We're thinking that, when we look back at this draft class a few years down the line, the most productive players might not be the ones who heard their names called early. Like what often happens in these drafts, we see a few guys taken in the late first round, and even into the second round, who could stick in the league for a long time.

In this piece, Ron and Dev give their three biggest surprises of the 2020 NBA Draft.

Ronnie's Surprises

Jalen Smith to Phoenix at No. 10

Jalen Smith

6'10"   -   PF   -   2018

Seems to be at big reach at this spot for the Suns. Many are not sure his talent level was top 10 worthy, and it doesn’t seem to fit in with the Suns’ current personnel. He skill set is more of a five than a four, and Jalen Smith (Maryland) hasn’t shown that he’s a true stretch four at this time. Plus, if he is more of a traditional pivot, this team already has DeAndre Ayton on its roster. Smith is a talented player, but doesn’t seem to be the wisest choice at this spot.?

Zeke Nnaji to Dener at No. 22

The Nuggets have a nice roster and what would seem to be a bright future with it, but unless they are looking far down the line with Zeke Nnaji (Arizona). He brings some athleticism that The Joker (Nikola Jokic) lacks, but isn’t very polished. If he can develop into a rim protector deserving a quality minutes, then Devour could be on to something, but if the franchise truly coveted this big man it would seem it could have picked him up lower in the draft.?

Teams That Didn’t See Value in Traditional Bigs

With a generational player like Steph Curry and with a healthy Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson to complete the trio, it not hard to see why teams want to emulate what Golden State has done for the past decade. It got results, but there are only a few players with the talent level of Curry and Durant around. Most teams have proven it can’t win in that fashion, so it makes no to devalue quality big men. Even Obadiah Toppin is not a traditional big, but he still is a much better talent than the spot he got drafted at (No. 8). Players such as Vernon Carey Jr. (Duke) and Udoka Azubuike (Kansas) seemed to be afterthoughts to many GMs and draft analysts. Why? They can move and are big and physical and can make a difference on the right teams. There is still room in the game for a traditional back to the basket big man. That’s why we think Detroit gained great value at No. 16 with Isaiah Stewart (Washington). He’s physical, you have to account for him, has great character and you know what he’ll give you, which is 10 points, eight rebounds, quality fouls and a team-first approach. Many analysts pegged him to be much lower in the draft because he doesn’t fit the mold of a “modern” power forward, but we thought that was an excellent pick. Again, not many teams will be able to build their team as Golden State did in the 2010s.

Devin's Surprises

Immanuel Quickley jumps into first round

Many mock drafts, including ours, had the former Kentucky guard projected as a solid second round selection, but, as often happens in every NBA Draft, Immanuel Quickley made a huge impression on the New York as the Knicks took him with the 25th overall pick after swinging draft day trade to acquire more selections. The Knicks are looking to be in the thick of a rebuild and most franchises that go through that process put a big emphasis at the guard position and Quickley, when you watch his film and look at his numbers, fits the bill of an NBA-caliber guard. The rangy 6-foot-3 playmaker brings with him a ton of confidence, savvy, ball skills and shot making ability. Quickley averaged better than 16 points per game for the Wildcats during his sophomore season while shooting an impressive 42.8 percent from three-point range.

Nico Mannion's Draft Night Fall

Nico Mannion

6'3"   -   CG   -   2019

A lot of draft pundits considered Nico Mannion a sure-fire one-and-done lottery pick when he reclassified up a class and announced his commitment to Arizona, but draft night told a different story that might've stung the talented point guard in that moment, but could pay off for him in the long-term based on where he's heading. Golden State selected Mannion with the 48th overall pick in what could be one of the better fits for any player in the 2020 draft when it comes to style of play. Mannion's high basketball IQ, vision, court awareness and all-around feel for the game will be crucial to him getting some rookie playing time with the Warriors. The question marks with Mannion that gave some teams a cause for pause were his three-point shooting consistency and defensive capabilities when it comes to guarding the point guard position at the NBA level. There's no better place to address those two things than with a Golden State franchise looking to get back into the NBA Finals conversation.

Golden State Goes Big at No. 2 Despite Thompson Injury

Some of the biggest news on draft day had nothing to do with the draft itself, but instead an injury to one of the NBA's brightest stars. Warriors shooting guard Klay Thompson suffered an achilles injury during a workout and will miss the entire 2020-21 NBA season. With that news breaking shortly before the first pick was announced, my head started churning out scenarios of what Golden State could do with its second pick to make up for the loss of the sharpshooting Thompson. My mind immediately jumped to either a trade to get an established NBA shooter or go the upside route and select LaMelo Ball at No. 2. The Warriors did neither of those things (and maybe that's why I'm not in an NBA front office) and made the safe pick of taking Memphis big man James Wiseman. While Golden State definitely needed to add an impact big man to its roster, and Wiseman fits in great with their style and roster, the basketball junkie in me really wanted to see a Stephen Curry/LaMelo Ball backcourt.

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We’re fairly certain some of the late first round picks will develop into quality players over some of the higher picks towards the back end of the lottery. It happens in nearly every draft and we think the sleepers will what this particular draft will be remembered for a few years down the line. 

In this piece Ronnie and Dev make their three picks for which franchises came out in the winner's column on draft night.

Ronnie's Winners

Sacramento Kings - Tyrese Haliburton (Iowa St.) was an excellent pick at No. 12 because he’s a point guard with size and was likely the best available player from pick No. 9 until the kings nabbed him. He can push De'Aaron Fox or play alongside of him. The Kings also got Robert Woodard II (Mississippi St.) at No. 40 and he’s a top-tier athlete and can handle the rigors of guarding wing players. At No. 43, the Kings picked up Jahmius Ramsey (Texas Tech), one of the better our shooters in the draft. If Ramsey can develop into a reliable catch-and-shoot backup, then the Kings just picked up three excellent pieces for their future.

James Wiseman

7'0"   -   C   -   2019

Golden State Warriors - In terms of the actual draft, the Warriors might be the biggest winners because they got the player most physically ready to contribute in this draft. Sure, the Warriors lost when it was revealed Klay Thompson will be lost for the 2020-21 season with a torn Achilles, but that just makes the selection of James Wiseman (Memphis) that much more important. Stephen Curry will be 33 this season and Thompson will be 31 and they simply won’t be able to win in the manner in which they did forever. Every dynasty has to adjust to stay relevant and Wiseman has a good chance to be the most impactful player in this draft. Even if Wiseman reaches 75-80 percent of his max ceiling, he’ll still be better than nearly everyone in this draft. After being unable to trade this pick for a top-tier veteran, the Warriors made the right move. 

New York Knicks - Knicks’ fans are desperate for any good news or a winning piece, and they likely had their prayers answered in Obadiah Toppin (Dayton). Toppin may not the upside of Wiseman, but he was the best player in college basketball last year and the safest bet to be a contributor right away of any player drafted.  It was surprising to see him drop this far, unless you overvalue upside and some teams did in bypassing Toppin. He’ll have plenty of opportunity in New York and if any player in this draft can help the Knicks steer the ship in the right direction, he was the player. Could he be the next Amar’e Stoudemire? That’s a stretch but his ceiling is higher than what many teams valued it at. 

Devin's Winners

RJ Hampton

6'5"   -   CG   -   2019

Denver Nuggets - Fresh off of an appearance in the NBA Bubble Western Conference Finals, Denver added two young pieces to an already well-balanced roster. The Nuggets selected Zeke Nnaji out of Arizona with the 22nd overall pick. Nnaji, the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year, is an athletic, long and physical 6-foot-11 forward who showed flashes of inside-out scoring ability and defensive versatility in his one season in Tucson. Nnaji, if he turns out to be as good as Denver expects, could soften the blow of losing Jerami Grant to Detroit in Free Agency. Denver made a clever trade to acquire a second first round pick which they used to select 6-foot-5 guard RJ Hampton with the 24th pick. Most know Hampton as a highly-regarded high school player who opted to go to New Zealand for a season instead of playing collegiately. That move may have hurt Hampton's draft stock, but the talented playmaker has great size and feel for the position and Denver will pair him with Jamal Murray who will show him the NBA ropes.

Charlotte Hornets - The Hornets landed the most talented and highest-upside player in the draft in 6-foot-7 point guard LaMelo Ball. Ball was definitely the most polarizing and talked about player in this Hornets' draft class - and rightfully so - as he could potentially be a franchise-changing pick if his talent and skill-set translates well to the NBA level. Aside from Ball, which was a no-brainer selection, the Hornets made two solid second round picks taking Vernon Carey Jr. out of Duke and Grant Riller out of Charleston. Carey was a highly-touted high school prospect whose five-star resume and production at the college level kind of went under-the-radar. The 6-foot-10, 270-pound center averaged 17.8 points and nearly nine rebounds per game, providing a thin Charlotte front-court with some depth and long-term upside if Carey can become a consistent face-up perimeter shooter. Most people were probably wondering, "who?", when Riller's name was announced, but the four-year college player was a big time scorer at Charleston and a guy who can stroke the three-ball similar to Brooklyn's Joe Harris. If Riller can shoot it at a high 30 percent or low 40 percent clip at the NBA level, that pick will be of tremendous value.

Cassius Winston

6'2"   -   PG   -   2016

Washington Wizards - Most scouts, mock-drafters, NBA personnel didn't think that Deni Avdija, the top international prospect in the draft, would slip past the sixth pick because of his size, all-around guard skill-set and experience playing at a high level overseas, but luckily for the Wizards, the 6-foot-8 19 year-old fell into their lap. Avdija, as mentioned above, has great ball skills, a high passing IQ and the ability to finish around the basket with either hand. The biggest question for Avdija at this point in his development is how well his shot translates to the NBA three-point line. Washington's other pick of the night was a second rounder in which they snagged Cassius Winston out of Michigan State after a draft day trade with Oklahoma City. The former Spartan was one of the most reliable true point guards in college basketball last season, but his lack of explosiveness scared teams off enough for him to be a late second round selection. Winston brings with him a breadth of experience in one of the best college conferences and is a proven leader in big game situations. With John Wall potentially wanting out of D.C., Winston could be a guy who could provide valuable minutes at the point guard spot.

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The Golden State Warriors, who are looking to get healthy and return to their winning ways, will pick second, the Charlotte Hornets third, with the Chicago Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers rounding out the first five selections.

This will be one of the most unique NBA Drafts on record due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Not only is the draft delayed by at least four months, NBA front offices will be making picks with far less real-time evaluation because of the cancellations of many conference tournaments and the NCAA Tournament last season. Another interesting aspect of this draft is NBA scouts and front office personnel will not be able to evaluate prospects in a live draft combine setting, but rather a virtual one taking place at regional sites.

In this piece, myself and Ronnie Flores do our best to predict which players the lottery teams will select based on fit and team needs. Check out our selections for the top four picks in the final part of our three-part NBA Draft Lottery predictions series.

4. Chicago Bulls 

Ronnie’s Pick: LaMelo Ball | Guard | 6-7 | 190 | Australia | PRO

Why: The Bulls moved up three spots and could they be picking up the best talent in the draft? Some feel so, as Ball is the over-sized playmaker NBA teams covet nowadays. The most polarizing player in this draft, and perhaps’ the most in many years, he’s also got the biggest risk-reward factor of any potential draft pick. The younger brother of 2017 No. 2 pick (Lonzo Ball) has a big more wiggle, craftiness, and potentially a tighter handle than his brother, while both have that incredible vision and court awareness. Some NBA brass feel it’s a big plus that he’s already been through the rigors of pro basketball, but his defensive intensity and “gimmicky” style does raise some legitimate question marks about his long-term potential. Melo has been one of the most scrutinized players in basketball, at any level, or the past five years and that should help him should be get off to a slow start in his NBA career. Ball should be a rotational player as long as he picks up the defensive schemes and the fact that Chicago doesn’t have big glaring weaknesses should help his transition. Golden State will take a long look at him at No. 2, but he’ll fall here, and that will give him a better chance to learn on the job and eventually thrive.

Devin's Pick: Obi Toppin | Forward | 6-9 | 220 | Dayton | So.

Why: When taking a closer look at the Bulls' roster, two areas of need immediately jump off the page: guards and forwards. Chicago could certainly go with LaMelo Ball here if he's still available and come away with a high risk/high reward selection and add him in to a solid backcourt alongside Zach LaVine and Coby White. Or, as I believe will happen, the Bulls will select a guy who will be a productive NBA player from day one in Obi Toppin. The 6-foot-9 forward out of Dayton is a high motor guy who plays with great energy on both ends of the floor and has proven he can score inside and out. His rim running ability in transition, along with his vertical athleticism, make him a guy who could excel as an open court finisher or a pick-and-roll lob finisher in the half-court. Toppin shot 39 percent from the college three-point line, and while his catch-and-shoot mechanics are fundamentally sound, it will be interesting to see if his perimeter shooting translates to the deeper NBA three-point stripe.

3. Charlotte Hornets

Ronnie’s Pick: Obi Toppin | Forward | 6-9 | 220 | Dayton | So.

Why: If Wiseman is the Warriors’ pick, and he should be, taking Melo Ball here would be a tempting move for the Hornets, as would his former high school teammate from Chino Hills (Calif.) Onyeka Okongwu. I just get the feeling Charlotte will play it safe, as they are one of those teams that favors more seasoned talent rather than gambling on younger players with a perceived higher ceiling. As the 2020 Naismith Award winner, Toppin was an efficient player in college who will be able to operate down low in the NBA and contribute right away. The Dayton star is a classic what-you-see-is-what-you-get type and at 22 would be the oldest top five pick in a decade. Toppin is an underrated shooter, but there are some concerns about his defensive ability and ceiling. Will those concerns cause him to drop? We don’t think so and in a draft with plenty of question marks, he’s not going to fall out of the top five.

Devin's Pick: LaMelo Ball | Guard | 6-7 | 190 | Australia | PRO

Why: As mentioned above, Ball might be the most talented prospect in this year's draft class, but there are plenty of unknowns that come with drafting a player like him. We all know the story of him leaving Chino Hills to go to Lithuania and then to SPIRE Academy and finally to Australia where, for the first time, he played in a more structured environment than he did at the high school and club level in the states. Like Ronnie said, the youngest of the three Ball brothers is the most polarizing player in the 2020 Draft and he's also the most talented of the three siblings. At 6-feet-7, Melo has the ball skills, creativity, craftiness, vision and basketball IQ to serve as a primary ball handler and playmaker. The question marks about Ball, among NBA decision-makers, stem both on and off the court. Does his freewheeling style of play translate to the NBA level? Will he be a consistent three-point shooting threat from the NBA line? Can he guard his position and properly defend in an NBA defensive scheme? In a draft that doesn't feature a whole lot of no-brainer talent, Charlotte has to go with the best available player here and it is Ball. To me, Melo would fit in nicely with the vastly-improved Devonte' Graham and veteran point guard Terry Rozier along with young, talented forwards in P.J. Washington and Miles Bridges.

2. Golden State Warriors

Ronnie’s Pick: James Wiseman | Center | 7-1 | 235 | Memphis | Fr.

Why: The dynasty with the closing championship window are the big winners in this year’s draft. Why? For starters, its selection won’t have the added pressure of being the No. 1 pick in a weak draft (think Anthony Bennett and how that worked) and regardless, two players from among Anthony Edwards, Melo Ball and Wiseman will be available. That means the Warriors’ front office will have a quality pick/player to shop around should they decide no player from this draft will greatly assist within the time frame of that championship window (keep in mind the Warrior’s own Minnesota’s 2021 first-round pick). Wiseman combination of immense size, frame and mobility easily offsets his limited body of work to get to this point. Sure, Wiseman only played three college games, but should fit in with a team that doesn’t need him to produce gigantic numbers right away. He’ll have some pressure on him to perform at some point, but with Golden State’s shooters, he’ll eventually thrive. And if the Warriors want to package this pick as part of a deal for a veteran, he brings the most value or they’ll be choosing for another team. Either way, the Warriors have quality options.

Devin's Pick: James Wiseman | Center | 7-1 | 235 | Memphis | Fr.

Why: There are expectations that Golden State will try to trade this pick for a more seasoned veteran as it tries to bounce-back to championship form after an injury-riddled season, meaning there's a lot of different ways the Warriors could go here. For the sake of this story, let's assume the Warriors keep this pick, and I think they go with Wiseman here. The mobile 7-foot-1 center has all the makings of a modern big man and his skill-set would translate quite nicely to a Golden State roster that needs some help inside. Wiseman had a brief cup of coffee at Memphis, but showed flashes of his next-level ability in the three games he played. Wiseman averaged 19.7 points, 10.7 rebounds and three blocks per game before a NCAA suspension led him to leave school to prepare for the 2020 NBA Draft. So what is it about Wiseman that could fit in well with the Warriors? The first thing that stands out for me is rim protection, and as the league becomes more athletic and more offensively gifted, there's always a place for a guy who can block, change or alter shots at the rim. The second aspect of Wiseman's game I like is his rebounding, both offensively and defensively. There's no better way to start a fast break than old-fashioned glass cleaning and second-chance opportunities on missed shots are all-important in deep playoff runs.

1. Minnesota Timberwolves

Ronnie’s Pick: Anthony Edwards | Guard | 6-5 | 225 | Georgia | Fr.

Why: There is no questioning Edward’s offensive talent and we’ve known for a long time (since the 2018 Pangos All-American Camp) that he had No. 1 in the draft-type talent. Since the Wolves have some quality offensive players on the perimeter, Edwards won’t be under a tremendous amount of pressure to put up big numbers right away, but he’ll be under the microscope to show offensive efficiency and be engaged defensively. If Edwards gradually improves his shooting percentages and displays an locked-in attitude on defense, we’re talking a potential All-Star player (and there is not too many of those with that potential in this draft). He has to be in a position to succeed and with a coaching staff that feels any shortcomings can be addressed in an adequate amount of time. He’s not a “project” as a No. 1 pick, but not a sure-fire star. Nobody in this draft is, but Edwards is still its best bet because of his combination of athleticism and offensive play-making ability against NBA level defenders.

Devin's Pick: Anthony Edwards | Guard | 6-5 | 225 | Georgia | Fr.

Why: I compare Edwards to Toppin in this year's draft and not because of style of play, but more because of the fact that you know what you're getting and that's a bonafide scorer. The 6-foot-5 off-guard has an impressive combination of physical strength and vertical explosiveness, both of which led to him averaging 19.1 points and 5.2 rebounds per game as a freshman in the SEC. Edwards will be a guy who can play off the ball alongside De'Angelo Russell, Karl Anthony-Towns and another young and talented wing in Jarrett Culver. While Edwards is a creative scorer and shot creator, it remains to be seen if his perimeter shooting ability is at the level it needs to be for him to live up to a No. 1 Draft selection. Edwards struggled from three-point range at Georgia, connecting on just 29.4 percent of his 7.7 three-point attempts per game. As we all know, shooting the deep ball has become one of the more important aspects of the game and Edwards will need to develop a more consistent deep ball to have a long and productive NBA career.

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The 2018-19 All-American Elite Team, now published for the 25th consecutive season and on the www.ebooksnet.com platform for the fifth time, includes 41 of the nation’s best seniors, led by Mr. Basketball USA Isaiah Stewart of FAB 50 No. 3 La Lumiere (La Porte, La.).

Seventeen seniors and three juniors, including first five selection Sharife Cooper of FAB 50 No. 2 McEachern (Powder Springs, Ga.), headline the 20-player overall first team.

A 30-player second team includes 24 additional seniors. Four talented juniors join one special sophomore and one outstanding freshman on the second team, as all underclassmen are eligible for selection. Last year’s Mr. Basketball USA, R.J. Barrett of Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.), re-classified up to the 2018 class after earning national sophomore player of the year honors in 2017.

This year’s 20-man first team includes two players who re-classified up from the 2020 class early in the school year: first five selection Anthony Edwards of Holy Spirit Prep (Atlanta) and Nico Mannion of Pinnacle (Phoenix, Ariz.). The second team includes another All-American honoree that re-classed up after the season ended: combo guard R.J. Hampton of Little Elm (Texas).

In the 25 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 Carl Kremer of Moeller (Cincinnati, Ohio). He guided the Fighting Crusaders to back-to-back OHSAA Division I titles and a 49-game winning streak entering 2019-2020. In 2018, Moeller finished No. 16 in the FAB 50 and with that club graduating a strong senior class, the Fighting Crusaders exceeded expectations this season, finishing 29-0 and No. 7 in the FAB 50. Along the way, Moeller became the first unbeaten OHSAA D1 state champ since 1995 and Kremer won his fifth state title as coach.

Kremer, whose overall record now stands at 575-157, tied the reported state record with his fifth coaching state title at one program, which was first accomplished by Middletown’s Paul Walker and later Dru Joyce of St. Vincent-St. Mary (Akron, Ohio). Under Kremer’s leadership, Moeller also won state titles in 1999, 2003, and 2007. He’s the first coach from Ohio to earn national acclaim on our all-time list dating back to the 1969-70 season.

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 Elite All-American team more reflective of players who made state championship runs. This honors squad has been chosen in its current format since the 1994-95 season and is powered by www.ebooksnet.com for the fifth consecutive season. This team is chosen regardless of class and is not exclusive or preferential for seniors named to the Ballislife All-American Game. To check out who has played in the Ballislife All-American Game the past nine years, please visit ballislifeallamerican.com. To view archived All-American teams published under this format, please visit GrassrootsHoops.net.

2018-19 All-American First Team

First Five

G — Sharife Cooper, McEachern (Powder Springs, Ga.) 6-0 Jr.
His father and travel ball coach Omar Cooper told Ballislife, “things will be different this year,” with regards to the Indians’ quest for their first GHSA state title. Dad ended up being right on the money, as McEachern had a storybook run to the GHSA Class 7A crown. As the catalyst for a 32-0 team, it wasn’t a hard choice to put Cooper on first team after the Indians went unbeaten against one of the best schedules in the country. A leader and clutch shot maker who can get to any spot on the floor, Cooper averaged 28.1 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 8.2 apg and 4.0 spg and was named MVP of the City of Palms Tournament and the Bass Pro Tournament of Champions. He teamed with senior Isaac Okoro to lead the Indians to nine wins over FAB 50 ranked clubs and three more against teams that were ranked at the time. Okoro (who was seriously considered for fourth five) and Cooper shared all-classification Player of the Year honors on the Atlanta Journal Constitution’s all-state team and Cooper was named the state’s Mr. Basketball by sandysspiel.com.

G — Cole Anthony, Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) 6-3 Sr.
The official runner-up to Isaiah Stewart for Mr. Basketball USA, Anthony is arguably the best guard to suit up for veteran coach Steve Smith since Brandon Jennings, who was the Mr. Basketball USA choice in 2008. Two years earlier, Oak Hill had another runner-up in Kevin Durant. Four Mr. Basketball USA Tracker panelists had Anthony as their top player of the year choice (and the other six had Stewart) after he averaged 18.5 ppg, 10.1 rpg and 10.2 apg and led Oak Hill to the GIECO Nationals semifinals and No. 10 FAB 50 ranking. Anthony played like the best guard in the country on the post-season all-star circuit with big-time showings at the McDonald’s All-American Game (14 points, on 7-of-11 shooting, five rebounds, seven assists, and two blocks) the Nike Hoop Summit (25 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists) and at the Jordan Brand Classic (25 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists). In fact, he’s the first player to sweep MVP honors of the major all-star events since first five selection Zach Randolph (Marion, Ind.) in 2000 when he turned the trifecta at McDonald’s, Nike Hoop Summit and the Nike Derby Festival Classic.

G — Anthony Edwards, Holy Spirit Prep (Atlanta, Ga.) 6-5 Sr.
There was plenty of excitement surrounding Holy Spirit Prep in the preseason and even though the team didn’t live up to preseason expectations, it doesn’t diminish Edwards’ individual brilliance. He used his combination of explosiveness, power and silk jump shooting to develop into the top shooting guard in the country and the No. 1 ranked player by at least one major scouting network. Edwards averaged 25 ppg, 9 rpg, 2 apg and 2 spg, but Holy Spirit Prep finished 15-14. He had 21 points at the Jordan Brand Classic and 12 points and 3 assists at the McDonald’s All-American Game. He’s staying home and will attend Georgia, where he’s the highest-rated incoming recruit to join the Bulldogs since 1979 second five choice Dominque Wilkins (Washington, N.C.).

F — Isaiah Stewart, La Lumiere (La Porte, Ind.) 6-9 Sr.
Went from underclass All-American honors last year to the highest individual honor a player can receive as this year’s Mr. Basketball USA. Not only did he lead a 30-1 team, he’s was the first player mentioned among elites by coaches and scouts when the question was asked “Who plays the hardest and gives the best effort every single time out?” Stewart’s Mr. basketball candidacy steadily rose, from appearing on six ballots in the preseason with 35 points and zero first or second place votes to appearing on all 10 Mr. Basketball Tracker ballots to edging Cole Anthony with six of the 10 first place votes to conclude the season. After averaging 18.1 ppg, 11.3 rpg, and 2.9 bpg while shooting 63 percent from the field, Stewart is the first-ever national player of the year choice to attend the University of Washington. He’s also the first choice from an Indiana program since Greg Oden of Indianapolis Lawrence North in 2006.

F — James Wiseman, Memphis East (Memphis, Tenn.) 7-0 Sr.
He was one of the final selections of the fourth five last season and jumps all the way up to the first five after showing what he could do on the national all-star game circuit. The nation’s top prospect in the 247Sports.com composite, Wiseman showed why he’s so highly-coveted among pro scouts with 13 points and 6 rebounds at the McDonalds All-American Game, 21 points and 6 rebounds at the Jordan Brand Classic and 6 blocked shots at the Nike Hoop Summit. For his high school team, he averaged 25.8 ppg, 14.8 rpg, and 5.5 bpg with both some dominant and pedestrian moments. Still, with his size, skill level and agility, he’s a cinch All-American among this crop of candidates. A long-time commit to Memphis, this year’s Tennessee’s AAA Mr. Basketball will play for 1990 first five choice Penny Hardaway (Memphis Treadwell).

Second Five

G — Nico Mannion, Pinnacle (Phoenix, Ariz.) 6-3 Sr.
Even though he re-classed up to 2019, he completed one of the most spectacular careers in Arizona history, leading Pinnacle to consecutive AIA Class 6A state titles. A three-time all-state selection by the Arizona Republic, Mannion improved his statistical output in each of three seasons and was a two-time Gatorade State Player of the Year choice. For his career, he averaged 24.6 ppg and scored 2,095 points. As a senior, Mannion averaged 30.4 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 6.2 apg and 2.8 spg for a 28-3 club that only lost one game in-state and handed FAB 50 No. 14 Shadow Mountain its first in-state loss in 91 games. The son of former NBA player Pace Mannion, the scoring point guard stepped up in big games, and won the Shadow Mountain game on a contested, buzzer-beating 3-pointer. Goes down as one of the best players ever to come out of Arizona along with 1996 Mr. Basketball USA Mike Bibby of Shadow Mountain and 1985 third five selection Sean Elliot of Tucson Cholla. Like those two former NBA standouts, Mannion will play at Arizona.

G — Scottie Lewis, Ranney School (Eatontown, N.J.) 6-5 Sr.
We don’t often go against credible local consensus, but we had to make a decision of what to do with the dynamic Ranney School duo that led the program to its first ever New Jersey Tournament of Champions title. Lewis’ teammate Bryan Antoine received more local honors, but it was Lewis that was a bit more impressive against his peers in various elite settings. At the McDonald’s All-American Game, Lewis showed he’s one of the best two-way performers in the country with scoring, intensity and defensive ability, as he went for 10 points and four steals. Lewis also played well at the Nike Hoop Summit and was noted for his big play ability for his high school team. The Florida-bound wing guard had 20 points and 11 rebounds in the TOC title game and finished his four-year career with 1,874 career points. On the season, Lewis sported averages of 17.5 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 3.5 apg, 2.7 spg and 1.5 bpg for the No. 6 team in the FAB 50.

F — Precious Achiuwa, Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) 6-9 Sr.
One of the most highly-skilled and multi-dimensional frontcourt players in the country, Achiuwa made the most of his one season in the Eagles’ program after earning underclass All-American honors at St. Benedict’s (Newark, N.J.) as a junior. The younger brother of former St. John’s forward God’sgift Achiuwa, Precious only put up modest numbers (14 ppg, 7 rpg), but those actually led a talent-laden team that finished 22-3 and ranked No. 4 in the FAB 50. He displayed versatile talent, with the ability to finish effectively with both hands and guard multiple positions. On the post-season all-star circuit is where Achiuwa made a favorable impression and increased his All-American candidacy, going for 22 points and nine rebounds at the McDonald’s All-American Game and 15 points and 11 rebounds at the Nike Hoop Summit. Teammate Cade Cunningham was also considered for first team and just missed making the fourth five.

F — Trendon Watford, Mountain Brook (Birmingham, Ala.) 6-9 Sr.
Terrific big-game performer and one of the best winners in the 2019 class closed out his career as one of Alabama’s most decorated players ever. His consistency, versatility and underrated shooting (career .392 3-point) led Mountain Brook to a 31-3 mark and No. 5 FAB 50 ranking this year and three consecutive AHSAA Class 7A state crowns. Turned in a signature 38-point, 12-rebound performance against IMG Academy to hand that FAB 50 No. 1 club its only loss of the season and closed out his senior season with averages of 23.7 ppg, 11.8 rpg, 3.6 apg and 2.5 bpg. Watford finished with four-year career totals of 3,237 points and 1,604 rebounds and his five-year totals include 1,909 rebounds, the all-time state record over 2005 third five selection Richard Hendrix of Athens. The undecided recruit participated in the McDonald’s, Jordan Brand and Ballislife All-American Games.

F — Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) 6-9 Sr.
The son of 1996 second five selection Lester Earl of Glen Oaks (Baton Rouge, La.) is the most highly honored player on the most talent-laden team in the country. As a result of his statistical output and strong finish at GEICO Nationals, Robinson-Earl gets the nod on first team over North Carolina-bound teammate Armando Bacot (who was seriously considered for fourth five) off a team that has at least nine D1 recruits on its roster and is the first ever to produce three McDonald’s All-Americans (Arizona-bound forward Josh Green). The Villanova-bound combo forward led the 31-1 team in scoring (17.1 ppg) and rebounding (9.5 rpg) and had 18 points, seven rebounds and six assists in the GEICO Nationals championship game victory over La Lumiere (Ind.) to deliver the Ascenders their first national championship in any sport. Robinson-Earl averaged 14 ppg and seven rpg and was singled out for his terrific defense in three games at GEICO Nationals and was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.

Third Five

G — Joe Girard III, Glens Falls (N.Y.) 6-2 Sr.
Had an even more impressive high school career than DeWitt Christian Brothers Academy’s Greg Paulus, who was the nation’s top Grid-Hooper in 2004-2005 who was the Gatorade National Player of the Year in football and New York’s Mr. Basketball during that winter. Girard is also a Mr. Basketball recipient after averaging a nation-leading 48.6 ppg as a senior when he led Glen Falls to a 29-1 record and the New York Federation Class B title. He hit 195 three-pointers as a senior and a game-winning shot with three seconds remaining in overtime to deliver Glen Falls its first state title. He shattered the all-time state scoring mark (2,846 points) held by 2009 first five selection Lance Stephenson of Brooklyn Lincoln, finishing with 4,329 career points (not including the 434 he scored as an eighth-grader) while averaging an incredible 42.4 ppg in his 102-game four-year career. Included in that point total are 618 3-pointers and 1,065 free throws. Unlike Paulus, he won’t be trying his hand at college basketball first, but like him will play quarterback at Syracuse after accounting for 8,414 yards and 130 touchdowns in his career.

G — Bryan Antoine, Ranney School (Eatontown, N.J.) 6-4 Sr.
Teammate and second five selection Scottie Lewis gets a bit more national acclaim, but it can be argued Antoine is the more accomplished high school player. After all, he led the 31-3 club with a scoring average of 20.9 ppg while also contributing 4.0 rpg, 2.7 apg and 2.8 spg. Antoine was also extremely efficient on offense, scoring at a 60 percent clip from the field, 39 percent from 3-point range and 84 percent from the free throw line while never shooting more than 18 field goal attempts in a single game. It’s no wonder the Villanova-bound shooting guard was the NJ.com State Player of the Year and was a model of consistency in helping Ranney School become the first Shore Conference program to win the TOC crown. Along the way, the McDonald’s All-American became the all-time scoring leader in the Shore Conference with 2,499 points and helped the Panthers win 103 games in four seasons.

F — E.J. Liddell, Belleville West (Belleville, Ill.) 6-7 Sr.
One of the most highly honored players in the nation, Liddell’s production led to winning in the highest classification of Illinois basketball (IHSA Class 4A). The powerful and no-nonsense inside presence had 24 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists in the 4A state title game win over Evanston after dominating FAB 50 ranked Chicago Curie in the semifinals with 14 points, 11 rebounds, five assists and four blocks. He had that type of impact on many big games with season highs of 42 points, 16 rebounds, and 10 blocks while shooting 63 percent from the field. Belleville West’s all-time leader in points (2,508), rebounds (1,004) and blocks (500), he’s also third in assists (322) despite his rugged inside nature. The Ohio St. recruit averaged 20.2 ppg, 9.3 rpg, and 3.8 bpg and is the second back-to-back state Mr. Basketball, following in the footsteps of two-time Mr. Basketball USA finalist Jabari Parker of Chicago Simeon (2012-13). He joins Parker and fellow elite first teamers Derrick Rose (2007) and Shaun Livingston (2004) as lead players on back-to-back IHSA major division state championship teams.

F — Vernon Carey Jr., University School (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) 6-10 Sr.
Although the powerful and skilled big man didn’t have quite the season he did during his breakout junior campaign for the Sharks when he earned National Junior Player of the Year honors, Carey was the best player in Florida for the second consecutive season. The two-time Florida Mr. Basketball also repeated as the Sun Sentinel’s Broward County Player of the Year and was named to the McDonald’s All-American and Jordan Brand Classic teams. The son of a former NFL offensive lineman, Carey averaged 21.1 ppg and 9 rpg for a 27-4 team that repeated as FHSAA Class 5A state champs. He did not play in the state semifinals, championship game, or the post-season all-star circuit because of a nagging ankle injury. The Duke-bound power forward gutted it out at GEICO Nationals and had 15 points and 11 rebounds in a first round loss to FAB 50 No. 4 Montverde Academy.

F — Onyeka Okongwu, Chino Hills (Calif.) 6-9 Sr.
He’s one of the most highly acclaimed and honored players in the country despite not being selected for the McDonald’s or Jordan Brand Classic. Okongwu is known best for helping an already legendary Huskies club go 35-0 to capture the 2016 FAB 50 national championship when the Big O was a 14-year old freshman. After Melo Ball (another 14-year old starter on that team) left school, Okongwu became more of a focal point of the offense and simply dominated California ball because his impeccable defensive instincts and timing never wavered. He put together two memorable playoff runs to finish his career with three CIF state titles and is a two-time Cal-Hi Sports Mr. Basketball, the first post player to win in back-to-back seasons since first five selection Tyson Chandler (2000-2001). For the season, he averaged 27 ppg on 66 percent shooting, 11.0 r.pg, 4.0 apg, 4.3 bpg and 1.3 spg, including marks of 30 ppg and 5.5 bpg in 10 post-season games. The USC recruit recorded a 31-3 post-season mark in addition to helping his Compton Magic travel club (along with fourth teamer Evan Mobley) capture a mythical grassroots national title.

Fourth Five

G — Jahmius Ramsey, Duncanville (Texas) 6-4 Sr.
Transfer from IMG Academy made most of his return to the Lone Star State, leading the Panthers to the UIL Class 6A state crown, their first since 2007. Duncanville began the season 7-7, but when the players realized it needed to re-group from the coaches’ preseason voices and to focus on getting the ball to Ramsey, it turned around their season. Duncanville finished the season with 25 consecutive wins, as Ramsey scored 26 points in a big regional final win over Denton Guyer and 22 points in the state title game win over Houston Klein Forest in the title game. For the season, the athletic and muscular power guard averaged 18.9 ppg, 5.2 rpg, and 2.9 apg and was chosen TABC All-State in addition to being named Dallas Morning News Player of the Year over last year’s choice, second teamer Darius Garland. The Texas Tech recruit was team MVP at the Ballislife All-American Game and also played at the Jordan Brand Classic, where he had 15 points, six rebounds and two steals.

G — Cassius Stanley, Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.) 6-5 Sr.
The unofficial runner-up to third teamer Onyeka Okongwu for Cal-Hi Sports Mr. Basketball honors, perhaps no player on the elite team used his senior year performance more to gain post-season national acclaim. After sitting out part of his junior season because of transfer, Stanley stepped up as a senior to lead Sierra Canyon to its second consecutive CIF Open state title and a 32-3 record. An improved jump shot and offensive decision-making helped Stanley average 19 ppg, 6 rpg, and 3 apg for a talented team featuring three all-state players that finished No. 9 in the FAB 50. The Duke-bound shooting guard earned a slew of local honors and was selected for the Ballislife All-American Game and Jordan Brand Classic, the latter in which he scored 16 points. One of the best leapers ever in California history, this three-time CIF state champion was player of the year on the all-CIFSS Open Division team, on the L.A. Dailey News all-region team and from SoCal Varsity, which covers a vast portion of Southern California.

F — Jalen Johnson, Nicolet (Glendale, Wis.) 6-7 Jr.
The last few spots on the elite team were tough choices, but we decided to honor a couple of juniors whose talent is too great to ignore. In the case of Johnson, team success makes him a slam dunk pick, after he led the Knights to a 27-1 mark and No. 24 FAB 50 ranking. There is a plethora of underclass talent in Wisconsin, including second team All-American Patrick Baldwin and six of the top 10 players of the Associated Press all-state team, but Johnson is already considered the state’s most prodigious talent. The A.P. State Player of the Year averaged 19.7 ppg, 11.7 rpg and 5.9 apg for the WIAA D2 state champs and also led the team in steals while recording seven triple doubles. The versatile forward was at his best in the big games, as he went for 20 points, 20 rebounds and four assists in the 67-52 state title game over Milwaukee Washington and averaged 15.5 rpg in two state tournament games.

F — Matt Hurt, John Marshall (Rochester, Minn.) 6-9 Sr.
It was an honored-filled season for a player who will join third five member Vernon Carey and fellow fourth five selection Cassius Stanley at Duke in the fall. He rates with Carey and first team choices Isaiah Stewart and James Wiseman as the nations’ top-rated interior prospects and he was as productive as any big man in the country, averaging 36.8 ppg, 12.5 rpg, and 4.8 apg for a 22-7 club. For his efforts, Hurt was named both the Associated Press and Gatorade State Player of the Year. The McDonald’s All-American finished his season with 1,072 points and his decorated high school career with a Minnesota Large Schools record 3,812 points.

C — Evan Mobley, Rancho Christian (Temecula, Calif.) 7-0 Jr.
For a portion of the season, this talented seven-footer was in the thick of the Mr. Basketball USA race along with Isaiah Stewart and Cole Anthony, but his candidacy suffered when the Eagles underachieved in sectional and regional play. Still, it’s impossible to ignore his vast potential, production and slew of local honors. After some injuries and growing pains slowed him down during his first two seasons, he had a breakout season for a club that played a terrific national schedule and finished No. 39 in the FAB 50 at 25-6. The agile center with great patience and a high skill level averaged 19.2 ppg, 10.4 rpg, 4.7 bpg, and 3.3 apg and bolstered his All-American candidacy with a 13-point, 3-block performance in a win over Memphis East and first five choice James Wiseman. The younger brother of USC-bound and McDonald’s All-American Isaiah Mobley, Evan beat out his older brother for player of the year honors by the Riverside Press Enterprise and was named state junior player of the year over second teamer Jalen Green.

2018-19 All-American Second Team

F — Armando Bacot, IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) 6-10 Sr.
F — Patrick Baldwin Jr., Hamilton (Sussex, Wis.) 6-8 Soph.
F — Emoni Bates, Lincoln (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 6-8 Fr.
G — Christian Braun, Blue Valley Northwest (Overland Park, Kan.) 6-5 Sr.
G — Cade Cunningham, Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) 6-5 Jr.
F — Eric Dixon, Abington (Pa.) 6-8 Sr.
G — Jalen Green, San Joaquin Memorial (Fresno, Calif.) 6-5 Jr.
G — R.J. Hampton, Little Elm (Texas) 6-5 Jr.
G — Jaelen House, Shadow Mountain (Phoenix, Ariz.) 6-1 Sr.
G — Josiah James, Porter-Gaud (Charleston, S.C.) 6-7 Sr.
F — D.J. Jeffries, Olive Branch (Miss.) 6-7 Sr.
G — Rylon Jones, Olympus (Salt Lake City, Utah) 6-0 Sr.
G — Keyshaun Langley, Southwest Guilford (High Point, N.C.) 6-1 Sr.
F — Chris Ledlum, Northfield Mt. Hermon (Gill, Mass.) 6-7 Sr.
G — Tyrese Maxey, South Garland (South Garland, Texas) 6-3 Sr.
F — Jaden McDaniels, Federal Way (Federal Way, Wash.) 6-10 Sr.
G — Justin Moore, DeMatha Catholic (Hyattsville, Md.) 6-4 Sr.
F — Wendell Moore Jr., Cox Mill (Concord, N.C.) 6-6 Sr.
G — Casey Morsell, St. John’s College (Washington, D.C.) 6-5 Sr.
G — Paul Mulcahy, Gill St. Bernard’s (Gladstone, N.J.) 6-5 Sr.
C — Zeke Nnaji, Hopkins (Minnetonka, Minn.) 6-11 Sr.
G — Isaac Okoro, McEachern (Powder Springs, Ga.) 6-5 Sr.
F — Donta Scott, Imhotep Charter (Philadelphia, Pa.) 6-7 Sr.
G — Jalen Suggs, Minnehaha Academy (Minneapolis, Minn.) 6-3 Jr.
C — Oscar Tshiebwe, Kennedy Catholic (Hermitage, Pa.) 6-8 Sr.
F — C.J. Walker, Oak Ridge (Orlando, Fla.) 6-8 Sr.
F — Anton Watson, Gonzaga Prep (Spokane, Wash.) 6-7 Sr.
F — Romeo Weems, New Haven (Mich.) 6-7 Sr.
F — Kahlil Whitney, Roselle Catholic (Roselle, N.J.) 6-7 Sr.
F — Samuell Williamson, Rockwall (Texas) 6-6 Sr.

National Coach of the Year: Carl Kremer, Moeller (Cincinnati, Ohio)

Related: 2018-19 Underclass All-American Team | 2018-19 Mr. Basketball USA: Isaiah Stewart

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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