RELATED: ?Preseason 2022-23 Mr. Basketball USA Tracker | | ??| BIL McDonald's All-American Game Archives | ?McDAAG Case: Ja'Kobe?Walter?| Texans in McDAAG: Then vs. Now!

McDonald's All-American Game Notes & Tidbits

*The 2023 game is will be played at the Toyota Center in Houston, March 28 (9 pm ET, ESPN).?The 2020 game was to be played at the same location, but was canceled because of COVID-19, as was the 2021 game.

*The first recognized team in 1977 had 15 players and actually played against the DMV team in the Capital Classic, which began in 1974. The actual East vs. West format began in 1978 at the Spectrum in Philadelphia.

*Every NCAA championship team since 1978 has had a McDonald’s All-American on its roster except three: 2002 Maryland, 2014 UConn, 2021 Baylor.

*Despite scoring 30 points and hitting the game-winning free throws in the 1981 McDonald’s All-American Game to give his East team a 96-95 victory, Michael Jordan was not named Game MVP for the Est. That honor went to DeMatha Catholic’s Adrian Branch, who went on to play at Maryland. It was the second major slight of Jordan's high school career. The first one was not being named one of the top 500 seniors in the nation in the preseason Street & Smith’s Magazine Basketball Annual. Jordan's mother Deloris was the one most upset with that.

*A majority of the teams that have finished No. 1 in the FAB 50 National Team Rankings or by the National Sports News Service before 1987-88 has had a McDonald’s All-American on the roster. The five mythical national championship teams that did not have a future McDonald’s All-American on its roster are: 2009-10 Yates (Houston, Texas), 1998-99 Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.), 1994-95 St. Augustine (New Orleans, La.), 1985-86 Camden (N.J.) and 1985 Spingarn (Washington, D.C.). Five other teams didn’t have a senior McDonald’s All-American, but had a future one as an underclassmen: 2010-11 St. Anthony (Jersey City, N.J.) with junior Kyle Anderson, 2004-05 Niagara Falls (N.Y.) with sophomore Johnny Flynn, 1999-00 Dominguez (Compton, Calif.) with junior Tyson Chandler, 1995-96 St. Anthony (Jersey City, N.J.) with junior Anthony Perry and 1990-91 Simon Gratz (Philadelphia, Pa.) with sophomore Rasheed Wallace.

Programs with the Most McDonald’s All-Americans

35: Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of WIlson, Va.) 1980
14: Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.), 2013
12: DeMatha Catholic (Hyattsville, Md.) 1979
10: Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.) 2009
10: IMG Academy (Brandenton, Fla.) 2017
9: Prolific Prep (Napa, Calif.) 2016
8: St. Anthony (Jersey City, N.J.) 1984
7: Dunbar (Baltimore, Md.) 1983
7: Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) 1984
6: Camden (N.J.) 1981
6: Roman Catholic (Philadelphia, Pa.) 1978
6: Wheeler (Marietta, Ga.) 1995

Note: Program listed by first year team member selected. Findlay Prep and St. Anthony are now closed. The only Oak Hill Academy McDonald’s All-American selection who wasn’t coached by recently retired coach Steve Smith was Glen Mayers in 1980.

*Bronny James is the fifth McDonald’s All-American from Sierra Canyon in the last four seasons.

*IMG Academy has produced all of its All-Americans selections since 2016-17 and is the first program to have three players selected in the same year, when the 2019 FAB 50 No. 1 team produced Armando Bacot Jr., Josh Green and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl. IMG Academy then produced three players for a single game once again in 2022 with Jaden Bradley, Jarace Walker and Keyonte George. The 2020 FAB 50 title team at Montverde Academy also had three selections: Mr. Basketball USA Cade Cunningham, first five Elite All-American Scottie Barnes and forward Day'Ron Sharpe.?

*The first pair of teammates selected to the McDonald’s All-American Game were Aaron Bain and George Lynch in 1989 at Flint Hill Prep (Roanoke, Va.).

*Since 2017, the teams that make up the National Interscholastic Basketball Conference (NIBC), plus Prolific Prep (Napa, Calif.) and now defunct Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.) account for over 27 percent (46 of a possible 168) of all the MCDonald’s All-American selections. The high mark was 11 of the 24 in 2022.

*Milt Wagner (1981), Dujuan Wagner (2001) and D.J. Wagner (2023) is the first father-son-grandson combo to ever play in the game.

*In the 1981 game in Wichita, Kan., Milt went 4-of-12 from the field, 1-of-2 from the line for 9 points as his East team won 96-95. In the 2001 game at Cameron Indoor Stadium at Duke, Dajuan went 7-of-15 from the field, 7-of-8 from the line for 25 points, but the West team won, 131-125.

*The Wagner trio all attended Camden (N.J.) High School and all three played for nationally ranked teams. Only one of the other father-son McDonald’s All-American duos attended the same high school (James Blackmon Sr. and Jr.). There have been eight other father-son duos and this year is the second time two sons of former McDonald’s All-Americans both play in the same game, joining James Blackmon Jr. and Justise Winslow in 2014.

*Bronny James (Sierra Canyon, Chatsworth, Calif.) joins his father, LeBron James, who played in the 2003 game in Cleveland, approximately 40 miles from his high school St. Vincent-St. Mary (Akron, Ohio). James had 27 points, seven rebounds and seven assists in the East’s 122-107 victory in front of 18,728 at Gund Arena. James played in two other all-star games, helping to draw 19,678 to the Roundball Classic?at the United Center in Chicago. He also played in the 2003 Capital Classic, where 18,424 saw the annual game at the MCI Center.

Other Father-Son McDAAG Duos (In Order Prior to 2023):

Doc Rivers, Proviso East (Maywood, Ill.) 1980 & Austin Rivers, Winter Park (Fla.) 2011
James Blackmon Sr., Marion (Ind.) 1983 & James Blackmon Jr., Marion (Ind.) 2014
Ricky Winslow, Yates (Houston) 1983 & Justise Winslow, St. John’s (Houston) 2014
Rick Brunson, Salem (Mass.) 1991 & Jalen Brunson, Stevenson (Lincolnshire, Ill.) 2015
Charles Bannon Sr., Artesia (Lakewood, Calif.) 1993 & Charles O’Bannon Jr., Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.) 2017
Lester Earl, Glen Oaks (Baton Rouge, La.) 1996 & Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) 2019
Gary Springer, Ben Franklin (New York) 1980 & Jaden Springer, IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) 2020

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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RELATED: All-Time Mr. Basketball USA Winners?| Final 2021-22 Mr. Basketball USA Tracker?

When putting together the 2022-23 preseason FAB 50 National Team Rankings, it was evident this was going to be a wide-open season. There was no dominant high school team over the other elite ones. On that note, it wasn't difficult to peg FAB 50 power and six-time national champion Montverde Academy (Fla.) as preseason No. 1. It was the safe pick. ?

On November 22, preseason No. 4 AZ Compass Prep (Chandler, Ariz.), playing in its first-ever National Interscholastic Basketball Conference (NIBC) game, downed Montverde Academy, 65-54. If this early-season game is any indication, the race for the FAB 50 national title will be wide open. ?

The same can be said about the nation's most prestigious individual honor: Mr. Basketball USA. If the preseason voting results by the 10-man tracker panel is any indication, a number of worthy candidates can emerge as the nation's best player for the 2022-23 season. In a season in which 21 players received recognition as a national player of the year candidate, five different candidates received at least one first-place vote (worth 10 points) and four more received at least one second-place vote (worth nine points).?

The top vote-getter in the?Mr. Basketball USA Tracker powered by www.ebooksnet.com with 71 total points was Kentucky-bound guard D.J. Wagner of preseason FAB 50 No. 7 Camden (N.J.). Wagner was the returning top vote-getter in last season's final balloting (coming in fifth place behind Mr. Basketball USA honoree Dariq Whitehead?of Montverde Academy in Florida) and led the way to begin this season by garnering four first place votes, two second place votes, a third place vote and one sixth place vote. Wagner appeared on eight ballots and no player among the?21 candidates appeared on all ten ballots. So for now Wagner leads the way, but based on the 16-year history of the tracker, where the eventual honoree usually appears on all 10 ballots and receives over 90 points, he's not a slam dunk choice. At least not yet, as Camden opens up its season in early December. ?

Similar to Montverde Academy on the team side, it would seem Wagner is a solid and the safe?choice in a year where there is no sure-fire future No. 1 NBA Draft choice.?

"No one in the senior class has established himself over the class, so D.J. (Wagner) holds up, because no one wanted it enough," said said panel member Van Coleman of Global Sports Television and Nothing But Net Magazine. "The most improved player of the summer was Cameron Boozer. If he has a season like he played at the NBPA Top 100 Camp, he could be the one. He's on course to be a special player."

Boozer, a sophomore (2025 class) at FAB 50 No. 18 Columbus (Miami, Fla.), received one first place vote and came in fourth place overall with 40 points while appearing on six ballots. Kentucky-bound Justin Edwards of No. 10 Imhotep Charter (Philadelphia, Pa.) received one first place vote and finished tied for fifth place with returning All-American Ronald Holland of No. 7 Duncanville (Texas), who did not garner a first place vote, but did receive two second place votes and appeared on five ballots. Both Edwards and Holland finished with 36 overall points.

Michigan St.-bound big man Xavier Booker of No. 13 Cathedral (Indianapolis, Ind.) also garnered a single first place vote, in addition to two second place votes, and came in No. 3 overall in total points with 43. Coming in No. 2 overall behind Wagner with 57 overall points was USC-bound power guard Isaiah Collier of No. 12 Wheeler (Marietta, Ga.). Collier garnered three first place votes, but no second place votes. His point total also consisted of two third place votes, one fourth place vote and one seventh place vote.

While we've known for a while the 2023 class has some work to do to match the accomplishments of the elites of recent classes, the sophomore class looks like it could develop into the best one since the 2020 class that included second year NBA players Cade Cunningham (Pistons), Evan Mobley (Cavs), Jalen Green (Rockets) and Scottie Barnes (Raptors). Not only is Boozer, the son of former NBA player Carlos Boozer, a legit national player of the year candidate, Montverde Academy's Cooper Flagg and guard Meleek Thomas of Lincoln Park Performing Arts (Midland, Pa.) were two other sophomores that also received recognition from the tracker panel.

Only two sophomores have been first five All-Americans in the last 25 years: NBA star?LeBron James of St. Vincent-St. Mary (Akron, Ohio) in 2000-01 and Eastern Michigan wing?Emoni Bates of Lincoln (Ypsilanti, Mich.) in 2019-20. By the middle of his sophomore year when he had a spectacular outing against eventual FAB 50 champ Oak Hill Academy (Va.) in a one-point loss, there were whispers James was the best player in the country over any seniors. That 2001 class, ironically, included Wagner's father and eventual Mr. Basketball USA honoree Dajuan Wagner, who was a teammate for a time in the NBA with James.

D.J. Wagner, Dajuan and grandfather Milt (a 1981 All-American at Camden) are likely to be the first ever third generation McDonald's All-Americans next March. Should D.J. earn Mr. Basketball USA honors, he and his father would become the first father-son national player of the year combo.?

Bates finished fourth in the 2010-20 season's Mr. Basketball USA voting behind honoree Cunningham, Mobley and Green. Bates was the first sophomore ever to earn a credible national player of the year honor (Gatorade). Is what transpired to Bates over the past two years keeping Boozer from being the top candidate this season? Will the tracker panel have some reservations about placing a sophomore on too high of a pedestal? ? ? ? ?

LISTEN and WATCH (23:39) what the hosts of Ballislife's podcast have to say about the Boozer-Bates dynamic and their breakdown of the preseason Mr. Basketball USA voting.?

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Related: 2021-22 Underclass All-American Elite Team | 2021-22 Mr. Basketball USA: Dariq Whitehead?| 2021-22 Class Players of the Year

The 2021-22 All-American Elite Team, now published for the 28th consecutive season and on the www.ebooksnet.com platform for the eighth time, includes twenty-seven of the nation’s best seniors, led by Mr. Basketball USA Dariq Whitehead of FAB 50 No. 2 Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.).

Eighteen seniors and two juniors, including class player of the year DJ Wagner of FAB 50 No. 12 Camden (N.J.) and Ron Holland, the top honors candidate off the No. 1 ranked team in the FAB 50, Duncanville (Texas), headline the 20-player overall first team. The lone repeater off last year’s team is senior Amari Bailey, a third five selection as a junior. Bailey battled injuries put played well enough down the stretch to earn fourth five honors for FAB 50 No. 32 Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.). ??Jalen Duren, last season’s national junior of the year and a first five selection, re-classified up to the 2021 class and enrolled at Memphis. This comes on the heels of Patrick Baldwin Jr., the national junior of the year in 2019-20, sitting out the majority of his senior year with injury. In addition to Duren, Emoni Bates also re-classed up and played at Memphis in 2021-22. Bates was the first sophomore since LeBron James in 2000-01 to earn five five All-American honors. In 2020-21, Bates joined Bailey as a third five honoree.

With Scoot Henderson of Kell (Marietta, Ga.), a fourth five selection last season, graduated early from high school to sign with the NBA G League Ignite and with Duren and Bates moving on, this year’s All-American Elite team was sure to have some few faces rewarded for their season-long production. The early departures does change the high school game and alter NBA Draft boards for 2022 and 2023, but there are always hungry and talented players ready to step up and take the place of those that likely would have been returning All-Americans. ??This year’s All-American Elite team is dominated by players from the eight-team National Interscholastic Basketball Conference?(NIBC), which enjoyed its first full conference slate in 2021-22. In addition to Whitehead, six other talented NIBC players made the 20-man first team.

A 30-player second team includes 29 additional seniors. All underclassmen are eligible for All-American Elite team selection and this year’s second team includes Simeon Wilcher of Roselle Catholic (Roselle, N.J.), the lone junior. No sophomore was selected for first or second team and in 28 seasons of publishing annual All-American teams (and on the retroactive teams dating back to the 1954-55 season), no freshman has ever made the first team.

Our national coach of the year is Joe Auer of Wichita Heights (Wichita, Kan.). He guided the Falcons to their sixth KSHAA state title since 2008-09. The Falcons finished 23-2 and ranked No. 19 in the final Southwest Region Top 20 Rankings.

National Grassroots Editor Ronnie Flores selects this performance-based All-American team with input from Mr. Basketball USA panelists. It is chosen after the conclusion of the season, which makes the All-American Elite 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 eighth 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 view archived All-American teams published under this format, please visit GrassrootsHoops.net.

2021-22 All-American First Team

First Five

G — Cason Wallace, Richardson (Texas) 6-3 Sr.
Although the Eagles were stunned in the UIL Class 6A regional quarterfinals when they were No. 7 in the FAB 50, Wallace was able to lead Richardson to a win over No. 1 Duncanville and to a 32-2 mark. Wallace went for 23 points vs. Duncanville and was named Whataburger Tournament MVP. The two-time District 7-6A Co-MVP averaged 19.9 ppg, 7.4 rpg and 6.1 apg after recording junior season averages of 19.4 ppg, 8.4 rpg and 4.3 apg when Richardson reached the UIL Class 6A semifinals. The Dallas Morning News Player of the Year, Wallace is a two-time all-state honoree and was noted as the team’s best scorer, rebounder and defender by coach Kevin Lawson. He had 7 points and 6 assists in the McDonald’s All-American Game and 15 points in the Jordan Brand Classic.

G — Keyonte George, IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) 6-3 Sr.
Arguably the best scoring guard in the country, George had a terrific senior season in leading IMG Academy to a GEICO Nationals semifinal spot and 21-5 record against tough competition. With point guard Jaden Bradley out, George averaged 21.5 ppg and 5.5 rpg in IMG’s two games at GEICO Nationals. For the season, the Baylor recruit averaged 17 ppg, 4.7 rpg and 3.1 apg, including a 40-point outing in a double-overtime loss to fellow NIBC club La Lumiere (Ind.). He was named to the McDonald’s and Jordan Brand games and also appeared in the Nike Hoop Summit. George was also the third leading vote-getter in the final Mr. Basketball USA Tracker (64 points) and joined Dariq Whitehead as the only two players to appear on all 10 ballots.

G — Dariq Whitehead, Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) 6-5 Sr.
This Newark, New Jersey native spent five seasons at the famous Florida program and developed into the nation’s top player as a senior when he led the Eagles to a 22-4 mark and No. 2 final FAB 50 ranking. He contributed heavily to four teams that finished 93-8 against the finest competition in the nation. As a sophomore, he came off the bench and averaged 8.3 ppg and 2.7 rpg for one of the best teams in high school history. As a junior, he helped MVA win its second consecutive FAB 50 title by netting 10.4 ppg on another balanced team. This season Whitehead stepped up his game after 2021 junior player of the year Jalen Duren (Memphis) re-classed up. Whitehead hit the big jumpshot in the GEICO Nationals title game win over Link Academy and averaged 15.7 ppg, 5.7 apg, and 3.0 rpg in three games at the event. For the season, the 2022 Mr. Basketball USA averaged 17.1 ppg, 5.1 rpg and 3.8 apg. He was named MVP at the McDonald’s All-American Game (13 pts, 7 rbs, 7 asts) and also shined for Team USA at the Nike Hoop Summit with a team high 17 points, including 5-of-7 3-pointers.

F — Gradey Dick, Sunrise Christian Academy (Bel Aire, Kan.) 6-6 Sr.
This Kansas-bound wing had a terrific senior campaign for a team that spent plenty of the regular season at No. 1 in the FAB 50. Although the Buffaloes were upset in the first round of GEICO Nationals and Dick didn’t finish his season as he would have liked, it doesn’t take away from his overall production and the step up in his game after a junior season in which he averaged 10.3 ppg and 3.9 rpg. In the first full season for the National Interscholastic Basketball Conference (NIBC), which is comprised of many of the top independent academies in the country, Dick was its Player of the Year after averaging 18 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 2 apg and 2 spg. The Gatorade National POY was selected for the Nike Hoop Summit and McDonald’s Game.

C — Dereck Lively II, Westtown School (West Chester, Pa.) 7-1 Sr.
No player in the 2022 national class kept improving as Lively did over the course of his career. He produced enough to finish as the No. 2 vote-getter in the final Mr. Basketball USA Tracker after not receiving any votes as a junior. He started high school backing up Jalen Duren (Memphis) on Team Final’s 15U team, but developed enough to led the 2021 EYBL in blocked shots (3.7 bpg) and added 8.4 ppg and 6.7 rpg in 15 outings. Lively then led Peach Jam in blocked shots, as Team Final captured the prestigious event title for the first time in program history. Lively followed up that terrific summer run with an outstanding senior campaign. He averaged 14 ppg, 15 rpg, and 4.5 bpg for a 31-7 team that won the Pennsylvania Independent Schools Athletic Association (PISAA) state title.

Second Five

G — Nick Smith Jr., North Little Rock (Ark.) 6-4 Sr.
Teaming up with fellow McDonald’s All-American and second team selection Kel’el Ware (Oregon), this dynamic guard had a monster senior season for a 27-3 team that played a national schedule and finished No. 17 in the FAB 50. Smith averaged 26.5 ppg, 8 rpg, and 7.3 apg after pumping in 25 ppg during his junior season at Sylvan Hills (Sherwood, Ark.). A two-time State Player of the Year by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Smith finished his season strong at the national all-star games. He was named MVP at the Jordan Brand Classic (27 points, 5-7 3-point FG) and had 10 points and three assists for Team USA at the Nike Hoop summit. At least one national recruiting service feels he’s the No. 1 prospect in the class and he’s the state’s highest rated recruit since 1992 first five selection Corliss Williamson (Russellville, Ark.). That season, Williamson finished ranked No. 2 by both All-Star Sports (behind Othella Harrington) and the Hoop Scoop (behind Mr. Basketball USA Jason Kidd). Similar to Williamson, Smith will play his college ball at Arkansas.

G — DJ Wagner, Camden (Camden, N.J.) 6-3 Jr.
This year’s national junior of the year has been much publicized since entering a school where his father (Dajuan Wagner) and grandfather (Milt Wagner) had All-American careers. D.J. has been named all-state twice and also earned national freshman of the year honors in 2019-20 and the national sophomore of the year in 2020-21, the latter when he averaged 22 ppg and led his team to a 13-0 mark. This season Wagner finally got a full campaign against a national schedule after COVID-19 protocols slowed Jersey teams in his first two years, and he was equally spectacular. Wagner led The High to a 31-3 mark and its first appearance in the NJ TOC title game since 1999-2000. Along the way, he averaged 19.8 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 3.5 spg, and 3.3 apg and was named NJ.com Player of the Year. A two-time Gatorade State POY with his senior season left to go, Wagner has led Camden to a 73-4 mark in his three varsity seasons.

G — Chris Livingston, Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va) 6-6 Sr.
This talented wing has been one of the best players in his class since he averaged 23.7 ppg as a freshman at Butchel (Akron, Ohio). He would be in similar position, honors-wise, if he stayed in Ohio, but Livingston wanted to challenge himself against better players more similar in size to the defenders he’ll see in college. This competitive big guard was the Warriors’ top offensive threat and also played hard on the defensive end. For the season, Livingston averaged 18.1 ppg, 9.11 rbg and 3.2 apg in leading Oak Hill to a 33-8 mark and No. 8 FAB 50 ranking in Steve Smith’s final season as coach. Smith’s 34th and final McDonald’s All-American, Livingston had 13 points and five assists in the East’s victory over the West and also had a 21-point, 3-steal outing at the Jordan Brand Classic.

F — Ron Holland, Duncanville (Duncanville, Texas) 6-8 Jr.
Was edged by D.J. Wagner for national junior player of the year, but he would have been a fine selection nonetheless as one of the two big guns on the No. 1 team in the FAB 50. Despite playing on a talented and balanced team that had four players average over 9 ppg, Holland’s individual talent shined on both ends of the floor. As a freshman, Holland came off the bench (4.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg) for a club that was denied a chance at the UIL Class 6A state title because of COVID-19 and last year averaged 13.8 ppg and 10.1 rpg for a 29-1 club that finished No. 10 in the FAB 50. One of the better rebounders in the country, Holland developed into the leading scorer for the Panthers playing alongside McDonald’s All-American and second team All-American selection Anthony Black. Black was named District 11-6A Offensive Player of the Year, but it was Holland who was its overall POY after averaging 15 ppg while shooting 60 percent from the field while adding 8 rpg and 2 spg.

C — Braden Huff, Glenbard West (Glen Ellyn, Ill.) 6-11 Sr.
?One of the best and most versatile pivots in the country, Huff beat opponents with an array of offensive moves, defensive smarts and team play. After averaging 17.5 ppg, 6.5 rpg and 2.8 apg for a 13-1 team whose 2020-21 season was cut short by COVID-19, big things were expected of Huff and the Hilltoppers in 2021-22. They more than delivered, finishing No. 13 in the FAB 50 with a 37-1 record after starting out at No. 29. Huff was the catalyst, as he averaged 16.8 ppg, 6 rpg, 3 apg, 1.5 spg and 1.5 bpg for a team that lost its only game to a nationally-ranked foe at the buzzer. The Chicago Sun-Times Player of the Year, Huff was also the top vote-getter on the A.P Class 4A All-State Team. He was focused to have a big season, delivered and is now headed to Gonzaga.

Third Five

G — Donovan Dent, Centennial (Corona, Calif.) 6-2 Sr.
Perhaps no player in the country elevated his All-American candidacy based on his senior year as much as this New Mexico-bound point guard. He was the catalyst for the No. 5 team in the FAB 50 that finished with a 33-1 record and won the program’s first ever CIF Open Division title. Even quality defensive players can’t stay in front of Dent because of his first-step quickness and instincts. Dent averaged 16.4 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 6.7 apg and 1.9 spg after leading the team in scoring (15.4 ppg) and assists (4.3 apg) as a junior when the Huskies went 21-2 and won their first of two consecutive CIFSS open division titles. The Player of the Year by the Riverside Press Enterprise and L.A. Times, he’s also been named State Player of the Year by Cal-Hi Sports.

G — Cameron Whitmore, Archbishop Spalding (Severn, Md.) 6-7 Sr.
Had an honors-filled career for the Cavaliers and closed his high school career strong on the national all-star circuit. He had 16 points, nine rebounds and four assists at the Jordan Brand Classic and a team-high 19 points, eight rebounds, five assists and two steals at the McDonald’s All-American Game. A model of consistency at Archbishop Spalding, Whitmore averaged 21.4 ppg, 10.6 rpg, 2.3 apg and 1.6 spg as a senior after putting up 22.0 ppg and 11.7 rpg game as a junior. The two-time Baltimore Catholic League Player of the Year is headed to Villanova.

F — Dillon Mitchell, Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) 6-7 Sr.
Similar to Dent, Mitchell was another who elevated his game as a senior after playing at two different Florida programs as an underclassman. The Mr. Basketball panel took notice of his improved play after helping the Eagles finish No. 2 in the FAB 50, as he appeared on five final ballots, including two fourth-place votes. After averaging 12.4 ppg, 9.5 rpg and 4.4 apg at Sickles (Fla.) as a sophomore, Mitchell helped Bishop McLaughlin (Spring Hill, Fla.) to the Class 3 state final last season by averaging 17.6 ppg and 10.6 rpg. His numbers at MVA were modest, but it was an honors-filled season for one of the most athletic and versatile players in the nation. Mitchell was named MVP of the City of Palms Classic and played well at GEICO Nationals (11.9 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 1.4 bpg). He also had nine points, four rebounds and two steals at the McDonald’s All-American game, and led his team to the win and copped MVP honors at the Jordan Brand Classic with 18 points.

F — Jarace Walker, IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) 6-6 Sr. ?
This physical forward has been on the national scene since middle school and we recall him providing a spark off the bench (7.1 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 2.3 apg) on the Ascenders’ FAB 50 title team as a freshman. He was a terrific defender who did a bit of everything as a sophomore (8.8 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 5.3 apg, 1.5 spg, 1.5 bpg), but battled injuries as a junior when he averaged 10.1 ppg, 6.5 rpg and 3.5 apg. Walker improved his all-around offensive repertoire as a senior while still being physically dominant on both ends of the floor. It resulted in 16.7 ppg (68 percent from the field), 8.2 rpg, 4.0 apg, and 2.2 bpg for a GEICO Nationals semifinalist. He’s headed to Houston.

F — Brandon Miller, Cane Ridge (Nashville, Tenn.) 6-8 Sr.
Draws positive raves for his long-term potential, but backs it up with terrific production for the Ravens. As a junior, Miller led Cane Ridge to the Division I Class AAA state finals by averaging 23.3 ppg, 8.4 rpg and 2.6 bpg. Individually he was even better in 2021-22, even though the Ravens fell in the state quarterfinals and finished 25-7. Miller averaged 26.9 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 2.4 apg and 2.1 spg and was named TSAA Class AAAA Mr. Basketball. He finished with over 2,100 career points.

Fourth Five

G — Collin Chandler, Farmington (Utah) 6-5 Sr.
Arguably the biggest snub in the national all-star game selections, Chandler is a high-level athlete, a terrific scorer and fearless competitor. He led Farmington to the second round of the Class 6A state tourney after averaging 21.7 ppg. 4.3 rpg, 2.8 apg and 1.7 spg. For his efforts, the three-time all-state honoree was chosen Gatorade State Player of the Year. He’s headed to BYU and will take a two-year Mormon Mission before enrolling in college in 2024.

G — Amari Bailey, Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.) 6-5 Sr.
One of the most explosive players in the country, Bailey is the only repeat first team selection after earning California Mr. Basketball honors as a junior when he averaged 29.2 ppg, 9.1 rpg and 6.5 apg. He is a talented scorer, but also a capable defender and spark plug on that end of the floor. He drops to fourth five in 2021-22 because he played a fragmented season, averaging 18.5 ppg, 5.6 rpg and 2.9 apg in 15 games as Sierra Canyon juggled multiple lineups throughout the season. Bailey closed strong, however, netting 15 points in the Jordan Brand Classic and 10 points apiece in the McDonald’s Game and Nike Hoop Summit.

G — Fletcher Loyer, Homestead (Ft. Wayne, Ind.) 6-4 Sr.
Capped an honors-filled career by earning Gatorade State Player of the Year honors and winning a national 3-point contest during Final Four weekend in Louisiana. The younger brother of Foster Loyer, he joins his older brother as a first team selection, as the Michigan State guard was a first five selection at Clarkston (Mich.) in 2018. Fletcher also started his career at Clarkston, where he started as a freshman and averaged 21.8 ppg as a sophomore. As a junior in his first season at Homestead, Loyer shot at a 50-40-90 clip and finished the season averaging 24.4 ppg, 4.9 rpg and 4.5 apg. His big senior season saw him average 26.9 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 3.6 apg and 2.2 spg for a team that reached the regional semifinals. The Purdue recruit finished with 2,163 career points.

F — Mark Mitchell, Sunrise Christian Academy (Bel Aire, Kan.) 6-8 Sr.
After earning underclass All-American honors in each of his three seasons at Bishop Miege (Shawnee Mission, Kan.), this talented left-handed slashing scorer joined a Buffaloes program that competed for the NIBC title. He helped the program spend a majority of the regular season at No. 1 in the FAB 50 by averaging 16.1 ppg, 6.0 rpg and 2.7 apg. He joins teammate Gradey Dick on first team, as two other NIBC clubs (Montverde Academy, IMG Academy) also had two players honored on first team. Mitchell netted a team-high 19 points in the McDonald’s All-American Game.

C — Donovan Clingan, Bristol Central (Bristol, Conn.) 6-10 Sr.
One of the best players in state history, Clingan capped a stellar four-year career by averaging 30.1 ppg, 18.4 rpg and 6.2 bpg for the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC) Division II champs. Clingan’s in-state dominance included shooting 73 percent on two-point field goals and 33 percent from outside the arc for a 28-0 team. In 2020-21, he led his team to a 15-0 mark and its first Central Connecticut Conference title since 2002-03 by averaging 27.3 ppg, 17.2 rpg and 5.8 bpg. A four-time All-CCC selection, Clingan was a three-time all-state choice and two-time GameTimeCT State Player of the Year. The Connecticut recruit finished with 2,268 career points (No. 7 all-time in CIAC) and set school career marks with 1,518 rebounds and 540 career blocks.

2021-22 All-American Second Team

G — Dylan Andrews, AZ Compass Prep (Chandler, Ariz.) 6-4 Sr.
F — Terrance Arceneaux, Beaumont United (Beaumont, Texas) 6-7 Sr.
G — Mark Armstrong, St. Peter’s Prep (South Orange, N.J.) 6-2 Sr.
F — Tobe Awaka, Cardinal Hayes (Bronx, N.Y.) 6-8 Sr.
G — Anthony Black, Duncanville (Duncanville, Texas) 6-7 Sr.
C — Adem Bona, Prolific Prep (Napa, Calif.) 6-9 Sr.
F — Darren Buchanan, Wilson (Washington, D.C.) 6-7 Sr.
F — Barry Dunning, McGill-Toolen (Mobile, Ala.) 6-7 Sr.
F — Derrian Ford, Magnolia (Ark.) 6-4 Sr.
F — Taylor Hendricks, Calvary Christian (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) 6-9 Sr.
C — Joe Hurlburt, Enderlin Area (Enderlin, N.D.) 6-11 Sr.
F — Jasen Green, Millard North (Omaha, Neb.) 6-8 Sr.
G — Rylan Griffen, Richardson (Texas) 6-4 Sr.
G — Ja’Kwon Hill, Volcano Vista (Albuquerque, N.M.) 6-2 Sr.
G — Trejuan Holloman, Cretin-Derham Hall (St. Paul, Minn.) 6-2 Sr.
G — Joseph “JoJo” Hunter, San Joaquin Memorial (Fresno, Calif.) 6-4 Sr.
G — Ricky “Pop Pop” Isaacs Jr., Coronado (Henderson, Nev.) 6-2 Sr.
G — Aidan Mahaney, Campolindo (Moraga, Calif.) 6-2 Sr.
G — Arterio Morris, Kimball (Dallas, Texas) 6-3 Sr.
F — Tarris Reed, Link Academy (Branson, Mo.) 6-9 Sr.
G — Brice Sensebaugh, Lake Highland Prep (Orlando, Fla.) 6-6 Sr.
G — Braden Smith, Westfield (Ind.) 6-1 Sr.
G — J.J. Starling, La Lumiere (La Porte, Ind.) 6-4 Sr.
G — Bruce Thornton, Milton (Ga.) 6-2 Sr.
G — Seth Trimble, Menomonee Falls (Wis.) 6-3 Sr.
F — Jordan Walsh, Link Academy (Branson, Mo.) 6-7 Sr.
C — Kel’el Ware, North Little Rock (Ark.) 7-0 Sr.
G —Tre White, Prolific Prep (Napa, Calif.) 6-5 Sr.
G — Simeon Wilcher, Roselle Catholic (Roselle, N.J.) 6-4 Jr.
F — Darrion Williams, Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.) 6-6 Sr.

Related: 2021-22 Underclass All-American Elite Team | 2021-22 Mr. Basketball USA: Dariq Whitehead?| 2021-22 Class Players of the Year

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 2021-22 High School All-American Elite Team appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

Related: 2021-22 All-American Elite Team | 2021-22 Mr. Basketball USA: Dariq Whitehead?| 2021-22 Class Players of the Year

Three juniors named to the 28th Annual All-American Elite Team headline a group of 80 elite players selected to the 2021-22 Underclass All-American team powered by www.ebooksnet.com.

Shooting guard DJ Wagner of Camden (Camden, N.J.), this year’s National Junior of the Year, was named to the overall All-American Elite second five and came in fifth place in the final Mr. Basketball USA Tracker. Wagner has been named class player of the year in each of his first three seasons.?Ron Holland, the ringleader for the No. 1 team in the FAB 50 at Duncanville (Texas), was also a second five selection. ??A third junior, Simeon Wilcher of Roselle Catholic (Roselle, N.J.), was the lone underclassman to make the 30-man second team. Wilcher led his team to the final New Jersey Tournament of Champions title over Wagner’s Camden club. Wilcher averaged 17.5 ppg, 6.5 rpg and 7.1 apg for the No. 9 team in the FAB 50 and went for 22 points, seven rebounds and five assists in the TOC title game.

Each season, players classifying up in order to speed up the recruiting process or transfer in hopes the move will be more advantageous to their development and this off-season is no different.

Marvel Allen, a terrific guard from Calvary Christian Academy (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.), has already announced he will spend his senior season at Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.). Forward Naasir Cunningham of Gill St. Bernard’s (Gladstone, N.J.), one of the top sophomores in the country, has announced he will forgo his final two seasons of traditional high school eligibility to sign with Overtime Elite. ??OTE was created as an alternative route to professional basketball outside the path the majority of prospects take, which is NCAA college basketball. Normally signing with OTE signals the end of amateur stats, as the fledging league has been promoted as one that offers a salary to young basketball players. It’s been reported Cunningham will forgo an OTE salary, which is designed to preserve his eligibly to play NCAA basketball should he choose that route after his time with OTE.

OTE will explore Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) endorsement deals for Cunningham. Some state laws prohibit or restrict NIL deals for high school athletes, but in most states it is not illegal or against state association rules to sign an endorsement deal, provided that endorsement is not facilitated with the athlete wearing or promoting garments or items trademarked and/or licensed by the state association or the NCAA.

Despite some of these underclass All-Americans being perceived with NIL valuations up to seven figures by recruiting networks, not many details for the few NIL deals that do exist for high school athletes have been made public.

Will NIL eventually have a major impact at the high school level in light of the various laws and policies around the country? NIL will eventually be regulated to some extent at the NCAA level since all the programs fall under the jurisdiction of the NCAA. That uniform regulation won’t exist at the high school level.

Regardless of where NIL is headed at the collegiate and high school level, expect more player movement as the summer rolls on.

National Grassroots Editor Ronnie Flores selects this performance-based squad with input from Mr. Basketball USA panelists. It is chosen after the conclusion of the season, which makes the Underclass All-American Team more reflective of players who made state championship runs.

Our national coach of the year is Joe Auer of Wichita Heights (Wichita, Kan.).

Juniors to Watch (2023)

G — Marvel Allen, Calvary Christian (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) 6-4
F — Matas Buzelis, Brewster Academy (Wolfeboro, N.H.) 6-9
G — Layden Blocker, Sunrise Christian Academy (Bel Aire, Kan.) 6-2
G — Kylan Boswell, AZ Compass Prep (Chandler, Ariz.) 6-1
G — Stephon Castle, Newton (Covington, Ga.) 6-6
G — Isaiah Collier, Wheeler (Marietta, Ga.) 6-2
G — Gabe Cupps, Centerville (Centerville, Ohio) 6-2
G — Freddie Dilione, Word of God (Raleigh, N.C.) 6-5
G — Robert Dillingham, Donda Academy (Simi Valley, Calif.) 6-2
F — Justin Edwards, Imhotep Charter (Philadelphia, Pa.) 6-7
C — Baye Fall, Denver Prep (Denver, Col.) 6-10
G — Caleb Foster, Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) 6-2
C — Brandon Garrison, Del City (Del City, Okla.) 6-9
F — Greg Jones, Hayfield (Alexandria, Va.) 6-6
F — Rayvon Griffith, Taft (Cincinnati, Ohio) 6-6
F — Amani Hansberry, Mt. St. Joseph (Baltimore, Md.) 6-7
F — Ronald Holland, Duncanville (Duncanville, Texas) 6-8
G — Josh Hubbard, Ridgeland Academy (Madison Miss.) 5-10
F — G.G. Jackson, Ridge View (Columbia, S.C.) 6-9
G — London Johnson, Norcross (Ga.) 6-4
G — Ty-Laur Johnson, St. Benedict’s Prep (Newark, N.J.) 6-0
G — K.J. Lewis, Chapin (El Paso, Texas) 6-4
G — Jared McCain, Centennial (Corona, Calif.) 6-2
F — Mackenzie Mgbako, Gill St. Bernard (Gladstone, N.J.) 6-7
G — Ruben Rodriguez, Reading (Reading, Pa.) 6-1
G — Jackson Shelstad, West Linn (Ore.) 6-0
G — Reed Sheppard, North Laurel (London, Ky.) 6-3
F — Sean Stewart, Windmere (Fla.) 6-8
F — Dusty Stromer, Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks, Calif.) 6-7
F — Daily Swain, Africentric Early College (Columbus, Ohio) 6-6
G — R.J. Taylor, Grand Blanc (Mich.) 5-11
G — D.J. Wagner, Camden (N.J.) 6-2
F — Ja’Kobe Walter, McKinney (McKinney, Texas) 6-5
G — Simeon Wilcher, Roselle Catholic (Roselle, N.J.) 6-4
G — Wesley Yates III, Beaumont United (Beaumont, Texas) 6-4

2022 National Junior of the Year: D.J. Wagner

Sophomores to Watch (2024)

G — Marcus Allen, Norland (Miami, Fla.) 6-6
F — Jason Asemota, Hillcrest Prep (Phoenix, Ariz.) 6-7
F — Airious Bailey, McEachern (Powder Springs, Ga.) 6-7
C — Flory Bidunga, Kokomo (Ind.) 6-10
G — Tayshawn Bridges, Milwaukee Academy of Science (Milwaukee, Wis.) 6-1
G — David Castillo, Bartlesville (Bartlesville, Okla.) 6-2
F — Naasir Cunningham, Gill St. Bernard’s (Gladstone, N.J.) 6-7
C — Ayden Davis, Onsted (Mich.) 6-9
G — Zoom Diallo, Curtis (University Place, Wash.) 6-3
G — Isaiah Elohim, Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.) 6-4
F — Donnie Freeman, St. John’s (Washington, D.C.) 6-8
G — Johnuel “Boogie” Fland, Archbishop Stepinac (White Plains, N.Y.) 6-3
G — Ian Jackson, Cardinal Hayes (Bronx, N.Y.) 6-6
F — Morez Johnson, St. Rita (Chicago, Ill.) 6-9
G — Tre Johnson, Lake Highlands (Garland, Texas) 6-5
F — Karter Knox, Tampa Catholic (Tampa, Fla.) 6-5
F — Liam McNeeley, John Paul II (Plano, Texas) 6-7
G — Vyctorius Miller, Crean Lutheran (Irvine, Calif.) 6-4
G — Juni Mobley, Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.) 6-0
G — Sir Mohammed, Myers Park (Charlotte, N.C. ) 6-5
G — Ahmad Nowell, Imhotep Charter (Philadelphia, Pa.) 6-0
G — Paul McNeil, Richmond Senior (Rockingham, N.C.) 6-5
G —Travis Perry, Lyon County (Eddyville, Ky.) 6-2
G — Tahaad Pettiford, Hudson Catholic (Jersey City, N.J.) 5-11
G — Jamari Phillips, Modesto Christian (Modesto, Calif.) 6-4
F — Jarin Stevenson, Seaforth (Pittsboro, N.C.) 6-9
F — Bryson Tucker, Mt. St. Joseph (Baltimore, Md.) 6-6
F — Dylan Warlick, Edmond North (Edmond, Okla.) 6-6
G — Robert Wright II, Neumann-Goretti (Philadelphia, Pa.) 6-0
F — Sammie Yeahay, The Rock (Gainesville, Fla.) 6-8

2022 National Sophomore of the Year: Ian Jackson

Freshmen to Watch (2025)

F — Cameron Boozer, Columbus (Miami, Fla.) 6-8
F — Brayden Burries, Poly (Riverside, Calif.) 6-5
G — Josh Dixon, North Cobb Christian (Kennesaw, Ga.) 6-0
G — Jerry Easter, Emmanuel Christian (Toledo, Ohio) 6-5
F — Cooper Flagg, Nokomis Regional (Newport, Maine) 6-8
G — Isiah Harwell, Century (Boise, Idaho) 6-5
F — Bryce Heard, Kenwood Academy (Chicago, Ill.) 6-5
C — Parker Jefferson, Waxahachie (Texas) 6-10
F — Jamier Jones, Riverview (Sarasota, Fla.) 6-5
G — Trey McKenney, St, Mary’s Prep (Orchard Lake, Mich.) 6-3
F — Koa Peat, Perry (Gilbert, Ariz.) 6-7
G — Darryn Peterson, Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio) 6-5
G — Jovani Ruff, Poly (Long Beach, Calif.) 6-4
G —Cameron Ward, Largo (Upper Marlboro, Md.) 6-5
F — Tounde Yessoufou, St. Joseph (Santa Maria, Calif.) 6-5

2022 National Freshman of the Year: Cameron Boozer

National Coach of the Year: Joe Auer of Wichita Heights (Wichita, Kan.)

Related: 2021-22 All-American Elite Team | 2021-22 Mr. Basketball USA: Dariq Whitehead?| 2021-22 Class Players of the Year

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 2021-22 Underclass All-American Elite Team appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

2021-22 Mr. Basketball USA: Dariq Whitehead, Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) 6-5 G Sr.
The Duke-bound wing guard is the fourth national player of the year from Montverde Academy in the past eight seasons. He was part of two FAB 50 national championship teams for the Eagles and led them to a No. 2 ranking this past season as a senior. To view the full Mr. Basketball USA release, the Mr. Basketball Tracker voting results, and comments from Montverde Academy coach Kevin Boyle, CLICK HERE.

For all-time Mr. Basketball USA honorees dating back to 1954-55, CLICK HERE

2022 National Junior of the Year: DJ Wagner, Camden (N.J.) 6-3 G
Although he came up just short of his goal of leading Camden to the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Tournament of Champions crown, it was another spectacular and successful season for the son and grandson of former NBA players. Wagner led "The High" to its first TOC title game since 1999-2000, the year his father Dajuan Wagner led the Panthers to the TOC crown.

Wagner had a clean look in the final seconds of the 61-58 loss to Roselle Catholic (N.J.) in the TOC final and finished with 23 points and six steals, as Camden finished 31-3 and No. 12 in the final FAB 50. For the season, Wagner averaged 19.8 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 3.3 apg and 3.5 spg against a national schedule and tough in-state competition. Wagner actually got to play the first complete season of his high school career, as his freshman season was cut short by the COVID-19 outbreak, while there was no post-season in 2020-21 when he averaged 22.0 ppg for a 13-0 team that finished No. 5 in the FAB 50. In three seasons with Wagner in the lineup, Camden has won 73 of 77 games with a season to go.

Ron Holland of FAB 50 No. 1 Duncanville was the only other junior considered for this honor. Holland appeared on two of the ten ballots in the final Mr. Basketball USA Tracker and netted four points (including a last-place vote), while Wagner finished in fifth place behind leading vote getter Dariq Whitehead with 36 points. Wagner appeared on eight ballots, including three third-place votes, by far the best showing of any underclassman. Wagner has been named class player of the year in each of his three high school seasons and the last player to earn top honors in each season of his four-year career was OJ Mayo of Huntington (W. Va.) between 2004-07. The last time a New Jersey player earned top honors among juniors came in 1995-96, when Anthony Perry led now defunct St. Anthony (Jersey City, N.J.) to the FAB 50 national title.

For all-time Junior Player of the Year honorees dating back to 1966-67, CLICK HERE

2022 National Sophomore of the Year: Ian Jackson, Cardinal Hayes (N.J.) 6-5 F

It was a break-out season of sorts for the talented wing who led the Cardinals to their second New York Catholic High School Athletic Association (CHSAA) city title in five seasons. Jackson is considered one of the best prospects in the national 2024 class, but he really didn't get a chance to show how talented he was as a freshman because the CHSAA didn't conduct a 2020-21 regular season because of COVID-19.

Jackson displayed his athleticism, skill level and never-ending motor by averaging 19.8 ppg, five rpg and four apg for a Cardinal Hayes team that bounced back from losing to Archbishop Stepinac (White Plains, N.Y.) in the Archdiocesan title game to defeat the same club, 79-59, in the CHSAA city title game. Jackson had 21 points and four assists in that game for a team that finished ranked No. 19 in the FAB 50 at 26-3, including a split of four games with Stepinac.

Playing alongside CHSAA MVP Tobe Awaka, Jackson was a first team all-CHSAA selection and last summer was a member of the 2021 USA Basketball 16U National Team that captured the gold medal at the 2021 FIBA Americas 16U Championship in Xalpala, Mexico. Jackson is the first sophomore honoree from New York since Lance Stephenson (Lincoln, Brooklyn) in 2007 and the first CHSAA selection since Felipe Lopez of now defunct Rice (New York) in 1992.

For all-time Sophomore Player of the Year honorees dating back to 1967-68, CLICK HERE

2022 National Freshman of the Year: Cameron Boozer, Columbus (Miami, Fla.) 6-8 F

Last season there wasn't a clear-cut choice, as in the case in some years, and the 2024 group didn't get much of a chance to be evaluated in front of national media or college coaches during the summer of 2020. That wasn't the case for the class of 2025. Last summer some of the freshmen-to-be turned scouts' eyes, particularly Boozer, Cooper Flagg (Nokomis, Newport, Maine) and Koa Peat (Perry, Gilbert, Ariz.). All three of them turned in terrific seasons in leading their respective team to a state title, but Boozer was the only one to lead his team to a victory over a FAB 50 ranked club. It was a close decision, but his talent level and leading his team to a state title in Florida's highest classification was the difference.

Boozer, the son of 1999 All-American Elite Team second five choice Carlos Boozer (Douglas, Juneau, Ak.), is already powerfully built like dad with good skill for his age. He averaged 18.9 ppg, 10.9 rpg, 4.0 apg and 2.2 bpg for the FHSAA Class 7A state champions. Boozer capped off a season in which the Explorers went 29-2 and finished No. 45 in the FAB 50 by defeating nationally-ranked Dr. Phillips (Orlando, Fla.) in the title game, 45-44.

Boozer went for 17 points, seven rebounds and five assists in the breakthrough win over Dr. Phillips, while his brother Cayden (16.6 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 5.1 apg), also freshman, hit the game-winning free throw with five seconds remaining. Cameron is the first selection from a FHSAA program since Brandon Knight (Pine Crest, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) in 2007.

For all-time Freshman Player of the Year honorees dating back to 1969-70, CLICK HERE

2022 National Coach of the Year: Joe Auer, Heights (Wichita, Kan.)

After its first losing season in more than 20 years in 2019-2020, the veteran coach helped the program bounce back from that 8-13 record two years ago to lead his young group to the state quarterfinals in 2020-21 and to his sixth Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA) state title since 2008-09. The Falcons captured this year's Class 6A state crown with a 61-54 victory over Blue Valley Northwest (Overland Park, Kan.) to finish 23-2 and No. 19 in the final Southwest Regional Top 20 Rankings.

Under his leadership, Heights captured four consecutive state title between 2009-2012. This year's state title was the first since 2015, when Heights went 21-4 and won the KSHSAA Class 5A state crown. By capturing this year's state title, Auer joins a list of six current and former Kansas coaches to win six state titles. In KSHSAA history, one coach has won seven and one eight, while the legendary Walter Shubolm led Wyandotte (Kansas City, Kan.) to 10 state titles (and three runner-up finishes) between 1957-1969.

Auer has led the program for 27 seasons and is now well over 400 career victories. Auer also coached Heights' baseball program for 17 season and recorded 282 wins on the diamond. Earlier this season, he went over 700 career victories across both sports. Next year's Heights team will be strong, too, with first team Class 6A first team all-state pick Marcus Zeigler?returning for his senior season, along with talented T.J. Williams, a junior-to-be. Auer is the first ever coaching honoree from Kansas dating back to the 1969-70 season.

For all-time National Coach of the Year honorees dating back to 1969-70, CLICK HERE

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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The guys also discuss the preseason Mr. Basketball USA voting. Dereck Lively II of Westtown School sits atop the first ballots for the Player of the Year award, but which players are on his heels? How is this race shaping up compared to past years? Is there a surefire wire-to-wire winner for the 2021-22 award?

Ron and Dev then break down the high school basketball games they watched to begin the season. FAB 50 No. 9 Sierra Canyon went undefeated at the Montgomery Tip-Off in San Diego and No. 14 Corona Centennial won two games against quality opponents in the Battlezone Showcase. Which teams have Ron and Dev seen that could make their way into the regional or national rankings? Which players had standout performances to begin the season? Hit the play button above to listen to In The Paint 109!

The post ITP 109: Gonzaga vs. UCLA Reaction and HSBB Updates! appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

RELATED: All-Time Mr. Basketball USA Winners | Final 2020-21 Mr. Basketball USA Tracker 

As a young player on the Team Final travel ball club, Dereck Lively II of Westtown School (West Chester, Pa.) once backed up Jalen Duren. Duren was physically advanced and it was evident he was going to be an elite player. Not only did Lively begin on his travel ball club as a back-up, his development was further slowed by a broken foot during his freshman campaign. Just as any developing big man, it took some time for him to grow into his body and show signs of becoming one of the nation's most sought-after recruits.

So after backing up his good friend, it's ironic Lively is now replacing him as the top vote-getter for the nation's most prestigious individual honor: Mr. Basketball USA. After leading Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) to the 2020-21 FAB 50 national title and teaming up with Lively to lead Team Final to the 2021 Nike EYBL Peach Jam title, Duren decided to re-classify up and join Memphis for the 2021-22 season.

Duren's decision came after finishing last season as the No. 3 vote-getter in the final 2020-21 Mr. Basketball USA Tracker behind Jabari Smith (Auburn) and 2020-21 honoree Chet Holmgren (Gonzaga). Duren decided to team up with Emoni Bates, who finished tied for No. 7 in last year's final Mr. Basketball USA voting and briefly played for Team Final, at Memphis. It's a foregone conclusion without the nationwide Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) policy the NCAA approved on July 1, 2021, Duren and Bates would not be playing for Memphis right now The duo still might be in the high school ranks or pursuing professional opportunities.

NCAA NIL reform, along with emerging professional opportunities for elite high school players (G League Ignite, Overtime Elite, NBL Next Star program), has undoubtedly changed the high school and grassroots landscape. This change is reflected in the preseason voting for national player of the year. With Duren, Bates and a few other underclass elites gone from the high school game, Lively was the top vote-getter among the 10-man tracker panel that make up the Mr. Basketball USA Tracker powered by www.ebooksnet.com. Lively was the only player among 22 candidates to appear on all ten ballots.

Lively tallied seven first place votes and finished with 84 out of a possible 100 points to easily best second place vote-getter Amari Bailey of preseason FAB 50 No. 9 Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.) with 69 points. The explosive shooting guard headed to UCLA received five second place votes and three third place ones, but didn't appear on two ballots.

Lively's point total perhaps is a bit surprising only because he is the first leading preseason vote-getter in 15 years whom did not appear on a single ballot in the final tally from the previous season. Not only did Lively have to recover from his foot injury, the COVID-19 pandemic was another hurdle he had to overcome. When it broke out in winter of 2020, he was a nondescript prospect from a national perspective. College scouts were unable to see him live in the summer of 2020 and Westtown School only played three games during his junior season.

He was regarded as a Top 50 national prospect until last spring, when he began displaying his ability on a national scale as a big-time defensive game-changer and rim protector. Lively led the EYBL in blocked shots (3.7 big) and added 8.4 ppg and 6.7 rpg in 15 outings. He then led Peach Jam in blocked shots as Team Final captured the prestigious event title for the first time in program history.

He was also rated as our No. 2 performer at the 2021 Pangos All-American Camp behind, you guess it, his friend and teammate Duren. That was, of course, before Duren decided to take advantage of new NIL legislation and jump early to the college ranks. Of the 22 preseason vote-getters, only Bailey and No. 3 vote getter DJ Wagner of FAB 50 No. 4 Camden (N.J.) were significant candidates during the 2020-21 season and Bailey is the only returning Elite All-American still in high school basketball. Duren, Bates and Scoot Henderson of Kell (Marietta, Ga.), who signed a two-year with the NBA G League Ignite team, were high school All-Americans that left the high school ranks early.

"The biggest thing I see is this is the first year affected by high school players going to pro leagues and it's an anomaly year," said said panel member Van Coleman of Global Sports Television and Nothing But Net Magazine. "The top two prospects in high school basketball going into this year (Duren and Bates), didn't really challenge Chet Holmgren last year, but at that point it didn't seem like they knew what they were going to do in the off-season. NIL options for college, plus Overtime Elite and the NBA G League taking high school players with eligibility, all affects how this year's voting will go."

The race to challenge Lively for the only production-based national high school basketball national player of the year honor is wide open, especially with last year's top underclass candidates no longer part of the equation. Twelve candidates appeared on only one ballot, which indicates a host of prospects can challenge the top core group as the season rolls along based on their individual play and team success. This year should also see a return of the plethora of national level holiday tournaments and showcases where many of the top candidates will have the opportunity to play in head-to-head matchups. Last season those were limited in scope and some regions did not have official seasons at all.

Bailey was the only other candidate besides Lively to appear on eight ballots, with Wagner nabbing two first place votes despite his absence on three ballots. The third candidate to receive a first place vote was point guard Jaden Bradley of preseason FAB 50 No. 2 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.). He also had a No. 2 vote, and a No. 3, while finishing in sixth place with 33 overall points. His new IMG Academy teammate Keyonte George, had two second place, third place and fourth place votes apiece to finish at No. 4 in the balloting with one less overall point than Wagner (49 points), the only junior among the top 10 candidates.

"The jury is still out how these new pro leagues are going to affect the first couple of classes with these options," Coleman said. "Things may settle down after a couple of years, but it's still too early to tell if these changes are positive or negative for the best players."

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	NR	Dereck Lively (10)	Westtown School (PA)	7	0	0	0	84
2	17T	Amari Bailey (8)	Sierra Canyon (CA)	0	5	3	0	69
3	12T	D.J. Wagner (7)	Camden (NJ)	2	0	1	1	49
4	NR	Keyontae George (6)	IMG Academy (FL)	0	2	2	2	48
5	NR	Dariq Whitehead (6)	Montverde Academy (FL)	0	1	1	1	40
6	NR	Jaden Bradley (4)	IMG Academy (FL)	1	1	1	0	33
7	NR	Cason Wallace (4)	Richardson (TX)	0	0	0	2	25
8	NR	Nick Smith (4)	North Little Rock (AR)	0	0	1	1	24
9	NR	Chris Livingston (4)	Oak Hill Academy (VA)	0	0	0	0	20
10	NR	Collin Chandler (3)	Farmington (UT)	0	0	0	1	16
11	NR	Baye Fall (2)	Denver Prep (CO)	0	1	0	0	14
12	NR	Arterio Morris (2)	Kimball (TX)	0	0	0	1	13
13	23T	J.J. Taylor (1)	Donda Academy (CA)	0	0	1	0	8
14	NR	Tre White (1)	Prolific Prep (CA)	0	0	0	1	7
15T	NR	Adem Bona (1)	Prolific Prep (CA)	0	0	0	0	6
15T	NR	Rob Dillingham (1)	Donda Academy (CA)	0	0	0	0	6
15T	NR	Mackenzie Mgbako (1)	Gill St. Bernard (NJ)	0	0	0	0	6
18T	NR	Kylan Boswell (1)	AZ Compass Prep (AZ)	0	0	0	0	5
18T	NR	Naasir Cunningham (1)	Gill St. Bernard (NJ)	0	0	0	0	5
20T	NR	Isaiah Elohim (1)	Sierra Canyon (CA)	0	0	0	0	4
20T	NR	Kwame Evans (1)	Montverde Academy (FL)	0	0	0	0	4
20T	NR	Mark Mitchell (1)	Sunrise Christian Academy (KS)	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.

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Related: 2020-21 All-American Elite Team | 2020-21 Mr. Basketball USA: Chet Holmgren | 2020-21 Class Players of the Year

Five juniors and a sophomore named to the 27th Annual All-American Elite Team headline a group of 75 elite players selected to the 2020-21 Underclass All-American team powered by www.ebooksnet.com.

Big man Jalen Duren of Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.), this year’s National Junior of the Year, was named to the overall All-American Elite first team and was a finalist for Mr. Basketball USA. Juniors Amari Bailey, the California Mr. Basketball, and Emoni Bates, the national sophomore of the year in 2019-20, were third five selections. In the past 27 years under the current selection format, Bates and NBA superstar LeBron James (2001) are the only tenth-graders to earn first five All-American honors.

A fourth junior, Scoot Henderson of Kell (Marietta, Ga.) was named to the fourth five. Henderson re-classified to the 2021 class and will join fellow fourth team pick Michael Foster of Hillcrest (Phoenix, Ariz.) on the NBA G League Ignite team, as more of the nation’s elite players are perusing professional basketball options.

Some media outlets have reported that Duren will re-classify to the 2021 class, but there has been no official announcement. Duren has announced his final five options as he looks to lead Team Final to the 2021 Nike EYBL Peach Jam title in North Augusta, S.C.: Memphis, Miami, Kentucky, NBA G League or Australian National Basketball League. Duren has indicated he will make a decision sometime after Peach Jam.

Each year, more players are classifying up in order to speed up the recruiting process or join a class that will be more advantageous to their development.

Ohio’s Gatorade State Player of the Year, Chris Livingstonof Western Reserve Academy (Hudson, Ohio) and 2020-21 national sophomore of the year DJ Wagner of Camden (N.J.) are the only two underclass picks on the 30-player All-American second team. In 2019-20, no underclass player was chosen to the second team, as a strong 2020 senior class was rewarded for its efforts.

As is the case every year, some underclass All-Americans will transfer programs and a few have already made the announcement.

Junior All-American Richard Isaacs Jr., is headed to Prolific Prep (Napa, Calif.) from Wasatch Academy (Mt. Pleasant, Utah). Fellow 2022 MJ Rice is also headed to Prolific Prep from Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.). Sophomore All-American Omaha Biliew is leaving Waukee Senior (Waukee, Iowa) for national power Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.).

Expect more player movement and some more reclassification as the summer rolls on.

National Grassroots Editor Ronnie Flores selects this performance-based squad with input from Mr. Basketball USA panelists. It is chosen after the conclusion of the season, which makes the Underclass All-American Team more reflective of players who made state championship runs.

Our national coach of the year for 2020-21 is Ray Portela of Sunnyslope (Pheonix, Ariz.).

Juniors to Watch (2022)

F — Terrance Arceneaux, Beaumont United (Beaumont, Texas) 6-7
G — Amari Bailey, Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.) 6-4
F — Emoni Bates, Ypsi Prep (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 6-8
G — Jaden Bradley, IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) 6-2
G — A.J. Brown, Orlando Christian Prep (Orlando, Fla.) 6-4
F — Andre Casey, Whitney Young (Chicago, Ill.) 6-8
C — Donovan Clingan, Bristol Central (Bristol, Conn.) 6-10
F — Gradey Dick, Sunrise Christian Academy (Bel Aire, Kan.) 6-6
C — Jalen Duren, Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) 6-10
F — Barry Dunning, McGill-Toolen (Mobile, Ala.) 6-7
G — B.J. Edwards, Knoxville Catholic (Knoxville, Tenn.) 6-3
G — Corey Floyd Jr., Roselle Catholic (Roselle, N.J.) 6-3
C — Joe Hurlburt, Enderlin Area (Enderlin, N.D.) 6-10
G — Keyonte George, iSchool (Lewisville, Texas) 6-3
G — Rylan Griffen, Richardson (Texas) 6-4
G — Bryce Griggs, Fort Bend Hightower (Missouri City, Texas) 6-1
G — Sterling “Scoota” Henderson, Kell (Marietta, Ga.) 6-2 G
G — Trejuan Holloman, Cretin-Derham Hall (St. Paul, Minn.) 6-0
G — Ricky “Pop Pop” Isaacs Jr., Wasatch Academy (Mt. Pleasant, Utah) 6-2
G — Chris Livingston, Western Reserve Academy (Hudson, Ohio) 6-5
G — Fletcher Loyer, Homestead (Ft. Wayne, Ind.) 6-4
F — Mark Mitchell, Bishop Miege (Shawnee Mission, Kan.) 6-8
G — Arterio Morris, Kimball (Dallas, Texas) 6-3
G — M.J. Rice, Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) 6-5
G — Ben Roy, Manasquan (N. J.) 6-1
G — Jaquan Sanders, Our Savior Lutheran (Bronx, N.Y.) 6-3
G — Shaedon Sharpe, Dream City Christian (Glendale, Ariz.) 6-4
G — Nick Smith, Sylvan Hills (Sherwood, Ark.) 6-4
G — Bruce Thornton, Milton (Ga.) 6-2
G — Cason Wallace, Richardson (Richardson, Texas) 6-3

2021 National Junior of the Year: Jalen Duren

Sophomores to Watch (2023)

F — Sultan Adewale, St. Louis Christian Academy (St. Louis, Mo.) 6-7
G — Marvel Allen, Calvary Christian (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) 6-4
F — Matthew Bewley, Northeast (Oakland Park, Fla.) 6-9
F — Omaha Biliew, Waukee Senior (Waukee, Iowa) 6-8
G — Kylan Boswell, Centennial (Corona, Calif.) 6-0
F — Taylor Bowen, St. George’s School (Newport, R.I.) 6-8
G — Kanaan Carlyle, Milton (Milton, Ga.) 6-1
F — Julius Clark, Mountain Brook (Birmingham, Ala.) 6-5
G — Isaiah Collier, Wheeler (Marietta, Ga.) 6-0
G — Gabe Cupps, Centerville (Centerville, Ohio) 6-2
G — Robert Dillingham, Combine Academy (Lincolnton, N.C.) 6-4
C — Baye Fall, Lutheran (Parker, Col.) 6-10
G — Caleb Foster, Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) 6-2
C — Brandon Garrison, Del City (Del City, Okla.) 6-8
F — Rayvon Griffith, Taft (Cincinnati, Ohio) 6-6
F — Ronald Holland, Duncanville (Duncanville, Texas) 6-8
F — Jalen Hooks, Crispus Attucks (Indianapolis, Ind.) 6-7
G — Jaylen Jones, East Nashville (Nashville, Tenn.) 5-9
G — K.J. Lewis, Chapin (El Paso, Texas) 6-4
G — Chris Lockett, Newman (New Orleans, La.) 6-4
F — Mackenzie Mgbako, Gill St. Bernard (Gladstone, N.J.) 6-7
G — Ruben Rodriguez, Reading (Reading, Pa.) 6-1
G — Reed Sheppard, North Laurel (London, Ky.) 6-2
F — J.J. Taylor, Kenwood (Chicago, Ill.) 6-8
G — R.J. Taylor, Grand Blanc (Grand Blanc, Mich.) 5-11
G — D.J. Wagner, Camden (N.J.) 6-2
F — Ja’Kobe Walter, McKinney (McKinney, Texas) 6-5
G — Isaiah West, Goodpasture Christian (Madison, Tenn.) 6-1
G — Mikey Williams, Lake Norman Christian Academy (Charlotte, N.C.) 6-3
G — Sonny Wilson, U-D Jesuit (Detroit, Mich.) 6-1

2021 National Sophomore of the Year: D.J. Wagner

Freshmen to Watch (2024)

G — Jax Abernathy, Christian Heritage (Dalton, Ga.) 6-3
G — Marcus Allen, Norland (Miami, Fla.) 6-6
F — K. Annor Boateng, Central (Little Rock, Ark.) 6-5
G — Elliot Cadeau, Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.) 6-2
G — David Castillo, Bartlesville (Bartlesville, Okla.) 6-2
F — Naasir Cunningham, Gill St. Bernard’s (Gladstone, N.J.) 6-7
G — Isaiah Elohim, Heritage Christian (Northridge, Calif.) 6-4
G — Jahseem Felton, Northside Christian Academy (Charlotte, N.C.) 6-3
G — Johnuel “Boogie” Fland, Archbishop Stepinac (White Plains, N.Y.) 6-3
F — Ryan Jones, The Rock (Gainesville, Fla.) 6-8
G — Ahmad Nowell, Houston (Germantown, Tenn.) 6-0
F — Derik Queen, St. Francis Academy (Baltimore, Md.) 6-7
G — Malachi Palmer, Central Dauphin (Harrisburg, Pa.) 6-5
G — Jamari Phillips, Modesto Christian (Modesto, Calif.) 6-2
F — Cameron Scott, Lexington (Lexington, S.C.) 6-6

2021 National Freshman of the Year: Derik Queen

National Coach of the Year: Ray Portela, Sunnyslope (Pheonix, Ariz.).

Related: 2020-21 All-American Elite Team | 2020-21 Mr. Basketball USA: Chet Holmgren | 2020-21 Class Players of the Year

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 2020-21 Underclass All-American Elite Team appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

2020-21 Mr. Basketball USA: Chet Holmgren, Minnehaha Academy (Minneapolis, Minn.) 7-1 C Sr.
The Gonzaga-bound skilled big man is officially the first national player of the year from Minnesota. To view the full Mr. Basketball USA release, the Mr. Basketball Tracker voting results, and comments from Minnehaha Academy coach Lance Johnson, CLICK HERE.

For all-time Mr. Basketball USA honorees dating back to 1954-55, CLICK HERE

2021 National Junior of the Year: Jalen Duren, Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) 6-10 C
In today's game almost every elite player clamors to shoot the 3-point shot, but the most dominant interior player in the country stuck to his strength all season long, and the result was a national championship for his team. Duren's discipline not only helped his team's success, as the Eagles finished 24-1, it also helped his standing individually, as some recruiting experts now feel he is the No. 1 prospect nationally in the 2022 class.

After transferring over from Roman Catholic (Philadelphia, Pa.), Duren came in at No. 8 in the preseason Mr. Basketball USA Tracker, second behind Emoni Bates among juniors, but he made most of his opportunity playing national level competition nearly every game with his team part of the National Interscholastic Basketball Conference (NIBC). After some dominant performances on national television and at GEICO Nationals, Duren finished in third place in the final Mr. Basketball USA tracker (voting process for national player of the year) behind runner-up Jabari Smith of Sandy Creek (Tyrone, Ga.) and 2020-21 honoree Chet Holmgren of Minnehaha Academy (Minneapolis, Minn.), both seniors.

On the season, Duren was the leading scorer (14.3 ppg) for a team with four players averaging over 10.4 points per game that captured Montverde Academy's fourth FAB 50 crown in six seasons. He also added 8.4 rpg and 2.2 bpg while shooting 65 percent from the field.

Duren is Montverde Academy's second national honoree among juniors, joining Ben Simmons in 2013-14. He is the third honoree from Florida in that time frame, joining 2017-18 honoree Vernon Carey Jr. of University School (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.). Simmons went on to earn Mr. Basketball USA honors as a senior.

Check out the video below for a breakdown of all the underclass players of the year, including interviews with Duren and Montverde Academy head coach Kevin Boyle.

For all-time Junior Player of the Year honorees dating back to 1966-67, CLICK HERE

2021 National Sophomore of the Year: DJ Wagner, Camden (N.J.) 6-3 G

New Jersey schools had an abbreviated season, but the son and grandson of former NBA players did more than enough to earn top honors among tenth-graders nationally. Wagner led Camden to a 13-0 mark, as "The High" finished No. 5 in the FAB 50, highest among New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) teams and public schools nationwide. An natural scorer with ability to score from deep range, mid-range and to the rack, Wagner went over 20 points in 11 of the 13 games and finished the season averaging 22.0 ppg, 3.8 rpg, and 3.8 apg for the Panthers. He earned first team all-state honors.

His father Dajuan Wagner earned top honors among sophomores in 1998-1999 while also playing for Camden. The only other player from the Garden State to earn this honor in between father and son was Michael Gilchrist of St. Patrick (Elizabeth, N.J.) in 2008-09. Similar to Dajuan Wagner, Gilchrist went on to earn Mr. Basketball USA honors as a senior.

Despite leading Camden to a 42-1 mark in his first two seasons on the team, D.J. still has plenty of motivation heading into his junior campaign. There was no post-season in 2020-21 in New Jersey and the 2019-20 season was cut short by COVID-19 with Camden riding a 25-game winning streak. Ironically, Dajuan Wagner didn't win junior player of the year honors, but that was the season in which he led "The High" to the New Jersey Tournament of Champions crown.

For all-time Sophomore Player of the Year honorees dating back to 1967-68, CLICK HERE

2021 National Freshman of the Year: Derik Queen, St. Frances Academy (Baltimore, Md.) 6-8 F

In some years, there is a ninth-grader who is a clear cut choice among his peers or a talented one who puts up gaudy statistics, but this year neither scenario emerged. The 2024 group also didn't have the luxury of playing in front of national media and college coaches during the summer of 2020, so we were admittedly a bit behind the eight-ball when it came to identifying the top freshmen on talented teams.

After evaluating all the resumes of all the FAB 50 ranked teams and the top players in the class, Queen is the candidate who best checks off all the marks of a great first-year player. He has a position-less versatile game and performed well against quality competition in the Baltimore Catholic League. He helped the Panthers to a 15-1 and the BCL Championship game where they were upset by John Carroll (Bel Air, Md.) and currently sit at No. 36 in the FAB 50. On a team with four college bound seniors, Queen averaged 14 points, eight rebounds, four assists and two blocks per game. He was also assertive, a go-to player and not afraid to take the big shot. He even had a 56-point game versus Annapolis Area Christian School.

Other first-year players highly considered for this honor were guard Isaiah Eholim from Heritage Christian (Northridge, Calif.) and a pair of talented players from New Jersey: Naasir Cunningham of Gill St. Bernard’s in Gladstone and Elliot Cadeau of Bergen Catholic in Oradell. Queen is the first freshman selection from the state of Maryland since forward Barry Young of Mt. Hebron (Ellicott City, Md.) for the 1983-84 season. To find another choice from Baltimore, you have to go back to big man Larry Gibson from Dunbar in 1971-72.

For all-time Freshman Player of the Year honorees dating back to 1969-70, CLICK HERE

2021 National Coach of the Year: Ray Portela, Sunnyslope (Phoenix, Ariz.)

It's ironic that Portela is this year's national honoree among coaches because schools belonging to the Arizona Interscholastic Association (AIA) nearly didn't have a season. When the vote to cancel the winter sports season was rescinded in January, it opened up the door for the Vikings to take a crack at its third state crown in five seasons.

It wasn't going to be easy, as the Vikings lost their big man to a national academy-type program in town and were moved up to Class 6A, the AIA's top classification. Under Portela's guidance, Sunnyslope overcame those obstacles, not to mention a quarantine period after the season began, to bring home the program's first 6A state crown courtesy of a 63-62 win over Mountain Pointe (Phoenix, Ariz.).

Led by junior guard Oakland Fort, the Vikings went 21-1, losing only one game by two points in overtime. They will finish as the AIA's only FAB 50 ranked team and currently sit at No. 44 in the nation's longest-running weekly rankings. Sunnyslope opened it season with a victory over eventual Class 4A state champ St. Mary’s (Pheonix, Ariz.). It was that team's only loss in 21 games. Catalina Foothills (Tuscon, Ariz.) won the Class 5a state crown with its only loss coming to St. Mary's.

For Portela, it was his third state crown after winning titles in Class 5A two consecutive seasons in 2017-2018. Portela doesn't like to focus on his career marks or winning percentage, instead giving credit to the close-knit nature of his players and staff. His mentor in coaching is former Sunnyslope boss Dan Mannix, who he played for at the school before going on to play at Pomona-Pitzer (Calif.).

This year's team at Sunnyslope was the schools' first FAB 50 ranked unit since Mannix's 2001-02 team that won the Class 4A crown. Similar to this year's Sunnyslope club, that Vikings team came within a hair of going undefeated, as they finished 29-1 and No. 32 in the FAB 50.

For all-time National Coach of the Year honorees dating back to 1969-70, CLICK HERE

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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The post 50 POINT DUB!! DJ Wagner Makes The Game Look EASY & Leads Camden to 10-0 Record! appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

This list features Bronny James, Mikey Williams, Keyonte George, Dior Johnson, Thompson Twins, Dylan Andrews, Daeshun Ruffin, Bryce Griggs, Robert Dillingham and DJ Wagner.

Intro Music “Shining” by LBS Kee’vin & 42 Dugg https://youtu.be/bcv_cIvZilk

The post 10 Exciting High School Guards To Watch This Season Part 1!! Bronny, Mikey, Thompson Twins & More! appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

The post DJ Wagner FIRST Game Since Being Ranked #1 In His Class! Shows Off His Handles & Scoring! appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

Beat is "Step Back" by HURD THE HITMAN: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1xfrC66stM4UJ6_-ebRTwA

The post DJ Wagner OFFICIAL MIXTAPE!! The NUMBER 1 Ranked Freshman In The Nation!! appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

• Bronny and Bryce James
• Cole Anthony
• Nicco Manion
• Gigi Bryant
• Cayden and Cameron Boozer
• Nahmir Robinson
• Mackenly Randolph
• Scotty Pippen Jr
• KJ Martin
• Jamal Mashburn jr
• Bol Bol
• Shareef, Shaqir, Mimi, and Me'Arah O'neal
• Jaren Jackson Jr
• JJ Crawford
• DJ Rodman
• DJ Wagner
• Zaire Wade
• Jabri Abdur Rahim
• Ashton Hardaway
• Gary Peyton Jr
• Jamon Kemp
• Carmelo Anthony
• Jaelen House
• Ron Artest III and Jeron Artest
• Jett and Jace Howard
• Elijah and Izela Arenas
• Christian Horry
• Crew Ainge
• Larry Hughes Jr

The post 30 Kids of NBA Players Who Also Play Basketball! Bronny James, The O'neals, DJ Rodman, Zaire & More! appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

ESPN just released their class of 2023 rankings. A lot of familiar faces like Mikey Williams, Bronny James, DJ Wagner, Marquis Cook and more. Where did they all place?

The post ESPN Class of 2023 Rankings Are OUT!! Mikey Williams, DJ Wagner, Bronny James.. WHO'S #1!? appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

Related: 2019-20 All-American Elite Team | 2019-20 Mr. Basketball USA: Cade Cunningham | 2019-20 Class Players of the Year

Two juniors and a sophomore named to the 26th Annual All-American Elite Team headline a group of 75 elite players selected to the 2019-20 Underclass All-American Elite team powered by www.ebooksnet.com.

Small forward Patrick Baldwin Jr. of Hamilton (Sussex, Wis.), this year’s National Junior of the Year, was named to the overall All-American Elite third team. In 2018-19, Baldwin was the only tenth-grader on the Elite All-American second team. This season no underclass player was chosen to the second team, as a strong senior class was rewarded for its efforts.

Mousa Cissé

6'9"   -   PF   -   2020

The second junior to make the All-American Elite team was big man Mousa Cissé of Lausanne Collegiate (Memphis, Tenn.). The fourth five selection led the Lynx to the TSSAA Division II Class A state crown.

Two juniors were honored as fourth five selections in 2018-19: Evan Mobley of Rancho Christian (Temecula, Calif.) and Jalen Johnson of Nicolet (Glendale, Wis.). Mobley moved up to the first team this season and Johnson didn’t play in enough games to be eligible for All-American honors. He was expected to suit up for preseason FAB 50 No. 1 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.), but eventually returned to Wisconsin and played a handful of games at the end of the regular season for his original high school.

This year Emoni Bates became the first sophomore to earn first five honors since current NBA superstar LeBron James while at St. Vincent-St. Mary (Akron, Ohio) in 2000-01. In the past 26 years under the current selection format Bates and James are the only tenth-graders to earn first five All-American honors and fans are already anticipating a lengthy pro career for Bates.

In 26 years of publishing our annual All-American teams and including our retroactive teams dating back to the 1954-55 season, no freshman has ever been a first team All-American selection. Bates was a second team selection in 2018-19 and the third freshman ever to earn All-American acclaim, joining Marvin Bagley III of Corona Del Sol (Tempe, Ariz.) in 2014-15 and 6-foot-8, 215-pound man child Wayne McKoy of Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, N.Y.) back in 1973-74.

As is the case every year, some underclass All-Americans will transfer programs and have already made the announcement. Each year, more players are classifying up in order to speed up the recruiting process or join a class that will be more advantageous to their development.

Jalen Duren

6'9"   -   C   -   2021

Sophomore big man Jalen Duren will leave Roman Catholic (Philadelphia, Pa.) and is headed to defending FAB 50 champ Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.). Sophomore Skyy Clark of Heritage Christian, (Northridge, Calif.) is headed to Brentwood Academy (Brentwood, Tenn.) while Zion Cruz will leave Hudson Catholic (Hudson, N.J.) to play for Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.), where he will be joined by another talented 2022 guard, Dior Johnson from Mayfair (Lakewood, Calif.). Expect more player movement and some more reclassification as the summer rolls on.

National Grassroots Editor Ronnie Flores selects this performance-based squad with input from Mr. Basketball USA panelists. It is chosen after the conclusion of the season, which makes the Underclass All-American Team more reflective of players who made state championship runs.

Our national coach of the year is Thomas Ryan of Dorman (Roebuck, S.C.).

Juniors to Watch (2021)

G — Trey Alexander, Heritage Hall (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 6-4
F — Patrick Baldwin Jr., Hamilton (Sussex, Wis.) 6-8
C — Nate Bittle, Crater (Central Point, Ore.) 6-11
G — Ahamad Bynum, Simeon (Chicago, Ill.) 6-2
G — Kennedy Chandler, Briarcrest Christian (Eads, Tenn.) 6-1
F — Paolo Banchero, O’Dea (Seattle, Wash.) 6-9
F — Kendall Brown, Sunrise Christian Academy (Bel Air, Kan.) 6-7
F — Max Christie, Rolling Meadows (Rolling Meadows, Ill.) 6-6
C — Moussa Cisse, Lausanne Collegiate (Memphis, Tenn.) 6-10
G — Zaon Collins, Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.) 6-1
G — Jerdarrian Davison, Calhoun School (Letohatchee, Ala.) 6-3
C — Moussa Diabate, IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) 6-10
G — Rashool Diggins, Archbishop Wood (Warminster, Pa.) 6-1
F — Caleb Furst, Blackhawk Christian (Ft. Wayne, Ind.) 6-10
G — Nolan Hickman, Eastside Catholic (Sammamish, Wash.) 6-3
G — Jaden Hardy, Coronado (Henderson, Nev.) 6-5
G — Chucky Hepburn, Bellevue West (Bellevue, Neb.) 6-1
C — Chet Holmgren, Minnehaha Academy (Minneapolis, Minn.) 7-1
F — Daron Holmes, Millennium (Goodyear, Ariz.) 6-9
G — Jackie Johnson, Wichita Southeast (Wichita, Kan.) 5-10
G — David Jones, Teas Valley Christian Prep (Scott Depot, W. Va.) 6-5
F — Harrison Ingram, St. Mark’s (Dallas, Texas) 6-6
G — Trevor Keels, Paul VI (Fairfax, Va.) 6-5
F — Trey Kaufman, Silver Creek (Sellersburg, Ind.) 6-9
F — Jonathan Lawson, Wooddale (Memphis, Tenn.) 6-7
F — Aminu Mohammed, Greenwood Laboratory (Springfield, Mo.) 6-5
F — Trey Patterson, Rutgers Prep (Somerset, N.J.) 6-7
G — Daeshon Ruffin, Callaway (Jackson, Miss.) 5-9
G — Hunter Sallis, Millard North (Omaha, Neb.) 6-4
F — Jabari Smith, Sandy Creek (Tyrone, Ga.) 6-9

2020 National Junior of the Year: Patrick Baldwin Jr.

Sophomores to Watch (2022)

G — Amari Bailey, Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.) 6-4
F — Emoni Bates, Lincoln (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 6-8
G — Jaden Bradley, Cannon (Concord, N.C.) 6-2
F — Andre Casey, Tinley Park (Ill.) 6-8
G — Skyy Clark, Heritage Christian, (Northridge, Calif.) 6-3
C — Donovan Clingan, Bristol Central (Bristol, Conn.) 6-10
G — Zion Cruz, Hudson Catholic (Hudson, N.J.) 6-3
F — Gradey Dick, Wichita Collegiate (Wichita, Kan.) 6-6
C — Lee Dort, North Dallas Adventist Academy (Richardson, Texas) 6-10
C — Jalen Duren, Roman Catholic (Philadelphia, Pa.) 6-9
F — Barry Dunning, McGill-Toolen (Mobile, Ala.) 6-7
G — Keyonte George, Lewisville (Texas) 6-3
G — Rylan Griffen, Richardson (Texas) 6-4
G — Bryce Griggs, Fort Bend Hightower (Missouri City, Texas) 6-1
G — Sterling “Scoota” Henderson, Kell (Marietta, Ga.) 6-2 G
G — Trejuan Holloman, Cretin-Derham Hall (St. Paul, Minn.) 6-0
G — Jalen Hood-Schifino, Combine Academy (Lincolnton, N.C.) 6-4
F — Caleb Houstan, Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) 6-7
G — Ricky “Pop Pop” Isaacs Jr., Wasatch Academy (Mt. Pleasant, Utah) 6-2
F — Kamari Lands, La Lumiere (La Porte, Ind.) 6-7
G — Desean Lecque, Desert Vista (Phoenix, Ariz.) 6-0
G — Chris Livingston, Western Reserve Academy (Hudson, Ohio) 6-5
G — Fletcher Loyer, Clarkston (Clarkston, Mich.) 6-4
F — Mark Mitchell, Bishop Miege (Shawnee Mission, Kan.) 6-8
G — Ben Roy, Manasquan (N. J.) 6-1
G — Bruce Thornton, Milton (Ga.) 6-2
G — Milos Uzan, Desert Pines (Las Vegas, Nev.) 6-5
F — Jarace Walker, IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) 6-6
G — Chance Westry, Trinity (Camp Hill, Pa.) 6-5
F — Kijani Wright, Windward (Los Angeles, Calif.)

2020 National Sophomore of the Year: Emoni Bates

Freshmen to Watch (2023)

F — Omaha Biliew, Dowling Catholic (West Des Moines, Iowa) 6-7
G — Kanaan Carlyle, Milton (Ga.) 6-1
F — Kwame Evans, Poly (Baltimore, Md.) 6-8
C — Baye Fall, Lutheran (Parker, Col.) 6-10
F — Rayvon Griffith, Taft (Cincinnati, Ohio) 6-6
F — Matthew Bewley, Northeast (Oakland Park, Fla.) 6-9
F — Amani Hansberry, St. John’s (Washington, D.C.) 6-7
G — Jaylen Jones, East Nashville (Nashville, Tenn.) 5-9
C — Jalen Lewis, Bishop O’Dowd (Oakland, Calif.) 6-8
G — Chris Lockett, Newman (New Orleans, La.) 6-4
F — Mackenzie Mgbako, Gill St. Bernard (Gladstone, N.J.) 6-7
F — Dennis Parker, John Marshall (Richmond, Va.) 6-6
G — Mike Price, Crespi (Encino, Calif.) 6-1
G — D.J. Wagner, Camden (N.J.) 6-2
G — Mikey Williams, San Ysidro (Calif.) 6-3

2020 National Freshman of the Year: D.J. Wagner

National Coach of the Year: Thomas Ryan, Dorman (Roebuck, S.C.).

Related: 2019-20 All-American Elite Team | 2019-20 Mr. Basketball USA: Cade Cunningham | 2019-20 Class Players of the Year

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

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2019-20 Mr. Basketball USA: Cade Cunningham, Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) 6-7 PG Sr.
The Oklahoma St.-bound big guard is now officially Montverde Academy’s third National Player of the Year choice in the last six seasons, joining R.J. Barrett (2018) and Ben Simmons (2015). He’s also the fourth Mr. Basketball USA coached by Montverde Academy’s Kevin Boyle, who coached Michael Kidd-Gilchrist at St. Patrick (Elizabeth, N.J.) in 2010-11 before leaving for the Florida boarding school that he helped transform from a national power into a worldwide brand that has captured five FAB 50 titles since in the past eight seasons.

Cade Cunningham

6'7"   -   PG   -   2020

Cunningham might have the most modest individual statistical output of Mr. Basketball USA in recent memory, but that alludes more to his team’s dominance than any perceived individual shortcoming. Cunningham was first in scoring (13.9 ppg) and assists (6.4 apg) for a 25-0 Montverde Academy club that is being compared to a select group of all-time great clubs in the annals of high school basketball. Only one of the Eagles’ opponents (FAB 50 No. 5 IMG Academy of Florida) played them within 20 points, as they won each game by an average of 38.9 ppg.

Cunningham, a Texas native, controlled the game’s tempo with his strong ball-handing, timely shot-making and ability to encourage unselfish play, as seven players on the club averaged between 8.3 ppg and 13.9 ppg. Two teammates earned national player of the year recognition from the Mr. Basketball USA Tracker panel: Florida St-bound forward Scottie Barnes (who finished No. 5 in the balloting) and North Carolina-bound big man Day’Ron Sharpe, who finished tied for No. 15 in the final Mr. Basketball USA balloting. Barnes was third on the team in scoring (11.6 ppg), second in rebounding (6.5), second in assists (4.6 apg) first in deflections (1.7 dpg), and first in steals (1.9 spg) while Sharpe posted norms of 12.1 ppg and 7.3 rpg.

Cunningham is one of the best big high school guards to come down the pike in many years and is the first ever Mr. Basketball USA selection to commit to play at Oklahoma St. His coach compares him favorably to retroactive Mr. Basketball USA honorees Jason Kidd (1992) and Oscar Robertson (1956) and he is an early candidate to be top three selection in the 2021 NBA Draft.

For all-time Mr. Basketball USA honorees dating back to 1954-55, CLICK HERE

Patrick Baldwin Jr.

6'8"   -   SF   -   2021

2020 National Junior of the Year: Patrick Baldwin Jr., Hamilton (Sussex, Wis.) 6-8
From a recruiting standpoint, there is still plenty of debate at the top of the 2021 class and plenty to be decided, but there is no doubting Baldwin’s ability, consistency and production. He’s been named to the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association All-State team three times and has been a first team A.P. all-state selection the past two seasons. The smooth 6-foot-8 forward was one of two unanimous choices, along with AP Player of the Year Johnny Davis of La Crosse Central, after averaging 24.3 ppg, 10.8 rpg, 4.2 apg, and 1.7 blocks. Baldwin has upped his scoring average each season, from 16 ppg to 18.4 ppg, while his rebound and assists numbers climbed as well.

The son of UW-Milwaukee coach Patrick Baldwin led his team to a 22-3 mark and into the sectional finals against highly-regarded Brookfield Central, but that’s where the season ended as the WIAA didn’t finish its state tournament as a result of COVID-19. The Greater Metro Conference Player of the Year, Baldwin was also named Gatorade State Player of the Year. He’s the first player from Wisconsin to earn top honors among juniors dating back to the 1966-67 season.

For all-time Junior Player of the Year honorees dating back to 1966-67, CLICK HERE

Emoni Bates

6'8"   -   SF   -   2021

2020 National Sophomore of the Year: Emoni Bates, Lincoln (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 6-8 F
There wasn’t any question whether or not the 6-foot-8 forward was going to take home top honors among tenth-graders; the suspense is whether or not he will be the first sophomore since LeBron James in 2001 to earn first five Elite All-American honors. Already the 16-year old prodigy has been named Gatorade National Player of the Year, the first-ever sophomore to earn that athletic-academic based honor since its inception for the 1985-86 season. After averaging 28.7 ppg and 10.2 rpg as a freshman, Bates upped his scoring output to 32.3 ppg, while adding 9.0 rpg, 3.0 apg and 2.1 spg for a 19-3 team that advanced to its district title game. Despite being the attention of opposing defenses, Bates shot 50 percent from the field and 37 percent from 3-point range for a team that was seeking its second straight MHSAA D1 state crown before COVID-19 concerns ended its run.

For the second consecutive year, Bates was named AP D1 State Player of the Year and Gatorade State Player of the Year and could join the likes of Magic Johnson (Lansing Everett) and Chris Webber (Detroit Country Day) as one of the best prospects the state of Michigan has ever produced. He’s the state’s first Gatorade National Player of the Year since Flint Northwestern’s Kelvin Torbert in 2000-01 and the state’s first tenth-grade honoree since Josh Jackson (Detroit Consortium College Prep) in 2014.

For all-time Sophomore Player of the Year honorees dating back to 1967-68, CLICK HERE

DJ Wagner

6'3"   -   CG   -   2023

2020 National Freshman of the Year: DJ Wagner, Camden (N.J.) 6-2
Makes history as the first father-son combo to earn this honor, as his father, Dajuan Wagner, was the 1998 choice out of Camden High School as well. D.J.’s father went on to earn class player of the year as a sophomore and was named Mr. Basketball USA in 2000-01. Similar to Californian Mikey Williams, Wagner came into high school with plenty of fan-fare and lived up to the advanced billing, averaging 18.5 ppg along with 2 rpg and 1.5 apg. Williams had bigger numbers, but the main difference was Wagner played against tougher competition and got better results, as “The High” went 29-1 and finished No. 18 in the FAB 50. Behind its leading scorer and versatile senior All-American Lance Ware, Camden won the South Jersey, Group 2 crown and its final 25 games before COVID-19 concerns ended its run at the New Jersey TOC title. Wagner, a consistent scorer whose single-game season high was 32 points, is the first New Jersey freshman to earn this honor since big man Dakari Johnson of St. Patrick of Elizabeth in 2011.

For all-time Freshman Player of the Year honorees dating back to 1969-70, CLICK HERE

2020 National Coach of the Year: Thomas Ryan, Dorman (Roebuck, S.C.)
The Cavaliers were supposed to dominate in-state does and did just that, and a whole lot more, after opening up No. 39 in the preseason FAB 50. Ryan’s club made history in winning its fourth consecutive SCHSL Class 5A state crown with a dominant 65-46 victory over Dutch Fork (Irmo, S.C.). Dorman matched the feat of Calhoun County (Matthews, S.C.) in 2006-09 for most consecutive state titles in the modern era. Along the way, Doman captured the Chick-fil-A Classic and became the first South Carolina team to win the Beach Ball Classic since 1986 (Eau Claire) while compiling a 30-1 record and No. 10 FAB 50 finish. The Cavs’ only loss was to No. 9 Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.)

A former standout at Lexington High School (S.C.), Ryan just completed his 13th season with the Cavaliers after six at Aiken (S.C.). Although his team captured another SCHSL title, his program was one of many nationally affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Cavs could have moved up in the final FAB 50 as they received an invite to play in GEICO Nationals, originally slated for New York City. When the crisis worsened in the Big Apple, the event was actually going to be hosted by Dorman, but it eventually had to be scrapped. Under Ryan’s leadership, Dorman is now 84-4 vs. in-state competition during its run of state championships and he is the first coach from the Palmetto State to earn this national honor dating back to 1969-70.

For all-time National Coach of the Year honorees dating back to 1969-70, CLICK HERE
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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