ESPNHS Boys' Basketball

Three juniors already named ESPNHS All-Americans headline a group of 60 elite players selected to the 2011-12 ESPNHS Underclass All-American boys' basketball watch list.

Headlining this year's watch list heading into the intense AAU summer season are junior forwards Jabari Parker of Simeon (Chicago), this year's National Junior Player of the Year, Julius Randle of Prestonwood Christian (Plano, Texas) and Aaron Gordon of Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.).

While the trio and the 57 other honorees all had standout campaigns for their high school teams, others are sure to emerge this summer as bona fide All-America candidates heading into the 2012-13 season. Nearly every summer on the circuit, well-known players are eclipsed by lesser-known commodities, and every so often a prospect comes out of nowhere to emerge as a Mr. Basketball USA candidate.

The last player to make such a quantum leap was Kentucky's Anthony Davis, who attended Perspectives Charter (Chicago). In the spring of 2010, he was a virtual unknown on the high school basketball scene. Two years later, he's the likely No. 1 pick of the 2012 NBA draft.

Parker and Randle were Mr. Basketball USA candidates as juniors, and Sophomore Player of the Year Andrew Wiggins of Huntington Prep (Huntington, W.Va.) will likely be in the same situation next season. The 6-foot-7 wing averaged 24.2 points and 8.5 rebounds for a 28-2 team and his play so far this spring has put him in the conversation as the best player in the country, regardless of class.

Wiggins just missed making the ESPNHS All-America team, while guard Tyus Jones of Apple Valley (Minn.) just missed selection to the 30-player honorable mention list. Jones' play so far in the Nike EYBL puts him right on par with any underclass guard in the country, including honorable mention pick Kasey Hill of Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.). The Minnesota Gatorade State Player of the Year is the EYBL's third-leading scorer (20.8) and is leading in assists (6.5) through the first two sessions.

2011-12 Underclass All-American watch list

Juniors to watch (2013)
C -- BeeJay Anya, DeMatha Catholic (Hyattsville, Md.) 6-9
G -- Anthony Barber, Hampton (Va.) 6-2
F -- Jabari Bird, Salesian (Richmond, Calif.) 6-5
F -- Brian Bridgewater, Episcopal (Baton Rouge, La.) 6-6
G -- Aquille Carr, Patterson (Baltimore, Md.) 5-6
G -- Stephen Clark, Douglass (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 5-10
G -- Nick Emery, Lone Peak (Highland, Utah) 6-1
G -- Tyler Ennis, St. Benedict's Prep (Newark, N.J.) 6-3
G -- Conner Frankamp, North (Wichita, Kan.) 6-1
G -- Keith Frazier, Kimball (Dallas) 6-5
F -- Aaron Gordon, Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.) 6-8
G -- Isaac Hamilton, St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) 6-5
G -- Aaron Harrison, Fort Bend Travis (Richmond, Texas) 6-4
G -- Andrew Harrison, Fort Bend Travis (Richmond, Texas) 6-4
F -- Isaiah Hicks, Oxford (Oxford, N.C.), 6-9
G -- Kasey Hill, Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) 6-1
F -- Rondae Jefferson, Chester (Chester, Pa.) 6-7
F -- Kris Jenkins, Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.) 6-6
G -- JaJuan Johnson, Southwind (Memphis, Tenn.) 6-5
G -- Matt Jones, DeSoto (DeSoto, Texas) 6-4
F -- Nick King, East (Memphis, Tenn.) 6-7
F -- Jabari Parker, Simeon (Chicago) 6-8
G -- Juwan Parker, Booker T. Washington (Tulsa, Okla.) 6-4
F -- Bobby Portis, Hall (Little Rock, Ark.) 6-9
F -- Roschon Prince, Poly (Long Beach, Calif.) 6-6
F -- Julius Randle, Prestonwood Christian (Plano, Texas) 6-9
G -- Tahj Shamsid-Deen, Columbia (Decatur, Ga.) 5-10
C -- Chris Walker, Holmes County (Bonifay, Fla.) 6-9
C -- Jonathan Williams III, Southwind (Memphis, Tenn.) 6-9
G -- Nigel Williams-Goss, Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.) 6-3

2012 Junior of the Year: Jabari Parker

Sophomores to watch (2014)
C -- Cliff Alexander, Curie (Chicago) 6-9
F -- Evan Bailey, Jackson (Massillon, Ohio) 6-5
G -- Casey Benson, Corona del Sol (Tempe, Ariz.) 6-2
G -- Joel Berry, Lake Highland Prep (Orlando, Fla.) 6-1
F -- Trevon Bluiett, Park Tudor (Indianapolis) 6-5
G -- Parker Jackson-Cartwright, Loyola (Los Angeles) 5-9
G -- T.J. Haws, Lone Peak (Highland, Utah) 6-2
G -- Tadric Jackson, Tift County (Tifton, Ga.) 6-2
F -- Stanley Johnson, Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) 6-6
G -- Tyus Jones, Apple Valley (Minn.) 6-1
F -- Jalen Lindsey, Christ Presbyterian Academy (Nashville, Tenn.) 6-6
F -- Kevon Looney, Hamilton (Milwaukee, Wis.) 6-7
F -- Trey Lyles, Arsenal Tech (Indianapolis, Ind.) 6-8
F -- Ja'Quon Newton, Neumann Goretti (Philadelphia) 6-3
C -- Jahlil Okafor, Whitney Young (Chicago) 6-9
F -- L.J. Peak, Gaffney (Gaffney, S.C.) 6-4
F -- Wayne Seldon, Tilton School (Tilton, N.H.) 6-5
G -- Romelo Trimble, Bishop O'Connell (Arlington, Va.) 6-2
G -- Isaiah Whitehead, Lincoln (Brooklyn, N.Y.) 6-4
F -- Andrew Wiggins, Huntington Prep (Huntington, W.Va.) 6-7

2012 Sophomore of the Year: Andrew Wiggins

Freshmen to watch (2015)
G -- Tyler Dorsey, Ribet Academy (Los Angeles) 6-4
G -- Isaiah Briscoe, St. Benedict's Prep (Newark, N.J.) 6-2
C -- Marcus Derrickson, Paul VI (Fairfax, Va.) 6-7
G -- Hyron Edwards, Central (East Chicago, Ind.) 6-0
F -- K.J. Lawson, East (Memphis, Tenn.) 6-5
G -- Marcus LoVett Jr., Providence (Burbank, Calif.) 5-11
F -- Mickey Mitchell, Prestonwood Christian (Plano, Texas) 6-6
G -- Malik Newman, Callaway (Jackson, Miss.) 6-2
C -- Diamond Stone, Dominican (Whitefish Bay, Wis.) 6-9
F -- Karl Towns, St. Joseph (Metuchen, N.J.) 6-11

2012 Freshman Player of the Year: Malik Newman

Note: All selections based on high school accomplishment. Similar to the Mr. Basketball USA honor, those ineligible due to age or academics are not eligible for this honor.

Ronnie Flores is a senior editor for ESPNHS. He can be reached at ronnie.flores@espn.com. Don't forget to follow him on Twitter: @RonFloresESPN

This year's ESPNHS Mr. Basketball USA debate had three worthy contenders -- UCLA-bound seniors Shabazz Muhammad of Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) and Kyle Anderson of St. Anthony (Jersey City, N.J.), plus junior Jabari Parker of Simeon (Chicago).

When the Mr. Basketball USA Tracker panel tallied its final expanded ballot, Muhammad led Parker by an 11-point margin.

Every year, there are many factors to consider, and it's always fun to look back on the picks as the college, and likely pro, careers of the top candidates plays out.

You've seen the numbers. Now read the opinions of the Mr. Basketball USA Tracker panel, and other prep basketball experts, about this year's national player of the year race.

Experts' Take

"With Jabari Parker we are talking about a very unique player and person. On the court, he influences every possession with his physical tools, versatile skills and basketball IQ. He has led his Simeon team to a state championship and a city title... They played a national schedule and only lost to Findlay Prep. As a young man, he is special because of his humbleness and work ethic on the floor. Off the court, he takes care of his school work and gives back to his community. Can be a difference maker in his next stop at the collegiate level with the ability and traits to be in the NBA."
-Paul Biancardi, ESPN National Director of Basketball Recruiting

"I'm a firm believer that the POY has to have a body of work to go with his pro potential. There are three candidates in my mind that have the combination of those two attributes in Shabazz Muhammad, Nerlens Noel and Kyle Anderson. No doubt that Noel is the top pro prospect of the trio with his ability to dominate the paint defensively. Anderson (is) the most versatile and a true winner at the high school level who players love to play with as he can really deliver the rock. But my choice for 2012 has to be Shabazz Muhammad. He competes at a close to 100 percent level in almost every game he performed in for Bishop Gorman. He's an explosive scorer who has blossomed offensively with the addition of a solid jumper from the arc, but it may be his approach to the game defensively, where he takes special pride in making big plays, that gives him the overall edge and makes him the top individual performer night in and night out. It is that consistency that sets him above the rest."
-Van Coleman, hot100hoops.com Editor

"I think Shabazz Muhammad earned that honor. We're talking about a guy every time he hits floor, he works harder than everyone else."
-Evan Daniels, Scout.com National Recruiting Analyst

"There are plenty of talented players in the 2012 senior class but nobody is as complete a player as Shabazz Muhammad. He's done it against all-comers and at all levels. He's simply the best player in the country."
-Jody Demling, Louisville Courier-Journal

"Shabazz has been dominant. If anyone starts to question him, he goes out and totally dominates. He doesn't take any prisoners."
-Clark Francis, Hoop Scoop Editor & Publisher

"Shabazz Muhammad is consistently the most productive player on the court. I have watched him progress since he first played at my TOC as a freshman. At that age he was playing up with rising seniors and showed no fear. He's competitive and confident and proved that year after year. His intensity level and desire is right there with guys like Michael Jordan and LeBron James."
-Bob Gibbons, All-Star Sports

"Every time I see Shabazz Muhammad, not only is he the most talented guy, but most competitive. He's focused and I love his energy."
-Jonathan Givony, Draftexpress.com President

"It's a tough call, but I give it to Shabazz (Muhammad). He's the top talent in the class, led his team to a state championship, put up numbers and met expectations. Kyle Anderson does great things for an unbeaten team, but nobody has passed Shabazz."
-Jerry Meyer, Rivals.com National Recruiting Analyst

"I know what a defensive game changer Nerlens Noel is, and he has been rapidly adding to his offensive skill package, but my vote for the class of 2012 POY goes to Shabazz Muhammad. Muhammad has dominated his class since he was a freshman. He is an elite athlete with a matching motor. A highlight waiting to happen on the break and finishes above the rim on all clear paths to the rim or in traffic. He is a big-time scorer off the bounce with powerful slashes from the wing and has improved as a 3-point shooter. Muhammad is also a multiple position defender and rebounds in and out of his area. He reminds me of Arkansas and NBA great Sidney Moncrief. Muhammad is the player other players in the class get up to play against and he still dominates. He plays extremely hard on both ends and has been productive on a consistent basis not for months, but years."

-Reggie Rankin, ESPN Recruiting

"To me, the two best players in the country are Jabari Parker and Shabazz Muhammad. It's hard to separate them, but they are the two best high school players right now."
-Don Showalter, Mid-Prairie (Wellman, Iowa) & 2011-12 USA Men's Developmental National Team coach.

"This was a tough year to pick a player of the year. Would love to give it to Muhammad or Noel, but I don't know how you give those two player of the year. When you talk about taking advantage of opportunity, Tyler Lewis is the most effective player in America. Lewis did it on a big stage, he's the best passer out there and did a good job of maintaining egos on Oak Hill's team."
-Patrick Stanwood, Patrick Stanwood Basketball

"My first inclination is to go with Kyle Anderson because he hasn't lost a high school game in two years and for most of the year, actually until this vote, I had him No. 1. I was swayed in a different direction after the week at McDonald's because of the sheer dominating effort and focus Shabazz Muhammad arrived in Chicago with. Combine that with his state championship and I could make the argument in his favor. Muhammad won and was sensational on a number of big stages and that doesn't take anything away from Anderson, whom I had been leaning toward the entire season."
-Dave Telep, ESPN Senior Basketball Recruiting Analyst

Throughout the major holiday tournaments, showcases and state tournaments around the country, three names remained at the top of the weekly ESPNHS Mr. Basketball USA debate: Shabazz Muhammad of Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas), Jabari Parker of Simeon (Chicago) and Kyle Anderson of St. Anthony (Jersey City, N.J.).

Although he wasn't last season's ESPNHS National Junior of the Year, Muhammad was the early Mr. Basketball USA frontrunner. With his competitive approach to every game and performances on big stages, Muhammad's candidacy never wavered at any point during the season.

Even Nerlens Noel’s decision to reclassify back to the class of 2012 didn't change the panel's assessment of Muhammad despite his drop in the ESPNU 100 rankings. If anything, Muhammad's unseating as the top prospect in the ESPNU 100 only served to fuel a competitive fire that's consistently a few notches higher than any major prospect in high school basketball.

What Noel's reclassification did do was put him in the conversation with the trio of leading candidates. The shot-blocking extraordinaire trailed Parker by only two points (65-63) in week 5 voting results. Parker, the No. 1 ranked prospect in the ESPNU 60 and last season's ESPNHS National Sophomore of the Year, began the season in second place, seven points (77-70) ahead of Anderson.

Read the rest of this story and see the final Mr. Basketball USA voting results.

Ronnie Flores is a senior editor for ESPNHS. He can be reached at ronnie.flores@espn.com. Don't forget to follow him on Twitter: @RonFloresESPN

With the high school season winding down, the NCAA Tournament getting ramped up and the NBA's trade deadline having just passed, it’s the perfect time to take stock of our previous Mr. Basketball USA winners still active in college or the NBA. And we’re giving ourselves a grade for how the selection turned out in comparison to his stiffest competition.

This season's final Mr. Basketball USA Tracker will be released April 6 and the announcement of the 2011-2012 ESPNHS Mr. Basketball USA will be on April 12.

2011: Michael Gilchrist, St. Patrick (Elizabeth, N.J.) 6-7 (Kentucky)
Now known as Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, the current Kentucky forward is described by his head coach John Calipari as the hardest-working player the team, a team favored to win the NCAA title. That blue-collar attitude was developed playing for Kevin Boyle at St. Patrick. The school announced it will shut down at the end of the year. It's hard to grade the selection of Gilchrist because runners-up Austin Rivers (Duke) and Brad Beal (Florida) are highly-desired by NBA scouts, too. All three are not considered on par with Kidd-Gilchrist's fellow freshman teammate Anthony Davis. Davis simply didn't have a strong enough high school resume to be seriously considered.
Grade: INC

2010: Harrison Barnes, Ames (Iowa) 6-7 (North Carolina)
Barnes and Sullinger. Sullinger and Barnes. You couldn't mention one without the other two years ago. We selected Barnes, primarily because Jared Sullinger's team was shocked in the state playoffs while ranked No. 1 in the POWERADE FAB 50. Barnes's team finished 27-0 and No. 10 in the FAB 50. Two interesting developments in the Barnes-Sullinger debate have emerged. Both players have been surpassed on mock NBA Drafts by two players from the 2011 class -- Anthony Davis (Kentucky) and Andre Drummond (UConn) -- and Barnes' high school teammate Doug McDermott (Creighton) has developed into a college All-American. Barnes and Sullinger are also expected to be drafted close to each other in June.
Grade: B+

2009: Derrick Favors, South Atlanta (Atlanta, Ga.) 6-9 (Georgia Tech)
This pick easily could have been DeMarcus Cousins or Avery Bradley Jr. The voting went to Favors, the MVP of both the McDonald's and Jordan Brand All-American Games. Bradley was called the best guard Steve Smith's Oak Hill Academy program ever faced. Cousins’s LeFlore (Mobile, Ala.) team did beat Favors' team in an ESPN-televised game, but Favors was more impressive statistically. So far, Cousins has emerged as the best player of the trio, but he's also the most combustible. We'll give ourselves a grade, but class is still in session here.
Grade: B

2008: Brandon Jennings, Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) 6-1
This ultra-quick point guard will now team up with 2005 pick Monta Ellis after the Milwaukee Bucks traded center Andrew Bogut and Stephen Jackson in exchange for the Golden State Warriors' scoring leader. Jennings, averaging 19.1 points per game and 5.7 assists, probably should have made his first NBA All-Star team this season. Ironically, Jennings has mentioned exploring the option of playing in a bigger market where he would get more national recognition. At the 2008 McDonald's All-American Game press conference, all the players, including Jennings, stated Samardo Samuels was the most impressive player in attendance. Currently, Samuels is averaging 4.4 points per game so we don't have any reservations about this pick.
Grade: A

2007: O.J. Mayo, Huntington (Huntington, W.Va.) 6-5 (Southern Cal)
In one of the greatest high school classes of all-time, Mayo edged Kevin Love by the closest of margins, primarily because his team won a state championship and Love's didn't. Mayo also was an all-state player in three different states five times. Ironically, Derrick Rose has developed into an NBA MVP, but he wasn't the No. 1 prospect by any major recruiting service and was No. 3 in the pecking order whether you liked Mayo or Love. Mayo was the runner-up for Rookie of the Year to Rose and was a valuable contributor to a playoff team last year, but Love has developed into a NBA All-Star after a slow start. Mayo was on the trading block for more than a year, but he'll remain a member of the Memphis Grizzlies this season.
Grade: B-

2006: Greg Oden, Lawrence North (Indianapolis, Ind.) 7-0 (Ohio State)
This is one of our most talked-about selections, but in reality, the selection of Oden was unanimous. The only question was how much Kevin Durant closed the gap on Oden during the second half of his senior season at Montrose Christian. Durant did close it and had a record-breaking freshman season at Texas, but it wasn't enough for the Trail Blazers' brass to feel they should have taken him over Oden. Portland just released him. It's easy to compare the oft-injured center to another Trail Blazers' bust, Sam Bowie, but the matter of the fact is Oden had minor hand injuries at Ohio State. He didn't break his leg twice like Bowie did in college. Anybody who states Portland made a big mistake is basing that on the player Durant has developed into.
Grade: B+

2005: Monta Ellis, Lanier (Jackson, Miss.) 6-3
"The Mississippi Missile" was selected in a close vote over junior Greg Oden. At the time, some recruiting services felt fifth-year senior Gerald Green of Gulf Shores Academy (Houston) was the best prospect in the class. Even if Green was eligible for Mr. Basketball, the choice would have been Ellis. After all, he did score 4,167 career points at Lanier, including a 42-point outburst against Oak Hill Academy. Oden would have been a solid choice, but we think we got this one right even though Ellis was just traded from the Golden State Warriors to the Milwaukee Bucks.
Grade: A

2004: Sebastian Telfair, Lincoln (Brooklyn, N.Y.) 6-0
"Bassey" capped a storybook high school career with his selection as the No. 13 pick of the NBA Draft by the Portland Trail Blazers, but his pro career has been a disappointment. He's currently averaging 4.3 points per game and 1.7 assists for the Phoenix Suns and has never averaged double-digit scoring in his career. Dwight Howard, who just signed paperwork to waive the early termination option in his contract with the Orlando Magic, was the better high school prospect. There's a great possibility Howard would have been the choice had their high school teams not played at the 2004 Primetime Shootout in a game Lincoln won, or if Telfair had graduated as Arkansas' all-time leading scorer, and not New York's. No high school guard with Telfair's style and build has been looked at as a sure-fire pro in the same way since.
Grade: C

2002-2003: LeBron James, St. Vincent-St. Mary (Akron, Ohio) 6-8
It wasn't too hard to pick James the player of the year, even in his junior season over Carmelo Anthony. In James' senior season, there simply wasn't anybody in his class and no college even bothered to seriously recruit him. To put the hype around James into perspective, he's constantly criticized despite averaging 27.5 points per game, 8.5 rebounds and 6.6 assists so far this season. Anthony was considered in James' class as a young player, but it still remains to be seen what kind of NBA legacy 'Melo will leave. Some of his selfishness and shortcomings as a defender have been exposed in recent weeks, but the NBA is a players' league. The New York Knicks had no thoughts of trading him and the coach he couldn't co-exist with, Mike D'Antoni, is now gone.
Grade: A

1998: Rashard Lewis, Elsik (Houston) 6-10
He's probably best known for signing a $116 million dollar contract in the summer of 2007. Lewis' pro career, however, began on a downer as the high school star was the last player in the "Green Room," where the top dozen or so draft prospects sit with family and their agent until selected. Lewis was bypassed by the Hometown Rockets and went No. 32, the third pick of the second round. Lewis got the last laugh, making two All-Star teams and averaging more than 16 points per game in his career. Lewis clearly had a better career than JaRon Rush, who never played in the NBA, and two-sport star Ron Curry, who eventually played in the NFL.
Grade: A-

1997: Tracy McGrady, Mount Zion (Durham, N.C.) 6-7
Nowhere on the national map as an underclassman, his performance at the 1996 ABCD Camp put him in the conversation with Lamar Odom as the top player in the country. The pick could have easily been Odom, but McGrady had a stellar senior season and was the No. 9 pick of the 1997 NBA Draft. While Odom had fewer injuries and is probably the more valuable player right now, McGrady is a two-time NBA scoring champ and a 7-time All-Star. Nobody doubts Odom's ability; it's his motivation that has lacked at times. While McGrady averages 5.7 points per game for the Atlanta Hawks, Odom spent some time this season in the D-League before returning to the Dallas Mavericks' roster.
Grade: B+

1996: Mike Bibby, Shadow Mountain (Phoenix, Ariz.) 6-0 (Arizona)
The aging point guard is currently a backup for the volatile New York Knicks. Bibby was the point guard on some talented Sacramento Kings teams that could never get over the hump in the early 2000's. He hit career-highs of 21.1 points per game in 2005-06 and 8.4 assists in 2001-02. His career, however, is nowhere near that of the Lakers' Kobe Bryant, the player he was selected over. Bibby clearly had the more accomplished prep career, and some national scouts considered Tim Thomas better than both of them, but Bryant was the best long-term prospect of the bunch. To Bibby's credit, he was polished from day one in college and helped Arizona to the NCAA title as a freshman, while Bryant toiled on the Lakers' bench.
Grade: B-

1995: Kevin Garnett, Farragut (Chicago) 6-10
"The Kid" is no longer a kid anymore; he's on the downside of a NBA career that inspired thousands of high school players to believe they could make "the jump" before the NBA's Collective Bargaining Agreement put an end to the practice in 2005. In this class, Stephon Marbury was nationally-known before Garnett and Ron Mercer played varsity basketball in eighth grade, but Garnett was the best player at Sonny Vaccaro's Roundball Classic and the McDonald's All-American Game. In fact, we recently ranked the 2004 NBA MVP and 14-time All-Star the No. 1 McDonald's All-American based on high school play.
Grade: A

1992: Jason Kidd, St. Joseph (Alameda, Calif.) 6-4 (California)
The ageless point guard put a stamp on his Hall of Fame career last season by helping the Dallas Mavericks win the NBA title, his first. In the NBA playoffs, Kidd sucked it up and played outstanding defense at times against larger players such as Kevin Durant and LeBron James. Kidd is second on the NBA's all-time list for assists and steals and is also high on the all-time list for made 3-pointers, which is ironic because he plays with a reputation as a sub-par outside shooter. Twenty years ago, some thought Roderick Rhodes was nearly on par as a talent.
Grade: A+

Ronnie Flores is a senior editor for ESPNHS. He can be reached at ronnie.flores@espn.com. Don't forget to follow him on Twitter: @RonFloresESPN

Last week, we took a look at the most important criteria in the ESPNHS Mr. Basketball. This week, we asked players from across the country to give their opinions on what makes a national player of the year.

It should come as no surprise top vote-getter Shabazz Muhammad (94 points, 10 ballots) solicited plenty of support, but the reasons why he and other top candidates were the choice varied.

Student-athletes around the country placed great emphasis on leadership skills and the ability to make teammates better which leads to team success, regardless of the amount of talent on the roster.

"Is he a winner? How's his attitude? Does he play hard consistently? Has he had big games against good teams? ...I haven't seen all the guys this year, so I guess I'll go with Shabazz (Muhammad)."

-Zena Edosomwan, Harvard-Westlake (North Hollywood, Calif.), 2012

"Of course I'm going to say myself. But if not me, then Shabazz Muhammad. I think the player of the year should be a great person on and off the court. He should also be a warrior that hates to lose."

-Archie Goodwin, Sylvan Hills (Sherwood, Ark.), 2012

To read the rest of this story and see the Mr. Basketball USA voting results, CLICK HERE.

Ronnie Flores is a senior editor for ESPNHS. He can be reached at ronnie.flores@espn.com. Don't forget to follow him on Twitter: @RonFloresESPN

As the playoffs heat up in many states, this week is a perfect opportunity to explain the criteria that goes into selecting the ESPNHS Mr. Basketball USA winner and give some insight on what it takes to earn national player of the year honors.

The talent of previous winners is clearly evident to those lucky enough to witness them in high school, but what separates the winner from other strong candidates?

Talent level

This is the most important factor. The winner must possess the skills to make an immediate impact on the college level. Nearly all past winners projected as NBA players, but not all of them start the ascension to player of the year candidate from the same point.

Just look at where 1997 winner Tracy McGrady was as an underclassman compared to runner-up Lamar Odom. McGrady was a non-descript forward at Auburndale (Fla.) as a junior. He wasn't on anyone's radar the summer before transferring to Mount Zion (Durham, N.C.), whereas Odom was one of the nation's best players since his sophomore year at Christ the King (Middle Village, N.Y.).

Of the 57 eventual Mr. Basketball USA choices, only two did not go on to play in the NBA: forward Bill Raftery of St. Cecelia's (Kearney, N.J.) in 1959 and Damon Bailey of North Lawrence (Bedford, Ind.) in 1990.

Team success

Leading a POWERADE FAB 50-ranked team and helping it win a state title is a significant factor. Those teams generally play tough competition, which nowadays means the candidate's team challenged itself against competition from outside its region.

Two years ago, Jared Sullinger of Northland (Columbus, Ohio) led the nation's No. 1 ranked team before the Vikings were stunned 71-45 in the Ohio regional playoffs by an unranked team. The other top candidate that season, Harrison Barnes of Ames (Iowa), led his team to a 27-0 record and No. 10 final FAB 50 rating. If Barnes' team would have lost even one game, or if Sullinger's team would have won the state title, Sullinger might have been the winner instead of Barnes.

To read the rest of this story and see the Mr. Basketball USA voting results, CLICK HERE.

Ronnie Flores is a senior editor for ESPNHS. He can be reached at ronnie.flores@espn.com. Don't forget to follow him on Twitter: @RonFloresESPN

Candidacy of Michigan State recruit Gary Harris sparked by long-term production

The Mr. Basketball USA Tracker updates the progress of the nation's top national player of the year candidates on a weekly basis, but this is the time of year when the panel has a tendency to step back and look at the overall picture.

While the tracker rewards stellar game performances or recent hot streaks, the actual honor is awarded to the player with the strongest overall resume as it relates to team success. It's the reason Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, who led St. Patrick (Elizabeth, N.J.) to a 105-12 career record in his four varsity seasons while never allowing the Celtics to fall lower than No. 17 in the POWERADE FAB 50, won the award last year over players such as current Kentucky teammate Anthony Davis and Duke star Austin Rivers.

Overall resume is the reason Gary Harris of Hamilton Southeastern (Fishers, Ind.) has emerged as a legitimate candidate. He appeared on four ballots, including a third-place vote, to garner 22 points. That tied him for seventh place this week with Marcus Smart of Marcus (Flower Mound, Texas), who has been garnering votes all season long.

To read the rest of this story and see the Mr. Basketball USA voting results, CLICK HERE.

Ronnie Flores is a senior editor for ESPNHS. He can be reached at ronnie.flores@espn.com. Don't forget to follow him on Twitter: @RonFloresESPN

Mr. Basketball USA candidacy traditionally hinges on team success

This has traditionally been the week to use the USA Mr. Basketball Tracker to break down the McDonald's All-American selections and discuss deserving players who may have been left off.

This year, the McDonald's All-American selection committee did not come under heavy criticism for the 24 players who made the team following its exhaustive selection process. In fact, the only eligible player ranked in the top 24 of the ESPNU 100 who did not make the team -- small forward Danuel House of Hightower (Sugar Land, Texas) -- hasn't appeared on a Mr. Basketball USA ballot so far this season.

And though there was sentiment that ESPNU 100 No. 25 ranked Sam Dekker of Sheboygan Lutheran (Sheboygan, Wis.) was worthy of selection, there wasn't an uproar over his omission in comparison to last year when Dorian Finney-Smith (Virginia Tech) and B.J. Young (Arkansas) were snubbed.

The one player worthy of selection who consistently has appeared on ballots is Katin Reinhardt of POWERADE FAB 50 No. 8 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.). The UNLV commit is averaging 19.3 points per game and shooting over 40 percent from 3-point range, but his player of the year candidacy down the stretch will be heavily influenced by Mater Dei's playoff success.

To read the rest of this story and see the Mr. Basketball USA voting results, CLICK HERE.

Ronnie Flores is a senior editor for ESPNHS. He can be reached at ronnie.flores@espn.com. Don't forget to follow him on Twitter: @RonFloresESPN

Nike Extravaganza: Saturday morning recap | Friday recap | Preview

SANTA ANA, Calif. -- Whitney Young (Chicago) came into its matchup against POWERADE FAB 50 No. 20 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) on Saturday at the Nike Extravaganza without much to lose.

After all, Whitney Young was missing two starters, guard Paul White and center Thomas Hamilton Jr., to injury. The team played a grueling national schedule and limped into the contest as a dangerous 12-7 squad.

Bishop Gorman had its own statement to make. It wanted to prove it was still among the nation's best teams despite four losses. Star player Shabazz Muhammad wanted to make a statement about being the nation's best player despite his recent drop from No. 1 to No. 2 in the ESPNU 100.

Gorman stated its case by capitalizing on a 29-12 third-quarter advantage en route to a 69-50 victory.

Muhammad did the same, converting 13 of 20 shots, including 6-of-6 from 3-point range, and making 9 of 10 free throws in a 41-point performance.

"I have been asked that question thousands of times," said Bishop Gorman coach Grant Rice on Muhammad's new spot in the ESPNU 100. "I don't have the answer, but I know [Muhammad] doesn't need motivation. You guys have seen him for the past two years. He's just trying to get through this season, make his college decision and leave his mark on high school basketball."

Muhammad, the top vote getter in the latest ESPNHS Mr. Basketball USA Tracker, scored Bishop Gorman's first 12 points. When he hit a 3-pointer near the end of the first quarter, he had 15 of the Gaels' 18 points.

Muhammad had 21 points in the first half. He keyed a 10-0 run in the pivotal third quarter with two 3-pointers.

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Center Nerlens Noel moves up in class and moves up as Mr. Basketball USA candidate.

The big news this week was supposed to be the announcement of the rosters for the Jordan Brand Classic.

Seven of the 20 players on the 2012 team for this year's Jordan game on April 14 (7 p.m. ET, ESPN) appeared on at least one ballot in this week's ESPNHS Mr. Basketball USA Tracker.

That announcement was trumped by the news that center Nerlens Noel of The Tilton School (Tilton, N.H.) is returning to the 2012 class and intends to enter college this fall. Noel's decision to re-classify created a bigger firestorm when he was named the No. 1 prospect in the updated ESPNU 100 over Shabazz Muhammad of Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas).

Despite Noel's move, Muhammad remains the front-runner for national player of the year honors, as he amassed 94 points for the second consecutive week and was the only Mr. Basketball USA candidate to appear on all ten ballots. Muhammad will lead the Jordan Brand West team while his good friend Kyle Anderson of St. Anthony (Jersey City, N.J.), who garnered 76 points while appearing on nine ballots, headlines the East.

To read the rest of this story and see the Mr. Basketball USA voting results, CLICK HERE.

Ronnie Flores is a senior editor for ESPNHS. He can be reached at ronnie.flores@espn.com. Don't forget to follow him on Twitter: @RonFloresESPN

Debating whether a player deserves to land in the ESPNU 100, or whether he's a mid- or high-major player, is fun but it's not an exact science.

With the updated ESPNU 100 published earlier this week, combined with little movement in this week's Mr. Basketball USA Tracker, it's a good time to discuss why some of the players deemed the nation's best don't excel in the NBA.

First off, it's important to note the majority of the top five players in each class will enjoy NBA careers. In fact, every season since 1989-90, the ESPNHS Mr. Basketball USA honoree has eventually played in the NBA. Only two all-time selections dating back to the 1954-1955 season did not.

To read the rest of this story and see the Mr. Basketball USA voting results, CLICK HERE.

Ronnie Flores is a senior editor for ESPNHS. He can be reached at ronnie.flores@espn.com. Don't forget to follow him on Twitter: @RonFloresESPN

ESPNU 60 No. 2 Nerlens Noel breaks into the top 5 while Shabazz Muhammad, Kyle Anderson and Jabari Parker appear on all ten ballots.

The MLK holiday weekend is a time to reflect. It's also good time to evaluate the nation's best high school basketball players.

Many of the nation's top teams and prep schools traditionally participate in MLK showcase games around the country, giving the Mr. Basketball USA Tracker panel plenty of opportunities to evaluate the top candidates for national player of the year against strong competition -- and sometimes in head-to-head match-ups.

ESPN senior national basketball analyst and panel member Dave Telep said it best after the turn of the New Year: "We'll learn a lot in the next two weeks."

There was no better place to evaluate some of the top talent than at last weekend's Hoophall Classic in Springfield, Mass. The performances at the annual event brought about changes to the voting results of the latest ESPNHS Mr. Basketball USA Tracker.

To see the Mr. Basketball USA voting results, CLICK HERE.

Ronnie Flores is a senior editor for ESPNHS. He can be reached at ronnie.flores@espn.com. Don't forget to follow him on Twitter: @RonFloresESPN

Top recruit Shabazz Muhammad, Jabari Parker and Julius Randle collect first-place votes while Tyler Lewis increases point total by 25.

The New Year brought changes of opinion for some of the nation's leading talent evaluators regarding the top national player of the year candidates.

At the very top, the voting results of the latest ESPNHS Mr. Basketball USA Tracker are the same with ESPNU 100 No. 1 recruit Shabazz Muhammad of Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) leading the way with 92 points, one less than his preseason point total.

From the major holiday tournaments, two new candidates emerged among the top seven. Team success in these tournaments was the main factor causing change in the voting results.

In the preseason, point guard Tyler Lewis of Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) appeared on one ballot in fourth place (seven points). Lewis, coming off an MVP performance at the Les Schwab Invitational in Hillsboro, Ore., is consistently putting up double-digit numbers in scoring and assists for the Warriors.

In the latest tracker, Lewis appeared on five ballots and gained 25 points. Oak Hill currently sits at No. 2 in the POWERADE FAB 50 at 25-0. The next major test for the Warriors is Jan. 14 at the Spalding Hoophall Classic in Springfield, Mass., against Julius Randle and No. 23 Prestonwood Christian Academy (Plano, Texas).

To read the rest of this story and see the Mr. Basketball USA voting results, CLICK HERE.

Ronnie Flores is a senior editor for ESPNHS. He can be reached at ronnie.flores@espn.com. Don't forget to follow him on Twitter: @RonFloresESPN

Shabazz Muhammad, the No. 1 recruit in ESPNU 100, leads voting in preseason ESPNHS Mr. Basketball USA Tracker. Jabari Parker, Kyle Anderson and Marcus Smart also collect first-place votes.

Last season, Shabazz Muhammad of Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) was being mentioned in the same breath with the nation's top players such as Bradley Beal (Florida), Anthony Davis(Kentucky), Austin Rivers (Duke) and 2011 Mr. Basketball USA Michael Gilchrist (Kentucky).

Muhammad's junior season ended with a thud, as Bishop Gorman was stunned in its state playoff semifinal game. As a result, the uncommitted recruit dropped nine spots to 15th place in last season's final Mr. Basketball USA Tracker. He was named a first team ESPNHS All-American, but wasn't seriously considered for national player of the year.

Despite nursing a sore ankle in that state semifinal contest, the 6-foot-6 wing made no excuses -- he used the motivation created by that stunning loss to work on his game during the spring and summer.

By fall, Muhammad's talent and unmatched work ethic vaulted him to the top of the ESPNU 100 as the top prospect in the class of 2012 . It also put a bulls-eye on his chest as the player to catch in the race for this year's Mr. Basketball USA honor.

To read the rest of this story and see the Mr. Basketball USA voting results, CLICK HERE.

Ronnie Flores is a senior editor for ESPNHS. He can be reached at ronnie.flores@espn.com. Don't forget to follow him on Twitter: @RonFloresESPN

Preseason ESPNHS All-State Teams

Mr. Basketball USA is the title bestowed upon the National Player of the Year by ESPNHS.

During the regular season, ESPNHS will release its Mr. Basketball USA Tracker, a weekly look at the nation's top on-court performers, according to a panel made up of 10 high school basketball and recruiting experts, including five McDonald's All-American selection committee members. Now in its fifth year, the Mr. Basketball USA Tracker begins with its preseason voting results Nov. 17.

The early favorites*

Kyle Anderson, St. Anthony (Jersey City, N.J.) 6-7, PG

ESPNU 100 Rank: No. 5

Resume: He was spectacular for the Friars last season, earning second team ESPNHS All-American honors after netting 14.4 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game. He was one of the top two players on the No. 1-ranked team in the POWERADE FAB 50.

Why he could win: Anderson is a legit triple-double threat every game he plays. He has a huge impact on the outcome of games, and the defending champs will play some big ones.

Why he wouldn't: He'll have to carry more of the load and sometimes that's too much for a team shooting for the No. 1 spot in the ratings. The Friars can't afford many slip-ups. It remains to be seen if the lost production of guard Myles Mack hurts or helps Anderson's candidacy.

DaJuan Coleman, Jamesville-DeWitt (DeWitt, N.Y.) 6-10, C

ESPNU 100 Rank: 14

Resume: As a junior, he was named second team ESPNHS All-American after averaging 24.5 points and 14 rebounds per game. He earned Class A Tournament MVP honors for the second straight season.

Why he could win: It's simple -- if he leads his team to a sterling record and another state title he'll be in the running. Coleman earned ESPNHS National Freshman of the Year honors in 2008-09 and has led the Red Rams to a 75-7 record and three Class A state titles.

Why he wouldn't: The lack of national competition he’ll face outside of the East Region could hurt his candidacy. It will stand out as a negative factor if Jamesville-DeWitt doesn't win a state chip.

Shabazz Muhammad, Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.) 6-6, SG

ESPNU 100 Rank: 1

Resume: As a junior, the smooth lefty earned first team ESPNHS All-American honors by averaging 25.1 points and 7.7 rebounds for a 25-6 club. His junior campaign ended with a thud, as Gorman was upset in the state semifinals, but some analysts considered Muhammad the West Region’s top player regardless of class last year.

Why he could win: He has the talent and team around him to not only be regarded as the best player in Nevada’s history, but the first ever ESPNHS National Player of the Year from the state.

Why he wouldn't: The team around him. Only injury or a total Gorman collapse would prevent Muhammad from appearing on a ton of ballots each week. Gorman had up-and-down performances against national competition and his teammates need to rise to the occasion.

Jabari Parker, Simeon (Chicago, Ill.) 6-8, SF

ESPNU Super 60 Rank: 1

Resume: As a sophomore, he averaged 15.3 points and 9.1 rebounds per game for a team that finished 30-2 and ranked No. 9 in the FAB 50. Parker was named ESPNHS National Sophomore of the Year and Nationa Freshman of the Year in those respective seasons.

Why he could win: Being the top player on the No. 1 team in the POWERADE FAB 50 is a good start. Plus, Parker has the great combination of talent and work ethic. Traditionally Illinois teams don’t travel far to play national competition (they don't really have to), but that's not the case with Simeon.

Why he wouldn't: If he doesn't make those talented teammates better or Simeon doesn't live up to expectations, his candidacy will suffer. Traditionally, juniors don't win national player of the year honors and only three have been by ESPNHS -- LeBron James (2002), Lew Alcindor (1964) and Jerry Lucas (1957). You're talking about two of the top five high school players ever and another all-time great. Parker would have to prove he's in that select company.

Tony Parker, Miller Grove (Lithonia, Ga.) 6-9, PF

ESPNU 100 Rank: 31

Resume: As a junior, he averaged 17.5 points, 15.6 rebounds and 3.9 blocks per game for a team that finished 31-2 on-court and ranked No. 6 in the POWERADE FAB 50. Parker was named the Peach State’s second-ever ESPNHS National Junior of the Year, following Louis Williams of South Gwinnett (Snellville, Ga.) in 2003-04.

Why he could win: If T.P. plays with consistency throughout the year, he could become Georgia's second winner in four years, alongside Derrick Favors of South Atlanta. Georgia’s Class AAAA Player of the Year scored 21 points and grabbed 22 boards in a state title-game win. Similar performances this season, with the rugged schedule Miller Grove plays, makes for a strong candidate.

Why he wouldn't: Miller Grove has a brutal five-week stretch in its schedule where it faces Oak Hill Academy, plays at the City of Palms Tournament and Bass Pro Tournament Champions, and squares off against No. 1 Simeon and defending FAB 50 champ St. Anthony. It's sink or swim time for Parker. To play at the level necessary every night for Miller Grove to win all those games may be asking a bit too much.

Marcus Smart, Marcus (Flower Mound, Texas) 6-4, SF

ESPNU 100 Rank: 11

Resume: Smart earned second-team ESPNHS All-American honors after pumping in 14 points, 8.7 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 2.5 steals per game. Marcus finished 39-1 and ranked No. 5 in the FAB 50.

Why he could win: Is he a shooting guard? A point guard? A small forward? It's one of the most pressing recruiting questions of the 2011-12 season, but for what Smart does for his high school team the answer doesn't really matter. He's the ringleader on a team that has four starters back. He's simply a winner.

Why he wouldn't: Panelists might view Smart as a product of a great team and system, not the most talented individual in the country. That could happen if he doesn't have big games on the big stages or clearly separates himself from teammates. To Smart's credit, he's a team-oriented player, but the varying opinions on his future potential could hurt his candidacy, especially if Marcus doesn't win its showcase games.

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