over No. 2 University School (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.).

In the final balloting for 2017-18, Barrett strengthened his candidacy over Williamson, as those two spectacular players remained the only Mr. Basketball USA candidates to appear on each ballot. Even after production at major holiday tournaments, showcases and various state playoff tournaments around the country changed positioning among other candidates, it did not alter the panel's evaluation of Barrett and Williamson very much.

Barrett was the No. 1 vote-getter on all but one of the panelist's ballots, finishing with 98 overall points, seven more than Williamson. The Spartanburg Day sensation recorded eight second-place votes, while again garnering one third-place and one fifth-place vote. As a senior, Williamso led Spartanburg Day to a third consecutive SCISA Class 2A state title, as SDS went 20-8. For the season, he averaged 36.3 ppg, 11.3 rpg, 4.7 apg, 2.4 bpg and 3.6 spg, while shooting 78 percent from the field. Of those eight losses for Spartanburg Day, Zion missed five of those games. Williamson's foot was in a boot for a short period of time this season and he did have some lingering injuries that affected his candidacy, but it was more likely a case that Barrett was just that spectacular and productive for the No. 1 ranked team in the FAB 50 National Team Rankings powered by www.ebooksnet.com.

"Barrett, based on his individual performances and Montverde's unbeaten record, is an easy choice as No. 1," said panel member Frank Burlison of BurlisonOnBasketball.com. "Williamson, my choice as best player/"prospect" in the 2018 class, is No. 2."

As in the preseason, only Barrett and Williamson appeared on all ten ballots. Both are headed to Duke, where they will be joined by Cam Reddish of Westttown School (West Chester, Pa.) for the 2018-19 season. Reddish, the only other player to receive a No. 1 vote in the preseason, finished in fifth place in the final balloting with 50 points on seven ballots, including five third-place votes.

Reddish was the No. 3 vote-getter in the preseason, but jumping up in the final balloting to that position was junior power forward Vernon Carey of FAB 50 No. 2 University School (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.). He had a spectacular campaign, leading the Sharks to a state crown and a runner-up finish at GEICO Nationals, and received one second-place vote and three third-place votes while appearing on nine ballots. The only other candidate to appear on nine ballots was Romeo Langford, who scored 3,002 career points for FAB 50 No. 28 New Albany (New Albany, Ind.).

Charles Bassey, a 6-foot-10 junior at Aspire Basketball Academy (Louisville, Ky.) who was the National Freshman of the Year in 2015-16, got the first-place vote that denied Barrett a perfect score. For the season, the big man averaged 19.3 ppg, 11.4 rpg and 3.0 bpg.

It will be interesting to see how this spring and summer's travel ball circuit affects the candidacy of Carey and Bassey heading into next season. As we saw a year ago, alot can change once the high school season is complete.

In all, 28 candidates earned recognition as a national player of the year candidate in the final, expanded tracker.

Editor's Note: Click on the "+" sign next to each player's number to view how many first, second, third or fourth place votes he got and his overall point total. Preseason tracker results are also listed ("Prev.").

Rank	Prev.	Name	High School	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Total
1	1	R.J. Barrett (10)	Montverde Academy (FL)	9	0	1	0	98
2	2	Zion Williamson (10)	Spartanburg Day (SC)	0	8	1	0	86
3	7	Vernon Carey (9)	University School (FL)	0	1	3	1	56
4	4	Romeo Langford (9)	New Albany (IN)	0	1	1	3	51
5	3	Cameron Reddish (7)	Westtown School (PA)	0	0	5	1	50
6	9T	Nasir Little (6)	Orlando Christian Prep (FL)	0	0	0	1	32
7T	6	Charles Bassey (5)	Aspire Academy (KY)	1	0	0	0	23
7T	11	Keldon Johnson (5)	Oak Hill (VA)	0	0	0	0	23
9	9T	Tre Jones (5)	Apple Valley (MN)	0	0	0	1	19
10	NR	Emmitt Williams (5)	Oak Ridge (FL)	0	0	0	1	16
11	5	Bol Bol (3)	Findlay Prep (NV)	0	0	0	0	12
12T	NR	Onyeka Okongwu (3)	Chino Hills (CA)	0	0	0	1	11
12T	12T	Foster Loyer (2)	Clarkston (MI)	0	0	0	1	11
14T	15T	Jordan Brown (2)	Prolific Prep (CA)	0	0	0	0	7
14T	8	Darius Garland (2)	Brentwood Academy (TN)	0	0	0	0	7
14T	NR	James Wiseman (2)	Memphis East (TN)	0	0	0	0	7
17T	17	Scottie Lewis (2)	Ranney School (NJ)	0	0	0	0	6
17T	NR	Jalen Green (1)	San Joaquin Memorial (CA)	0	0	0	0	6
17T	NR	Nico Mannion (1)	Pinnacle (AZ)	0	0	0	0	6
20	14	Cole Anthony (2)	Archbishop Malloy (NY)	0	0	0	0	5
21T	NR	Jalen Smith (2)	Mt. St. Joseph (MD)	0	0	0	0	4
21T	NR	Ashton Hagans (1)	Newton (GA)	0	0	0	0	4
21T	NR	E.J. Montgomery (1)	Wheeler (GA)	0	0	0	0	4
24	NR	Cassius Stanley (1)	Sierra Canyon (CA)	0	0	0	0	2
25T	NR	Devin Dotson (1)	Providence Day (NC)	0	0	0	0	1
25T	NR	Bryce Hamilton (1)	Pasadena (CA)	0	0	0	0	1
25T	NR	Talen Horton-Tucker (1)	Simeon (IL)	0	0	0	0	1
25T	NR	Colby White (1)	Greenfield (NC)	0	0	0	0	1

2017-18 Mr. Basketball USA Tracker Panel

Paul Biancardi, ESPN National Director of Basketball Recruiting
Frank Burlison, BurlisonOnBasketball.com Publisher
Van Coleman, TheBasketballChannel.net VP of Content
Ronnie Flores, www.ebooksnet.com National Grassroots Editor
Clark Francis, Hoop Scoop Editor & Publisher
Bob Gibbons, All-Star Sports
Jerry Meyer, 247Sports.com Director of Scouting
Scott Phillips, NBC Sports National College Basketball Writer
Patrick Stanwood, Patrick Stanwood Basketball
Dinos Trigonis, Fullcourt Press Editor & Publisher

About Basketball USA Tracker Panel
www.ebooksnet.com's panel of 10 experts, which includes six McDonald’s All-American selection committee members, casts its vote for the top national player of the year candidates. Each panelist lists his top seven candidates regardless of class. The votes are then tabulated on a 10-point scoring system with a first-place vote equaling 10 points, a second-place vote earning nine points and down to four points for a seventh-place vote. The number in parenthesis refers to the numbers of ballots on which a player appeared and previous rankings refers to position in the previous tracker.

The post R.J. Barrett TOPS Final POY Tracker! appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

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RELATED: Inside Look At Top Mr. Basketball USA Candidates | 2016-17 Preseason Mr. Basketball USA Tracker | Updated Tracker No. 1  | Updated Tracker No. 2 |  All-Time Mr. Basketball USA Winners

When it came to team rankings this season, there was a spirited debate at the top between undefeated No. 1 Nathan Hale (Seattle, Wash.) and one-loss and No. 2 La Lumiere (La Porte, Ind.). As the results of the final Mr. Basketball USA Tracker powered by www.ebooksnet.com indicate, there is no debate at the top of the list when it comes to individual player honors for the 2016-17 season.  

Even after production at major holiday tournaments, showcases and various state playoff tournaments around the country changed positioning among candidates, the front-runner for national player of the year never did as the season wore on. Michael Porter Jr., a highly-skilled 6-foot-9 forward who led Nathan Hale to the FAB 50 national title, was the No. 1 vote-getter on every single ballot in the final voting, just as he consistently was on each ballot throughout the season.

Porter joins 2014-15 Mr. Basketball USA Ben Simmons of Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) as the only two players in the 10-year history of the Mr. Basketball USA Tracker to earn a perfect score of 100 points on any single ballot. Similar to Simmons, Porter went wire-to-wire as the top vote-getter with 100 points in each round of voting results. He finished the season averaging 37.6 ppg, 14.5 rpg and 5.2 apg for a 29-0 club and answered the bell every time the Raiders needed big plays in their big games.

Even though Porter didn't play in the Jordan Brand Classic while nursing a back injury, it didn't matter as the strength of his candidacy was already sealed. He tied Kentucky-bound Jarred Vanderbilt with a team high 19 points for the USA Junior National Select team in its 98-87 victory at the Nike Hoop Summit. He was also named team MVP of the McDonald's All-American Game with 17 points and eight rebounds.

"Let's make no mistake about it, Michael Porter earned the top spot the old fashioned way...he just flat out outplayed the competition head to head," said panel member Van Coleman of TheBasketballChannel.net. "At Nike, Pangos, and national high school events with Nathan Hale this past season he dominated individually and led his Mokan Elite squad to the EYBL title and Nathan Hale to mythical high school national title."

The other candidates to appear on all ten ballots were undecided point guard Trevon Duval of IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) and Arizona-bound center DeAndre Ayton of Hillcrest Academy (Phoenix, Ariz.). Duval was a bit more of a consistent candidate than Ayton during the season, but Ayton closed strong and the 10-man panel rewarded the nation's most highly-acclaimed big man. He gained a point after appearing on nine ballots on the previous tracker and tallied the most second-place votes with five (an increase of two). He also had two third-place votes, while Duval tallied one third-place vote and one fourth-place vote. If not for two panel members who were lukewarm on Ayton's candidacy (he was in seventh place and the final player selected on those two ballots), the gap between Porter and the rest of the candidates wouldn't seem so large.

Although Ayton frustrated the panel at times because of his penchant for floating on the perimeter or because of a perceived lack of aggression, he deserves credit for being one of the very best players in high school basketball for three seasons. Not too many players over the years can legitimately make that claim. Last season, he finished in fourth place with 58 points and other than the two front-runners for the honor (eventually winner Lonzo Ball and runner-up Josh Jackson) Ayton was the only candidate to tally moe than one second-place vote. In the final 2014-15 tracker as a sophomore, Ayton had two second-place votes behind Simmons and appeared on six ballots.

For the 2016-17 season, Alton averaged 26.0 ppg, 15.0 rpg and 3.5 bpg and had eight points and 11 rebounds in the McDonald's All-American Game. He was one of the top performers at the Jordan Brand Classic, with 19 points and eight rebounds in 18 minutes.

The other four candidates to receive second-place votes behind Porter were senior forward Brian Bowen, who averaged 18.8 ppg and 7.7 rpg in three Dick's Nationals games and was named MVP, senior guard Collin Sexton, who averaging 34.6 ppg, 6.0 rpg and 4.1 apg for a 21-8 team, and the two most highly-regarded juniors in the nation, Internet sensation Zion Williamson and talented left-handed big man Marvin Bagley III.

In all, twenty-seven candidates earned recognition as a national player of the year candidate in the final, expanded tracker.

Editor's Note: Click on the "+" sign next to each player's number to view how many first, second, third or fourth place votes he got and his overall point total.

Rank	Prev.	Name	High School	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Total
1	1	Michael Porter (10)	Hale (WA)	10	0	0	0	100
2	2	DeAndre Ayton (10)	Hillcrest Academy (AZ)	0	5	2	0	72
3	4	Marvin Bagley (9)	Sierra Canyon (CA)	0	2	2	2	63
4	3	Trevon Duval (10)	IMG Academy (FL)	0	0	1	1	51
5	5	Zion Williamson (8)	Spartanburg Day (SC)	0	1	2	1	46
6	NR	Mohamed Bamba (6)	Westtown School (PA)	0	0	2	1	39
7	7T	Collin Sexton (4)	Pebblebrook (GA)	0	1	0	1	35
8	6	Wendell Carter (6)	Pace Academy (GA)	0	0	1	0	33
9	7T	Trae Young (6)	Norman North (OK)	0	0	0	1	23
10	14	Brian Bowen (4)	La Lumiere (IN)	0	1	0	1	22
11	9	Ethan Thompson (3)	Bishop Montgomery (CA)	0	0	0	0	12
12	11T	P.J. Washington Jr. (2)	Findlay Prep (NV)	0	0	0	0	8
13T	NR	Kevin Knox (2)	Tampa Catholic (FL)	0	0	0	0	7
13T	10	Jontay Porter (1)	Hale (WA)	0	0	0	1	7
15T	NR	Troy Brown (2)	Centennial (NV)	0	0	0	0	4
15T	11T	Quade Green (1)	Neumann-Goretti (PA)	0	0	0	0	4
15T	NR	Romeo Langford (2)	New Albany (IN)	0	0	0	0	4
15T	NR	Billy Preston (1)	Oak Hill (VA)	0	0	0	0	4
19T	15T	R.J. Barrett (3)	Montverde Academy (FL)	0	0	0	0	3
19T	NR	Charles Bassey (1)	St. Anthony (TX)	0	0	0	0	3
19T	NR	Jaylen Hands (1)	Foothills Christian (CA)					3
22	15T	David Singleton (1)	Bishop Montgomery (CA)	0	0	0	0	2
23T	NR	Bryce Hamilton (1)	Pasadena (CA)	0	0	0	0	1
23T	11T	Jaren Jackson (1)	La Lumiere (IN)	0	0	0	0	1
23T	NR	Cameron Reddish (1)	Westtown School (PA)	0	0	0	0	1
23T	NR	Mitchell Robinson (1)	Chalmette (LA)	0	0	0	0	1

2016-17 Mr. Basketball USA Tracker Panel

Paul Biancardi, ESPN National Director of Basketball Recruiting
Frank Burlison, BurlisonOnBasketball.com Publisher
Van Coleman, TheBasketballChannel.net VP of Content
Ronnie Flores, www.ebooksnet.com National Grassroots Editor
Clark Francis, Hoop Scoop Editor & Publisher
Bob Gibbons, All-Star Sports
Jerry Meyer, 247Sports.com Director of Scouting
Scott Phillips, NBC Sports National College Basketball Writer
Patrick Stanwood, Patrick Stanwood Basketball
Dinos Trigonis, Fullcourt Press Editor & Publisher

About Basketball USA Tracker Panel
www.ebooksnet.com's panel of 10 experts, which includes six McDonald’s All-American selection committee members, casts its vote for the top national player of the year candidates. Each panelist lists his top seven candidates regardless of class. The votes are then tabulated on a 10-point scoring system with a first-place vote equaling 10 points, a second-place vote earning nine points and down to four points for a seventh-place vote. The number in parenthesis refers to the numbers of ballots on which a player appeared and previous rankings refers to position in the previous tracker.

The post FINAL POY Tracker: Michal Porter Leaves No DOUBT! appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

RELATED: Inside Look At Top Mr. Basketball USA Candidates | 2016-17 Preseason Mr. Basketball USA Tracker |  All-Time Mr. Basketball USA Winners

Individual talent and winning doesn't always go hand-in-hand, but when the two mesh, the results are often spectacular. That is clearly the case in the updated 2016-17 Mr. Basketball USA Tracker powered by www.ebooksnet.com.

Michael Porter Jr. of FAB 50 No. 1 Nathan Hale (Seattle, Wash.) was considered on par with DeAndre Ayton of Hillcrest Academy (Phoenix, Ariz.), last year's National Junior Player of the Year, as the nation's top prospect and national player of the year candidate in the preseason. The Washington-bound Porter edged the 7-footer originally from the Bahamas by a single point in the preseason Tracker, but Hale's 17-0 record and Porter's role in the Raiders' ascension to the top of the team rankings has created some separation.

Both continue to appear on every ballot of the 10-man Mr. Basketball USA Tracker Panel and Porter was the first-place vote-getter on each ballot. In the preseason, Porter and Ayton received five first-place votes each. Porter becomes the second player in the 10-year history of the Mr. Basketball USA Tracker to earn a perfect score of 100 points. The first player to turn the trick was point forward Ben Simmons of Montverde Academy during the 2014-15 season. Simmons was so dominant in helping Montverde Academy win the third of three consecutive mythical FAB 50 national titles, he collected every single first-place vote on each ballot throughout the entire season. Simmons was the No. 1 pick of the 2016 NBA Draft after one season at LSU.

Porter has No. 1 pick type potential, but is currently focused on leading Hale to an undefeated season. He's had some monster games on big stages, including a 27-point, 15-rebound, 4-steal performance against No. 2 Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.). He also had 34 points and 11 rebounds in a Metro League win over No. 24 Garfield (Seattle). Currently averaging over 35 points and 15 rebounds per games, panel member Frank Burlison of BurlisonOnBasketball.com feels Porter is the best player in high school basketball by a fairly healthy margin.

Joining Porter and Ayton (who collected six second-place votes) on all ten ballots is point guard Trevon Duval of FAB 50 No. 6 IMG Academy (Brandenton, Fla.). The explosive point guard is averaging 16.1 ppg, 7.7 apg, and 2.9 spg for a talented team that has recorded 11 wins over teams that are currently or previously FAB 50 ranked so far this season.

The other big news in the national player of the year race besides Porter's dominance in the rising candidacy of junior forward Zion Williamson of Spartanburg Day School (Spartanburg, S. C.). Williamson was our top-rated player at the 2016 NBPA Top 100 Camp, but no one could foreshadow his newfound popularity and fame. His unique blend of power and athleticism has made him high school basketball's most viral player and its social media king. Nicknamed the "Cheatcode" because of his spectacular blocks and dunks, Williamson is currently averaging 36.1 ppg, 13.4 rpg, 2,4 spg, and 2.7 bpg for a 17-6 club.

"Williamson was great in December... If Collin Sexton wasn't putting up similar individuals numbers, then he would be No. 4 on my ballot with a bullet!" said panel member Van Coleman of The Basketball Channel.

In addition to Coleman's endorsement of Williamson as a top five overall player in the nation, the junior sensation received another fifth-place vote in addition to a second-place vote. He appeared on seven ballots and tallied 43 overall points after appearing on three ballots (18 points) in the preseason.

Stay logged in to www.ebooksnet.com to track the progress of the nation's top individual players and the nation’s Top teams.

Editor's Note: Click on the "+" sign next to each player's number to view how many first, second, third or fourth place votes he got and his overall point total.

Rank	Prev.	Name	High School	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Total
1	1	Michael Porter (10)	Hale (WA)	10	0	0	0	100
2	2	DeAndre Ayton (10)	Hillcrest Academy (AZ)	0	6	2	0	81
3	3	Marvin Bagley (8)	Sierra Canyon (CA)	0	2	1	1	63
4	4	Trevon Duval (10)	IMG (FL)	0	0	0	4	53
5	8	Zion Williamson (7)	Spartanburg Day (SC)	0	1	0	2	43
6	5	Wendell Carter (5)	Pace Academy (GA)	0	1	1	1	33
7	7	Collin Sexton (5)	Pebblebrook (GA)	0	0	1	1	30
8	9	Trae Young (3)	Norman North (OK)	0	0	1	0	17
9	17T	Brian Bowen (2)	La Lumiere (IN)	0	0	1	0	12
10	NR	Cameron Reddish (1)	Westtown School (PA)	0	0	0	1	7
11T	12	Quade Green (1)	Neumann-Goretti (PA)	0	0	0	0	6
11T	14T	P.J. Washington Jr. (1)	Findlay Prep (NV)	0	0	0	0	6
13T	NR	Jaren Jackson (1)	La Lumiere (IN)	0	0	0	0	5
13T	13	Billy Preston (1)	Oak Hill (VA)	0	0	0	0	5
15T	NR	R.J. Barrett (1)	Montverde Academy (FL)	0	0	0	0	4
15T	NR	Jordan Brown (1)	Woodcreek (CA)	0	0	0	0	4
15T	10	Romeo Langford (1)	New Albany (IN)	0	0	0	0	4
15T	17T	Davy Singleton (1)	Bishop Montgomery (CA)	0	0	0	0	4
15T	NR	Isaiah Washington (1)	St. Raymond's (NY)	0	0	0	0	4

About Mr. Basketball USA Tracker Panel
www.ebooksnet.com's panel of 10 experts, which includes six McDonald’s All-American selection committee members, casts its vote for the top national player of the year candidates. Each panelist lists his top seven candidates regardless of class. The votes are then tabulated on a 10-point scoring system with a first-place vote equaling 10 points, a second-place vote earning nine points and down to four points for a seventh-place vote. The number in parenthesis refers to the numbers of ballots on which a player appeared and previous rankings refers to position in last season's final tracker.

The post Zion Williamson MOVES UP in Mr. Basketball USA Tracker! appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

UNC commit Jalek Felton and 5-star 2019 Juwan Gary felt Gray Collegiate (3-5) had something to prove vs 5-star Mo Bamba, 5-star 2018 Cam Reddish, Brandon Randolph (Arizona) and nationally-ranked Westtown. What resulted was the most memorable high school dunk fest we've caught recently.
Jalek Felton thrilled the packed house at Slam Dunk to the Beach (Delaware) with COUNTLESS dunks, finishing with 39 points (7-9 three-pointers), 6 rebounds, 5 steals, 4 assists. Gary finished with 16 and 8.
In the end Westtown (13-2) squeaked out a victory in dramatic fashion. The nation's top uncommited senior Mo Bamba finished with 27 points on 12-12 shooting, 13 rebounds, 4 blocks, 3 assists. Arizona commit Brandon Randolph had 13 points, 7 assists and a memorable poster dunk at the buzzer to end the 3rd quarter.
Check out these raw highlights from Slam Dunk to the Beach slamdunktothebeach.com
For more high school basketball highlights and mixtapes watch and subscribe to all the Ballislife youtube channel's and follow @scottballislife on Instagram and @BallislifeCHI on Twitter.
Thanks for watching and subscribing!

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The post No. 1 DeAndre Ayton v No. 3 Mo Bamba: Hillcrest Prep & Westtown Game Highlights! appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

During the regular season, www.ebooksnet.com will publish the Mr. Basketball USA Tracker, an inside look at the nation's top on-court high school performers, according to a panel made up of 10 high school basketball and recruiting experts, including six McDonald's All-American selection committee members.

Every season the race for national player of the year is altered by an early season occurrence. For instance, early in the 2012-13 season, current Los Angeles Laker forward Julius Randle (Prestonwood Christian Academy, Plano, Texas) suffered a broken foot. There's no telling how strongly he would have challenged eventual Mr. Basketball USA honoree Andrew Wiggins, last year's NBA Rookie of the Year with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Sometimes the occurrence is injury, other times it's ineligibility or a player re-classifying up and leaving for college early (current Duke freshman Derryck Thornton Jr. and N.C. State freshman Maverick Rowan come to mind).

We can't recall a preseason like this one where the race has been so significantly altered before it really even has gotten started.

First, athletic point guard Dennis Smith Jr. of Trinity Christian (Fayetteville, N.C.) tore his ACL at the second-to-last major Grassroots event of the summer (adidas Nations). He was presumably one of the top candidates coming into the fall. Then, in the opening minutes of the opening game for preseason FAB 50 No. 1 Oak Hill Academy, its best player, forward Harry Giles, tore his ACL. One has to figure he was a favorite considering he was last year's National Junior of the Year.

Then in the past week, Marvin Bagley III, last year's National Freshman of the Year at Corona del Sol (Tempe, Ariz.), left Hillcrest Academy (Phoenix, Ariz.), a relatively new program with national aspirations. Even though the prep school Bagley attended was not formally recognized by the residing state athletic association (in this case the Arizona Interscholastic Association), therefore making it ineligible for the FAB 50, the sophomore power forward was still eligible for the nation's highest individual honor because he presumably was a student in good standing with three years of regular high school eligibility remaining.

For now, Bagley is not eligible for any individual honor because he's not enrolled at a school, nor is he currently playing for a varsity program. Reports have surfaced that Bagley's family is inquiring about the possibility of him returning to Corona del Sol. Then the next natural question is, does he regain his athletic eligibility?

As if that wasn't enough, last year's National Sophomore of the Year, 7-foot DeAndre Ayton, joined the Hillcrest Academy program after playing his sophomore season at Balboa City School (San Diego, Calif.). For now Ayton is eligible for Mr. Basketball USA, but you have to wonder how playing with Bagley for a few games and then seeing Bagley leave the program, and the general uncertainty surrounding the program, is going to affect his candidacy.

Stay tuned.

For now, we present some of the eligible candidates who figure to factor in the 2015-16 Mr. Basketball USA race.

The Early Favorites*

DeAndre Ayton, Hillcrest Academy (Phoenix, Ariz.) 7-0 Jr. C

Resume: The 2014-15 national sophomore of the year averaged 21.1 points, 16.0 rebounds, 3.8 blocks, 2.6 assists and 1.6 steals for Balboa City School (San Diego, Calif.), a private institution that played mainly prep school and academy program competition. Ayton didn't always get the ball in prime spots, but still put up impressive numbers.

Why He Could Win: This talented center was a second five All-American by GrassrootsHoops.net last season as a mere sophomore. At the time, some respected prep evaluators felt the Bahamian native might have the best long-term potential of any player in high school basketball regardless of class, sans Ben Simmons, the 2015 Mr. Basketball USA whom some feel is already one of the nation's top college basketball players. Ayton has that much potential.

Why He Wouldn’t: It seemed Ayton was a surefire national player of the year candidate with Ben Simmons moving onto college, but over the summer he wasn't as dominant and he seemed to labor at times. He has since left Balboa for another prep school situation where the program is not recognized by the residing state athletic association, and that could hurt his chances. He was supposed to team up with super sophomore Marvin Bagley III to form one of the best 1-2 big man punches in high school we've ever seen, but Bagley is now gone and the situation seems a bit shaky and that could scare the Mr. Basketball USA panel.

Lonzo Ball, Chino Hills (Chino Hills, Calif.) 6-6 Sr. G

Resume: The Cal-Hi Sports State Junior of the Year averaged 24.3 points, 11.3 rebounds, 9.1 assists, 4.5 steals and 3.5 blocked shots per game for a team that advanced to the CIF Division I state title game. He was a third five All-American with now graduated standouts Brandon Ingram, Luke Kennard, Dedric Lawson and Caleb Swanigan.

Why He Could Win: One word that describes this UCLA commit is “unique.” He is a pin-point passer all 84 feet of the court and has grown to a true small forward size with uncanny rebounding ability for a true point guard. Ball is the CIF's best player (Josh Jackson's Prolific Prep team is an independent program), he's one of the state's best scorers, the best passer and could very well be the best rebounder. He's that good.

Why He Wouldn’t: Ball is one of the most polarizing elite players on social media, as some feel the style in which Chino Hills and his travel ball club play doesn't translate to the next level. Others feel he is a generational talent at the point guard position. Because of the mixed bag of opinions, Ball might be high on some lists and lower and others. Regardless, he's going to have to play his best at the City of Palms Tournament and winning a CIF state title would go a long way, too.

Josh Jackson, Prolific Prep (Napa, Calif.) 6-8 Sr. G

Resume: After earning National Sophomore of the Year honors two seasons ago at Consortium College Prep in Detroit, Jackson made the decision to leave the state of Michigan and attend an academy-type program based in Northern California. On a team that played a national schedule, Jackson averaged 28 points, 15 rebounds and 6 assists per game. He also led his travel team, 1Nation, to the Las Vegas FAB 48 invitational title in July.

Why He Could Win: With his size, explosiveness, passing and rebounding ability, Jackson is clearly one of the elite players in the country. At the USA Basketball Mini-Camp in October, he was the best performer and showed the alpha male mentality and competitive instincts to be a long-time NBA player.

Why He Wouldn’t: Jackson wasn't eligible for end-of-the season honors as a junior because the players on Prolific Prep's team attended various high schools (which made them an after-school academy). This season, all the players attend Justin-Siena High School, so Jackson returns as a serious candidate. The Mr. Basketball USA panelists were made aware Jackson is eligible, but some might favor a candidate from a traditional high school. Other than that or the injury bug, Jackson should be in the thick of the race.

Jayson Tatum, Chaminade (St. Louis, Mo.) 6-8 Sr. F

Resume: As a junior, Tatum averaged 26 ppg, 11 rpg and 3 apg for a 25-4 team. Tatum was named Gatorade State Player of the Year for the second consecutive season, but his team was shocked in the state semifinals.

Why He Could Win: The Chaminade Red Devils, ranked No. 7 in the preseason FAB 50, is a team that really has a chance to challenge the academy-type powers for the FAB 50 national title because of their national schedule. The Duke-bound Tatum is a household high school basketball name and will be on national TV versus No. 1 Oak Hill Academy and No. 5 DeMatha Catholic. If Tatum plays well in those games, plus at the City of Palms Tournament, it could catapult him to the top of the Mr. Basketball USA conversation.

Why He Wouldn’t: Perhaps Chaminade falters from a team perspective and that could hurt him from an individual perspective. Winning the state title would clearly help Tatum's candidacy because expectations are so high from a national perspective for his team. It's not too often Missouri has a bonafide Mr. Basketball USA candidate (only Crystal City's Bill Bradley has been honored from the state for the 1960-61 season).

Strong Cases*

Edrice Adebayo, High Point Christian Academy (High Point, N.C.) 6-9 Sr. C

Resume: As a junior, Adebayo averaged 32.1 ppg and 21.0 rpg against small-school competition at Northside (Pinetown, N.C.). He was named an Underclass All-American by GrassrootsHoops.net.

Why He Could Win: This summer, Adebayo was one of the top five performers at the prestigious NBPA Top 100 Camp and showed why he's considered one of the top true post players in the country. This winter, his new high school team will play in enough big games for "Bam" to become a serious candidate. High Point opens up No. 25 in the preseason FAB 50 with "Bam" on board. His team plays in the NCISAA Class 3A ranks, which offers good competition and is good for his candidacy.

Why He Wouldn’t: Bam may not put up prolific numbers as he did last season, because he'll be facing better competition and has more talented teammates. Eye-popping numbers, especially for a big man, always help. There has only been one true post player to earn this honor in the last 25 years (Greg Oden in 2005-2006) as the game has gone away from the big man. That could hurt "Bam" because analysts and fans are more drawn to skill, rather than size, than in the past.

Rawle Alkins, Word of God Academy (Raleigh, N.C.) 6-5 Sr. F

Resume: He was arguably the best player on the summer Grassroots circuit after an impressive junior season at Christ the King (Middle Village, N.Y.), which he led to the CHSAA Class AA title after helping the Royals win New York Federation titles as a freshman and sophomore. Alkins shared Pangos All-American Camp MOP honors with fellow Mr. Basketball USA candidate Mustapha Heron, led the New York Rens to the title of the adidas Uprising Gauntlet Finale championship and later led his team to the championship of adidas Nations.

Why He Could Win: Alkins helped Christ the King (Middle Village, N.Y.) win big time games, but eligibility issues loomed so he decided to take his talents to North Carolina, where he leads one of the better independent schools in the country. Alkins wins in whatever setting he plays in and that combination of production and winning could put him in the national player of the year conversation.

Why He Wouldn’t: The Holy Rams have a talented roster and open up No. 37 in the FAB 50, but should they falter it could hurt Alkins' candidacy. Word of God doesn't compete for a state title, and playing an independent schedule could be a hindrance for Alkins, especially if Word of God is not selected for Dick's Nationals.

Trevon Duval, Advanced Prep International (Dallas) 6-2 Jr. G

Resume: This fast-rising point guard averaged 15.9 points per game last season in leading St. Benedict's (Newark, N.J.) to the Prep A title. He also was stellar in the Under Armour Association and in Las Vegas at the Fab 48. Duval decided to leave the Garden State for API and joins a strong nucleus of players at a brand new program.

Why He Could Win: An Underclass All-American last season at St. Benedict's, Duval has elevated his game to the point where where he's now considered the best underclass point guard in the nation and arguably the best overall 2017 prospect. API opens up No. 8 in the FAB 50 and with Duval as the catalyst, the Bulldogs like their chances to move up in the rankings. The better API does, the better Duval's chances are.

Why He Wouldn’t: Duval could lead his new team to a memorable season, or he could get outshined by another elite talent on his own team. Some Mr. Basketball USA Tracker panelists could feel junior forward Billy Preston or senior wing Terrence Ferguson is the more viable candidate on API's team. Sometimes teammates help, and sometimes they cancel each other out when it comes to individual awards.

Mustapha Heron, Sacred Heart (Waterbury, Conn.) 6-5 Sr. F

Resume: Heron led Sacred Heart to its second consecutive state title and a perfect 28-0 record. Only the second junior ever named New Haven Register State Player of the Year, Heron averaged 22 ppg and 5.3 rpg. He also had an excellent summer, earning co-MOP honors at the Pangos All-American Camp with Rawle Alkins.

Why He Could Win: You have to like the best player returning from an undefeated state championship team who is clearly one of the best players in his region. If Sacred Heart builds an unbeaten record and remains FAB 50 ranked (it opened the season No. 21), Heron could gain traction in the race over the course of the season.

Why He Wouldn’t: Position factors and regional factors. There is a lot of shooting guards/small forwards types in this year's crop of candidates and perhaps the panel might like another one just a bit more. There's been only one Mr. Basketball USA from Connecticut and that was in 1965-1966 (the great Calvin Murphy) and no panelist will see Sacred Heart during its league/conference schedule.

Malik Monk, Bentonville (Bentonville, Ark.) 6-3 Sr. G

Resume: He averaged 26.9 ppg, 6.7 rpg, and 2.6 apg and also had a solid showing on the summer Grassroots circuit. Monk was one of only three juniors named All-American (along with Jayson Tatum and Lonzo Ball), so he definitely has an opportunity to impress the panel.

Why He Could Win: Monk led Bentonville to the Arkansas Class 7A title game, where it lost. This season, Bentonville has a lot of firepower and opened up No. 24 in the preseason FAB 50. Winning a state title and some big scoring outputs would keep Monk in the conversation with the other candidates.

Why He Wouldn’t: They will play in some big tournaments and showcase games, but if Bentonville doesn't win those games, Monk could fall on ballots even if he puts up numbers. Some of these games will be potential head-to-head matchups against other guards and sometimes too much emphasis (good or bad) can be placed on one game.

OTHER SENIOR CANDIDATES
FROM STRONG PROGRAMS

G — Bryce Aiken, The Patrick School (Elizabeth, N.J.) 5-11
C — Udoka Azubuike, Potter’s House Christian (Jacksonville, Fla.) 6-10
G — Tyus Battle, St. Joseph's (Metuchen, N.J.) 6-5
F — Braxton Key, Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) 6-7
F — Miles Bridges, Huntington Prep (Huntington, W.Va.) 6-6
G — Tony Carr, Roman Catholic (Philadelphia) 6-3
G — Anthony Cowan Jr., St. John's (Washington, D.C.) 5-11
G — De'Aaron Fox, Cypress Lakes (Katy, Texas) 6-3
F — Markelle Fultz, DeMatha Catholic (Hyattsville, Md.) 6-5
G — Alterique Gilbert, Miller Grove (Lithonia, Ga.) 6-0
F — Dewan Huell, Norland (Miami, Fla.) 6-9
G — Frank Jackson, Lone Peak (Highland, Utah) 6-2
G — Andrew Jones, MacArthur (Irving, Texas) 6-4
F — Mario Kegler, Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) 6-7
F — V.J. King, Paul VI (Fairfax, Va.) 6-6
G — Josh Langford, Madison Academy (Madison, Ala.) 6-5
F — T.J. Leaf, Foothills Christian (El Cajon, Calif.) 6-9
G — Shamorie Ponds, Thomas Jefferson (Brooklyn, N.Y.) 6-1
G — Kobi Simmons, St. Francis (Alpharetta, Ga.) 6-5
G — Xavier Simpson, Lima Senior (Lima, Ohio) 6-1
G — Seventh Woods, Hammond (Columbia, S.C.) 6-1

JUNIORS TO WATCH

C — Mohamed Bamba, Westtown School (West Chester, Pa.) 6-10
G — Alex Barcello, Corona del Sol (Tempe, Ariz.) 6-2
F — Brian Bowen, La Lumiere (LaPorte, Ind.) 6-6
G — Troy Brown, Centennial (Las Vegas, Nev.) 6-5
C — Zach Brown, Miami Senior (Miami, Fla.) 7-0
C — Wendell Carter Jr., Pace Academy (Atlanta) 6-10
G — Jalek Felton, Mullins (Mullins, S.C.) 6-2
G — Quade Green, Neumann-Goretti (Philadelphia) 5-11
G — Jaylen Nowell, Garfield (Seattle) 6-5
F — John Petty, J.O. Johnson (Huntsville, Ala.) 6-6
G — Michael Porter, Father Tolton (Columbia, Mo.) 6-5
F — Billy Preston, Advanced Prep International (Dallas) 6-9
G — Paul Scruggs, Southport (Indianapolis, Ind.) 6-3
F — Cody Riley, Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.) 6-7
C — Jeremiah Tillman, La Lumiere (LaPorte, Ind.) 6-10
G — Gary Trent Jr., Apple Valley (Apple Valley, Minn.) 6-4
G — Jarred Vanderbilt, Victory Prep (Houston) 6-7
F — James “M.J.” Walker Jr., Jonesboro (Jonesboro, Ga.) 6-5
F — P. J. Washington, Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.) 6-8
G — Trae Young, Norman North (Norman, Okla.) 6-2

IMPACT SOPHOMORES

F — De’Sean Allen-Eikens, Williston (Williston, N.D.) 6-5
C — Jordan Brown, Woodcreek (Roseville, Calif.) 6-9
G — Marquis Brown, Simeon (Chicago) 6-0
F — Silvio De Souza, Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) 6-9
F — E.J. Montgomery, Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) 6-9
G — Cameron Reddish, Westtown School (West Chester, Pa.) 6-10
F — Naz Reid, Roselle Catholic (Roselle, N.J.) 6-8
G — Javonte Smart, Scotlandville (Baton Rouge, La.) 6-3
F — Robert Woodard, Columbus (Columbus, Miss.) 6-5

*Editor's note: Listed alphabetically; The Mr. Basketball USA honor is based on high school accomplishment, not future college/pro potential. www.ebooksnet.com does not knowingly select fifth-year players, and those ineligible due to age or academics, as Mr. Basketball USA or to the various All-American teams it publishes.

Ronnie Flores is the national Grassroots editor of www.ebooksnet.com. He can be reached at [email protected]. Don't forget to follow him on Twitter: @RonMFlores

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Note: The FAB 50 powered by www.ebooksnet.com is a continuation of the National Sports News Service ratings that began in 1952. These were the first national high school rankings and the late Art Johlfs of Minnesota compiled them. They were compiled for many years by the late Barry Sollenberger of Phoenix, who merged them into the FAB 50 16 years ago.

Preseason 2015-16 FAB 50
National Team Rankings

Compiled by Ronnie Flores

(Final 2014-15 ranking in parenthesis; *Forfeit wins-losses not included; Look for preseason Region-By-Region Top 20 Rankings on Tuesday, November 10 and for the preseason Mr. Basketball USA Tracker on Monday, November 23.)

RELATED: Preseason 2015-16 FAB 50 (1-15) | Preseason 2015-16 FAB 50 (16-30) | Preseason Regional Top 20 Rankings

31. (NR) Westlake (Atlanta, Ga.) 13-15
Key Players: PF Chuma Okeke 6-7 2017 (No. 69 Rivals.com), SG Daniel Lewis 6-4 2017 (No. 123 247Sports.com), C Michael Durr 6-10 2017 (No. 131 Rivals.com), PG Jamie Lewis 6-2 2018 (No. 38 247Sports.com), SF Raquan Wilkins 6-5 2016.
Why This Ranking: It’s rare when a team with a losing record the previous season lands in the preseason FAB 50, but the Lions’ talent level is just too hard to ignore. Coach Darron Rogers has that nice blend of returning talent and talented newcomers to make the Lions serious Class AAAAAA title contenders. Daniel Lewis, Wilkins, and Durr are the returning starters and the newcomers are just as talented. Okeke, a transfer from Fairburn Langston Hughes, has point forward ability and Durr gives Westlake two legitimate Top 100 big men. The Lions also add Ronald Bell (6-6, 2016) from North Atlanta and he brings big-time scoring ability. Jamie Lewis sat out last season with a knee injury and his presence at the point could make everything click for this young team.
The Skinny: We will rank Jonesboro higher than Rogers’ club (after all they did beat them 64-43 last season), but it won’t be 21 points better than Westlake this season. If Rogers gets all the pieces to mesh together, Westlake could develop into a legitimate Top 25 club. We are going to take a wait-and-see approach, as the Lions are definitely ranked a few spots below their overall talent level.

32. (NR) Althoff Catholic (Belleville, Ill.) 32-4
Key Players: SG Jordan Goodwin 6-2 2017 (No. 94 Rivals.com, Grassroots Hoops Underclass All-American), SF Tarkus Ferguson 6-4 2016 (Illinois-Chicago commit), SF Brendon Gooch 6-6 2016 (Southern Illinois-Carbondale commit), PG C.J. Coldon 6-0 2017.
Why This Ranking: There is a lot to like about the Crusaders – mainly the talent and motivation from losing to Westchester St. Joseph in the 2015 Class 3A state title game. It all starts with the tireless work ethic of Goodwin, who averaged 20.4 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 2.5 apg, 2.4 spg and was a first team all-state selection as a sophomore. He had 23 points and 12 rebounds in the title game loss to St. Joseph and vowed to come back stronger this season. Ferguson is a strong combo wing and knock down 3-point shooter who averaged 14 ppg, 4.3 rpg and 3.6 apg. Gooch averaged 13.6 ppg, 7.7 rpg and went for 20 points in the big state semifinal win over Morgan Park that served noticed this team was going to be a force to be reckoned with in 2015-16.
The Skinny: While No. 38 Simeon is the preseason No. 1 in Chicago, the Public School League clubs have to prove they can get by the top team downstate. Coach Greg Leib not only has talented D1 players, he has plenty of depth with the likes of Coldon, Keenen Young (6-0, 2016), a wide receiver on the Crusaders’ football team, Marvin Bateman (6-4, 2017), a long athlete who works hard on both ends, and Edwyn Brown (6-6, 2017), another talented football player. Althoff Catholic went 4-for-13 from the free throw line in the state title game, so that alone should keep Leib from having to worry about his team getting too complacent.

33. (NR) Norland (Miami, Fla.) 23-8
Key Players: PF Dewan Huell 6-9 2016 (No. 21 ESPN.com, Grassroots Hoops Underclass All-American), PG David Jean-Baptiste 6-0 2016 (Chattanooga commit), PG Tyrik Waite 6-0 2016.
Why This Ranking: The four-time defending FHSAA Class 6A state champs lost only one senior letter winner off last year’s team. The Vikings not only have experience, they are talented, too, and it begins with Huell. Florida’s top senior big man came alive in the playoffs and finished off his run with a 18-point, 8-rebond, 6-block performance in the title game win over Gainesville. This senior-oriented group includes a veteran backcourt and Jonathan Andre (6-5, 2016) has plenty of experience playing against talented foes as part of the Nike EYBL South Beach travel team.
The Skinny: Another reason to like Norland is the presence of coach Lawton Williams, the first coach in FHSAA history to win six state titles at one school. Williams usually has close-knit teams and he got last year’s unit to buy in after a slow start. This year’s group can’t start slow and has to do well in-state (Norland lost to a majority of Florida’s elite teams last season) in order to maintain its lofty ranking. We’ll get an idea of where the Vikings stand at the City of Palms Classic as they open versus No. 44 West Linn.

34. (NR) Southport (Indianapolis, Ind.) 23-3
Key Players: SG Paul Scruggs 6-4 2017 (No. 19 247Sports.com, Grassroots Hoops Underclass All-American), C Joey Brunk 6-10 2016 (No. 69 ESPN.com, Butler commit).
Why This Ranking: Southport has plenty of firepower returning from a sectional finalist -- including one of the nation’s best juniors in Scruggs (17.3 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 5.7 apg, 2.6 spg). Brunk (16.5 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 1.3 apg) is also a big-time high school player who gives Southport the legitimate size to compete with any team in the Midwest Region. Eli Walton (6-3, 2016) can play both forward spots and Luke Johnston (6-5, 2016) is another returnee who coach Kyle Simpson expects to take a big step up in production, as the Cardinals must replace the scoring ability of Malik Bennett. Southport was the state’s top-ranked Class 4A team for a majority of last season and has the potential to be better this winter.
The Skinny: The Cardinals are another FAB 50 ranked team highly motivated by what transpired last season. In fact, Southport has the last two seasons to motivate it, as Indianapolis Pike has been a major thorn in its side. Pike beat them in overtime in the 2014 Sectional final, beat them in four overtimes during the regular season last year and again by a single point in the 2015 sectional final. In order to win its first sectional championship in 16 years, Southport knows whom it must eventually get by, but from a national perspective Simpson must keep the team focused so there is no slip-up against lesser teams.

35. (NR) St. Benedict's (Newark, N.J.) 31-6
Key Players: C Bourama Sidebe 6-10 2017, PF Arnaldo Toro 6-9 2016, SG James Scott 6-3 2016.
Why This Ranking: The Gray Bees are an independent program and factor in the FAB 50 for yet another season. Coach Mark Taylor (120-19 at St. Benedict’s) has a strong international flavor on his roster and a plethora of future D1 recruits. Toro, from Puerto Rico, is one of the few players on the roster with big-game experience and should be one of the go-to scorers. Sidebe is a Mali native and has been the Gray Bees’ most impressive player in workouts and scrimmages, according to Taylor. Another aspect of his team Taylor loves is the size and versatility of his guards, including Scott and David Beatty (6-4, 2017).
The Skinny: After finishing No. 2 in the FAB 50 for the 2012-13 season, the Gray Bees have lost 14 games the last two seasons. Coach Taylor is confident this year’s club is a legitimate Dick’s Nationals contender because of its blend of unique talent and balance, but it will have to prove that before it makes major moves up in the rankings. St. Benedict’s plays a tough enough schedule to move up, including games at the Slam Dunk at the Beach, versus Findlay Prep at the Hoop Hall Classic, highly-regarded Huntington Prep and The Patrick School.

36. (NR) St. John’s (Washington, D.C.) 27-9
Key Players: PG Anthony Cowan Jr. 6-0 2016 (No. 46 Rivals.com, Grassroots Hoops Underclass All-American, Maryland commit), SG Jeffrey Dowtin Jr. 6-3 2016 (Rhode Island commit), SF Kylia Sykes 6-2 2016.
Why This Ranking: For the third time in four seasons, we will begin three Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC) teams in the FAB 50. Storied DeMatha Catholic is a legit FAB 50 title contender and No. 48 Gonzaga and the Cadets are serious WCAC contenders with Paul VI of Fairfax, Va. not too far behind in the pecking order. While DeMatha had the best WCAC regular season mark, it was St. John’s that won the D.C. State Athletic Association title over Gonzaga behind the play of Cowan (20.0 ppg) and Dowtin (13.5 ppg). Cowan, a three-year standout for coach Sean McAloon, is a tireless worker who stepped up his game big-time as a junior after being part of one of the nation’s deepest backcourt as a sophomore. Dowtin came up big with 25 points in the DCSAA title game and Sykes (9.8 ppg) has D1 ability as a shooting guard, even though he’s counted on to do other things for the Cadets.
The Skinny: With only Cowan returning, last season was supposed to be a rebuilding one for McAloon, but his new guards, including DeJaun Clayton (6-1, 2016) stepped up and by the end of the season St. John’s was a forced to be reckoned with. WCAC teams normally beat up on each other, so we envision a scenario where two of its teams are ranked, one falls out, and a fourth enters the fray during the second round of league play. The teams are that balanced and close with regards to talent. The key will be which WCAC teams stay healthy and peaks heading into the post-season. With their veteran backcourt and the experience gained last year, we like the Cadets' chances to peak at the correct time.

_{Rawle Alkins's arrival at Word of God Academy (Raleigh, N.C.) catapulted the Holy Rams into the FAB 50 conversation as one of the top independent programs in the country. Photo: Kelly Kline/adidas}

37. (NR) Word of God Academy (Raleigh, N.C.) 29-3
Key Players: SG Rawle Alkins 6-5 2016 (No. 9 Rivals.com, Grassroots Hoops Underclass All-American) PG Jalen Harris 6-2 2016 (Buffalo commit), SF Jaylen Fornes 6-3 2016 (No. 226 247Sports.com, UNC-Wilmington commit).
Why This Ranking: There was a FAB 50 spot reserved for Christ the King (Queens, N.Y.) with Alkins in the lineup. Word of God was regionally ranked last season, but with Alkins now in the lineup, that spot goes to the Holy Rams. The Mr. Basketball USA candidate transferred to Word of God because the high risk of the appeal to the CHSAA to play his senior season at CTK not going in his favor after beginning his high school eligibility as an eighth grader in Florida.

38. (38) Simeon (Chicago, Ill.) 28-4
Key Players: SG Zach Norvell 6-4 2016 (No. 38 Hoop Scoop), SF Ben Coupet 6-7 2016 (No. 213 247Sports.om), PF Terrell Phipps 6-8 2016, PG Kezo Brown 6-2 2018 (No. 5 Hoop Scoop, Grassroots Hoops Underclass All-American), PG Evan Gilyard 5-8 2017.

39. (39) Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.) 27-6
Key Players: C Zach Collins 6-11 2016 (No. 32 Rivals.com, Gonzaga commit), SF Charles O’Bannon Jr. 6-5 2017 (No. 13 Hoop Scoop), SG Christian Popoola Jr. 6-4 2017 (No. 64 247Sports.com).

_{Junior Ethan Thompson of Bishop Montgomery (Torrance, Calif.) is a deadly shooter and can slide to the point guard position. Photo: Scott Kurtz}

40. (22) Bishop Montgomery (Torrance, Calif.) 31-2
Key Players: SG Ethan Thompson 6-4 2017 (No. 46 Rivals.com), SF Jordan Schakel 6-5 2017, SG David Singleton 6-4 2018.
Why This Ranking: The Knights played above expectations last season and won the coveted CIF Southern Section Open Division title before falling to Mater Dei of Santa Ana in the SoCal Open regional semifinals. In order for Bishop Montgomery to play above expectations once again, underclassmen will need to step up and somebody will need to emerge as the go-to player in crunch time. Thompson is a great place to start, as he’s grown physically in the last year and is one of the best scorers in his class nationally. Singleton is a throwback – tough as nails with the ability to interchange with Thompson as the primary ball-handler.

41. Starkville (Starkville, Miss.) 26-5
Key Players: PG Tyson Carter 6-4 2016 (No. 62 Rivals.com, Mississippi St. commit), C Jessie Little 6-8 2017.
Why This Ranking: The Yellowjackets return a whopping 10 lettermen and three starters off their MHSAA Class 6A title-winning club. We also considered defending Class 5A Jackson Callaway (which was more than just Malik Newman) and dark horse Columbus among Mississippi teams. Coach Greg Carter likes his team’s chance to repeat with his son Tyson Carter leading the way. The Columbus Dispatch Player of the Year averaged 17 ppg, 5 rpg and 3 apg for a balanced team which didn’t rely on one player to get the job done. Little came on as the season progressed and is primed for a big campaign, while Keith Harris (5-10, 2016) compliments Carter nicely and can run the team when the coach’s son is looked upon to score.
The Skinny: It’s hard not to like Starkville’s makeup and its chances to repeat. In order to move up in the FAB 50, however, it will need to keep the loss count low and defeat some out-of-state foes in the process (it lost to teams from Texas and Memphis last season). The Yellowjackets will need to get by Columbus in District 3 play as well. Columbus is in similar position to Starkville last season with regards to the expectation level, while Starkville is well aware it has the bulls-eye on its chest.

42. (NR) Stevens Point (Stevens Point, Wis.) 26-1
Key Players: SF Sam Hauser 6-6 2016 (No. 82 ESPN.com, Marquette commit), PG Trevor Anderson 6-1 PG (No. 247 247Sports.com, Wisconsin-Green Bay commit), PF Joey Hauser 6-6 2018 (No. 22 Scout.com).
Why This Ranking: Last season the Panthers ended the three-year reign of Germantown as WIAA Division I kingpins and their big guns are back. Hauser (17.7 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 3.3 apg) is a skilled combo forward who shot 52 percent from 3-point range during the regular season and was first-team all-state. Anderson is already Stevens Point’s all-time scoring leader and is coming off a junior campaign in which he averaged 23 ppg and 5.4 apg. That duo saved its best for last, as Hauser scored all 16 of the Panthers’ points in the first quarter in the title game versus Germantown and finished with 25 points, while Anderson scored a combined 45 points in the semifinal and title game.
The Skinny: Coach Scott Anderson has the luxury of two of Wisconsin’s best players in his lineup and with Joey Hauser making strides, this team has a chance to pull off what Germantown just missed last year – an undefeated championship season. Stevens Point’s lone loss last season was to Cretin-Derham Hall (St. Paul, Minn.), so any games with out-of-state foes this season will be a big factor in how quickly Stevens Point can climb in the rankings. Obviously it takes an element of luck to go unbeaten, so coach Anderson has to guard against complacency.

43. (NR) Centennial (Corona, Calif.) 25-6
Key Players: SF Jordan Griffin 6-3 2016 (Long Beach St. commit), PF Ike Anigbogu 6-8 2016 (No. 37 Rivals.com, UCLA commit), C Jalen Hill 6-10 2017 (No. 26 247Sports.com, UCLA commit).
Why This Ranking: The Huskies were highly-regarded in the preseason last year and had ambitions of winning a CIF state title, but it came crashing down in a loss to Chino Hills in the SoCal D1 regional final. This year the expectations are not quite as high and that could be an advantage for Centennial because the talent level is once again there. Griffin is one of the best jump shooters on the West Coast and will be the Huskies’ go-to player on the perimeter. Anigbogu is a big-time shot blocker and should have a great season because of a greater emphasis to get him the ball inside. He and Hill didn’t play much together last season, but coach Josh Giles has a lot of options to utilize the talented duo.
The Skinny: Centennial was streaky last season and always seemed to rely on guard Sedrick Barefield (SMU) to ignite a big run or take the big shot. The Huskies won’t have that luxury this season, but it could lead to more of an inside-outside attack and that could spell trouble for Centennial’s foes. Newcomer Isom Butler (6-0, 2017) is an excellent defender and Gio Nelson (6-2, 2017) brings athleticism to the backcourt. If that duo can keep defenders honest by knocking down perimeter shots, this excellent defensive unit will have a chance to slowly move up.

_{Payton Pritchard of West Linn (West Linn, Ore.) is a two-time Class 6A state player of the year and has plenty of veterans around him. Photo: Kelly Kline/Under Armour}

44. (NR) West Linn (West Linn, Ore.) 24-5
Key Players: PG Payton Pritchard 6-1 2016 (No. 23 Hoop Scoop, Grassroots Hoops Underclass All-American, Oregon commit), PF Will Matthiessen 6-7 2016, PG Braden Olsen 5-10 2017, Colin Shearmire 6-6 2016.
Why This Ranking: The Lions are heavy favorites to capture a fourth consecutive class Class 6A state title and for good reason. They not only have four returning starters, coach Eric Viuhkola has quality returnees. Pritchard is already a two-time 6A state player of the year and is coming off a junior campaign in which he averaged 22.1 ppg, 5.8 apg, 3.8 rpg, and 2.4 spg. Olsen is a crafty guard who can run the team if Pritchard’s scoring abilities need to be utilized against certain teams. West Linn doesn’t have great size, but Matthiessen and Shearmire are more than just space-eaters – they are skilled and their production can take this team to the next level.

The Skinny: West Linn put itself on the national map last season with a victory over No. 45 Wheeler at the Les Schwab Invitational in Portland and only lost to eventual FAB 50 champion Montverde Academy by 12 points in the tournament title game. That turned heads, but a week earlier the Cougars didn’t fare as well at the Tarkanian Classic, going 2-2 including a loss to No. 43 Centennial. So just how good is West Linn? It’s difficult to gauge based on last year’s results against national competition, but we know the Lions have a chance to be better than last year and know their veteran players have the ability to step up in big games.

45. (NR) Westfield (Chantilly, Va.) 27-2
Key Players: SF Tyler Scanlon (Boston University commit) 6-6 2016, PG Blake Francis 5-10 2016.
Why This Ranking: The Bulldogs finished last season as the No. 3 ranked team by the Washington Post behind top-ranked DeMatha Catholic and this season will begin as our No. 3 club from that region. There is a lot to like about Westfield, beginning with Scanlon (17.6 ppg). The talented wing earned third team All-Met honors and can hurt teams both inside and outside. Francis (16.8 ppg) was part of a team with a losing record as a sophomore, but his toughness, defense and big-shot ability helped propel Westfield to a 25-game winning steak last season. Cole Huling (5-10, 2016), who like Scanlon also plays football, Joe Katchmark (5-10, 2016) and Hank Johnson (6-3, 2016) are going to have to step up because Westfield won’t be sneaking up on anyone.
The Skinny: Similar to No. 34 Southport, this team has plenty of incentive heading into the season. Westfield had a four-point lead in the final minute of the Virginia Group 6A state title game and eventually fell, 47-46, on a put back shot in the final seconds. Coach Doug Ewell does have three graduated starters to replace and that dings his team a bit in these rankings. You have to like a team, however, that returns 35 points per game from its top two, is highly motivated and believes in the system. On the flip side, Westfield was looked at as a dark horse in 2014-15, but that certainly won’t be the case this season.

46. (12) Wheeler (Marietta, Ga.) 30-3
Key Players: PG Darius Perry 6-3 2017 (No. 58 ESPN.com), PF Romello White 6-9 2016 (No. 62 247Sports.com, Georgia Tech commit), SF Cameron Jordan 6-5 2016 (North Florida commit).
Why This Ranking: The Wildcats are coming off a historic season in which they won the Class AAAAAA title and earned a berth in Dick’s Nationals after the GHSA granted them a waiver. Coach Doug Lipscomb loses the services of first five all-american Jaylen Brown (CAL), but has a nice blend of returnees and newcomers and plays a tough enough national schedule to warrant a FAB 50 spot. Perry is a talented lead guard who gets things done on both ends of the floor. Jordan is a talented, yet underrated ring and a good candidate to have a breakout year. Wheeler probably lacked the size to be FAB 50 ranked until White transferred in from IMG Academy in Florida. He’s an athletic power forward who fits perfectly into Wheeler’s up tempo style. Another Florida transplant, Al-Wajid Aminu (6-6, 2016), gives the Wildcats even more firepower on the wing.
The Skinny: Even with one of the best players in the country on the team last season, Wheeler didn’t clinch the state title until Brown converted two free throws with less than one second remaining. The road to the Class AAAAAA title won’t be easy and if Lipscomb can’t find the right chemistry early, there will be other Georgia teams in the mix for its spot in the FAB 50. The veteran coach has a nice blend of quickness and size and loves the attitudes on this unit, so chemistry might not be a problem. Wheeler opens the City of Palms Tournament with talented Wesleyan Christian Academy of North Carolina and also tussles with highly-regarded La Lumiere of Indiana at the Cancer Research Classic.

47. (NR) Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.) 25-12
Key Players: PG Chris Lykes 5-7 2017, SG Prentus Hubb 6-3 2018 (No. 70 247Sports.com), SF Myles Dread 6-4 2018.
Why This Ranking: The defending Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC) champions return enough firepower to crack the FAB 50 as the third team from the nation’s most powerful conference/league. Gonzaga’s young players stepped up big-time in the post-season and are skilled enough and now experienced enough to challenge like likes of DeMatha, No. 36 St. John’s and No. 45 Westfield as the DMV’s top-ranked team. Lykes (13.9 ppg) was an all-WCAC pick as a sophomore and continues to makes strides as a dynamic scorer and team quarterback. He grew up a lot in the second half of last season and played a big part in the Eagles’ championship run. Gonzaga would not of had a turnaround season without the emergence of Hubb, one of the nation’s top sophomore recruits and a potential high major combo guard prospect. Dread is a top-notch defender and can score in a variety of ways around the basket and will continue to make Gonzaga a more dangerous team as he develops on the perimeter.
The Skinny: Gonzaga was a bubble team in last year’s preseason rankings after starting at No. 48 in 2013-14 when it was decimated by injuries and finished 12-17. Injuries last season actually might have been a silver lining as it allowed Hubb, who scored nine consecutive points late in the WCAC title game, and Eddie Scott (6-5, 2017) to develop. Coach Steve Turner loves his guard play and his teams usually excel when he has veteran backcourt players. How good Gonzaga will be ultimately depends on how well it can rebound the basketball.

48. (NR) Lima Senior (Lima, Ohio) 22-5
Key Players: SG Xavier Simpson 6-1 2016 (No. 42 Hoop Scoop, Grassroots Hoops Underclass All-American, Michigan commit), SG Jarius Ward 6-1 2017, SF Ruben Flowers III 6-4 2016 (Pittsburgh commit for football), PF Rico Stafford 6-6 2016, PF Marquevious Wilson 6-5 PF 2016.
Why This Ranking: The Spartans crack the FAB 50 as the No. 2 team from the Buckeye State. Garfield Heights was also considered as the third FAB 50 team from Ohio, but University of Detroit Jesuit would be the next team in from the Midwest region. There is a lot to like about coach Shawn Allen’s club, beginning with Simpson, the nephew of two-time Ohio Mr. Basketball Greg Simpson whose father Quincy Simpson is a Lima Senior coach. Xavier Simpson is a physical guard who averaged 24.0 ppg, 6 rpg and 6 apg as a junior and proved to be one of the top players at the prestigious Nike Peach Jam, where he averaged 19.2 ppg, 7 apg and 5 rpg. Ward should have a breakout season after battling injuries last season while Flowers, Stafford and Wilson bring intensity, physicality and a scoring punch inside.
The Skinny: With Simpson in the lineup and others with a load of experience, Lima Senior is one of the major contenders for the Ohio Division I state title along with Garfield Heights and Westerville South. Last season Lima Senior lost its first two games and the team could get off to a slow start again since Flowers and Stafford have duties for a football team currently 9-1. It wouldn’t surprise us if Lima Senior drops from the rankings, then re-appears when it hits its stride in January and February.

49. (6) Greensboro Day (Greensboro, N.C.) 33-3
Key Players: SF J.P. Moorman 6-5 2017, SF John Newman 6-5 2017, SG Will Dillard 6-1 2018 (No. 58 247Sports.com).
Why This Ranking: The Bengals earned a berth in Dick’s Nationals by defeating Harry Giles and Wesleyan Christian Academy for the North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association 3A state title and will field another solid team. Giles is now at FAB 50 title contender Oak Hill Academy, but WCA and High Point Christian Academy will battle it out with the Bengals for supremacy in the NCISAA’s Piedmont Conference. Dillard came up big in last season’s title run and Moorman and Newman bring talent and athleticism on the wings.
The Skinny: Greensboro Day plays great team defense and has big-game experience, a combination that warrants them a spot in the FAB 50. Greensboro Day doesn’t have overwhelming talent, but it has enough returning players and a system that veteran coach Fred Johnson implements that always makes the Bengals a tough out. The only team it didn’t beat on its schedule last season was FAB 50 champion Montverde Academy. If Moorman and Newman step up into leading roles and Walker Miller (6-8, 2016) and Adam Calhoun (6-8, 2018) give them enough production inside, the Bengals will have the firepower necessary to capture another state title.

50. (NR) Westtown School (West Chester, Pa.) 24-8
Key Players: PF Mohamed Bamba 6-10 2017 (No. 4 Hoop Scoop), SG Cameron Reddish 6-5 2018 (No. 3 Hoop Scoop, Grassroots Hoops Underclass All-American), PG Jair Bolden 6-4 2016.

Why This Ranking: The final spot in the FAB 50 came down to Westtown or Wing’s Academy of New York from the East Region, Norcross of Georgia or Memphis East from the Southeast Region and University of Detroit Jesuit from the Midwest. We decided to go with the Moose, a member of the Pennsylvania Independent Schools Athletic Association. Westtown School fell in the state final last season, but will be the favorites this time around. With the addition of Reddish, coach Seth Berger now has not one, but two, of the best players nationally in his respective class. The other player, if course, is Bamba, who displayed remarkable defensive ability and improved offense over the summer and is now considered one of the best players in the nation regardless of class.
The Skinny: We decided to take a bit of a gamble on a team that has plenty of offensive talent and the best player among the final teams considered, but lost eight games last year and is still young. Bolden is a D1 guard who gives Westtown School a veteran presence and should help the Moose in close games. He’ll need to have big games and provide leadership when the team plays at the City of Palms Classic, versus Advanced Prep International of Texas at the Cancer Research Classic and against Potter’s House Christian of Florida at the Hoop Hall Classic.

RELATED: Preseason 2015-16 FAB 50 (1-15) | Preseason 2015-16 FAB 50 (16-30) | Preseason Regional Top 20 Rankings

Ronnie Flores is the national Grassroots editor of www.ebooksnet.com. He can be reached at [email protected]. Don't forget to follow him on Twitter: @RonMFlores

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