Today, we take a look at five selections over the years we’d love to have back and five we are proud of.

The high school industry has changed plenty over the years. In the 1970s and 1980s, getting your name in the local paper was the IT thing. In the 1980s, USA Today helped mainstream national team rankings and All-American teams, but the national daily newspaper cut its high school editorial department in Dec. 2019. In the 1990s and 2000s, national magazines were all the rage. Getting on a national cover was hot and something many athletes aspired for such as the cover story of Student Sports Magazine. LeBron James and De La Salle (Calif.) football helped high school sports become something worthy of regular national telecasts, but All-American teams have been constant throughout going back to the 1950s.

Most of the ones produced in recent decades have been recruiting-oriented and many we’ve seen even had players on them that barely played half of their team’s game that season. We’re proud of the fact we take some time to research the players and what they actually accomplished and take some local consensus into consideration. We’re not perfect by any means, and today we decided to take a look back at the five best choices we made with our All-American Elite teams we’ve produced over the years, starting in Student Sports Magazine for the 1994-95 season. Those teams have also been published under the title sponsor of EA SPORTS and under the umbrella of ESPN and Ballislife as well.

Here’s a look at 10 defining moments of choosing our annual All-American Elite Teams.

5 All-American Choices We’d Love To Take Back

1. Mike Bibby Over Kobe Bryant For ’96 Mr. Basketball USA
There is no doubt Mike Bibby is the best high school player from Arizona (in terms of his career) and is probably still the state’s only "rock star" player, but he wasn’t a better talent that Kobe Bryant. Mike Bibby was a Student Sports Magazine cover subject and we had a compelling story to go along with the selection. Still, Bryant had a monster senior season after a terrific summer in 1995, when a plan was hatched to send him straight to the NBA. Sometimes, you have to just pick the best player. It should be noted that the Mr. Basketball USA Tracker began for the 2007-08 season and the voting results may have been different had a 10-man panel voted on it, instead of a group of journalists choosing.

2. Kawhi Leonard On ’09 Third Five
Now we’re cheating a bit here because having Kawhi Leonard on any All-American team in 2009 was a good call. It’s a somewhat famous snub that he didn’t play in the 2009 McDonald’s All-American Game. However, taking a deeper look at that team, Leonard should have been somewhere on the second five. The fact he was behind sophomore Michael Gilchrist of St. Patrick (Elizabeth, N.J.) or seniors John Henson of Sickles (Tampa, Fla.) is not awful, but is certainly not great, either. The 2009 Cal-Hi Sports Mr. Basketball out of King (Riverside, Calif.) averaged 22.6 points, 13.1 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game and led King to its second consecutive CIF Div. I SoCal regional final.

3. Blake Griffin On '07 Third Five
The class of 2007 was star-studded and one of the best of all-time. It certainly wasn’t easy to make All-American that season, but looking back Griffin should have been on second five. He was excellent in the McDonald’s All-American practices and game and it was easy to see he was more explosive and a better player than a few guys with more national notoriety or higher in national player rankings. Was Griffin a better high school player than either second five pick Corey Stokes of St. Benedict's (Newark, N. J.) or Gani Lawal of Norcross (Ga.)? Probably so.

4. Kemba Walker On ’08 Second Five
Willie Warren of North Crowley (Fort Worth, Texas) was a clutch player and state champion in Texas, but it was a close call to put him on first five. Now, we wish we would have went with the two point guard offense on first five with Walker and player of the year Brandon Jennings. At the McDonald's All-American game, Walker didn't take a backseat to any guard, finishing with 13 points, six rebounds and three assists. He didn’t begin playing basketball until 12, but Walker developed into one of the many decorated floor generals to attend now defunct Rice (New York) and went on to an excellent college and NBA career.

5. Jalen Suggs On ’20 Second Five
He moved up from second team All-American (30 players) to the second of four fives (our first team has had a 20-player format since 2004-05). After a career that rivaled any Minnesota player ever, Suggs probably would have been the better first five choice than sophomore Emoni Bates, who had tons of hype that season and was even named Gatorade National Player of the Year. We didn’t think that highly of Bates, but he did have a terrific season, but Suggs was probably better and we should have employed a three guard offense with Mr. Basketball USA Cade Cunningham of Montverde Academy (Fla.) and Jalen Green of Prolific Prep (Napa, Calif.). At the time, Suggs was the highest-rated recruit ever to commit to Gonzaga and was also the nation’s top Grid-Hoop Player who was named the 2019 Minnesota Mr. Football as a signal-caller on the gridiron.

5 All-American Choices We’re Most Proud Of

1. Onyeka Okongwu On Fourth Five As A Junior In ‘18
The Chino Hills (Calif.) big man was terrific as a junior and we’re glad to honor him as a two-time All-American. He really deserved it and it’s still incredible to think he was a major omission from the 2019 McDonald’s All-American Game. He showed how good he was in high school when one year later the two-time California Mr. Basketball was the No. 6 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.

2. Jalen Brunson On Second Five As A Senior In ’15
There is this narrative the Stevenson (Lincolnshire, Ill.) was overlooked in the NBA Draft or that he’s been “slept on” until joining the New York Knicks, but that narrative is from from the truth. This pick actually can fall in both categories, as we wish we placed him on first five. Brunson was that good for his high school team and on the grassroots circuit. Some just don’t know what they are looking at when evaluating if players don’t have the typical quickness or athleticism that stands out.

3. Draymond Green On Fourth Five As A Senior In ’08
This Saginaw (Mich.) big man wasn’t rated anywhere near the Top 20 on the 2008 class. In fact, he was rated No. 122 in the country by Rivals.com, but we could see he was a talented player and more importantly, a winner. Green led the Trojans to a second straight state Class A championship while posting a 27-1 record. He was named Michigan’s Mr. Basketball for his all-around play.

4. Anthony Davis On First Five As A Senior In ‘11
Well, it wasn’t a big evaluation coupe to have A.D. on first five. After all, he was probably the most talented player in the country after being a virtual unknown as a junior. He completely blew up on the travel ball circuit, but the problem was he didn’t have any momentum from previous seasons, Perspectives Charter (Chicago) was a small school playing against relatively meager competition and the team finished 6-18. The Mr. Basketball USA Tracker knew his talent was too much to ignore, as he appeared on eight of 10 ballots, including three second-place votes. His future Kentucky teammate Michael Gilchrist was the Mr. Basketball USA that season.

5. Jalen Duren On First Five As A Junior In ‘21
Montverde Academy (Fla.) lost four starters off its terrific 2020 team, but was still able to repeat as FAB 50 champs mainly behind the play of the nation’s most physically dominant interior player. He opened up the season as the eighth highest vote-getter in the preseason Mr. Basketball USA Tracker, but ended up third behind Chet Holmgren and Jabari Smith in the final analysis. After being named national junior of the year, he re-classed up a year and left to Memphis.

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 All-American Elite Team Retrospective appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

Editor's Note: This story was originally published in January 2014 and has been edited to include what has transpired recently.

As the dream of becoming a McDonald's All-American has grown over the years, so has the scrutiny of the annual roster selections. Twenty five years ago, the picks were announced and few people had the knowledge or insight to argue them. Before the Internet, YouTube and social media, information on great high school players traveled slower around the country than it does now. Only a handful of national scouts truthfully saw a majority of the nation's best players.

"Sonny Vaccaro began his game nine years before me (1965) when I started the Capital Classic in 1974," McDonald's All-American Game founder Bob Geoghan said in 2014. "I was always honest with people and told them for the Capital Classic, I did what was in the best interests of the game. The McDonald's Game was different because you had to be voted on, and I decided I would not have a vote. As the founder and executive director, I would never have a vote. It's not a perfect system, but I hand-picked a number of people who were legitimate talent evaluators.

"In some of the early years, we only picked 20 players," Geoghan said. "I always felt we picked the best we could. It's always hard to project late-bloomers and some of the guys who were can't miss, didn't make it anywhere."

The McDonald's Selection Committee came under scrutiny in the late 1990s and 2000s for some of the selections, including a grey area of allowing some fifth-year players to participate and others not to. To its credit, the game's organizers realized the selection committee needed to be expanded to include younger, more mobile, talent evaluators so a new crop of credible talent scouts were brought into the fold. This infusion of scouts, who are regulars on the recruiting trail, helped curtail a majority of that scrutiny in recent years.

"I started with about 12, but the voting committee slowly expanded because I wanted to make it as democratic as possible," Geoghan said. "I always lamented one of the voters picking a player because he saw them once -- and saw him play his best game -- and said 'he has to be a McDonald's All-American.'"

Not everyone is happy with the annnual selections. With a task as enormous and important as nailing down the nation's 24 best high school players, it comes with the territory that the end result will produce a deserving player or two being left off.

And we're not talking about great talents without a high school resume, or who were injured or fifth-year players ineligible for the game. We're talking about players who enjoyed some success in grassroots basketball and monster success with their high school team.

Over the years, there's been some All-American-level players overlooked and today we decided to give them their proper acclaim.

Top 12 Players Who Should Have Been McDonald's All-Americans
(List does not include those ineligible for the game because of age, academics, injury or because they were post-graduate players. Players who fall in one of these categories include Anfernee Hardaway, Schea Cotton and John Wall; All-Star Sports rankings began in 1979 and the Hoop Scoop in 1984)

1. Glen Rice, Northwestern (Flint, Mich.) 6-7 F (1985)
Ranking: No. 8 (Hoop Scoop), No. 13 (All-Star Sports)
Whenever the term McDonald's snub is used, it conjures up an image of this sweet-shooting forward. Michigan's Mr. Basketball for 1985, Rice averaged 20.8 ppg on a 27-1 team as a junior and was even better his senior season. Northwestern finished 28-0 and ranked No. 4 nationally by USA Today. "The committee didn't choose him, but we knew of him because, back then, coaches called to make sure we knew about a kid. Quite frankly, they didn't know how the team was picked," Geoghan said.

2. Rod Strickland, Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) 6-2 G (1985)
Ranking: No. 16 (Hoop Scoop), No. 4 (All-Star Sports)
Led Harry Truman (Bronx, N.Y.) to a state federation title as a junior and was a consensus Top 20 ranked prospect, but transferred to Oak Hill for his senior season. Oak Hill didn't have the sterling reputation it does now and current Oak Hill coach Steve Smith told us Strickland was "a handful." As an assistant coach on that team, one of Smith's job was keeping Strickland in line. "I don't remember him particularly, but character counts to a certain degree," Geoghan said. Strickland was arguably the nation's best point guard and at Sonny Vaccaro's Roundball Classic, he was the U.S. team MVP with 20 points, six steals and three assists.

3. Onyeka Okongwu, Chino Hills (Calif.) 6-8 C (2019)
Ranking: No. 8 (Hoop Scoop), No. 22 (All-Star Sports)
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 finished his career with three CIF state titles and is a two-time Cal-Hi Sports Mr. Basketball. He also helped his Compton Magic travel club capture a mythical grassroots national title in 2018 with 16 points, 12 rebounds and five blocked shots in a 81-79 overtime victory over Team Takeover.

4. Marc Wilson, Calvert Hall (Towson, Md.) 6-1 G (1982)
Ranking: Third Team Top 33 (B/C Scouting), No. 35 (All-Star Sports)
The point guard on the No. 1 ranked team in the country by the National Sports News Service (precursor to FAB 50), Wilson was a clutch player and a demon on the fast break, according to coach Mark Amatucci. Wilson got off to a great start his senior season and nowadays, that likely would have created a spot for him on the team in the mold of Tyler Lewis (2012) or Nigel Williams-Goss (2013). Calvert Hall finished 34-0, winning the Las Vegas Holiday Prep Classic, the Pepsi Cola Challenge and the Alhambra Tournament along the way. On one of the first teams to truly play a national schedule, Money was better the bigger the game was.

5. Trevor Ariza, Westchester (Los Angeles) 6-8 F (2003)
Ranking: No. 18 (Hoop Scoop), No. 16 (All-Star Sports)
Ariza might not have had the greatest summer heading into his senior season and was a bit of a position-less monster, but his talent was immense. A consensus Top 20 prospect, Ariza averaged averaged 22 points and eight rebounds per game on a deep and talented team. Westchester finished 33-3 and ranked No. 4 in the FAB 50. It's not hard to find a guy in the 2003 game that Ariza should have replaced (whereas some years it's difficult to do that).

6. Cameron Thomas, Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) 6-3 G (2020)
Ranking: No. 25 (Hoop Scoop), No. 25 (247 Composite)
Steve Smith has coached 33 McDonald’s All-Americans up to this point at the famous Southwest Virginia boarding school and was a bit perplexed his sweet-shooting guard was not No. 34. The normally mild Smith had something to say about it on social media. Thomas left the storied program as its all-time leading scorer and had a spectacular senior season. Thomas scored 1,258 points, just shy of the single-season school record of 1,312 points held by 2008 Mr. Basketball USA Brandon Jennings. He averaged 31.4 ppg for a 37-3 team that finished No. 9 in the FAB 50. In the summer pro, he was the Nike EYBL's leading scorer (29 ppg) and took Boo Williams to the Peach Jam title game.

7. Tyrone Bogues, Dunbar (Baltimore, Md.) 5-3 G (1983)
Ranking: No. 24 (All-Star Sports)
Teammate Reggie Williams (No. 4 All-Star Sports) was the Mr. Basketball USA choice on a team some observers feel is the best high school team, ever. With a dozen other players on the roster who could play at the D1 level, it's easy to see how Bouges was a bit overlooked. He shouldn't have been, however, because he was Dunbar's team MVP, averaging eight points, 10 assists and eights steals per game. Bouges dominated games with his determination, ball-hawking defense and stamina. "He got the MVP of the Capital Classic," Geoghan said. "I think because of his height, they said he was a water bug, and because Reggie Williams was projected to be a star, Bouges got overlooked. Nobody I knew at the time projected him to be a great college player. To be honest with you, we took Muggsy because we couldn't get Reggie."

8. DeAndre Jordan, Christian Life (Humble, Texas) 6-11 C (2007)
Ranking: No. 24 (Hoop Scoop), No. 22 (All-Star Sports)
The Class of 2007 was a special group, one of the greatest classes of all-time. Looking at the big men in the class, however, it's easy to see that Jordan belonged. He played outstanding ball at the 2006 ABCD Camp, ranking as the No. 12 performer in camp by the Hoop Scoop. As a senior averaged 19 points, 14 rebounds and five blocked shots per game. Jordan did play in the final Roundball Classic, scoring six points and blocking six shots.

9. Sergio McClain, Manual (Peoria, Ill.) 6-4 F (1997)
Ranking: No. 32 (Hoop Scoop), No. 35 (All-Star Sports)
Sure, McClain's game didn't translate into superstardom on the next levels, but that shouldn't have kept him from being recognized as a McDonald's All-American. The leading scorer on the nation’s top-ranked team (18.5 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists), his value in fourth quarter, pressure situations simply can’t be measured by any stat. McClain was one of high school basketball's ultimate winners, helping Manual win four straight Class AA state championships. He was chosen Mr. Basketball in Illinois, even over teammate and McDonald's All-American Marcus Griffin.

10. Kawhi Leonard, M.L. King (Riverside, Calif.) 6-7 F (2009)
Ranking: No. 16 (Hoop Scoop), No. 50 (All-Star Sports)
A classic example of a later bloomer and a player who didn't get the proper exposure on the grassroots circuit, Leonard was a part-time starter as a high school sophomore. He kept working on his game and after transferring to King helped the Wolves to two consecutive CIF Div. I SoCal regional finals. Whenever a majority of the selection committee got to see him play, however, he was overshadowed by McDonald's All-American Renardo Sidney on the L.A. Dream Team, a grassroots travel team created for Sidney. Halfway through his senior season (in which he averaged 22.6 points, 13.1 rebounds, and 3.9 assists) it was evident to many Leonard should have been on the team. He was on his way to a cinch Cal-Hi Sports Mr. Basketball selection.

11. Jamal Mashburn, Cardinal Hayes (Bronx, N.Y.) 6-8 F (1990)
Ranking: No. 4 (Hoop Scoop), No. 8 (All-Star Sports)
Perhaps the voters didn't want to make the game too New York City heavy. Perhaps he came on a bit late. Mashburn, however, got plenty of exposure playing for the legendary New York Gauchos travel team and in the most competitive high school basketball league in the country at the time (C.H.S.A.A.). The four other players from the CHSAA he made first team all-state with (Tolentine's Adrian Autry and Brian Reese and Christ the King's Khalid Reeves and Derrick Phelps) were McDonald's All-Americans, but it was Mashburn who was named New York's Mr. Basketball. He led Hayes to its first CHSAA title since 1944 by scoring 18 points, grabbing seven rebounds and dishing four assists in the 52-46 championship game win over All Hallows. If you include Oak Hill Academy's Anthony Cade, New York City produced five McDonald's All-Americans that season, but Mash wasn't one of them. From a national rankings perspective, Mash could easily be No. 3 or No. 4 on this list.

12. Leon Wood, St. Monica’s (Santa Monica, Calif.) 6-3 G (1979)
Ranking: First Team Top 33 (B/C Scouting), No. 25 (All-Star Sports)?
Similar to DeAndre Jordan, Wood played in a loaded class, so it was likely a numbers' game. Wood, however, was arguably the best shooter in the class. He stood out at the '78 Superstar Camp, according to noted skills trainer Ruben Luna. "I saw Leon beat Paul Westphal in H-O-R-S-E with the whole camp yelling, 'Take him outside Leon.' He was raining from deep." As a senior, he averaged 41.5 ppg and was his team's MVP in two games at the Roundball Classic.

13. Imari Sawyer, M.L. King (Chicago) 6-2 G (2000)
Ranking: No. 19 (Hoop Scoop), No. 23 (All-Star Sports)
A consensus Top 25 player, Sawyer was a scoring guard who could also pass the rock with flash. As a senior, he averaged 31 points and 12 assists per game. Even if he had a slow start to his senior year or a couple of bad outings in the summer, it's not as if voters didn't know who he was coming from a program that previously produced numerous All-Americans. Sawyer finished his high school career with 3,005 points.

Others Whom Should Be Prominently Mentioned:
(Listed by graduating class and national class ranking)

TyTy Washington, AZ Compass Prep (Chandler, Ariz.) 6-4 G (2021)
Ranking: No. 25 (Hoop Scoop), No. 15 (247 Composite)

E.J. Liddell, Belleville West (Belleville, Ill.) 6-7 F (2019)
Ranking: No. 15 (Hoop Scoop), No. 37 (All-Star Sports)

Javonte Smart, Scotlandville Magnet (Baton Rouge, La.) 6-4 G (2018)
Ranking: No. 21 (Hoop Scoop), No. 33 (All-Star Sports)

Emmitt Williams, Oak Ridge (Orlando, Fla.) 6-7 F (2018)
Ranking: No. 10 (Hoop Scoop), No. 16 (All-Star Sports)

Chris Lykes, Gonzaga College (Washington, D.C.) 5-8 G (2017)
Ranking: No. 21 (Hoop Scoop), No. 44 (All-Star Sports)

Mustapha Heron, Sacred Heart (Waterbury, Conn.) 6-6 F (2016)
Ranking: No. 6 (Hoop Scoop), No. 19 (All-Star Sports)

Cassius Winston, U-D Jesuit (Detroit) 6-0 G (2016)
Ranking: No. 26 (Hoop Scoop), No. 31 (All-Star Sports)

Tyler Dorsey, Maranatha (Pasadena, Calif.) 6-5 G (2015)
Ranking: No. 12 (Hoop Scoop), No. 27 (All-Star Sports)

Nick Emery, Lone Peak (Highland, Utah) 6-1 G (2013)
Ranking: No. 56 (Hoop Scoop), No. 61 (All-Star Sports)

Sam Dekker, Sheboygan Lutheran (Sheboygan, Wis.) 6-7 F (2012)
Ranking: No. 17 (Hoop Scoop), No. 21 (All-Star Sports)

Dorian Finney-Smith, Norcom (Portsmouth, Va.) 6-7 F (2011)
Ranking: No. 43 (Hoop Scoop), No. 25 (All-Star Sports)

B.J. Young, McCluer North (Florissant, Mo.) 6-4 G (2011)
Ranking: No. 16 (Hoop Scoop), No. 37 (All-Star Sports)

Damion James, Nacogdoches (Texas) 6-8 F (2006)
Ranking: No. 23 (Hoop Scoop), No. 16 (All-Star Sports)

Kevin Bookout, Stroud (Okla.) 6-8 C (2002)
Ranking: No. 10 (Hoop Scoop), No. 16 (All-Star Sports)

Doug Wrenn, O’Dea (Seattle) 6-7 F (1998)
Ranking: No. 14 (Hoop Scoop), No. 47 (All-Star Sports)

Kenny Brunner, Dominguez (Compton, Calif.) 5-9 G (1997)
Ranking: No. 9 (Hoop Scoop), No. 41 (All-Star Sports)

Ricky Davis, North (Davenport, Iowa) 6-5 G (1997)
Ranking: No. 13 (Hoop Scoop), No. 11 (All-Star Sports)

Jason Hart, Inglewood (Calif.) 6-3 G (1996)
Ranking: No. 31 (Hoop Scoop), No. 21 (All-Star Sports)

Kenny Thomas, Albuquerque (N.M.) 6-8 C (1995)
Ranking: No. 31 (Hoop Scoop), No. 12 (All-Star Sports)

Tremaine Fowlkes, Crenshaw (Los Angeles) 6-7 F (1994)
Ranking: No. 27 (Hoop Scoop), No. 18 (All-Star Sports)

Michael Spruell, Albany (Ga.) 6-1 G (1994)
Ranking: No. 10 (Hoop Scoop), No. 41 (All-Star Sports)

Andre Woolridge, Benson (Omaha, Neb.) 6-2 G (1992)
Ranking: No. 23 (Hoop Scoop), No. 16 (All-Star Sports)

Harold Miner, Inglewood (Calif.) 6-5 G (1989)
Ranking: No. 22 (Hoop Scoop), No. 29 (All-Star Sports)

Curt "Trouble" Smith,?Coolidge (Washington, D.C.) 5-10 G (1989)
Ranking: No. 33 (Hoop Scoop), No. 54 (All-Star Sports)

Richard Dumas, Washington (Tulsa, Ok.) 6-6 F (1987)
Ranking: No. 22 (Hoop Scoop), No. 35 (All-Star Sports)

Stacy Augmon, Muir (Pasadena, Calif.) 6-8 F (1986)
Ranking: No. 31 (Hoop Scoop), No. 8 (All-Star Sports)

Len Bias, Northwestern (Hyattsville, Md.) 6-8 F (1982)
Ranking: First Team Top 33 (B/C Scouting); No. 8 (All-Star Sports)

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 McDonald's: 13 Overlooked All-Americans appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

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RELATED: Who's The Greatest High School Team Ever? | All-Time FAB 50 National Champions| LaMelo Ball Film Breakdown | Ballislife Live NBA Draft Party (November 18, 6:50 pm ET)

With LaMelo Ball and Onyeka Okongwu set to join the NBA as lottery picks in the 2020 NBA Draft (November 18), we thought it would be an interesting time to pour over all our past FAB 50 rankings and other files to check on just how difficult it is for a single high school team to produce three NBA players.

This is not a list of three future NBA players produced from one program, but rather a rundown of three or more future NBA players on one specific varsity team, in the same season (while excluding programs that knowingly accept post-graduates). The definition of "playing in the NBA" is making an appearance in a NBA game, not being on a NBA roster on injured reserve or part of a summer league team. Nor is it playing on the G-League team or being in training camp; it means actually playing in a regular season NBA game.

With those parameters in place, we have uncovered three teams with five future NBA players, six teams with four, and 37 with three. Believe it or not, there are dozens of high school teams with at least two future NBA players. Forty-six teams is actually more than we originally thought, but when digging deeper, one realizes it’s super rare if you take away independent-academy programs that are designed to produce high level college prospects. Take away now defunct Findlay Prep of Nevada and perennial FAB 50 powers Montverde Academy of Florida and Oak Hill Academy of Virginia and that number dwindles to 32 teams. When accounting for public high schools, that number is 19.

What makes Ball and Okongwu joining the NBA as lotto picks so special is Melo’s oldest brother Lonzo Ball was also a lottery pick, going No. 2 to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2017. No other school has produced three lottery picks on the same team, and Chino Hills is one of those 14 public schools. Chino Hills also is the last public school to capture the mythical FAB 50 national title, going 35-0 in 2015-16 when Melo and O were 14-year old starting freshmen. Will other players on that already legendary 2015-16 Chino Hills roster, namely Eli Scott (LMU), Andre Ball (Pepperdine) or Cam Shelton (Northern Arizona), one day crack a NBA roster?

Stay tuned.

Quinn Cook

6'0"   -   PG   -   2011

5 NBA Players On One Varsity Team

2008-09 DeMatha Catholic (Hyattsville, Md.) 31-4
Final FAB 50 Rank: No. 14
Pros: Quinn Cook (SO), Jerami Grant (FR), Jerian Grant (JR), Victor Oladipo (JR), Josh Selby (JR).
Synopsis: The Stags were 15-2 when Selby transferred out, and finished off the season by winning the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC) regular season and tournament titles. Selby was the No. 1 prospect in the 2010 class, according Rivals.com.

2009-10 Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.) 32-2
Final FAB 50 Rank: No. 3
Pros: Jabari Brown (JR), Nick Johnson (JR), Cory Joseph (SR), Tristan Thompson (SR), Nigel Williams-Goss (FR).
Synopsis: This was an ultra-talented team that won its second consecutive ESPN RISE NHSI title with an avenging win over Montverde Academy. The Pilots’ coaching staff and players were fairly confident had No. 2 Neumann-Goretti (Philadelphia) and FAB 50 National Champion Yates (Houston) been in a tournament field with them that  Findlay Prep would have won decisively.

2013-14 Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.) 31-5
Final FAB 50 Rank: No. 5
Pros: Jonah Bolden (SR), Dillon Brooks (JR), O’Shae Brissett (FR), Kelly Oubre (SR), Rashad Vaughn (SR).
Synopsis: Under former NBA player Jerome Williams, the Pilots somewhat salvaged a disappointing season by knocking off No. 2 seed and previously unbeaten Rainier Beach (Seattle), 67-59, at Dick’s Nationals behind Arizona-bound Craig Victor (23 points, 11 rebounds) and the Kansas-bound Oubre (17 points, 14 rebounds).

4 NBA Players On One Varsity Team

1981-82 Dunbar (Baltimore, Md.) 29-0?
Final Rank: No. 2 (Basketball Weekly)
Pros: Tyrone "Muggsy" Bogues (JR), Reggie Lewis (JR), Reggie Williams (JR), David Wingate (SR).
Synopsis: This great team finished ranked behind cross-town Calvert Hall, which defeated Dunbar in the final game of 1980-81 season and went wire-to-wire as No. 1. Calvert Hall played a national schedule, and while Dunbar didn’t, it defeated preseason No. 2 Camden (N.J.), 84-59, while Calvert Hall trailed the same team late before defeating it, 67-62. Wingate was the senior leader along with UNLV-bound Gary Graham (6-4).

1992-93 Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) 36-0
Final FAB 50 Rank: No. 1
Pros: Mark Blount (SO), Jeff McInnis (SR), Makhtar N’Diaye (SR), Jerry Stackhouse (SR).
Synopsis: This is the best team in the long, storied history of the Warriors’ program with no weaknesses. Oak Hill defeated six college teams led by Stackhouse, a man amongst boys in high school, and McInnis, who joined Stack at the McDonald’s All-American Game and at North Carolina. For more on this team, CLICK HERE.

2007-08 DeMatha Catholic (Hyattsville, Md.) 21-10 ?
Final FAB 50 Rank: NR
Pros: Quinn Cook (FR), Jerian Grant (S0), Victor Oladipo (S0), Josh Selby (SO).
Synopsis: Young Stags team finished in third place in the highly-competitive Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCA). DeMatha was able to hand conference champ and FAB 50 No. 8 Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.) its only loss, but later lost to that team 61-44 at the Alhambra Catholic Invitational.

2009-10 DeMatha Catholic (Hyattsville, Md.) 32-4 ?
Final FAB 50 Rank: No. 40
Pros: Quinn Cook (JR), Jerami Grant (SO), Jerian Grant (SR), Victor Oladipo (SR).
Synopsis: Jerian Grant got plenty of attention as did Cook, but only one credible ranking (Hoop Scoop) had Oladipo in the Top 100 (No. 98). On a team with 12 eventual D1 players, a couple of close losses prevented the Stags from cracking the Top 10 in the FAB 50.

2010-11 Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.) 28-4?
Final FAB 50 Rank: No. 14
Pros: Anthony Bennett (JR), Nick Johnson (SR), Naz Mitrou-Long (JR), Nigel Williams-Goss (SO).
Synopsis: The Pilots were the preseason FAB 50 No. 1 team, but had a bad habit of falling behind in games all season long. With leading scorer Myck Kabongo playing in the McDonald's All-American Game less than 24 hours before taking on Dwyer (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.) at the NHSI, the Pilots got 13 minutes and zero field goals from him in a first-round loss. Mitrou-Long played spot minutes.

2010-11 Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) 29-4
Final FAB 50 Rank: No. 7
Pros: Jordan Adams (JR), Quinn Cook (Sr), A.J. Hammons (Jr), Ben McLemore (SR).
Synopsis: This Warriors unit did spend some time at No. 1, but ended up losing in the NHSI championship game to No. 2 Montrose Christian (Rockville, Md.), 71-64 in double overtime. Cook came over after playing on three DeMatha Catholic teams that had five and four future NBA players, respectively, while McLemore did not finish the season with the Warriors. Adams led Oak Hill to a 44-0 mark and FAB title the following season.

3 NBA Players On One Varsity Team

1957-58 Overbrook (Philadelphia) 22-0
Final Rank: N/A
Pros: Walt Hazzard (SO), Wayne Hightower (SR), Wali Jones (SO).
Synopsis: Three years earlier Overbrook featured Wilt Chamberlain, the game’s first true high school superstar, but this ‘Brook team was more balanced and didn’t lose a game. It beat Neumann in the City title game at the famous Palestra, 71-54, as All-American Hightower had 23 points and 18 rebounds.

1963-64 DeMatha Catholic (Hyattsville, Md.) 27-2?
Final Rank: N/A
Pros: Sid Catlett (FR), Joe Kennedy (SR), Bernie Williams (JR).
Synopsis: The Stags won their fourth of six consecutive WCAC championships under Naismith Hall of Fame coach Morgan Wootten, who passed in January 2020 at age 88. One of the two losses was to eventual mythical national champion Power Memorial (New York), 65-62, which was led by junior and all-time great Lew Alcindor. The Stags played much better team defense on Alcindor in a return game the following season to end Power’s 71-game winning streak in what many historians consider the greatest high school game of all-time.

1963-64 DeWitt Clinton (Bronx, N.Y.)?
Final Rank: N/A
Pros: Luther Green (JR), Ollie Taylor (SO), Willie Worsley (SR).
Synopsis: The defending PSAL champs ran their winning to 38 games before losing to Boys in the PSAL semifinals at Madison Square Garden before 10,000 fans. Clinton has produced 17 NBA players and most came through the school in the 1960s and early 1970s. This program was so loaded future NBA Hall of Famer Nate Archibald was cut as a sophomore, but he later teamed up with Worsley at UTEP.

1964-65 DeWitt Clinton (Bronx, N.Y.)?
Final Rank: N/A
Pros: Nate Archibald (JR), Luther Green (SR), Ollie Taylor (JR).
Synopsis: Green was named the PSAL Player of the Year and the Governors had another fantastic season, advancing to the PSAL finals where it fell to a 22-0 Erasmus Hall team, 85-80. A year later when Archibald was a senior, he teamed up with star forward Mike Switzer and backcourt mate Walt Robertson to lead DeWitt Clinton to a 21-0 mark and the mythical national title as named by the National Sports News Service (FAB 50 precursor).

1968-69 Washington (Indianapolis, Ind.) 31-0?
Final Rank: N/A
Pros: Steve Downing (SR), George McGinnis (SR), Wayne Pack (SR).
Synopsis: Compton (Calif.) won the National Sports News Service mythical national title, but the Continentals would have given the Tarbabes all they could handle. Washington was big, deep, physical and had a future pro guard in Pack. McGinnis was the nation’s best player and also all-state in football and would become the first player in the state of Indiana to score 1,000 points in a season. The IHSAA had its most highly-anticipated state Final Four ever in '69, as the four teams came in with a total of one loss with Washington becoming only the second unbeaten Indiana state champ.

1970-71 Mount Vernon (Mount Vernon, N.Y.) 21-1
Final Rank: N/A
Pros: Rudy Hackett (SR), Earl Tatum (JR), Gus Williams (SR).
Synopsis: The top-ranked team in New York, the Knights only lost their final game to McKinley Tech (Washington, D.C.), in the post-season Knights of Columbus Tournament in Washington, D.C. Williams, who was still under six-foot, averaged 24 ppg and was named state player of the year by the New York Sports Writers Association. The next season, Tatum earned the same honors with an even more spectacular season and was joined by Ray Williams, Gus’ younger brother who also went on to play in the NBA.

1972-73 Verbum Dei (Los Angeles) 29-2
Final Rank: No. 1 (National Sports News Service)
Pros: Lewis Brown (SR), David Greenwood (SO), Roy Hamilton (SO).
Synopsis: The Eagles were in the midst of winning six consecutive CIF Southern Section titles, and Brown (24.1 ppg) was the star in the middle. The two-time section player of the year was complemented by Greenwood, who was already becoming a star in his own right, and Hamilton, who took on a bigger role the next season. That underclass duo led Verbum Dei to another section and mythical national title as juniors but did not win a section title during their senior seasons in 1975 after being upset in the semifinals.

1981-82 St. Bernard (Playa del Rey, Calif.) 28-3?
Final Rank: No. 22 (Basketball Weekly)
Pros: Corey Gaines (JR), Ronnie Grandison (SR), Leonard Taylor (SO).
Synopsis: The Vikings won the CIF Southern Section 3A title behind a team that included 10 future D1 players before losing to Banning (Calif.) in the first-ever SoCal D2 regional final. Grandison (14 ppg) was the leading scorer on a balanced team that included all-section performers Kevin Vidato (12 ppg) and Robert Howling (11 ppg), while Gaines (10 ppg) was named the state’s junior player of the year.

1982-83 Dunbar (Baltimore, Md.) 31-0?
Final Rank: No. 1 (National Sports News Service)
Pros: Tyrone "Muggsy" Bogues (SR), Reggie Lewis (SR), Reggie Williams (SR).
Synopsis: Most veteran observers rate the Poets the greatest high school team of all-time, considering they were expected to be great (they were the first preseason No. 1 by USA Today) and delivered. Against a national schedule, the Poets never played down to the competition and won by an average of 36.5 ppg. On a deep team with 11 future D1 players, Lewis (a future NBA All-Star) came off the bench but made most of his limited opportunities. Williams was the star and Bogues was the unquestioned leader of a group that included three 1987 first rounders. For more on this team, CLICK HERE.

1986-87 St. Anthony (Jersey City, N.J.) 30-1?
Final Rank: No. 10 (USA Today)
Pros: Terry Dehere (SO), Bobby Hurley (SO), Luther Wright (FR).
Synopsis: The Friars won their fifth consecutive New Jersey Non-Public Group B state crown with a young club that seemed destined for greatness. St. Anthony did go on to win two more state titles and the first-ever state Tournament of Champions crown in 1988-89 when Dehere and Hurley were seniors, but they did it without Wright, a talented and imposing big man. After the season, Wright transferred to Elizabeth (N.J.) High School for his sophomore season. St. Anthony went on to capture nine consecutive state titles, but Elizabeth did beat the Friars, 65-62, to capture the 1990 TOC crown when Wright was a senior.

1987-88 Murrah (Jackson, Miss.) 31-6
Final FAB 50 Rank: NR
Pros: Lyndsey Hunter (SR), Ryan Lorthridge (S0), James Robinson (JR).
Synopsis: The Mustangs featured three terrific perimeter players with Robinson getting most of the publicity as a two-time high school All-American. Under the guidance of legendary coach Orsmond Jordan Jr., Murrah was a power, but this season they were no match for regionally-ranked, Chris Jackson-led Gulfport in the Class 5A state title game, 96-76. Murrah got more national recognition in 1991 and 1992, when they won back-to-back state titles led by All-Americans Othella Harrington, Ronnie Henderson and the late Jesse Pate. Jordan also won a national championship for Negro schools in 1965 at Lanier (Jackson, Miss.), in the third to last national championships for segregated schools.

1988-89 Southwest (Macon, Ga.) 24-5
Final FAB 50 Rank: NR
Pros: Ivano Newbill (SR), Chris Robinson (FR), Sharone Wright (SO).
Synopsis: The 1978-79 Southwest team is one of the best of all-time, but its this Patriots club that produced three pros. Coach Don Richardson won his last state title behind the play of Newbill, Georgia's Mr. Basketball, and Russell Odom, the state tourney MVP. Wright was one of two talented sophomores, including Reggie Manuel (UNLV), while Robinson was a deep reserve. The team finished No. 6 in the South regional rankings.

1988-89 Southwestern (Detroit) 25-2
Final FAB 50 Rank: NR
Pros: Howard Eisley (JR), Voshon Lenard (S0), Jalen Rose (SO).
Synopsis: This young Prospectors club fell in the Class A state final to Cooley (Detroit). Rose (19 ppg, 7 rpg, 5 apg) was already showing All-American potential and Lenard (16 ppg) was not too far behind. Eisley averaged 11 assists per game on a team that returned 12 players in 1989-90.

1988-89 St. Anthony (Jersey City, N.J.) 32-0?
Final FAB 50 Rank: No. 1
Pros: Terry Dehere (SR), Bobby Hurley (SR), Rodrick Rhodes (FR).
Synopsis: A terrific defensive team capped a perfect season by winning the first ever New Jersey TOC crown behind the play of bruising forward Jerry Walker, the tourney MVP and Naismith Hall of Fame coach Bob Hurley’s most consistent player. The fifth stater was 6-foot-7 Sean Rooney before he tore ligaments in his ankle. Junior forward Jose Ortiz then stepped in for a club that won the Great Florida Shootout and the King Cotton Classic.

1989-90 Proviso East (Maywood, Ill.) 25-3?
Final FAB 50 Rank: NR
Pros: Donnie Boyce (JR), Michael Finley (JR), Sherrell Ford (JR).
Synopsis: The Pirates were a good team, but Boyce broke his ankle early in the season. It caused Ford to step up his game and Finley, the sixth man, to earn more playing time after playing JayVee as a 10th grader. Boyce eventually came back but the team lost to St. Joseph (Westchester, Ill.) in the sectionals.

1989-90 Southwestern (Detroit) 27-0
Final FAB 50 Rank: No. 5
Pros: Howard Eisley (SR), Voshon Lenard (JR), Jalen Rose (JR).
Synopsis: Coach Perry Watson’s club overcame years of state title game frustration by capturing the program’s first Class A state title behind its terrific perimeter defense and Rose, a hybrid forward who could handle like a point guard. The Prospectors’ 1991 team was named mythical national champions by USA Today with a 26-1 mark after Eisley moved on to Boston College. Interestingly enough, Chris Webber, the Mr. Basketball USA in 1990-91, could have easily been on this club. One of the most sought-after middle school players in Michigan history, Webber decided to attend Detroit Country Day instead of joining his close friend Rose at Southwestern.

1990-91 Proviso East (Maywood, Ill.) 32-1?
Final FAB 50 Rank: No. 6
Pros: Donnie Boyce (SR), Michael Finley (SR), Sherrell Ford (SR).
Synopsis: The Pirates were an incredibly talented team that won the program’s third Class AA state crown with the best record in school history. Proviso East’s only loss was a 65-64 setback to Rock Island (Ill.). Boyce (10.3 rpg) controlled the paint, Ford (22.1 ppg) was the go-to scorer and Finley (13.6 ppg) did a bit of everything. “The Three Amigos” were all selected within the first 42 picks of the 1995 NBA Draft.

1990-91 Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) 27-1?
Final FAB 50 Rank: No. 4
Pros: Corey Alexander (SR), Thomas "Junior" Burrough (SR), Ben Davis (SR).
Synopsis: The Warriors defeated teams from nine states and after this team came along, Oak Hill Academy had an incredible run of NBA talent and McDonald’s All-American selections. Oak Hill did record a win over eventual No. 1 Simon Gratz (Philadelphia) in the semifinals of the Great Florida Shootout, but had a 28-point loss against Dunbar (Ft. Worth, Texas). Davis was the leading scorer (20 ppg), Burrough (3.1 bpg) was a defensive stalwart and Alexander recorded 253 assists.

1995-96 Christ the King (Middle Village, N.Y.) 26-1
Final FAB 50 Rank: No. 14
Pros: Erick Barkley (JR), Craig “Speedy” Claxton (SR), Lamar Odom (JR).
Synopsis: The Royals opened up No. 4 in the National Prep Poll (FAB 50 precursor) and were up to No. 2 when they were shocked in the Catholic High School Athletic Association Class A final, 64-63, by Rice (New York). Rice’s Bevon Robin scored with 1.3 seconds remaining in overtime to end the season of a team many felt was New York City’s most talented since the 1988 Malik Sealy-led St. Nicholas of Tolentine team that finished No. 1 in the country. Odom did not return to the program for his senior season, while Barkley took a prep school year at Maine Central Institute.

1998-99 Willowridge (Houston) 29-3*?
Final FAB 50 Rank: No. 3
Pros: Daniel Ewing (SO), T.J. Ford (SO), Ivan McFarlin (JR).
Synopsis: The Eagles had all but one of their victories forfeited because of of University Interscholastic League residency violations surrounding McFarlin, a transfer who went on to play at Oklahoma St. It was evident with the trio the program would be a juggernaut the next two seasons.

1999-00 Willowridge (Houston) 36-1?
Final FAB 50 Rank: No. 3
Pros: Daniel Ewing (JR), T.J. Ford (JR), Ivan McFarlin (SR).
Synopsis: The Eagles won their last 23 games and a second UIL Class 5A crown in the last seven years. McFarlin was the lone senior and averaged 16 ppg and 14.9 rpg. The next season with McDonald's All-Americans Ewing and Ford leading the way, Willowridge capped an unbeaten season by beating Converse Judson, 67-64, in double overtime, and Bryan, 65-58, to win back-to-back state titles to finish No. 2 in the FAB 50 behind Oak Hill Academy.

2001-02 Westchester (Los Angeles) 32-2
Final FAB 50 Rank: No. 4
Pros: Hassan Adams (SR), Trevor Ariza (JR), Bobby Brown (JR).
Synopsis: The deepest and most talented of Ed Azzam’s six CIF state championship teams, Adams was California’s Mr. Basketball and led a terrific senior trio that included Brandon Heath and Brandon Bowman. Ariza earned Mr. Basketball honors as a senior and Brown stepped into the starting lineup at point guard for Ahmad Cook (Georgetown), who helped the Comets win back-to-back City of Palms Titles in 2000 and 2001.

2003-04 San Joaquin Memorial (Fresno, Calif.) 24-10
Final FAB 50 Rank: N/A
Pros: Brook Lopez (SO), Robin Lopez (SO), Quincy Pondexter (SO).
Synopsis: Not only did this trio play together for three years in high school, they also played travel ball together for Fresno-based EBO and had more success on the travel ball circuit than it did in the CIF ranks. EBO who the prestigious adidas Super 64 Tournament in Las Vegas in 2004 and 2005 with a team that also featured Tre'Vonn Willis (Washington of Easton, Calif.) and Derek Gasper (Paso Robles, Calif.).

2004-05 San Joaquin Memorial (Fresno, Calif.) 23-11
Final FAB 50 Rank: N/A
Pros: Brook Lopez (JR), Robin Lopez (JR), Quincy Pondexter (JR).
Synopsis: This team underachieved, despite the raw talent, although some felt they were a year away. The Panthers fell to Garces of Bakersfield in the CIF Central Section Div. IV title game.

2005-06 San Joaquin Memorial (Fresno, Calif.) 33-4
Final FAB 50 Rank: N/A
Pros: Brook Lopez (SR), Robin Lopez (SR), Quincy Pondexter (SR).
Synopsis: This team had the talent to be California’s best, but took some early losses before being shocked, 68-67, in double overtime in the CIF SoCal D4 final by Horizon (San Diego). Pondexter (21 ppg) was the North Yosemite League MVP and D4 State Player of the year over his two highly-regarded teammates, both whom played in the McDonald’s All-American Game in San Diego.

2005-06 Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) 40-1
Final FAB 50 Rank: No. 3
Pros: Michael Beasley (JR), Ty Lawson (Sr), Nolan Smith (Jr).
Synopsis: The Warriors lost their final game of the season to No. 2 Montrose Christian (Rockville, Md.) on a last-second outback in one of the most talent-laden high school games every witnessed. The loss snapped Oak Hill's 56-game winning streak for a team that spent most of the year ranked No. 2 with a deep club. Montrose Christian's star player was Kevin Durant, who actually played at Oak Hill the season before. Beasley, a future No. 1 NBA Draft choice, did not return to Oak Hill for his senior season.

2006-07 Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) 40-1
Final FAB 50 Rank: No. 1
Pros: Brandon Jennings (JR), Nolan Smith (SR), Trey Thompkins (JR).
Synopsis: The Warriors captured their sixth FAB 50 title by recording their second straight 40-1 record season and winning 96 of their last 98 games. Oak Hill defeated six of seven teams ranked in the top 30 of the FAB 50. Smith, a McDonald's All-American, led the way with 22 ppg and 4.5 apg, while Alex Legion (Michigan) and Jennings also garnered some All-American mention.

2007-08 Christ School (Arden, N.C.) 34-2
Final FAB 50 Rank: NR
Pros: Marshall Plumlee (FR), Mason Plumlee (JR), Miles Plumlee (SR).
Synopsis: This team finished just outside the FAB 50 as a NCISAA Private School champion. With three Plumlee brothers on their roster, the Greenies defeated Greensboro Day in the title game. Although Marshall played only sparingly on this particular team, he later helped the program win four consecutive state titles, something his older brothers were not able to accomplish.

2008-09 Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.) 33-0
Final FAB 50 Rank: No. 1
Pros: Avery Bradley (SR), Cory Joseph (JR), Tristan Thompson (JR).
Synopsis: In its first year as a program eligible to be ranked in the FAB 50, the Pilots made a big splash after adding Thompson three quarters of the way through the season. They won the inaugural ESPN RISE NHSI (now GEICO Nationals) via a win over previous No. 1 Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.), 74-66. Bradley (20 points) and Joseph (18) combined to score 38 points in the landmark victory.

2011-12 Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.) 32-1?
Final FAB 50 Rank: No. 2
Pros: Anthony Bennett (SR), Nigel Williams-Goss (JR), Christian Wood (JR).
Synopsis: Brandon Ashley didn’t have a particularly strong senior campaign with the Pilots, but he came through when necessary, scoring 15 of his 31 points against Montverde Academy in the fourth quarter of an incredible 86-83 overtime victory in the title game of the ESPNHS NHSI. Williams-Goss scored the winning basket and had 17 points for a Pilots’ team that lost out on the FAB 50 title because of a loss to No. 35 La Lumiere (La Porte, Ind.), a team No. 1 Oak Hill Academy defeated.

2012-13 Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) 26-2
Final FAB 50 Rank: No. 1
Pros: Dakari Johnson (SR), DeAngelo Russell (JR), Ben Simmons (SO).
Synopsis: The 2012 MVA team would have three future NBA players, too, had Johnson not sat out after following coach Kevin Boyle over from St. Patrick (Elizabeth, N.J.). Joel Embid was a reserve for the 2012 MVA team who left, but it didn’t matter as the Eagles started out No. 1 in the FAB 50 and ended there after winning the NHSI over St. Benedict’s (Newark, N.J.) on a last-second 3-pointer by Jalyn Patterson. This physically dominant team welcomed Simmons towards the ends of the season, and the Ballislife Player of the Decade for the 2010s led the program to two more FAB 50 titles in 2014 and 2015.

2012-13 Prime Prep (Dallas) 37-2
Final FAB 50 Rank: N/A
Pros: Terrence Ferguson (FR), Emmanuel Mudiay (JR), Jordan Mickey (SR),
Synopsis: This academy, which was opened by NFL Hall of Fame Deion Sanders, dropped out of the UIL. It made them ineligible for the FAB 50 that season, but Prime Prep still had a formidable team. Its season ended when it lost to eventual FAB 50 national champ Montverde Academy, 57-55, in the NHSI semifinals.

2012-13 Simeon (Chicago) 30-3
Final FAB 50 Rank: No. 5
Pros: Zach Norvell (FR), Kendrick Nunn (SR), Jabari Parker (SR).
Synopsis: Started No. 3 in the FAB 50 but got off to a slow start as Parker was recovering from an off-season injury. By the end of the season Parker was playing up to form and so were the Wolverines, who joined Peoria Manual as the second Illinois team to win four straight state Class 4A titles. Parker became the state’s first two-time Mr. Basketball, Nunn did alot of the dirty work and Norvell played spot minutes.

2013-14 Prime Prep (Dallas) 21-6
Final FAB 50 Rank: No. 34
Pros: Terrence Ferguson (SO), Emmanuel Mudiay (SR), P.J. Washington (FR),
Synopsis: McDonald's All-American Mudiay led this team, which finished ranked a bit below preseason expectations. Prime Prep notched a win over Sunrise Christian Academy early in the season, then lost in a rematch. The team also posted a win over No. 5 Finley Prep and beat Dallas Kimball, the Texas Class 4A state champ.

2014-15 Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.) 29-3?
Final FAB 50 Rank: No. 5
Pros: O’Shae Brisset (SO), Allonzo Trier (SR), P.J. Washington (SO).
Synopsis: After a so-so regular season, Findlay Prep lost to No. 1 Montverde Academy, 57-53, in overtime under hard-to-believe circumstances in the Dick Nationals semifinals. Trier and junior Derrick Thornton Jr. made up a terrific backcourt and senior Horace Spencer was a clutch defender and rebounder.

2015-16 Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) 26-2?
Final FAB 50 Rank: No. 5
Pros: R.J. Barrett (FR), Bruno Fernando (SR), Anfernee Simons (JR).
Synopsis: Although this MVA team was young in both the back court and front court, it was clear Barrett was going to be a star with the program. This team lost 55-47 to No. 4 La Lumiere (La Porte, Ind.) in the Dick Nationals semifinals. Will Simi Shittu, Silvio DeSousa and/or E.J. Montgomery one day log NBA minutes?

2015-16 Chino Hills (Chino Hills, Calif.) 35-0?
Final FAB 50 Rank: No. 1
Pros: La’Melo Ball (FR), Lonzo Ball (SR), Onyeka Okongwu (FR).
Synopsis: It was amazing that this team rose from No. 9 in the preseason FAB 50 to No. 1 considering Melo and O were both 14-year old starting freshmen and there wasn’t much depth because of injuries. The springboard victory was a 83-82 win over three-time defending FAB 50 champion Montverde Academy at the City of Palms Tournament in Florida. After defeating Bishop Montgomery (Torrance, Calif.) in a state No. 1 vs. No. 2 regular season showdown, it became clear this was a team of destiny whose legend just looms larger after 2020 NBA Draft night. What’s next for this already iconic group?

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 3 or More Pros On A High School Team? Incredible! appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

With the 2020 NBA Draft date of Nov. 18 swiftly approaching, we wanted to take a deeper dive into this year's crop of talent. The winner among the losers on NBA Draft Lottery night was the Minnesota Timberwolves. The team with the third-worst regular season record was awarded the first overall selection.

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 five months, NBA front offices will be making picks with far less real-time evaluation because of the cancellations of many conference tournaments and last season's NCAA Tournament. 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 picks 5-9!

9. Washington Wizards

Ronnie's Pick: Devin Vassell | Guard | 6-6 | 180 | Florida State | So.

Why: With the Wizards pushing for the playoffs next season (whenever that may be), they value a rotation-level player who is more steady than high-risk, high-reward. Vassell’s combination of size and skill should fit in for a team that doesn’t necessarily need the pick at this spot to produce big offensive numbers. He can help this team on both ends and is a young player that doesn’t need to pound the ball to be effective. His shooting is actually better than one might believe and is he can learn to create his own shot and still be efficient, he would be a hell of a get at this spot for a franchise looking to take the next step towards a run at the Eastern Conference title.

Devin's Pick: Devin Vassell | Guard | 6-6 | 180 | Florida State | So.

Why: Like Ronnie said, Washington is a borderline playoff team in the Eastern Conference when fully healthy and adding Vassell to go alongside Bradley Beal and a (hopefully) healthy John Wall is the most viable option at this No. 9 pick. Vassell has good size on the wing, shot the college three-ball at a 41.5 percent clip on 3.5 attempts per game, and brings some two-way perimeter versatility to a team that needs a young, hungry on-ball defender and transition scoring threat. The Wizards have plenty of young pieces in the front court with Rui Hachimura, Davis Bertans and Thomas Bryant, and Vassell is a guy who could come in and immediately address a need on that Washington roster.

8. New York Knicks

Ronnie's Pick: Tyrese Haliburton | PG | 6-5 | 175 | Iowa State | So.

Why: Oh boy, oh boy, the Knicks, are in a tough spot, but it seems like that’s the case in every draft since New York won the rights to Patrick Ewing in the first NBA Draft Lottery back in 1985. Knicks’ fans have been tormented ever since, and after being leapfrogged by Charlotte in this draft, New York fans will definitely find something to complain about about whomever the franchise selects. The Knicks need a point guard (not to mention the best player available) and Haliburton foots the bill and New York should be fortunate if he drops to this spot because of his length, shooting (42 percent 3-point) and ability to not dominate the ball in order to facilitate. Haliburton also brings value should the Knicks explore to move up in the draft (for a chance at Obi Toppin or Melo Ball) or pick for someone else. 

Devin's Pick: Tyrese Haliburton | PG | 6-5 | 175 | Iowa State | So.

Why: The point guard position continues to be a spot of need for the Knicks, and much to their chagrin, the NBA Lottery balls did not bounce in their favor. Much of the pre-lottery speculation had the most polarizing player in this year's draft, LaMelo Ball, tabbed to resurrect one of the most storied and biggest market teams in the league, but the Knicks didn't get into that top three conversation. Could New York swing a trade with a team currently among the top three? Sure, but it would cost them quite a few of their youthful talent. If the Knicks stay in this current draft position, I see them taking Haliburton because of his reliability at the point guard spot. Haliburton has great size and feel for the position, was among the best in college basketball in assist-to-turnover ratio as a freshman and sophomore, and provides a pass-first mentality to a team loaded with guys looking to score.

7. Detroit Pistons

Isaac Okoro

6'5"   -   SG   -   2019

Ronnie's Pick: Isaac Okoro | SF | 6-6 | 225 | Auburn | Fr.

Why: If he’s still on the board, there is no question the Hawks at No. 6 will take a long look at Okoro, a homegrown prospect who starred at McEachern High School in nearby Powder Springs. Question marks surrounding Okoro’s ability to consistently make the NBA 3-pointer and his offensive polish will make some teams pause (including the Hawks, who need percentage shooters), but the Pistons need a jolt of energy and talent and would be a terrific fit. He is a lockdown defender if there ever was one in this draft and what he does translates and is dependable. The Pistons may not get star value at this spot, but a player who brings good value for new GM Troy Weaver.

Devin's Pick: Isaac Okoro | SF | 6-6 | 225 | Auburn | Fr.

Why: Okoro wasn't the most decorated member of the 2019 high school class, but shot up the draft boards during his freshman season at Auburn because of his combination of size, athleticism and defensive versatility. The Pistons have an interesting roster mix with veteran forwards Blake Griffin and Andre Drummond anchoring the front court and sharpshooting guard Luke Kennard the team's most effective perimeter scorer. Okoro could come in and add a wing and transition slasher and scorer who can defend multiple positions on the perimeter. The biggest question mark surrounding Okoro's game is his three-point shooting ability. He shot 28.6 percent from deep during his freshman season and will need to improve that to live up to the billing of a No. 7 draft pick.

6. Atlanta Hawks

Ronnie's Pick: Deni Avdija | SF/PF | 6-9 | 210 | Israel | PRO

Why: The Hawks will try to build a contending team around young centerpiece Trae Young, and this Israeli League standout will foot the bill with his play-making ability. The Hawks are actually not one of the better outside shooting teams in the league, so there may be some concern about Avdija’s ability in that department, but his overall skill set will alleviate those concerns. For his size Avdija has terrific skills on the ball, pushing it off the glass and creating for others off the dribble, and is a terrific passer. He’s also has plenty of experience and won in a quality pro league and in a draft that doesn’t have overwhelming, sure-fire lottery picks, this proven 19-year old will be in high demand and the Hawks will be fortunate if he falls to this spot.

Devin's Pick: Onyeka Okongwu | PF | 6-9 | 245 | USC | Fr.

Why: We all know who the Hawks are building around and it's Trae Young, one of the most dynamic young players in the league. When you examine Atlanta's roster closely, the biggest area of need that stands out to me is front court depth behind or alongside John Collins and Okongwu would fit in seamlessly here. Many outside (and some inside) the Southern California high school basketball scene didn't see Big O as a one-and-done guy, but the three-time California state high school champion is a mix of a modern and throwback type of big who produces on both ends of the floor. Offensively, Okongwu is great in the pick and roll because of his ability to catch and finish lob passes and serve as a face-up shooter when picking and popping. There might not be a better, more instinctual defender and rebounder in this draft class than Okongwu. I've been watching him since the ninth grade at Chino Hills and his highest value has always been as a shot blocker and contester around the basket who understands body control and how to stay vertical on contest. I think Okongwu would compliment the Hawks current roster makeup and style of play very nicely.

5. Cleveland Cavaliers

Onyeka Okongwu

6'8"   -   C   -   2019

Ronnie's Pick: Onyeka Okongwu | PF | 6-9 | 245 | USC | Fr.

Why: The Cavs may have fallen further in the draft than they hoped for, but they could still wind up with one of the best value picks and defensive players in this draft. Had the Cavs  remained in the top 3, they should have still given this Southern Cal big man a serious look. He’s that good and his production in his lone college season was of zero surprise to us having watched him since the 9th grade on Chino Hills (Calif.) FAB 50 national title team. The Cavs have plenty of offense in its backcourt and need to shore up their interior defense if they plan to become a serious East contender with its current core. With his ability, production, and high character, the only question is who will be drafted higher between he or his good friend and former high school teammate LaMelo Ball.

Devin's Pick: Deni Avdija | SF/PF | 6-9 | 210 | Israel | PRO

Why: The Cavs are another team who had high hopes to be picking among the top three, but fell a bit to the five spot where they could still get a good value pick. Cleveland is looking to build around the talented guard duo of Collin Sexton and Darius Garland and Avdija could fill the need of a versatile wing forward who can rebound, push the break, and alleviate some ball handling and shot creating duties for Sexton and Garland. Diving into Avdija's stats is tough because of his limited action on Maccabi Tel Aviv's top squad, but when watching film you can see he has great ball skills and feel off the wing, can attack the basket and finish above the rim and can create for himself and others in both transition and half-court settings. Avdija does need to improve his three-point shooting, but I think he fits in nicely with Cleveland's current backcourt and provides another layer of offensive versatility to the Cavs roster.

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This ITP Show idea was sparked from a piece co-host Ronnie Flores wrote earlier in the week outlining four teams that are in the mix for that prestigious, yet unclaimed crown. Click the link below to listen to the full podcast and continue reading for a brief overview on why these are the four high school teams up for the debate.

There are two recent teams in consideration: 2015-16 Chino Hills, which went 35-0 while playing a loaded national schedule. What stands out most about that Huskies' team is that they accomplished those feats as a public school playing with mainly neighborhood players. Chino Hills were paced that season by current New Orleans Pelicans point guard Lonzo Ball and his brothers, LaMelo and LiAngelo. Seven Chino Hills players went on to play Division 1 college basketball and four are primed to play in the NBA.

The 2019-20 Montverde Academy is the most recent team with a legitimate claim to be the best high school team ever. The Eagles went 25-0, winning their games by a staggering average margin of 38.9 points. MVA had its season cut short due to the Coronavirus pandemic and weren't able to challenge for its fifth GEICO title. It's still to be determined how many Montverde players will make it to the NBA, but coach Kevin Boyle estimates that 12 players from this year's roster will earn Division 1 scholarships.

The other two teams come from earlier in high school hoops history, starting with the famed 82-83 Dunbar team out of Baltimore. The Poets went 31-0 that season and sent 11 of their 13 rostered players to the Division 1 level. NBA players from that squad consisted of Reggie Lewis, Reggie Williams and Tyrone "Mugsy" Bogues. Dunbar played a national schedule in a time period where it was rare for programs to make multiple out-of-state trips to play the upper-echelon competition.

Finally, the 1992-93 Oak Hill Academy team rounds' out the debate. Long-time NBA players Jerry Stackhouse and Jeff McInnis highlighted that 36-0 team which beat six college programs, in addition to 30 high school teams, in its 36-0 campaign. Nine players off of that Warriors team went on to play Division 1 hoops with four making it to the NBA.

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Earlier in the day 11 year NBA veteran, Corey Brewer, made his Drew League debut.

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The 2019 Ballislife All-American Game begins at 4:15 p.m. PT/7:15 p.m. ET and is preceded by The BIL Slam Dunk Contest presented by Eastbay beginning at 3:00 p.m. PT. There will be a FREE STREAM on Facebook Live. For the free stream link CLICK HERE.    

The 9th Annual Ballislife All-American Game (BILAAG) presented by Eastbay will feature many of the nation’s top high school boys basketball players in Long Beach, Calif. The national high school all-star game is set to take place May 4 at The Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center.

The BILAAG will also be replayed on Spectrum SportsNet (Lakers Channel) and Stadium the week following the game. Check local listings for air times.

A plethora of the nation’s best boys high school basketball stars are scheduled to participate in the annual event,  include Georgia-bound Anthony Edwards of Holy Spirit Prep (Atlanta, Ga.) and Florida-bound Scottie Lewis of Ranney School (Tinton Falls, N.J.).

Two-time Cal-Hi Sports Mr. Basketball Player of the Year Onyeka Okongwu (Chino Hills, Calif.) headlines the California participants, playing in front of his vast local fan base alongside another USC Trojan-bound Ballislife All-American – 6-foot-9 Isaiah Mobley (Temecula, Calif.). The Ballislife All-American game will feature three Duke recruits: Boogie Ellis (San Diego, Calif.), Vernon Carey (Southwest Ranches, Fla.), and Cassius Stanley (Los Angeles, Calif.).

“We’re excited to partner with sponsors such as Eastbay, McDavid and Facebook to produce the most exciting high school basketball all-star game in the country,” said Ballislife President Matt Rodriguez. “Not only are we delivering more fans an exciting game on new-age consumption platforms, our sponsors help us create a better participant experience each year.”

The Ballislife All-American Game had its largest viewing audience ever last year (view complete game) and fans witnessed the first overtime game in the event’s history, as Team Future defeated Team Elite, 146-143. Moses Brown (UCLA) set the pace for Team Future, scoring 16 of his 22 points in the second half. Joining Brown as game co-MVP was Emmitt Williams (LSU), who finished with game-highs of 31 points and 12 rebounds for Team Elite.

Past BILAAG participants include current NBA Rookie of the Year candidate Trae Young (Hawks) and NBA players such as Donovan Mitchell (Jazz), Lonzo Ball (Lakers), Zach LaVine (Bulls), Collin Sexton (Cavs), Mo Bamba (Magic), Stanley Johnson (Pelicans), Dejounte Murray (Spurs), Kelly Oubre (Suns), Tyler Dorsey (Grizzlies) and Thon Maker (Pistons).

General admission tickets for the BILAAG and Slam Dunk Contest are $30 each (plus an administrative fee) and VIP/Courtside seats range from $55-$75 (plus an administrative fee).

For ticket purchasing, ticket discounts and VIP details visit: ballislifeallamerican.com. Here are some ticket promo codes for your convenience:

For 25% off general admission tickets use the code: 25PCTOFF

For 25% off VIP Row 5 tickets use the code: 25PCTR5

For 20% off VIP Row 4 tickets use the code: 20PCTR4

For 15% off VIP Row 3 tickets use the code: 15PCTR3

The team rosters for the players scheduled to participate in this year's game are announced below.

TEAM FUTURE

TEAM ELITE

RELATED: Ticket Info | Game Record Book | Game Alumni | View Complete 2018 Game  | View Complete 2017 Game | View Complete 2016 Game | View Complete 2015 Game | View Complete 2014 Game 

About Ballislife All-American 

The Ballislife All-American Game was created in 2011 with the goal to bring a credible All-American type event to the West Coast with the goal of selecting the most deserving players regardless of geography, mainstream player rankings, or shoe affiliation. Past BILAAG participants include current NBA Rookie of the Year candidate Trae Young (Hawks) and NBA players such as Donovan Mitchell (Jazz), Lonzo Ball (Lakers), Zach LaVine (Bulls), Collin Sexton (Cavs), Mo Bamba (Magic), Stanley Johnson (Pelicans), Dejounte Murray (Spurs), Kelly Oubre (Suns), Tyler Dorsey (Grizzlies) and Thon Maker (Pistons). The alumni list also includes Tyler Ulis, Marquese Chriss, Isaiah Briscoe, Kevon Looney, Nick Johnson, Jabari Brown, Cliff Alexander, Christian Wood, Jordan Adams, Dwayne Bacon, Jalen Adams, Derrick Jones, Malik Beasley and more.

About Eastbay

Since 1980, Eastbay has been dedicated to providing high school athletes with the footwear, apparel, and equipment they need to take their game to the next level. As part of Foot Locker, Inc. (NYSE:FL), Eastbay is focused on serving athletes who know what it takes to win, both on and off the field, through its direct mail catalog and eastbay.com. Through product selection, insider knowledge, and a range of athletes and experts, Eastbay delivers the tools athletes need to win their style of play and post-game looks. Additional information may be found at http://eastbay.com | Instagram: @officialeastbay | Twitter: @eastbay | YouTube: http://youtube.com/eastbay | Blog: http://blog.eastbay.com | Facebook: http://facebook.com/eastbay | App: iOS and Android

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In episode No. 15 of our  In The Paint Show," hosts Ronnie Flores and Devin Ugland update the FAB 50 and the seeds for GEICO Nationals (April 4-6), give a quick take on the McEachern (Ga.) situation with regards to the end-of-season event and break down the just completed CIF State Championships.

Is FAB 50 No. 1 La Lumiere (Ind.) the favorite? What will happen to FAB 50 No. 2 McEachern (Ga.) if it doesn't play with a complete team? If there a dark horse in the eight-team tournament?

Ron and Dev also break down the CIF State Championships in Sacramento. How did FAB 50 No. 7 Sierra Canyon dominate the Open Division and how good will the team be next season? How did Chino Hills win the D1 state title after Onyeka Okongwu fouled out with 1:30 remaining in the third quarter? Did Chino Hills' Dennis Latimore do the state's best coaching job this season?

The fellas also break down the games in D2-D5, so make sure to give our Pod a listen and share it with friends!

To learn more about our hosts, Ronnie Flores and Devin Ugland, and to get more information about what "In The Paint" is all about, check out our intro below!

Subscribe to our new Podcast on iTunes here

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In episode No. 14 of our  In The Paint Show," hosts Ronnie Flores and Devin Ugland break down what went down in the NorCal and SoCal regional playoffs and preview this week's CIF state championships at Golden One Center in Sacramento (March 8-9) with special guest Mark Tennis of Cal-Hi Sports.

The fellas talk about FAB 50 No. 7 Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.) returning to the CIF Open Division title game to once again face No. 50 Sheldon (Sacramento, Calif.). Can Sheldon redeem last year's loss? The fellas also talk about the return of The Big O to Sacramento for the third time in his career, as Onyeka Okongwu tries to lead Chino Hills (Calif.) to back-to-back D1 titles after winning the FAB 50 title as a freshman playing with the Ball brothers.

Tennis, who has been to each CIF state championship event in basketball since all of California's sections began participating in 1982 and whose state rankings are largely credited with helping the CIF create interest in CIF state football championships, dishes on the Sheldon-Sierra Canyon matchup, breaks down where the Big O stands among the top big men he's seen at state over the years, and gives his take on whether James Logan (Union City, Calif.) has a shot against Chino Hills in D1.

The fellas also ask Tennis what he likes and dislikes about the competitive equity format and spend time going over the games in Division 2 down through Division 5. Check out the predictions from CalHiSports.com for all six championship games and make sure to give our Pod a listen and share it with friends!

To learn more about our hosts, Ronnie Flores and Devin Ugland, and to get more information about what "In The Paint" is all about, check out our intro below!

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In the third episode of our all-new In The Paint Show," hosts Ronnie Flores and Devin Ugland discuss LaMelo Ball from his Chino Hills (Calif.) days to overseas and now back in the states with SPIRE Institute (Geneva, Ohio). Does the youngest Ball brother have what it takes to join Lonzo in the NBA? The guys also discuss the current state of Pac-12 Conference basketball.

To learn more about our hosts, Ronnie Flores and Devin Ugland, and to get more information about what "In The Paint" is all about, check out our intro below!

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Compton Magic, an adidas-sponsored and Southern California-based grassroots program, defeats Team Takeover, a Nike-Sponsored grassroots program from Washington, D.C., 81-79, in overtime in the marquee game of the Las Vegas Fab 48 Tip-Off Challenge. With its Wednesday night overtime victory over the 2018 Nike EYBL champions, the Compton Magic program can lay claim to the mythical national crown among grassroots programs for this summer.

Behind the backdrop of looming NCAA regulations that could change the landscape of summertime grassroots basketball in 2019, the 2018 Las Vegas Fab 48 Tip-Off Challenge provided a glimpse of terrific games of yesteryear (back when shoe company lines weren't as rigid and the best travel basketball teams laced it up in the pursuit of competition and bragging rights) and provided perhaps the last great July live period contest.

If indeed the proposed regulations are passed and executed and there is no July live tournaments in the future, fans were treated to a terrific final act as the Compton Magic, champions of the adidas Gauntlet in New York and the adidas Summer Championships in Los Angeles earlier this month, faced Team Takeover, champions of the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League (EYBL) Peach Jam, at Bishop Gorman High School in the most highly-anticipated grassroots basketball game in recent memory.

It this is the final Las Vegas FAB 48 in its current format, a capacity crowd was treated to the best overall game in the event's nine-year history, as the Compton Magic outlasted Team Takeover to record a 81-79 overtime victory. It took a complete team effort by the Compton Magic to pull out the victory and lay claim to title of best travel ball team of 2018, as 2019 point guard Isaiah Hill (Liberty, Bakersfield, Calif.) knocked down a pull-up 3-pointer to tie the game at 69-69 with 40 seconds remaining in regulation.

It was Hill's only made field goal of the terrific 37-minute game.

Keith Stevens' Team Takeover club, which lost only one game on the EYBL circuit to Nike Team Florida 71-60, had a chance to hold for the final shot of the game (it was played without a shot clock). After the ball went out of bounds with six seconds remaining and Team Takeover retained possession, 2020 point guard Jeremy Roach (Paul VI, Fairfax, Va.) missed a contested running lay-up at the regulation buzzer.

Onyeka Okongwu, a 2019 power forward who has stepped up in big games for both his travel ball and high school team (Chino Hills, Calif.) over the years, did it once again in his last big game in a Compton Magic uniform. The first points of overtime were his three on a conventional 3-point play with 4:36 remaining. He also came up with some clutch rebounds and big defensive plays while battling the likes of 2019 power forward Armando Bacot (Trinity Episcopal, Richmond, Va.) and 2020 center Hunter Dickinson (DeMatha Catholic, Hyattsville, Md.).

After Okongwu's 3-point play, Compton Magic 2019 forward Eric "Isaiah" Mobley (Rancho Christian, Temecula, Calif.) made a jumper to give his team a commanding 76-71 lead, but the tough boys from our nation's capital weren't done just yet.

Roach, one of the best players from the talent-laden Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC), hit a 3-pointer with 1:23 remaining in overtime to cut Team Takeover's deficit to 76-74. After two made free throws by Mobley, Bacot converted a big-time conventional 3-point play with 39 seconds remaining to pull his team within one point (78-77). Mobley again converted two free throws after Roach drove hard to the lane and drew contact, but didn't draw a foul with 17 seconds remaining. That non-call play came as a result of Bacot's block of an ill-advised lay-up attempt by 2020 wing Johnny Juzang (Harvard-Westlake, North Hollywood, Calif.) with his team leading and with possession of the ball.

Juzang's blocked lay-up attempt was about the only negative in an otherwise terrific performance for a player proving to be a serious McDonald's All-American candidate. The talented junior-to-be had the deep jumper working and scored on a variety of shot attempts. While Juzang helped his national standing in what is shaping up to be a terrific 2020 national class, Evan Mobley, a 6-foot-11 power forward oozing with potential and the younger brother of Isaiah Mobley, showed why he's now considered the best long-term prospect in that same class. He finished well on the block, held his own with Team Takeover's physical front line and showed the ability to finish on both sides of the key, while posting up or facing the basket.

Evan Mobley made one free throw with one second remaining after Team Takeover's Justin Moore, a 2019 guard from DeMatha Catholic (Hyattsvile, Md.), made a follow-up shot with five seconds remaining in overtime. Mobley missed the second, the horn sounded and the Compton Magic respectfully congratulated their opponent shortly thereafter.

"Evan proved he deserves the top spot (in the rankings)," said Isaiah Mobley after his brother's 22- point, four-rebound, two block performance. "This was a great team effort...my teammates did a great job of supporting me after I made a couple of bad plays."

"This win means a lot for the team because people were doubting us coming in," Evan Mobley said.

Isaiah Mobley finished with 10 points, eight rebounds and two assists. Okongwu had 16 points, 12 rebounds and five blocked shots, while Juzang finished with 20 points, including a 4-of-7 performance from 3-point range. Hill finished with seven points.

The Compton Magic lost one game at full strength leading up to this game. Okongwu did not play in a buzzer-beating 64-62 loss to the Las Vegas Knicks in Orange County, Calif., over Memorial Day weekend. The Magic's other loss was a 55-53 setback to Alabama-based Team Carroll at the adidas Summer Championships.

For Team Takeover, Roach netted a team-high 20 points. Bacot showed why he's one of the very best forwards in the 2019 class, finishing with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Moore had 12 points, three rebounds and two assists and before getting injured with 7:14 remaining in regulation, Dickinson had eight points and three rebounds.

Stevens and the Team Takeover faithful could play the "what if" game since Dickinson did not return. After the raw emotion of the game wore off, however, Team Takeover's coaching staff agreed it was a terrific game to be part of, even though their team came up just short.

Considering their effort, prior EYBL crown, and attitude in playing this game, Team Takeover wasn't really a loser in this game.  The Compton Magic won the game on the court, but the real winner was the entire grassroots basketball community. The game showed what could be accomplished when great teams and players compete under one roof -- and those heavily invested in grassroots can execute without intervention by those whom look to regulate something they don't regularly experience.

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

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RELATED: Fairfax-Windward FULL Stream

Something had to give in this game, as Chino Hills came in averaging over 100 points per game, with Bishop Montgomery giving up less than 47 points per game. Bishop Montgomery (21-1) executed its game plan, limiting the RUN GMZ scoring outbursts, getting back on defense in transition, and defending the 3-point line well, but Chino Hills (22-0) still found a way to pull out the gut-check four-point victory before an overflow crowd in the most anticipated regular season high school basketball game played in the region since Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) played a James Harden-led Artesia (Lakewood, Calif.) team at Chapman University during the 2006-07 season. It was the most highly-anticipated regular season event at Cerritos College since O.J. Mayo and his North College Hill (Cincinnati, Ohio) team played a two-game set at the Rise or Fall Invitational in December 2005.

Bishop Montgomery led 39-37 at halftime and looked like it might be on its way to victory when sophomore guard David Singleton (22 points) made a field goal to give the Knights a 60-52 lead with 6:23 remaining. Chino Hills quickly answered with a 3-pointer by freshman Li'Melo Ball (18 points) to stay within range.

The play of Chino Hills' two 14-year old freshmen turned out to be the story of the game, as Melo Ball made clutch plays and 6-foot-9 center Onyeka Okongwu made an impact defensively and scored timely buckets. The freshman big man had two key field goals, including a basket with 1:02 remaining in the game. He also partially blocked a driving lay-up attempt by Bishop Montgomery with under 20 seconds remaining and Chino Hills leading 69-66. Melo Ball hit three of four free throws in the closing seconds to seal the win.

Okongwu's 10 points, seven rebounds and seven blocks were huge in a game in which Mr. Basketball USA candidate Lonzo Ball struggled from the field. He finished with five points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists -- but his team still found a way to win.

For Montgomery, Ethan Thompson did a good job defensively on Zo Ball and added 17 points, while fellow junior Jordan Schakel had 19 points.

Li'Angelo Ball led Chino Hills in the scoring department with 22 points and added nine rebounds and five assists. Forward Eli Scott also picked up the slack with 18 points, 15 rebounds and three blocks.

For more analysis of this game and what might be in store the rest of the regular season, check out this story from CalHiSports.com.

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By Ronnie Flores

When 6-foot-6 freshman R.J. Barrett of Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) was fouled by Lonzo Ball of Chino Hills (Calif.) in the closing seconds of a quarterfinal game at the City of Palms Tournament in Ft. Myers, Fla., it looked like it would send a frantic game into overtime. The talented freshman ended up missing the final of three tries, as the Huskies held on for a 83-82 victory.

That result propelled coach Steve Baik's club to victories over FAB 50 ranked High Point Christian Academy (High Point, N.C.), in a 94-82 game that wasn't as close as the score indicates, and a gut check 66-60 overtime win over Patrick School (Elizabeth, N.J.) to capture the COP title.

This came on the heels of RUN GMZ winning The Battlezone in Corona, Calif. over previously FAB 50 ranked Foothills Christian (El Cajon, Calif.), 106-86, in the title game. After Christmas, Chino Hills bested the field at the MaxPreps Holiday Classic in Rancho Mirage, Calif. Bubble clubs Jonesboro (Ga.) and Redondo Union (Redondo Beach, Calif.) actually played and shot the ball well, but were unable to keep pace with a team that has hit the century mark six times so far this season. In all, the preseason Cal-Hi Sports top-ranked team in California has defeated teams from eight states and still have some land mines coming up.

The three tournament titles didn't automatically jump Chino Hills over eight other elite clubs, as results dictated the Huskies begin the New Year as America's top-ranked club. The win over Montverde Academy was huge, as it's hard to envision the Ball brothers and company going to No. 1 without facing that team in the COP. After all, the Eagles are the three-time defending FAB 50 champs and an incredible seven of their 15 wins so far have come against currently FAB 50-ranked clubs, so they check in at No. 2.

The head-to-head criteria is the most important rankings factor in this scenario. In a similar situation in 2013-14 involving a one-loss Montverde Academy team and an unbeaten CIF Southern Section power (in that case Mater Dei of Santa Ana, Calif.), unfortunately the head-to-head never came into play.

We also seriously considered No. 3 Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) for the top spot and longtime Washington Catholic Athletic Conference power DeMatha Catholic (Hyattsville, Md.) played heavily into what we ultimately decided to do with the top of this week's rankings. Oak Hill lost, 70-67, to 22-Foot Academy of South Carolina in its fourth game of the season. Now, we are fully aware that program carries post-graduates and that made the decision tougher. However, we had a chance to evaluate 22-Foot Academy at the Tarkanian Classic and it isn't a team the current top-ranked team can afford to lose to, as 22-Foot has multiple losses of its resume so far.

Mike Jones' club at DeMatha defeated No. 9 Garfield (Seattle, Wash.), 74-64, in the semifinals of the Les Schwab Invitational in Portland, Ore. on Dec. 29 and faced Oak Hill Academy the next day. Had the Stags won that game, they would have went into their Jan. 2 game at the Cancer Research Classic in Wheeling, W. Va. versus Montverde Academy playing for the No. 1 FAB 50 spot. DeMatha lost to Oak Hill 82-66, and fell to the Eagles three days later, 74-41, after that rankings scenario had already taken care of itself.

We applaud Jones for taking on the schedule his program has and despite the two losses, DeMatha stays put at No. 5 because it would be really difficult for any high school program in the country to beat those two teams in back-to-back games. Not to mention DeMatha has upcoming WCAC games with No. 8 St. John’s (Washington, D.C.), No. 21 Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.) and No. 33 Paul VI (Fairfax, Va.), the latter one of nine newcomers this week.

As for Chino Hills, the Huskies have rematches with bubble club Foothills Christian and High Point Christian in the next two weeks, not to mention a California No. 1 vs. No. 2 showdown with No. 15 Bishop Montgomery (Torrance, Calif.) at the James Sampson Fairfax State Preview on Jan. 30.

Of course everyone knows about the Lonzo Ball-LiAngelo Ball-LaMelo Ball trio for the Huskies, but Baik had plenty of complimentary things to say about the contributions of junior Eli Scott and freshman Onyeka Okongwu after the Maxpreps event (see highlights above and below). Scott gives them a dimension of athleticism on the wing the Huskies lacked last season and Okongwu has been a first-rare rim protector against national level competition.

(Full Raw Footage Highlights Of Chino Hill at Maxpreps Holiday Classic)

Also potentially looming in the CIFSS Open Division playoffs is No. 18 and one-loss Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.), which put its season opening loss to Moreau Catholic (Hayward, Calif.) behind it by winning the Iolani Prep Classic championship over No. 19 La Lumiere (LaPorte, Ind.) before Christmas. Sierra Canyon had its boat rocked a bit over the last three days, as last year's National Freshman of the Year, 6-foot-10 Marvin Bagley III, has enrolled at the school.

The eligibility of Bagley, one of the nation's best players regardless of class, has yet to be determined by the CIF, but he arrival has already created repercussions. Highly-regarded junior forward Ira Lee checked out of the program Monday. A starter and one of the better juniors in California, there is no guarantee Bagley will replace him in the starting lineup pending his eligibility.

Updated FAB 50 National Team Rankings
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(Third poll of the 2015-16 regular season; Through games played on Sunday, January 3; Previous ranking in parentheses; *Indicates forfeit wins, forfeit losses not included)

No.	Prev.	High School (City)	Record
1	9	Chino Hills (Chino Hills, Calif.)	13-0
2	1	Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.)	15-1
3	3	Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.)	20-1
4	4	Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.)	14-0
5	5	DeMatha Catholic (Hyattsville, Md.)	10-2
6	10	Atascocita (Humble, Texas)	21-0
7	14	Patrick School (Elizabeth, N.J.)	6-1
8	18	St. John's (Washington, D.C.)	12-1
9	6	Garfield (Seattle, Wash.)	8-1
10	13	St. Anthony (Jersey City, N.J.)	5-0
11	11	Greenforest Christian Academy (Decatur, Ga.)	14-1
12	17	Cardozo (Bayside, N.Y.)	10-0
13	2	Roman Catholic (Philadelphia, Pa.)	8-1
14	25	St. Benedict's (Newark, N.J.)	12-0
15	26	Bishop Montgomery (Torrance, Calif.)	14-0
16	37	Providence Day (Charlotte, N.C.)	15-3
17	21	Sacred Heart (Waterbury, Conn.)	3-0
18	33	Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.)	9-1
19	7	La Lumiere (LaPorte, Ind.)	14-2
20	24	Stevens Point (Stevens Point, Wis.)	9-0
21	30	Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.)	10-1
22	31	University of Detroit Jesuit (Detroit, Mich.)	6-0
23	44	High Point Christian (High Point, N.C.)	13-2
24	12	Chaminade (St. Louis, Mo.)	11-3
25	35	Hopkins (Minnetonka, Minn.)	13-0
26	NR	Oldsmar Christian (Oldsmar, Fla.)	13-3
27	27	Memphis East (Memphis, Tenn.)	9-1
28	36	Apple Valley (Apple Valley, Minn.)	11-1
29	34	Westlake (Atlanta, Ga.)	7-2
30	16	Westerville South (Westerville, Ohio)	8-2
31	40	Morgan Park (Chicago, Ill.)	10-1
32	NR	Hammond (Columbia, S.C.)	12-0
33	NR	Paul VI (Fairfax, Va.)	9-2
34	8	Neumann-Goretti (Philadelphia, Pa.)	7-2
35	NR	Overland (Aurora, Col.)	7-0
36	46	Starkville (Starkville, Miss.)	14-1
37	42	Lima Senior (Lima, Ohio)	4-0
38	15	Norland (Miami, Fla.)	12-3
39	49	North Central (Indianapolis, Ind.)	9-0
40	NR	Seton Hall Prep (West Orange, N.J.)	6-1
41	46	Greensboro Day (Greensboro, N.C.)	17-3
42	NR	Hamilton Heights Christian Academy (Chattanooga, Tenn.)	12-2
43	NR	Curie (Chicago, Ill.)	11-0*
44	50	Father Tolton (Columbia, Mo.)	8-1
45	NR	DeSoto (DeSoto, Texas)	21-1
46	43	Simeon (Chicago, Ill.)	8-2
47	38	West Linn (West Linn, Ore.)	6-3
48	NR	West Oaks Academy (Orlando, Fla.)	9-1
49	20	Rainier Beach (Seattle, Wash.)	6-1
50	39	Wheeler (Marietta, Ga.)	8-5

Dropped Out: Previous No. 19 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), No. 22 Bentonville (Bentonville, Ark.), No. 23 Roselle Catholic (Roselle, N.J.), No. 28 Althoff Catholic (Belleville, Ill.), No. 29 Mustang (Mustang, Okla.), No. 32 Moreau Catholic (Hayward, Calif.) 8-3, No. 41 Westtown School (West Chester, Pa.), No. 47 Lone Peak (Highland, Utah), No. 48 Foothills Christian (El Cajon, Calif.).

Bubble Teams: Advanced Prep International (Dallas, Texas) 15-7; American Fork (American Fork, Utah) 10-1; Beecher (Flint, Mich.) 4-1; Bentonville (Bentonville, Ark.) 7-3; Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.) 9-4; Bishop Loughlin (Brooklyn, N.Y.) 7-2; Brandeis (San Antonio, Texas) 19-0; Brentwood (Brentwood, N.Y.) 5-0; Centennial (Corona, Calif.) 10-4; Copper Hills (West Jordan, Utah) 9-0; Crespi (Encino, Calif.) 14-1; De La Salle (Concord, Calif.) 9-1; Edmond North (Edmond, Okla.) 7-0; Elder (Cincinnati, Ohio) 9-0; Fairfax (Los Angeles, Calif.) 12-1; Fenwick (Fenwick, Ill.) 11-1; Folsom (Folsom, Calif.) 11-2; Foothills Christian (El Cajon, Calif.) 8-2; Fort Bend Elkins (Missouri City, Texas) 18-1; H.D. Woodson (Washington, D.C.) 15-0; J.O. Johnson (Huntsville, Ala.) 15-3; Jonesboro (Jonesboro, Ga.) 10-3; Lancaster (Lancaster, Texas) 16-2; Lone Peak (Highland, Utah) 7-2; Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) 13-2; Memorial (Tulsa, Okla.) 10-0; Meridian (Meridian, Miss.) 16-2; Merrillville (Merrillville, Ind.) 10-0; Mesa (Mesa, Ariz.) 10-2; Miller Grove (Lithonia, Ga.) 12-2; Modesto Christian (Modesto, Calif.) 10-1; Moeller (Cincinnati, Ohio) 9-1; Mustang (Mustang, Okla.) 5-2; National Christian Academy (Ft. Washington, Md.) 10-1; Norcross (Norcross, Ga.) 12-2; Norman North (Norman, Okla.) 5-2; Omaha South (Omaha, Neb.) 9-0; Park School of Buffalo (Snyder, N.Y.) 7-0; Quality Education Academy (Winston Salem, N.C.) 11-2; Redondo Union (Redondo Beach, Calif.) 11-3; Regis Jesuit (Aurora, Col.) 7-0; Roselle Catholic (Roselle, N.J.) 4-2; Scotlandville (Baton Rouge, La.) 15-1; Shadow Mountain (Phoenix, Ariz.) 10-4; Shenendehowa (Clifton Park, N.Y.) 10-0; Steele (Cibolo, Texas) 18-1; Sunrise Christian Academy (Bel Aire, Kan.) 8-2; Thomas Jefferson (Brooklyn, N.Y.) 10-6; Victory Rock Prep (Sarasota, Fla.) 12-1; Wasatch Academy (Mt. Pleasant, Utah) 12-2; Wayne (Huber Heights, Ohio) 9-0; Westfield (Chantilly, Va.) 7-2; Westtown School (West Chester, Pa.) 11-3; Wichita East (Wichita, Kan.), 5-0.

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.

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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