{"id":150731,"date":"2017-11-06T13:00:59","date_gmt":"2017-11-06T21:00:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bilcomprd.wpengine.com\/?p=150731"},"modified":"2023-11-18T09:06:44","modified_gmt":"2023-11-18T17:06:44","slug":"preseason-2017-18-fab-50-teams-no-16-30","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ballislife.com\/preseason-2017-18-fab-50-teams-no-16-30\/","title":{"rendered":"Preseason 2017-18 FAB 50: Teams No. 16-30!"},"content":{"rendered":"

We continue our 2017-18 preseason FAB 50 national team rankings powered by Ballislife.com countdown with an in-depth look at teams No. 16-30. We began with teams No. 31-50 on Sunday evening and our final installment will be teams No. 1-15 on Tuesday, November 7.<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Note: The FAB 50 powered by Ballislife.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 18 years ago.<\/em><\/p>\n

Preseason 2017-18 FAB 50 National <\/strong>
\nTeam Rankings Powered by Ballislife.com<\/strong><\/p>\n

By Ronnie Flores<\/em><\/p>\n

(Final 2016-17 ranking in parentheses; *Indicates forfeit wins, forfeit losses not included; **Indicates forfeits and defaults not included; Look for preseason Region-By-Region Top 20 Rankings on Friday, November 10 and for the preseason Mr. Basketball USA Tracker on Tuesday, November 21.)<\/em><\/p>\n

RELATED:<\/strong> Preseason 2016-17 FAB 50 (1-15)<\/a> | Preseason 2016-17 FAB 50 (31-50)<\/a> | BIL Weekly HS Basketball Showcase<\/a> | Preseason Regional Top 20 Rankings<\/a><\/p>\n

16. (BB) Simeon (Chicago, Ill.) 30-4<\/strong>
\nKey Players:<\/strong> SF Talen Horton-Tucker 6-5 2018 (No. 54 Rivals.com), SF Messiah Jones 6-5 2018 (Drake commit), PG Xavier Pinson 6-3 2018, SG Zion Young 6-4 2018.
\nWhy This Ranking:<\/strong> The Wolverines have the firepower to capture their seventh state title under coach Robert Smith and if they do, he\u2019ll be averaging one every two seasons. Simeon is the IHSA Class 4A favorites because of talents such as Horton-Tucker and tons of depth at each position. Jones had some big playoff games plus he\u2019s not scared to do the dirty work the team needs. There are many interchangeable parts up front that can all defend and rebound. Pinson (a transfer from St. Patrick of Chicago) will be the lead guard and Young (from Merrillville, Ind.) is a natural scorer. Kejuan Clements (6-2, 2019) also has plenty of experience at the one and big things are expected down the line from Ahmad Bynum (6-1, 2021). The Wolverines will look to play at a quick pace and force turnovers to gain an advantage.
\nThe Skinny:<\/strong> With respect to Fenwick, it looks like the Chicago Public League is where a majority of Illinois\u2019 top teams reside, as No. 42 Morgan Park, Whitney Young and Curie will challenge the Wolverines for City supremacy. Simeon downed rival Morgan Park to claim the city title, and they\u2019ll battle once again on December 9. A week earlier, Simeon takes on Chaminade of Missouri (which just missed the FAB 50) at the Chicago Elite Classic. Smith\u2019s club also takes on highly-regarded Memphis East at the Penny Hardaway Hoopfest January 6. In fact, it could meet East twice with the first meeting potentially taking place at the City of Palms Classic in Ft. Myers, Fla. Simeon isn\u2019t terribly big, so it will need to neutralize bigger teams. That means the play of up-and-comer Jeremiah Stamps (6-7, 2019) will be key in order to maintain its ranking. Kezo Brown (6-2, 2018) has had a tumultuous career at Simeon so far, but if he can contribute anywhere near the level he did in the city title game (26 points) and the newcomers mesh, there is no telling how good this team could be come February.<\/p>\n