Sunrise Backcourt Provide Offensive Jolt in Win vs Orangeville?

Kansas State signee David Castillo and 2025 high major prospect Jeremiah Green made key shot after key shot in Thursday’s 59 - 58 win versus Orangeville Prep of Canada. Castillo, known as a marksman from deep showed more of the off the dribble creation and scoring. He didn’t have the best shooting outing, but he still won closeouts by knocking down catch-n-shoot threes and by attacking it and getting to the foul line. Castillo seemed to show more of an emphasis to keep the defense honest by diversifying his shot selection. He finished with 13 points, two rebounds, two assists, while going 6-of-6 from the foul line.?

Green got to his spots and showed three level scoring. The shooting mechanics look cleaner and he’s making more shots off the catch. That’s allowing the driving lanes to open up because there’s more respect for him as a shooter. Green was loose with the ball at times, but it was him trying to make a play. Nonetheless, he competed and made key shots down the stretch vs length on drives. Green had 18 points, four rebounds and four assists on 63 percent shooting. 

Notables From The Game?

Spencer Athens, 2025 6’8 PF - Sunrise Christian: Showed offensive versatility with his size. Completed finishes while fouled, made a trail three, hunted and gathered offensive rebounds. Spencer played a huge role and finished with 15 points, five rebounds on 85 percent shooting?

?Josh Ibukunoluwa, 2024 6’10 C/PF - Orangeville: The High Point Commit orchestrated a great game on Thursday. Finished inside with either hand, rebounded and found the guards cutting when he was operating from the top of the key. He checks a lot of boxes and will be an immediate contributor at High Point.?

Tre Johnson, Jasper Johnson, Labaron Philon Lead Link Year vs Oak Hill

Was a one to two possession game in the second half in this one but FAB 50 No. 9 Link Academy (Branson, Mo.) held on and won 63-61. Texas signee Tre Johnson was huge in this one. The way he generates space off the dribble and scores. it translates to the next level (23 points). Johnson also blended the scoring with play-making and ended with five assists. He’s added noticeable muscle to his frame, he knew when to take more of an initiative on offense when the game was close and he hit big shots down the stretch.?

Junior (2025) Jasper Johnson provided quality offensive out put as well. The lefty guard with a quick trigger for a jumper showed off his shot creating and overall scoring. Shifty with handle and doesn’t need a lot of space to launch and connect. Finished with 16 points on 5-of-9 shooting with five rebounds.

2024 Kansas commit Labaron Philon did a good job as a floor manager. Picked and chose when to hunt for his, but did a fine job getting the ball to others in spots for them to score. Also thought Philon did a good job as an on-ball team defender. he used size to alter shots on the perimeter and used length to gather steals. His line was nine points, six assists, and four steals.

For Oak Hill, 2025 Kaden Magwood showed off how well of a scorer he is. Made deep threes, got to the rim and showed he knows how to navigate around the bigs when attacking the basket. He finished with 15 points and three rebounds.

TCU signee Micah Robinson didn’t have a good shooting night but he was productive, nonetheless. When jumper didn’t fall, he got to the rim which subsequently led him to the foul line. He rebounded, defended and looked to make an impact outside of scoring. He was able to orchestrate a 16-point, 13-rebound double double.?

Was impressed with 2025 Deondrea Lindsey. Strongly built forward that has an intriguing offensive game. Can make the open triple, but also embraces the physicality and looks to complete shots in the paint. I thought he was productive and looks to be a player that can provide inside-out scoring.?

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Related: 2022-23 All-American Elite Team | 2022-23 Mr. Basketball USA: Cameron Boozer | 2022-23 Class Players of the Year | Ballislife Podcast Network?|

Four fantastic sophomores and two juniors named to the 29th Annual All-American Elite Team headline a group of 80 elite players selected to the 2022-23 Underclass All-American team powered by www.ebooksnet.com.

In the 29 seasons of publishing annual All-American teams (and on the retroactive teams dating back to the 1954-55 season), we’ve never had four sophomores named to the All-American Elite Team or named Mr. Basketball USA.

Until now.

Power forward Cameron Boozer?of Columbus (Miami, Fla.) is not only this year’s National Sophomore of the Year, he was the leading vote-getter in the final Mr. Basketball USA Tracker by eight points (84 to 76) over senior guard Isaiah Collier?of Wheeler (Marietta, Ga.). Thus he was the first tenth-grader ever to earn the nation’s highest individual honor. Not even future NBA Hall of Famers who were National Player of the Year selections as juniors (Jerry Lucas in 1957, Lew Alcindor in 1964 and LeBron James in 2002) were as highly-honored tenth-graders as Boozer was for the 2022-23 season.

There was another tenth-grader on each of the four fives that compromised the 20-man first team: second five selection Cooper Flagg of FAB 50 No. 2 Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.), third five selection Koa Peat of FAB 50 No. 22 Perry (Gilbert, Ariz.) and fourth five selection Meleek Thomas of FAB 50 No. 50 Lincoln Park (Midland, Pa.). Boozer and that trio is considered the top four recruits in the national 2025 class.

Two juniors were named to the first team and four more were named to the 30-man second team. Included on the second team was point guard Elliot Cadeau of FAB 50 No. 1 Link Academy (Branson, Mo.). Cadeau has already committed to North Carolina. He set two GEICO Nationals records by racking up 29 assists in three tournament games and by recording 14 in a hard-fought quarterfinal win over Paul VI (Fairfax, Va.).

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

Zoom Diallo, who led Curtis (University Place, Wash.) to a WIAA Class 4A state crown in 2022-23, has announced he will spend his senior season at Prolific Prep (Napa, Calif.). Sophomore Jeremiah Fears, the younger brother of second five All-American Elite Team selection Jeremy Fears Jr., will leave Joilet West (Joliet, Ill.) for NIBC member club Sunrise Christian Academy (Bel Aire, Kan.). Defending NIBC champion Montverde Academy has picked up point guard Robert Wright II of Neumann-Goretti (Philadelphia, Pa.) for his 2023-24 senior campaign.

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

Regardless of how much true NIL value talented high school All-Americans hold, expect more player movement as the summer rolls on.

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

Our national coach of the year is Pat Clatchey of Mt. St. Joseph (Baltimore, Md.).

Juniors to Watch (2024)

F — Airious "Ace" Bailey, McEachern (Powder Springs, Ga.) 6-9
G — Jalil Bethea, Archbishop Wood (Warminster, Pa.) 6-4
C — Flory Bidunga, Kokomo (Ind.) 6-10
F — K. Annor Boateng, Central (Little Rock, Ark.) 6-5
G — Elliot Cadeau, Link Academy (Branson, Mo.) 6-2
G — Zoom Diallo, Curtis (University Place, Wash.) 6-3
G — V.J. Edgecombe, Long Island Lutheran (Glen Head, N.Y.) 6-5
F — Isaiah Evans, North Mecklenburg (Huntersville, N.C.) 6-6
G — Johnuel “Boogie” Fland, Archbishop Stepinac (White Plains, N.Y.) 6-3
G — Riley Fox, Conrad (West Hartford, Conn.) 6-5
F — Donnie Freeman, St. John’s (Washington, D.C.) 6-8
G — Dylan Harper, Don Bosco Tech (Ramsey, N.J.) 6-5
F — Darren Harris, Paul VI (Fairfax, Va.) 6-5
G — Ian Jackson, Cardinal Hayes (Bronx, N.Y.) 6-5
F — Morez Johnson, St. Rita (Chicago, Ill.) 6-9
G — Tre Johnson, Lake Highlands (Dallas, Texas) 6-5
F — Ryan Jones Jr., The Rock (Gainesville, Fla.) 6-8
F — Karter Knox, Tampa Catholic (Tampa, Fla.) 6-5
F — Kon Knueppel, Wisconsin Lutheran (Milwaukee, Wis.) 6-5
C — Peyton Marshall, Kell (Marietta, Ga.) 6-10
F — Sir Mohammed, Myers Park (Charlotte, N.C. ) 6-6
G — Ahmad Nowell, Imhotep Charter (Philadelphia, Pa.) 6-0
G — Dink Pate, Pinkston (Dallas, Texas) 6-7
G — Travis Perry, Lyon County (Eddyville, Ky.) 6-2
G —Trent Perry, Harvard-Westlake (North Hollywood, Calif.) 6-4
G — Tahaad Pettiford, Hudson Catholic (Jersey City, N.J.) 5-11
G — Labaron Philon, Baker (Mobile, Ala.) 6-4
G — Drake Powell, Northwood (Pittsboro, N.C.) 6-5
F — Derik Queen, Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) 6-8
F — Cameron Scott, Lexington (S.C.) 6-6
C — Thomas Sorber, Archbishop Ryan (Philadelphia, Pa.) 6-9
F — Jarin Stevenson, Seaforth (Pittsboro, N.C.) 6-9
G — Dedan Thomas, Liberty (Henderson, Nev.) 6-1
F — Dylan Warlick, Edmond North (Edmond, Okla.) 6-6
G —Robert Wright II, Neumann-Goretti (Philadelphia, Pa.) 6-0

2023 National Junior of the Year: Tre Johnson

Sophomores to Watch (2025)

G — Darius Acuff, Cass Tech (Detroit, Mich.) 6-1
G — Dante Allen, Riviera Prep (Miami, Fla.) 6-4
F — Kenyon Aguino, Volcano Vista (Albuquerque, N.M.) 6-7
F — Cameron Boozer, Columbus (Miami, Fla.) 6-8
C — DeWayne Brown, Hoover (Ala.) 6-10
C — Badara Diakite, Northwest Catholic (Hartford, Conn.) 6-9
G — Jerry Easter, Emmanuel Christian (Toledo, Ohio) 6-5
G — Jeremiah Fears, Joilet West (Joliet, Ill.) 6-3
F — Cooper Flagg, Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) 6-8
G —Akai Fleming, Osborne (Marietta, Ga.) 6-4
G — Kingston Flemmings, Brennan (San Antonio, Texas) 6-4
G — Jalen Haralson, Fishers (Ind.) 6-7
G — Elzie Harrington, St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) 6-5
G — Tyler Jackson, St. Frances Academy (Baltimore, Md.) 6-1
G — Dorian Jones, Richmond Heights (Richmond Heights, Ohio) 6-3
G — Nyk Lewis, Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.) 6-0
G — Chance Mallory, St. Anne’s-Bellfield (Charlottesville, Va.) 5-9
G — Trey McKenney, St, Mary’s Prep (Orchard Lake, Mich.) 6-3
G — Jaron McKie, St. Joseph Prep (Philadelphia, Pa.) 6-2
F — Koa Peat, Perry (Gilbert, Ariz.) 6-7
G — Darryn Peterson, Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio) 6-5
F — Pupu Sepulona, St. Louis (Honululu, Hawaii) 6-7
G — C.J. Shaw, Mojave (North Las Vegas, Nev.) 6-4
F — Trent Sisley, Heritage Hills (Lincoln City, Ind.) 6-8
F — Brandon Stores Jr., St. Raymond (Bronx, N.Y.) 6-4
G — Meleek Thomas, Lincoln Park Performing Arts (Midland, Pa.) 6-3
G — Cameron Ward, Largo (Upper Marlboro, Md.) 6-5
F — Zymicah Wilkins, R.S. Central (Rutherfordton, N.C.) 6-8
F — Sadiq White, Myers Park (Charlotte, N.C.) 6-9
F — Toundre Yessoufou, St. Joseph (Santa Maria, Calif.) 6-5

2023 National Sophomore of the Year: Cameron Boozer

Freshmen to Watch (2026)

F — Latrell Almond, John Marshall (Richmond, Va.) 6-8
F — Alexander Costanza, Westminster Christian (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) 6-8
G — Jason Crowe Jr., Lynwood (Calif.) 6-2
F — A.J. Dybantsa, St. Sebastian (Needham, Mass.) 6-7
C — Sam Funches, Germantown (Madison, Miss.) 6-10
F — Caleb Gaskins, Holy Trinity Episcopal (Melbourne, Fla.) 6-7
G — Emmanuel Green, Cedar Grove (Ellenwood, Ga.) 6-5
G — Caleb Holt, Buckhorn (New Market, Ala.) 6-5
G — Kaden House, Desert Mountain (Scottsdale, Ariz.) 6-3
F — Brannon Martinsen, Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) 6-8
F — Jalen Montonati, Owasso (Okla.) 6-7
G — Jayden Moore, Hopkins (Minnetonka, Minn.) 6-0
G — Trent Perry, Lone Star (Frisco, Texas) 6-3
F — Tyran Stokes, Prolific Prep (Napa. Calif.) 6-7
G — Quincy Wadley, Bishop O’Connell (Arlington, Va.) 6-4

2023 National Freshman of the Year: Caleb Gaskins

National Coach of the Year: Pat Clatchey of Mt. St. Joseph (Baltimore, Md.)

Related: 2022-23 All-American Elite Team | 2022-23 Mr. Basketball USA: Cameron Boozer | 2022-23 Class Players of the Year | Ballislife Podcast Network?|

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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2022-23 Mr. Basketball USA: Cameron Boozer, Columbus (Miami,Fla.) 6-9 F Soph.
The son of 1999 second five Elite Team All-American Carlos Boozer of Juneau-Douglas (Juneau, Alaska), he's the fourth non-senior national player of the year and the first ever tenth-grader. In two high school seasons, Boozer has led Columbus to back-to-back FHSAA Class 7A state titles and two a pair of final FAB 50 national rankings. To view the full Mr. Basketball USA release, the Mr. Basketball Tracker voting results, and comments from Boozer, CLICK HERE.

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

2023 National Junior of the Year: Tre Johnson, Lake Highlands (Dallas, Texas) 6-5 G
This highly-regarded wing had lofty individual and team expectations in the preseason and he more than lived up to them, leading the Wildcats to the UIL Class 6A state crown with a game-high 29 points and eight rebounds in a 55-44 victory over FAB 50 ranked Beaumont United. For the season, Johnson led Lake Highlands to a 34-3 record and No. 8 FAB 50 ranking with only one in-state loss by averaging 21.8 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 2.7 apg, and 1.7 spg. Johnson shot 53 percent (272-513) from the field, 42 percent (84-201) from 3-point range and 91 percent (177-194) from the line.

The Dallas Morning News Player of the Year is the top-ranked 2024 player by many recruiting services and received the most votes of any junior in the Mr. Basketball Player of the Year Tracker with 24 points on five ballots. He is Texas’ first honoree in this class ever (going back to 1966-67) and only the second underclass pick from the Lone Star State in any class, joining Charles Bassey?(St. Anthony, San Antonio, Texas) for freshman in 2016.

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

2022 National Sophomore of the Year: Cameron Boozer, Columbus (Miami, Fla.) 6-9 F

Obviously with Boozer earning Mr. Basketball USA Honors, he's also the choice among tenth-graders. Cameron’s twin brother Cayden, a 6-foot-5 guard, also had a terrific season for the No. 6 team in the FAB 50, averaging 15.1 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 4.3 apg and 2.0 apg. Boozer has a chance to be the first-ever three-time National Player of the Year selection. Only three players have ever been two-time honorees (in both their junior and senior seasons): Jerry Lucas?of Middletown, Ohio (1957-58), Lew Alcindor of Power Memorial of New York (1964-65) and LeBron James?of St.-Vincent-St. Mary of Akron, Ohio (2002-03). All three of those players were first five All-Americans as sophomores.

Boozer is the first honoree from Florida for this honor since RJ Barrett of Montverde Academy in 2016-17. The next season, Barrett re-classified up and earned Mr. Basketball USA Honors as a senior when he led the Eagles to the 2017-18 FAB 50 national title. The 2025 class is considered the best since the 2020 class and there's a handful of candidates that would have been excellent choices among this year's tenth-grade crop, including forward Cooper Flagg of FAB 50 No. 2 Montverde Academy, forward Koa Peat of FAB 50 No. 22 Perry (Gilbert, Ariz.) and Meleek Thomas?of FAB 50 No. 50 Lincoln Park (Midland, Pa.). In many years, any of that trio would have been cinch choices.

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

2023 National Freshman of the Year: Caleb Gaskins, Holy Trinity Episcopal (Melbourne, Fla.) 6-7 F

There were plenty of top candidates to consider, as this class already has a tremendous reputation and a group of players that were productive at a high level during the 2022-23 season. We decided to go with one of the best all-around talents with plenty of experience. While age can be wide-ranging with elite freshmen, this 14-year old already has experience at USA Basketball events and played varsity basketball for the Tigers as an eighth-grader. After averaging 10.8 ppg in his first varsity season, Gaskins stepped up to average 17.9 ppg and 9.6 rpg while shooting 61 percent from the field.

The All Space Coast Player of the Year by Florida Today, Gaskins scored in double figures 26 of 28 games and finished the season with 17 double-doubles. On top of his numbers, Gaskins draws raves reviews for his terrific frame, patience, IQ and feel. Gaskins is the second consecutive honoree in this class, following Cameron Boozer and is the third honoree from the Sunshine State, the first being Brandon Knight of Pine Crest (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) in 2007.

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

2023 National Senior of the Year: Isaiah Collier, Wheeler (Marietta, Ga.) 6-2 PG

This is a special category whenever the Mr. Basketball USA selection is a non-senior and needless to say it doesn't happen often. Collier was the second leading vote-getter in the final Mr. Basketball USA Tracker with 76 points overall (Boozer had 84 points), including five second-place votes.

Collier closed out his senior season strong, netting 22 points and seven assists in the GHSA Class AAAAAAA title game, as Wheeler won a third title in four seasons. Against national level competition, the Wildcats finished 27-7 and No. 20 in the FAB 50 while this powerful and explosive guard averaged 19.6 ppg (58.7% FG, 33.3% 3FG, 79% FT), 5.1 rpg. 6.8 apg and 2.3 spg.

Collier was part of all three state title-winning teams and Wheeler went 102-23 in his four years on the varsity team. Collier, who is part of a USC recruiting class that includes LeBron James Jr., had a game-high 25 points in the McDonald’s All-American Game.

The previous Senior Player of the Year honorees were Carmelo Anthony of Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) in 2002, powerful center Wes Unseld of Seneca (Louisville, Ky.) in 1964 and talented Tony Jackson of Thomas Jefferson (Brooklyn, N.Y.) in 1957.

2023 National Coach of the Year: Pat Clatchey, Mt. St. Joseph (Baltimore, Md.)

This Maryland power won its eleventh Baltimore Catholic League (BCL) regular season title under the direction of this coaching veteran who just completed his 31st season at his alma mater. Before the 1980 graduate arrived, Mt. St. Joseph had never won the BCL tournament tile dating back to 1972. He was 20 when hired as the school's freshman coach, was a college assistant (UMBC) for three seasons and in private scouting for a year before taking over the program in 1992 at age 29.

This season, the Gaels went 38-4 and advanced to the MIAA Conference A title game, losing to cross-town BCL rival St. Francis Academy of Baltimore. The win total tied a school and BCL single-season record and it could have been broken had Mt. St. Joseph played in the Alhambra Catholic Invitational. The Gaels did capture their second consecutive BCL tourney title with a 59-50 win over St. Maria Goretti, as Amani Hansberry (17 points, 21 rebounds) captured BCL tournament MVP honors for the second consecutive season.

Mt. St. Joseph finished No. 27 in the FAB 50, as Clatchey has now led the program to nine BCL tourney titles, all since 2003. He is now 792-245 in his career and has logged 29 consecutive winning seasons. To give an idea of the strength of the teams the Gaels play on a nightly basis, the eight BCL programs were 105-40 against non-BCL programs.

Clatchey is now the fourth honoree from Maryland, joining legendary coaches Morgan Wootten of DeMatha Catholic (Hyattsville, Md.) in 1998, Bob Wade of Dunbar (Baltimore, Md.) in 1983 and Mark Amatucci of Calvert Hall (Baltimore, Md.) in 1982.

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

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

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A majority of the states around the country are now done for the 2022-23 season, as a plethora of state champions were crowned over the past week. The results of those games created much change in this week's FAB 50 National Team Rankings powered by www.ebooksnet.com.

Perhaps the most anticipated state title game was the University Intersholastic League's (UIL) Class 6A title game between then No. 8 Lake Highlands (Dallas, Texas) and No. 13 Beaumont United (Beaumont, Texas) Saturday evening at the Alamodome in San Antonio. It was a close affair that Lake Highlands took control of with a 13-1 run to close the third period with the Wildcats holding a 42-37 lead.

Beaumont United, which was looking to capture a third consecutive UIL state crown after winning in Class 5A in 2022 and 2021, put together a quick 5-0 run to cut its deficit to 44-42 with five minutes remaining in the game. The Timberwolves, however, did not score a field goal in the final 4:54 of the contest, as Lake Highlands went on to record a 55-44 victory to capture its first UIL state crown since 1968.

Tre Johnson, a talented 6-foot-5 junior who many respected analysts feel is the top 2024 prospect in the country, finished with 29 points on 8-of-17 shooting and added eight rebounds for Lake Highlands. Johnson made tough field goal attempts look easy and certainly has the look of a two-time All-American. Another key was the defensive presence of 6-foot-10 Yale bound Samson Aletan. His play in the pivot down the stretch was key in limiting Beaumont United's ability to make a goal, as he finished with 10 points, 10 rebounds and set a Class 6A state title game record with seven blocked shots.

Beaumont United, which was led by All-American candidate Wesley Yates III with 21 points, did not drop in the updated rankings. The Timberwolves owns wins over No. 14 Sidwell Friends (Washington, D.C.), No. 44 Jonesboro (Jonesboro, Ark.) and No. 47 Corner Canyon (Draper, Utah) with its first loss coming in the second game of the season.

Lake Highlands is able to move up one spot this week to No. 7 after the previous team in that spot, Centennial (Corona, Calif.), saw its two-year reign as California's best team end with a 80-61 home loss to Harvard-Westlake (North Hollywood, Calif.) in the CIF SoCal open final on Tuesday. The margin of defeat in that game and the fact it was at home drops the Huskies 14 spots to No. 21 this week. They are now behind New Jersey Non-Public B state champ Roselle Catholic (Roselle, N.J.), a team that beat the Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.) club Centennial lost to.

Harvard-Westlake is one of the big risers this week after capturing the CIF open crown at the Golden One Center in Sacramento with a 76-65 victory over St. Joseph (Santa Maria, Calif.), which became the first ever team from Santa Barbara County to appear in a CIF major division title game. Harvard Westlake was able to avenge its section pool play loss to No. 32 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) in the SoCal open semifinals, 69-64. Harvard-Westlake's team, featuring senior forward Brady Dunlap and junior point guard Trent Perry, was one of the most balanced and well-rounded on both ends of the floor that we've been in CIF play over the past 40 years and likely will end up as the second highest-rated team ever in program history.?In 1996-97, a Harvard-Westlake club led by the Collins twins (future NBA players Jason and Jarron) won the CIF D3 state title (there was no open division then) and finished No. 5 in the National Prep Poll (FAB 50 precursor) after losing one game to a Tracy McGrady-led Mt. Zion club from North Carolina by four points in the Las Vegas Holiday Invitational Tournament title game.

Speaking of St. John Bosco, West Linn (Ore.) must remain in front of the Braves after an upset loss to Tualatin (Ore.) in the Oregon Schools Activities Association (OSAA) Class 6A title game at the Chiles Center becasue of a head-to-head result. The Timberwolves, who had three prior losses to their Three Rivers League opponent earlier in the season, came out on top of a 60-47 game behind a stellar defensive performance and 20 points from senior point guard Josiah Lake. Tualatin held West Linn to one field goal in the first quarter and out-rebounded the top seed, 37-23.

Junior forward Jaden Steppe had 19 points and 10 rebounds, while junior pivot Jayden Fortier added nine points and 15 rebounds for a club that breaks into the FAB 50 at No. 30, one spot ahead of West Linn and two spots ahead of St. John Bosco. Veteran FAB 50 observers might feel it's too high a jump for the Timberwolves, but upon further inspection Tualatin deserves plenty of rankings credit. Three of its losses were to West Linn and in the quarterfinals of the Lew Schwab Invitational in December, Tualatin could have beat the Lions in regulation, but missed some free throws and lost in overtime. Tualatin's core has played together since middle school and this is actually its second consecutive Class 6A state crown.

At the Les Schwab, West Linn defeated FAB 50 No. 4 Duncanville (Texas), so Tualatin got the big win it needed at the right time over a team that had built a terrific resume. Duncanville will finish as the highest ranked UIL club after beating Class 6A champ Lake Highlands, 53-52, in November. Duncanville, the 2022 FAB 50 National Champions, opted not to participate in this year's UIL playoffs after it was stripped of last year's state crown for violation of UIL bylaws.

The team right in front of Duncanville in the FAB 50, No. 3 John Marshall (Richmond, Va.), closed out its season in dominant fashion and is in the running for the FAB 50 national title. Its Virginia High School League (VHSL) Class 2A state title game win over Radford (Va.) was more like a coronation than a contest. In the 91-34 domination, the Justices got out to a 16-0 lead and were up 51-13 at halftime. If there was ever a state association that needed an open division or Tournament of Champions, it's the VSHL.

John Marshall, which owns wins over No. 6 Columbus (Miami, Fla.) and No. 33 Wheeler (Marietta, Ga.), had an average playoff game winning margin of a whopping 65.5 points in six contests. In order for the Justices to have a shot at the FAB 50 crown, it will need some help from some of the six teams ranked behind No. 1 Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) and No. 2 Link Academy (Branson, Mo.) who are part of the eight-team 2023 GEICO Nationals field. CLICK HERE for the announcement of the participating teams in the event set for March 30 through April 1.

Teams still alive in their respective state playoffs or those projected to participate in the second annual?State Champions Invitational set for April 6-8 in the DMV region do not have an asterisk by their won-loss record.

RELATED: ?2023 GEICO Nationals Field Announced | ?Updated 2022-23 Mr. Basketball USA Tracker | | ??

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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The Dallas Cowboys were victorious on Sunday afternoon, but the best defense in Big D wasn't being played at AT & T Stadium. It was being played at the Duncanville Fieldhouse at the Pangos All-South Frosh/Soph Camp. Throughout the event, easy baskets were at a premium, as defenders ball-hawked 84 feet, denied post entry passes and contested shot attempts at the rim.

That style of play made for a competitive environment and that competitiveness was most evident during the Cream of the Crop Top 30 Game designed for the camp's top performers. The White jersey-wearing club took a 28-27 halftime lead, but the club wearing the Black jerseys went on to record a 54-51 win after holding off a late White club rally in what was the lowest scoring Cream of the Crop Game in the annual event's history.

Leading the way in the late comeback attempt for the White club was 6-foot-8 freshman (2025) forward Parker Jefferson of Waxahachie (Texas), who scored on a variety of silky post moves and smooth baseline shots to put his club within range to tie the game on its final possession. Jefferson got three quality looks at a potential game-tying 3-pointer. Two of them were of the in-and-out variety and the third was on line, but just long.

The fact Jefferson's teammates kept feeding him the ball and he was able to get open speaks volumes of his ability and instincts for the game. Jefferson utilizes effective half hooks over both shoulders around the basket, smooth turnaround jump shots, bank shots off post entry passes and can finish well with either hand. He was by far the most polished pivot player at the camp and in one camp game looked like UCLA immortal Bill Walton vs. Memphis in the 1973 NCAA title game, continuously scoring on soft lay-ups off post entry lob passes over the top.

Jefferson netted 16 of his team's 51 points in the Cream of the Crop Top 30 Game to cap off his co-most outstanding player honor. It's fitting he was the game's only double digit scorer, as the co-Cream of the Crop Top 30 Most Valuable Players were the brother duo of 6-foot-9 sophomore (2024) Israel Nansha and 6-foot-8 2025 Jed Nansha of Hillcrest (Dallas). The Nansha brothers were rewarded for their relentless defensive effort, as they stood out among a plethora of all-star players who were crashing the defensive and offensive glass and contesting field goal attempts around the cup. Israel finished with two points and seven big rebounds for the victorious Black club, while his younger brother and teammate added six points and four rebounds.

Other Cream of the Crop Top 30 standouts for the Black club included 6-foot-3 2024 guard Jayden Gambrell of James Madison (Houston) with seven points and 6-foot-2 2024 guard Malek Archie of McKinney (Texas) with five points. For the White club, 6-foot-5 2025 wing Jai'Chaunn Hayes of White Hall (Ark.) had a nice game, finishing with seven points, while 6-foot-5 2024 wing Jakeel Registe of Episcopal (Bellaire, Texas) had a strong start and finished with eight points.

Special recognition must be given to coach Kelan Jones of Hillcrest (Dallas). Jones was coaching the Cream of the Crop Top 30 game with passion and quality communication and helped raise the level of intensity ten-fold. There is little doubt his coaching approach to a sometimes laid-back affair helped the campers perform admirably to close the event.

Skill, Shooting, Defense Stand Out

Jefferson's skill level is what separated him from a pack a quality big men with long term potential. From the wing forward position, the most skilled of the lot was 6-foot-5 2025 Hudson Greer of Lake Travis (Austin, Texas). He can score it in a variety of ways and is a quality shooter with lively legs who covers ample ground when he puts it on the deck. Greer didn't particularly stand out in the top all-star game (six points), but over the course of the camp's three games for each player he displayed terrific scoring instincts and a high offensive skill level. His father Josh Greer played at St Mary's (Calif.) after a standout career at Esperanza (Anaheim, Calif.) and son is easily tracking to play on the WCC level and beyond.

From the wing guard position, Hayes was locked in throughout camp and had high-scoring outputs in each game. Hayes can stroke it, has good passing ability and a nice combination of skill and instinct for the game. He was just one of the many 2025 (freshmen) standouts at this camp with mid to high major potential. In fact, one third (10 of 30) of the players selected for the Cream of the Crop Top 30 game were freshmen.

Among the sophomore (2024) lot, there was plenty to like about from 6-foot-5 wing guard Tre Johnson of Lake Highlands (Dallas). He was named camp co-MOP and it's easy to see why some evaluators are so giddy about his long-term potential. Johnson's size-ball skill ratio stands out and he was one of the most explosive campers in attendance with an ability to finish in and above traffic or make a spectacular play on the defensive end. Johnson has a knack for being around the ball at opportune times and just needs to continue to polish up his shot and tighten his handle to become a bonafide high school All-American candidate.

Some of the perimeter shooters who stood out included 6-foot-4 2025 Adlan Elamin of Bishop O'Connell (Arlington, Va.), 6-foot-5 2024 S. Trap Johnson of Belton (Texas), 6-foot 2024 Drew Ward of Longview (Texas), and 6-foot-3 2025 Jaden Nickens of Milwood (Oklahoma City, Okla.). Nickens had it going during the Cream of the Crop Top 60 game, leading his team to an easy 79-34 victory by nailing two 3-pointers and finishing with a game-high 18 points.

Nickens was the one player we felt whose evaluation was deserving of a spot in the top all-star game. We also would have reserved a spot for 6-foot-3 2024 Anthony Bates Jr. of Seven Lakes (Katy, Texas).

Our cinch choice for player most deserving of a Top 60 selection was 6-foot-1 2024 Cornelius Brown of The Walker School (Marietta, Ga.). Brown was one of the most explosive players off the bounce in attendance.

Defense was the name of the game at this camp, and the one player who earned a Creme of the Crop Top 60 berth mostly because of his defensive performances was 5-foot-10 2024 Rondae Hill of Calvary Baptist Academy (Shreveport, La.)

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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