It was definitely the best collection of talent in the game's six-year history and it only figures to get better in the coming years. Among the collection of Ballislife All-Americans, the one that arguably shined the brightest among the 20 was Auburn-bound small forward Mustapha Heron of Sacred Heart (Waterbury, Conn.). He netted 31 points, collected five rebounds and collected two steals for Team Elite to cop co-MVP honors in the contest.

Heron was aided in leading his team to victory by Kansas-bound power forward Mitch Lightfoot of Gilbert Christian (Gilbert, Ariz.). The rugged and serious-minded player scored a game-high 32 points, including 27 in the second half, and added six rebounds. Small forward Vance Jackson of Prolific Prep (Napa, Calif.) also had a standout game in his return to Southern California, finishing with 17 points and 11 rebounds. Jackson, a UConn recruit, is originally from Los Angeles and played as an underclassman at St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.).

Earning co-MVP honors along with Heron was Team Future's Lonzo Ball of FAB 50 National Champion Chino Hills (Calif.). The point guard headed to UCLA finished with 17 points, eight rebounds, 15 assists and two steals. The 15 assists by Ball broke the event record of 10 previously held by Dominic Artis (Oregon/UTEP) and Tyler Ulis (Kentucky). Artis had 15 points and 10 assists in the 2012 game and Ulis had eight points, 10 assists and three steals in the 2014 game.

Other standouts for Team Future included Michigan St.-bound power forward Miles Bridges of Huntington Prep (Huntington, W. Va.). The Flint, Mich. native finished with 25 points, four assists and some rim-rattling dunks. Arizona-bound Rawle Alkins of Word of God Christian Academy (Raleigh, N.C.) by way of Brooklyn, N.Y. added 20 points, six rebounds and two assists.

Heron and Alkins were co-MVPS of the 2015 Pangos All-American Camp held in Southern California.

Alkins' future college teammate, shooting guard Terrance Ferguson of Advanced International Prep (Dallas), won the BILAAG Slam Dunk Contest presented by Eastbay. Included in Ferguson's dunking exhibition was a free throw line windmill dunk that brought the house down. The 3-point contest was captured by Marquette-bound guard Markus Howard of Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.).

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Stay tuned.

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

The Early Favorites*

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Strong Cases*

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

OTHER SENIOR CANDIDATES
FROM STRONG PROGRAMS

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

JUNIORS TO WATCH

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

IMPACT SOPHOMORES

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

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

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

The post Inside Look at Mr. Basketball USA Candidates appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

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

Preseason 2015-16 FAB 50
National Team Rankings

Compiled by Ronnie Flores

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

RELATED: Preseason 2015-16 FAB 50 (1-15) | Preseason 2015-16 FAB 50 (31-50) | Preseason Regional Top 20 Rankings

16. (NR) Patrick School (Elizabeth, N.J.) 18-6
Key Players: PG Bryce Aiken 5-11 2016 (No. 100 Rivals.com, Harvard commit), C Nick Richards 6-11 2017 (No. 13 Rivals.com, Grassroots Hoops Underclass All-American), PG Jamir Harris 6-0 2017 (No. 136 Rivals.com), PF Cyril Langevine 6-8 2016 (Rhode Island commit), C Buj Ajang 6-9 2017.
Why This Ranking: The Celtics possess a dangerous combination of talent and incentive after last season and that gives them as much potential as nearly any team in the Top 15. Richards is a load underneath and one of the best underclass post players in the country. The tougher the competition, the better Aiken plays and he’s also a commanding presence on the court. With normal development, Ajang is going to give opponents fits and make Richards even more dangerous. Langevine is a sparkplug and Harris is going to have a host of colleges looking for his LOI next year. Patrick School (which was opened after St. Patrick’s closed in 2012) has about as strong an inside-outside combination of players of any FAB 50-ranked team with the exception of top-ranked Oak Hill Academy.

The Skinny: Patrick School didn’t necessarily underachieve or fail to meet its goals last season, it’s a case of coach Chris Chavannes and the players feeling the season was taken away from them after NJSIAA officials banned the program from the post-season in controversial fashion after an end-of-game brawl in a California tournament versus Redondo Union (Redondo Beach, Calif.). Video of the brawl went viral and though the majority of viewers felt the penalty was harsh, the NJSIAA upheld its ruling. With all but one player on the roster returning (a non-starter), the Celtics open as Jersey’s No. 2 team ahead of TOC champion Roselle Catholic and behind perennial FAB 50 contender St. Anthony. We’ll never know how the Celtics would have fared in last year’s post-season, but without the suspensions the Celtics might have dropped less games and the extra comparative scores the playoffs would have provided could of meant a higher preseason ranking.

17. (40) Apple Valley (Apple Valley, Minn.) 30-2
Key Players: SF Gary Trent Jr. 6-4 2017 (No. 7 247Sports.com, Grassroots Hoops Underclass All-American), PG Tre Jones 5-8 2018 (No. 21 Scout.com), C Brock Bertram 6-11 2016 (No. 165 247Sports.com).

Why This Ranking: You have to like a team with just about everyone back from a championship club that knocked of previously unbeaten and nationally ranked Champlin Park in the Class 4A state title game. The Eagles are the overwhelming favorites to win their third state title in four years and potentially go down as one of Minnesota’s best teams ever. Of the five returning starters, Trent figures to get the most individual accolades, as he is one of the best scorers in the country regardless of class. Jones, the younger brother of Minnesota Timberwolves and 2015 NCAA Final Four MOP Tyus Jones, gained valuable experience and made clutch shots as a freshman starter. Bertram is improved and fields D1 offers from schools such as Wisconsin-Green Bay, Miami (Ohio) and Texas Tech.

The Skinny: This team is loaded, but it won’t be sneaking up on anyone and the expectations will be sky high. “We’re going to play wiser, smarter and stronger and go in with the mindset that we have to take it one game at a time,” Trent Jr. said. Trent Jr. and Jones both participated at the October USA Basketball Junior National team minicamp and Jones said the experience will help him be a better leader and avoid complacency. The highest ranked FAB 50 team ever from Minnesota is North of Bloomington in 1999-00 (No. 11) and if this team plays to its potential it could wind up in North’s range in the final FAB 50.

18. (NR) Greenforest Christian Academy (Decatur, Ga.) 27-2
Key Players: C Ikechukwu Obiagu 7-0 2017 (No. 10 ESPN.com), SG John Ogwuche 6-3 2016 (New Hampshire commit), PF Victor Enoh 6-9 2017, PF Bebe Iyiola 6-7 2017.
Why This Ranking: Somebody has to be No. 1 from Georgia and we decided to go with the Eagles. We also considered No. 27 Jonesboro and No. 31 Westlake, but G.C.A. has the best combination of returning talent with a proven track record. The GHSA Class A Private state runner-ups to St. Francis of Alpharetta is one of the biggest and most athletic teams in the Southeast region led upfront by Obiagu, a rim protector and strong rebounder. As he continues to improve his offense, that will only make Ogwuche, a big-time performer in last year’s post-season, more potent on the outside.
The Skinny: This is still a relatively young team and it could drop a game or two in the early portion of the season that would hurt its national ranking. On the flip side, coach Larry Thompson’s focus is to put his team in the best possible position to win a state title and let the rankings take care of itself. Still, there is a lot to like about this club and the motivation for the players to take the next step is there, too.

_{Spencer Freedman and his teammates at Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) will look to keep the Monarchs in the hunt for a CIFSS Open Division title. Photo: Scott Kurtz}

19. (16) Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) 29-5
Key Players: C M.J. Cage 6-10 2016 (No. 54 Rivals.com, Oregon Commit), SG Bailey Stout 6-2 2016, PG Spencer Freedman 6-0 2018.
Why This Ranking: The Monarchs have plenty of pieces back from a team that came within a whisker of capturing their fifth consecutive CIF state championship in the highest division. The difference was a last-second missed lay up and a timeout that wasn’t awarded that would have resulted in a technical foul in favor of Mater Dei. What veteran coach Gary McKnight (1024-90) likes about this team is having a talented post player in Cage and a veteran guard in Stout, not to mention the addition of Freedman.

The sophomore transfer is one of the best pure shooters in the country and Mater Dei’s offensive system will lead to scoring opportunities for his teammates.
The Skinny: Mater Dei has been in the position before where it must replace what seems to be an indispensable piece (last year it was Detroit Pistons rookie Stanley Johnson and this year it’s Notre Dame freshman Rex Pflueger) but remains a major FAB 50 factor. Pflueger is a big loss on both ends, but young players such as Harrison Butler (6-6, 2018), Miles Brookins (6-9, 2017) and talented newcomer Justice Sueing (6-7, 2017) will gain plenty of experience and have the opportunity to step up in the playoffs as Stout did last season. The early portion of the schedule isn’t overwhelming, so the Monarchs will be slow-played in the rankings. We’ll know exactly where they stand from a national perspective when they face Oak Hill Academy on January 18.

20. (NR) Westerville South (Westerville, Ohio) 26-3
Key Players: C Kaleb Wesson 6-9 2017 (No. 56 ESPN.com, Ohio St. commit), SF Andre Wesson 6-6 2016, SG Ennis Thomas 6-2 2016 (Lake Erie College commit), SF Jordan Humphrey 6-3 2016, PG Jelani Rogers 5-10 2016.
Why This Ranking: The Wildcats have the talent, coaching and motivation to warrant a Top 20 spot. Veteran coach Ed Calo returns all but two seniors from last year’s team that lost to nationally-ranked Huber Heights Wayne in the Ohio Division I state title game. Kaleb Wesson is a load inside and could develop into one of the best underclass players in the nation this season. He averaged 11.7 ppg, 8.6 rpg, and 3 bpg while his older brother Andre is a talented wing-type. Rogers is an elite ball-handler, while Humphrey is a talented all-around player who also doubles as a receiver on the football team.
The Skinny: Coach Calo mentioned how strong and athletic Huber Heights Wayne was following last year’s state title game and it’s probably what the Wildcats’ foes will say about Westerville South this year. Westerville South should be able to play at the pace it wants and will be able to defeat teams in a variety of ways. Westerville South’s depth and experience will help it wear down lesser teams, but it will need a perimeter player to step up and knock down big shots in the big games. Calo’s club will test itself nationally in December when it travels to Ft. Myers, Fla. to take on some of the nation’s best teams at the City of Palms Tournament.

21. (26) Sacred Heart (Waterbury, Conn.) 28-0
Key Players: SF Mustapha Heron 6-5 2016 (No. 6 Hoop Scoop, Grassroots Hoops Underclass All-American), PF Tyrn Flowers 6-8 2016.

Why This Ranking: The Hearts return plenty from an unbeaten state champion and have one of the nation’s best players in Heron. Only the second junior ever to be named New Haven Register State Player of the Year, Heron is focused on a 3-peat after averaging 22 ppg and 5.3 rpg. Over the past year, Heron has improved his perimeter skill and there are only a handful of players in high school basketball who can keep him from finishing around the rim – and fortunately for Sacred Heart none of those players are at Connecticut schools.
The Skinny: Even more so than No. 19 Mater Dei, the Hearts will be slow-played in the FAB 50. There is simply not enough in-state competition for Sacred Heart to make drastic moves up. Last year’s 64-51 win over eventual CHSAA Class AA champion Christ the King (Middle Village, N.Y.) put the Hearts in the national rankings conversation. It will take another similar out-of-state victory for Heron and company to make serious noise in the Top 20 – and they cannot afford any off-nights.

_{Brooklyn's finest player, guard Shamorie Ponds of Thomas Jefferson (Brooklyn, N.Y.), is the leader of an Orange Wave team looking for their first PSAL crown since 1954. Photo: Kelly Kline/Under Armour}

22. (NR) Thomas Jefferson (Brooklyn, N.Y.) 26-4
Key Players: SG Shamorie Ponds 6-1 2016 (No. 40 Hoop Scoop, St. John’s commit), PG Rasheem Dunn 6-0 2016, SF Isiah Deas 6-6 2016.
Why This Ranking: The Orange Wave begin the season as New York City’s top ranked team because of their returning talent, but it was a close call over No. 30 Cardozo and Wing’s Academy (Bronx, N.Y.). Lincoln (Brooklyn, N.Y.) also could be a major player in the Public School Athletic League (PSAL) with former coach Dwayne “Tiny” Morton back in the fold after a year in college and if talented wing Jahlil Tripp is granted another year of eligibility.

For now, we like Jeff because it returns nine lettermen and three starters. Ponds was the arguably the best player in Brooklyn last year after averaging 25 ppg, 9 rpg, and 6 apg. He has the ability to run a team or slide over to a scorers’ role because of the presence of Dun. Deas has boatloads of talent and is a smooth operator, but he needs to improve in the consistency department in order for Lawrence “Bud” Pollard’s program to get to the next level.
The Skinny: The PSAL is a bit ahead of the CHSAA right now and it’s likely to be a roller coaster ride until the post-season with regards to teams beating each other up. We’re cautiously optimistic about Jefferson (the program is seeking its first PSAL title since 1954), but with the presence of Ponds we’re pretty confident the Orange Wave can compete with the nation’s best teams. They’ll get an opportunity to at the City of Palms Classic in Ft. Myers, Fla. where they open against talented Chino Hills, Calif.

23. (18) Mustang (Mustang, Okla.) 28-0
Key Players: SG Jakolby Long 6-4 2016 (No. 126 247Sports.com, Iowa St. commit), SF Curtis Haywood II 6-4 2016.
Why This Ranking: The Broncos would have ranked right where they left off last season, or perhaps higher, if Austin Meyer didn’t transfer out of the program. The 6-foot-9 center moved to Texas for his senior season and will play at Rouse (Leander, Texas) and that dropped Mustang down five spots. Still with Long and Haywood II back and the momentum from last year’s historic run to the Class 6A state title, you have to rank Mustang until it drops a game. Long, the son of Mustang coach Terry Long, averaged 15 ppg, 8 rpg, and 6 apg to lead a balanced attack and was a The Oklahoman Super 5 selection.
The Skinny: The Broncos deserve to be ranked ahead of No. 28 Norman North because they have enough returning talent and beat them three times last season, including a 101-68 rout in the second round of District play. Norman North has more returning firepower, but if the Broncos’ returnees convince the newcomers to sacrifice individual numbers and accolades and buy into the team concept the way last year’s team did, you can’t count Mustang out.

24. (NR) Bentonville (Bentonville, Ark.) 21-9
Key Players: SG Malik Monk 6-4 2016 (No. 5 247Sports.com, Grassroots Hoops Second Team All-American), SF Tyler Robinson 6-5 2016, PG Jordan Hemphill 6-3 2017.

Why This Ranking: Last preseason, the Tigers were No. 42 in the FAB 50, 13 spots behind Arkansas Class 7A playoff favorite North Little Rock. The Charging Wildcats ended up defeating Bentonville in the state title game, 66-59. This season, the roles are reversed as Bentonville is in the driver’s seat with a majority of its firepower back, most noticeably Monk. He averaged 26.9 ppg, 6.7 rpg, and 2.6 apg and if he steps up against Bentonville’s top foes, he’ll put his name in the Mr. Basketball USA conversation.
The Skinny: Bentonville showed what it could do last season (owning a win over Jayson Tatum and his team at Chaminade of St. Louis), but the loss count is a bit high for Top 25 team. We inserted coach Jason McMahan’s team in the Top 25 because of the talented supporting cast and the opportunity it has against its schedule. To start off, McMahan loves his team’s speed and skill. Hemphill will take on a bigger role after starring as last year’s sixth man and though the team will miss the dirty work done by Ben Smith, Robinson is a relentless rebounder who can play inside and out. Bentonville will compete in the Penny Hardaway Hoopfest, Maxpreps Holiday Classic in California and will meet No. 23 Mustang at home, in addition to facing St. Anthony of New Jersey at the Hoop Hall Classic.

25. (NR) High Point Christian (High Point, N.C.) 19-14
Key Players: C Edryce "Bam" Adebayo 6-9 2016 (No. 6 ESPN.com, Grassroots Hoops Underclass All-American), PG Ty Graves 5-11 2016 (No. 214 247Sports.com, Boston College commit), SF Ben Robertson 6-4 2016 (Bucknell commit).

Why This Ranking: The top-ranked private school in North Carolina was going to be a shoe-in for the NCISAA Class 3A title, but with its newcomers the Cougars could develop into a national force. Every season, plenty of elite players transfer schools but few, if any, will have Adebayo’s impact. He’s just a load underneath and few schools have a player than can slow him down on the blocks. As a junior, the Mr. Basketball USA candidate averaged 32.1 ppg and 21 rpg. Graves brings a wealth of talent and big-game experience over from defending FAB 50 champion Montverde Academy and Jalen Seegars (6-5, 2016) is another talented newcomer over from Greensboro Page. Robertson and Amidou Bamba (6-7, 2016) bring versatility to coach Brandon Clifford’s lineup.

The Skinny: On paper, the Cougars appear to be a force to be reckoned with, but we’re not going to go overboard because the team did have 14 losses and it may take a few games for the newcomers to mesh with Clifford’s veterans. Of the teams outside the Top 20, High Point is one of the best bets to eventually move up. The Cougars will get that opportunity at the City of Palms Tournament and when they play Findlay Prep at the Hoop Hall Classic.

26. (NR) Rainier Beach (Seattle, Wash.) 24-4
Key Players: SF Keith Smith 6-7 2016 (No. 83 247Sports.com, Oregon commit), SF Sam Cunliffe 6-7 2016 (No. 35 247Sports.com, Arizona St. commit), SF Kevin Porter 6-5 2018.
Why This Ranking: The Beach’s three-year reign as WIAA Class 3A state champ was ended last season by cross-town Garfield, which will open the season in the Top 15 of the FAB 50. Veteran coach Mike Bethea (484-115) will break into the 500-win fraternity this season with this talented group. The two veterans back are Smith, a terrific pull-up shooter who gets better against tough competition, and Porter, a lefty with an expanding perimeter game who excels on the break. Cunliffe transferred in from Bishop Blanchet and is capable of putting up 20 plus ppg.
The Skinny: Rainier Beach has a chance to be better than last season, but so does the Garfield team that beat The Beach two out of three times. Bethea always has a plethora of 6-foot-5 to 6-foot-8 athletes at his disposal who can run and defend on the perimeter and this unit is no different. What he’ll need to find is consistent shooting and teamwork in the big games. Rainier Beach will participate in Hoop Hall West in Phoenix and the Bass Pro TOC in Missouri against the likes of No. 39 Bishop Gorman, Chaminade of St. Louis, Sierra Canyon of Chatsworth, Calif. and Oak Hill Academy.

27. (13) Jonesboro (Jonesboro, Ga.) 32-1
Key Players: SF M.J. Walker 6-6 2017 (No. 24 Rivals.com, Grassroots Hoops Underclass All-American), SG Jamari Smith 6-4 2018, PG Latavious Jenkins 6-1 2016.
Why This Ranking: There is a problem with Georgia teams – but it’s a good problem. There are so many good teams it’s nearly impossible to come up a perfect pecking order. We decided to place the defending GHSA Class AAAA state champs No. 2 behind Greenforest Christian Academy. GCA and No. 31 Westlake do have better personnel on paper, so we decided GCA did enough last year as a state runner-up to start ahead of the Cardinals, who must begin ranked ahead of a team that finished last season with a sub .500 record. Besides, with Walker (17.3 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 2.6 apg) back in the fold, Jonesboro might not miss a beat if its role players step up this season. Smith (7.0 ppg, 5.9 rpg) could double his production and Jenkins should provide a boost after missing two-thirds of last season. Tariq Jenkins (5.1 ppg, 2.1 apg) is another veteran that will play a big role in Jonesboro’s quest for a 3-peat.
The Skinny: The Cardinals are gunning for their third consecutive state and the road won’t be easy. They did defeat teams from four different states last season, but when Jonesboro went up against eventual FAB 50 champ Montverde Academy, it lost by 20 points (92-72). This team may not quite be at the level of the national elite, but is definitely deserving of a national ranking. Jonesboro has a strong track record, an elite player and enough pieces around Walker to warrant a Top 30 spot. If won’t be an easy climb up, however, as an early loss to a lower ranked team will cause them to fall in credible local and state rankings.

_{Trae Young hopes to lead Norman North (Norman, Okla.) to the Class 6A state title this season. Photo: Scott Kurtz}

28. (NR) Norman North (Norman, Okla.) 21-6
Key Players: PG Trae Young 6-2 2017 (No. 13 Hoop Scoop), SF Lindy Waters III 6-6 2016, PG Marcus Dickinson Jr. 6-1 2016, PF Winston Nelson 6-7 2017.
Why This Ranking: The Timberwolves return all five starters and all their lettermen off a team that was just a notch below No. 23 Mustang. This team is just as talented as it is motivated and that’s saying a lot. Young (24.0 ppg) proved this summer he’s one of the best underclass guards in the country and is a likely McDonald’s All-American in 2017. Waters III (16.5 ppg) and Dickinson Jr. (18.4 ppg) are returning all-conference players and future D1 guards.

Nelson has experience up front and when you consider Cameron Martin (6-8, 2017) already has D1 offers, you’re talking about a potential juggernaut.
The Skinny: Only a handful of teams have a backcourt as potent as the one coach Bryan Merritt has at his disposal. The Timberwolves will play in the Nike Thanksgiving Hoopfest in Duncanville, Texas and the Bishop McGuinness Tournament, but ultimately the games versus Mustang will decide their fate. Young has already said he’s likely to leave to one of the top national academy-type programs next season after his childhood friends graduate in 2016. The added incentive to get the job done now should pay dividends.

29. (24) Roselle Catholic (Roselle, N.J.) 28-4
Key Players: PF Naz Reid 6-8 2018 (No. 5 247Sports.com), SF Andre Rafus 6-9 2017 (No. 67 Rivals.com), PG Leondre Washington 5-10 2017, SG Nate Pierre-Louis 6-3 2017, SF Matt Bullock (6-4, 2016).

Why This Ranking: The Lions are defending New Jersey Tournament of Champions winners and have enough veterans and newcomers to warrant a Top 30 ranking as Jersey’s No. 3 team. Roselle Catholic’s chances of winning its third TOC crown in four years was bolstered by the arrival of Baltimore native Rafus, one of the nation’s top juniors with offers from schools across the country. Washington and Pierre-Louis are talented newcomers who will shore up the backcourt and help ease the loss of first five all-american Isaiah Briscoe (now at Kentucky).
The Skinny: Roselle Catholic has had St. Anthony’s number in recent seasons, but in addition to Briscoe, the Lions lost plenty up front with the likes of Chris Silva, so they start a notch below where they left off last season. On the other hand, coach Dave Boff has plenty of firepower at his disposal, including unsung talents such as Bullock (8.8 ppg, 5.5 rpg) and in recent seasons, the Lions have played their best ball in February. Reid (4.9 ppg, 3.4 rpg) is a big-time talent, but his immense potential has to translate into an equal amount of production for another TOC crown to become reality.

30. (42) Cardozo (Bayside, N.Y.) 29-3
Key Players: PG Rashond Salnave 6-1 2016 (Monmouth commit), PG Aaron Walker 6-2 2016, SG Tareq Coburn 6-5 2016.
Why This Ranking: The Judges will be a typical Ron Naclerio-coached team – tough, undersized, and able to play with just about anyone. The only team on last season’s schedule it didn’t beat was CHSAA Class AA champ Christ the King. Cardozo is right there with No. 23 Jefferson and Wing’s Academy as front-runners in the Public School Athletic League race, as the latter won its first-ever PSAL title in 2015. Salnave (15.4 ppg) is a good reason why Cardozo could win its second PSAL title in three years. Naclerio feels he’s one of the most accomplished players in school history and with Walker (15.2 ppg) back in the fold, Salnave is even more dangerous because the duo is interchangeable in the backcourt. Coburn (13.7 ppg) is another mid-major level recruit who can play on the inside and knock down perimeter shots.
The Skinny: Naclerio (721-175), two wins from becoming the all-time winningest coach in PSAL history, likes ‘Dozo’s chances to win its third PSAL title since he became coach 35 seasons ago. He knows it won’t be easy, especially if Jahlil Tripp becomes eligible at Lincoln of Brooklyn. Naclerio is a bit uneasy about his lack of overall size, but said, “it won’t affect us as much as it might have in the past, because nobody in the city has any size.” That’s where Malachi Lewis (6-7, 2016), a newcomer from Baltimore, could be the X-factor. If Lewis and sixth man Tahiyr Zines (6-5, 2016) step up, the Judges will be in business.

RELATED: Preseason 2015-16 FAB 50 (1-15) | Preseason 2015-16 FAB 50 (31-50) | Preseason Regional Top 20 Rankings

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

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The following list is based on evaluations from all the sessions of the 2015 Pangos All-American Camp, not just the two Cream of the Crop Games. The list is based on performance at the camp only, not on performance combined with previous honors, national or state ranking. Some players did not play in every session of the camp and that was a factor in the final selections. This camp didn’t contain elite one-and-done type talent, but rather a plethora of players who are national top 100 candidates. With the depth of players in the Top 30-150 range, there could be some deserving players who just missed the Top 50 and would be in another evaluators’ list based on which game one focused on among the three playing courts. Our evaluations are based on all-around performance within the context of winning basketball. We also took into account statistics provided at the event and a player's class. For more information about the camp, visit  pangosaacamp.com.

View Pangos Camp Day 1 Recap | Link

View Pangos Camp Day 2 Recap | Link

View Pangos Camp Day 3 Recap | Link

Player	Class	HT	POS	School
Bryce Aiken	2016	5'9	PG	Patrick School (Elizabeth, NJ)
Galen Alexander	2017	6'6	SF	Breaux Bridge (Breaux Bridge, LA)
Rawle Alkins	2016	6'5	SG	Christ the King (Middle Village, NY)
Josh Anderson	2017	6'4	SG	Madison Prep (Baton Rouge, LA)
Ike Anigbogu	2016	6'9	C	Centennial (Corona, CA
Mitchell Ballock	2017	6'4	SG	Eudora (Eudora, KS)
Mohammed Bamba	2017	6'10	PF	Westtown (West Chester, PA)
Barrett Benson	2016	6'9	C	Hinsdale South (Hinsdale, IL)
Bol Bol	2018	6'10	C	Bishop Miege (Roeland Park, KS)
O'Shae Brissett	2017	6'8	SF	Findlay Prep (Henderson, NV)
Tyree Crump	2016	6'2	SG	Bainbridge (Bainbridge, GA)
Sam Cunliffe	2016	6'7	SF	Rainier Beach (Seattle)
De'Ron Davis	2016	6'9	C	Overland (Aurora, CO)
Mamadi Diakite	2016	6'9	PF	Blue Ridge School (Dyke, VA)
Terrance Ferguson	2016	6'6	SG	Prime Prep (Dallas)
Spencer Freedman	2018	6'0	PG	Santa Monica (Santa Monica, CA)
Leland Green	2016	6'2	SG	Redondo Union (Redondo Beach, CA)
Jamir Harris	2017	6'2	PG	Patrick School (Elizabeth, NJ)
Harrison Henderson	2016	6'10	PF	South Grand Prairie (Grand Praire, TX)
Mustapha Heron	2016	6'5	SG	Sacred Heart (Waterbury, CT)
Eric Hester	2016	6'4	SG	Oldsmar Christian (Oldsmar, FL)
Curtis Hollis	2016	6'6	SF	Mansfield Summit (Arlington, TX)
Vance Jackson	2016	6'8	SF	St. John Bosco (Bellflower, CA)
Javonntie Jackson	2016	6'6	SF	Compton (Compton, CA)
Mario Kegler	2016	6'7	SF	Arlington Country Day (Jacksonville, FL)
Justice Kithcart	2016	6'2	PG	Virginia Episcopal (Lynchburg, VA)
T.J. Leaf	2016	6'9	PF	Foothills Christian (El Cajon, CA)
Ira Lee	2017	6'8	PF	Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, CA)
Brandon McCoy	2017	6'11	C	Morse (San Diego, CA)
Javin Montgomery-Delaurier	2016	6'9	PF	St. Anne-Belfield (Charlottesville, VA)
Alani Moore	2016	5'9	PG	Montrose Christian (Rockville, MD)
Nate Morris	2016	6'10	PF	Lancaster (Lancaster, TX)
Lamar Peters	2016	6'1	PG	Landry-Walker (New Orleans, LA)
Christian Popoola Jr.	2017	6'3	PG	Lone Peak (Highland, UT)
Shamorie Ponds	2016	6'1	PG	Jefferson (Brooklyn, NY)
Myles Powell	2016	6'2	PG	Trenton Catholic (Trenton, NJ)
Billy Preston	2017	6'9	SF	Prime Prep (Dallas)
Andre Rafus	2017	6'8	SF	St. Benedict's (Newark, NJ)
Vittorio Reynoso-Avila	2016	6'5	SF	La Mirada (La Mirada, CA)
Omari Spellman	2016	6'8	PF	MacDuffie School (Springfield, MA)
Trevor Stanback	2016	6'10	C	Maranatha (Pasadena, CA)
Cassius Stanley	2019	6'4	SG	Harvard-Westlake (North Hollywood, CA)
Taurean Thompson	2016	6'10	C	St. Anthony (Jersey City, NJ)
Ethan Thompson	2017	6'3	SG	Bishop Montgomery (Torrance, CA)
Xavier Tillman	2017	6'8	PF	Forest Hills Central (Grand Rapids, MI)
Isaiah Washington	2017	6'0	PG	St. Raymond's (Bronx, NY)
P.J. Washington	2017	6'7	PF	Findlay Prep (Henderson, NV)
Walter Whyte	2017	6'7	SF	St. Luke's (New Canaan, CT)
Keith Williams	2017	6'4	SG	Bishop Loughlin (Brooklyn, NY)
Trae Young	2017	6'1	PG	Norman (Norman, OK)

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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View my Pangos Camp Day 1 Recap | Link

View my Pangos Camp Day 2 Recap | Link

The theme at this year's Pangos All-American Camp was parity. In terms of national talent, it was one of the deepest camps in the event's 13-year history. While there wasn't a top five 2016 national prospect that used the nation's top independent showcase camp to solidify his national ranking (as has been the case in recent years), there was a plethora of Top 35-80 types that helped their national profile over the three-day event.

When the dust settled, the player that immediately put his imprint on every camp game he played, along with the one who arguably was the most consistent throughout, were named Pangos Camp co-MOPs.

The impactful player was 6-foot-5 shooting guard Mustapha Heron of Sacred Heart (Waterbury, Conn.). With the physical nature to his offensive attack, defenders were at Heron's mercy all weekend, as he scored at will around the basket and overpowered bigger, secondary defenders. Heron, a senior-to-be, needs to improve his shooting consistency and flat trajectory, but there is no denying his impact on the game. The most skillful shooting guard was 6-foot-5 Rawle Alkins of Christ the King (Middle Village, N.Y.). The powerful New Yorker can score, and potentially dominate, inside, outside, in the half court or in transition.

In the Pangos Camp Cream of the Crop Top 30 game for the event's best players, Heron scored a game-high 20 points on 5-of-10 shooting from the field. He also had five rebounds and made 9-of-10 free throws. Alkins, like Heron a member of the 2016 class, dominated the first half as his Gray team rolled to a 94-87 victory over the Blue team. Alkins finished with 15 points on 7-of-11 shooting in one half of play before he had to leave to catch his flight back home.

Trae Young, Taurean Thompson Earn All-Star MVP Honors

"The top players, we kind of all know each other; I haven't seen Rawle play like that, but he's the real deal," said Top 30 game team MVP Trae Young of Norman (Norman, Okla.).

Young's deep jump shooting ability was on full display in the Top 30 game, as he made 3-of-6 3-pointers and scored 13 points to go along with four assists. The 6-foot-2 junior-to-be was named co-team MVP of the wining Gray team along with another 2017 prospect -- 6-foot-10 power forward Mohammed Bamba of Westtown (West Chester, Pa.).

For the Blue team, 6-foot-10 power forward Taurean Thompson of St. Anthony (Jersey City, N.J.) was MVP. He closed out a fantastic weekend with 16 points while converting all of his shot attempts from the field. The senior-to-be was 2-of-2 from 3-point range and 6-of-6 from the field. The only shot he missed was one free throw and he also grabbed a team-high six rebounds.

Thompson's performance was a microcosm of his weekend. He converted quality field goal attempts at as high of a rate as any player in camp. More importantly, Thompson didn't jack up poor shots as players had a tendency to do in spurts this weekend. Thompson is a finesse four-man with a good jumper who can take his game to the next level if he improves his triple threat game. If he learns how to drop his inside shoulder off his first step, Thompson's slight frame will become less of a factor.

Mohammed Bamba Closes Out With A Bang

_{Video: Bamba Sunday Morning Highlights}

Joining Young and Thompson as Cream of the Crop Top 30 game MVP was Bamba, one of the camp's most intriguing prospects. He made 6-of-8 shots from the field to finish with 14 points and seven rebounds.

Legendary national scout Brick Oettinger of the ACC Sports Journal felt Bamba, a native of Harlem, New York, was the best long-term prospect in camp. It would be hard for us or any other longtime Grassroots basketball observers to come up with a strong argument against that sentiment. The 6-foot-10 junior-to-be felt more comfortable as the camp went along and if it ran for a few more days, we have little doubt many in attendance would have felt he was the best prospect.

Bamba particularly excels at the defensive end, with good instincts, incredible timing and a good grasp of defensive concepts. On the offensive end, Bamba puts his length to good use to finish around the basket. He handles it well enough that he doesn't have to be a true post-up man and though his jumper is a work in progress, his shooting form is solid.

"I think I did pretty well," Bamba said of his Pangos performance. "Me, Omari Spellman and Bryce Aiken, we all came out here on a mission to prove we were better than a lot of the players. What I wanted to do personally was put my team in the best possible position to get stops. There were a lot of good ball-handlers, so eventually they were going to get by their defender."

Bamba, who plays for the PSA Cardinals 16s on the Nike EYBL circuit, ended up at Westtown on the recommendation of his travel ball club coaches. He stated it's still early for him in the recruiting process and that after his junior season he would have an idea of which schools will be the better fits.

Joining Bamba, Young and Alkins as double digit scorers for the winning Gray team were 2017 prospects Brandon McCoy, a 6-foot-11 center from Morse (San Diego, Calif.), and Billy Preston, a 6-foot-9 small forward from Prime Prep (Dallas, Texas). McCoy had 12 points and a game-high eight rebounds while Preston had 13 points.

For the blue team, Heron and Thompson were the only two players in double figures.

Mamadi Diakite's Dilemma

Every year, arguments can made about Cream of the Crop Top 60 participants that should have been chosen for the Top 30 game -- or players not chosen at all that should have made the second. With the depth of this year's Pangos Camp, it was not an easy task to select the all-star game participants.

The player who stood out during camp games as the one who should have played in the Top 30 game was 6-foot-9 senior-to-be Mamadi Diakite of Blue Ridge School (Dyke, Va.). He didn't play particularly well in the Cream of the Crop Top 60 game, but he was one of the most athletic forwards in attendance and will be rated among the Top 25 camp performers by GrassrootsHoops.net. He had a big-time dunk in the Sunday morning session and can really get up to snatch rebounds.

Diakite is just scratching the surface of his potential. A native of Guinea, Diakite has a soccer background and has only been in America for a year and four months. Both of his parents hover around 6-feet, but he has a grandfather who stood over 7-foot.

"I saw a lot of stuff at this camp I have never seen in my life," Diakite said. "The camp was good, but at times the players were trying to show off. It got me frustrated because I have a lot more ability than I showed."

Diakite has offers from programs such as Virginia, Virginia Tech and South Carolina with the Cavaliers the leader to land his services.

Cream of the Crop Top 60 Highlights

Cassius Stanley, a rising ninth-grader reportedly set to attend Harvard-Westlake (North Hollywood, Calif.) and one of the most athletic wings in the camp regardless of class, was named Top 60 game MVP. The 6-foot-4 2019 prospect made 7-of-8 field goals to finish with 17 points for the Blue team in its 105-100 win over the Gray team.

Teammate Harrison Henderson, a 6-foot-10 center out of South Grand Prairie (Grand Prairie, Texas), also made 7-of-8 shots for the winning club. Henderson finished with 16 points and we felt outside of Diakite he had the strongest argument to play in the Top 30 game.

For the Gray team, Christian Popoola Jr., a 6-foot-3 junior-to-be from Lone Peak (Highland, Utah), scored a game-high 18 points. He also was recorded as making 7-of-8 shots from the field.

Pangos Camp All-Time MOPs

2015 (co): Rawle Alkins, Christ the King (Middle Village, N.Y.) 6-5 SG
2015 (co): Mustapha Heron, Sacred Heart (Waterbury, Conn.) 6-5 SG
2014: Isaiah Briscoe, Roselle Catholic (Roselle, N.J.) 6-3 PG
2013: Stanley Johnson, Mater Dei (Santa Ana) 6-7 SF
2012: Cliff Alexander, Currie (Chicago) 6-9 PF
2011: Shabazz Muhammad, Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) 6-6 WF
2010: Myck Kabongo, Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.) 6-2 PG
2009: Harrison Barnes, Ames (Ames, Iowa) 6-7 WF
2008: John Wall, Word of God Academy (Raleigh, N.C.) 6-3 PG
2007: Brandon Jennings, Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) 6-1 PG
2006: James Harden, Artesia (Lakewood) 6-5 SG
2005: Jerry-Davon Jefferson, Lynwood 6-8 WF
2004: C.J. Miles, Skyline (Dallas) 6-6 WF
2003: Robert Swift, Bakersfield 7-0 C

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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View my Pangos Camp Day 2 Recap | Link

View my Pangos Camp Day 3 Recap | Link

The Pangos All-American Camp has evolved into arguably the top independent (i.e. non shoe-company sponsored) elite camp on the grassroots circuit. The event, founded and directed by Dinos Trigonis, has grown from a camp with a regional feel to one with a solid national outreach with a focus on potential "breakout" performers.

The top performance on Friday was turned in by 6-foot-5 shooting guard Mustapha Heron of Sacred Heart (Waterbury, Conn.). Heron used his strong frame and confidence around the rim to score 26 points in his team's 66-55 victory. Heron, a 2016 prospect, dominated play with a combination of overpowering moves to the basket and crafty finishes.

Heron, who led his high school team to a 28-0 record and No. 26 Grassroots Hoop FAB 50 national ranking, knows how to set up defenders with hesitation moves that leads to open lanes to attack. In one sequence, he took a nice pass from 2018 guard Spencer Freedman of Santa Monica (Santa Monica, Calif.) and converted a hard angled layup. When Heron got fouled, he made the opposition pay as he converted 14-of-14 shots from the free throw line. In addition to the production, Heron was vocal with teammates and looked to lead by more than just example.

"A lot of us don't know each other well, so the more vocal you are, the more comfortable guys can get with you," Heron said. "The ball fakes are a natural part of my game; I'm just that type of player.

"Last season, we went 28-0 and the team came together at the right time. Individually, I'm just trying to get better in all aspects of my game."

Heron is open in his recruitment with the St. John's new coaching staff looking like they'll be major factors in the race. He wants to make his decision by the start of his senior season.

Mario Kegler vs. Billy Preston Highlight Second Round Games

In a grassroots setting such as Pangos Camp, evaluators not only look for the top performers, but the top individual matchups of players who play similarly or the same position.

The top matchup we evaluated was 6-foot-9 junior-to-be Billy Preston of Prime Prep (Dallas, Texas) and 6-foot-7 senior-to-be Mario Kegler of Arlington Country Day (Jacksonville, Fla.).

One thing we noticed right away is how much bigger Preston was, as he could eventually be a legit 6-foot-10 prospect with face-up guard skills. As Preston has grown in recent years, he hasn't lost any coordination while his ball-handling and decision-making continue to improve. He still needs to work on his shot release (a bit low), but overall he's easily one of the most versatile prospects at the camp.

Preston was able to overpower Keggler at times early in the game and controlled the offensive glass. Keggler adjusted and was a bit more active to get on the break to his advantage as the game wore on. Keggler got fouled and converted some easy buckets to help his team pull out a 59-46 victory.

Preston, a Southern California native, was credited with 11 points, including two 3-pointers, four rebounds and three assists. Keggler, a Mississippi native, made 7-of-14 field goal attempts to finish with 21 points and 6 rebounds.

The numbers favor Keggler on paper, but Preston performed as well as any game we saw during the high school season. His decision-making has vastly improved and his post passing out of double teams was on point.

As for Keggler, he made a positive impact as he tries to prove to national talent evaluators that he's one of the best prospects in this class, which he told us is his main summer goal. Keggler is taking an unofficial trip to Arizona State after the camp and is excited to be on the West Coast.

"I've never really been out here much, so to see the city of Phoenix and what it's like, that is going to be awesome," Keggler said. "When I was in eighth or ninth grade, Texas was my dream school and Kevin Durant was the first basketball player I ever followed. When they saw me play for the first time, I had a good game and I even cried before it because I was so pumped up and happy. As I gotten older, I don't know, I realize there is a lot of things out there to see and learn."

"I've talked to coach (Bob) Hurley and he's a great coach."

Other Friday Pangos Standouts

Trae Young, Norman (Norman, Okla.) 6-2 2017 G: We watched Young play in the EYBL last weekend for Mokan Elite, and the more we watch him, the more we realize how much he impacts the game. Young has a nice pull-up jumper and even though he isn't overly athletic, he makes up for that it with a knack for being in the right place at the right time and being a step ahead of the defense. He made two 3-pointers and finished with a team-high 11 points.

Bol Bol, Bishop Miege (Roeland Park, Kan.) 6-10 2018 C: What stands out right away about the son of former 7-foot-6 NBA center Manute Bol is how fluidly he runs the court for a young post prospect. Bol Bol didn't always get the ball in the right positions when he was hustling, but it's easy to see the talent and immense potential. We saw him block a shot and he had a highlight alley-oop finish. Bol Bol finished 3-of-4 from the field for eight points.

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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