Category: Boys Basketball

Where are they now? The Class of 2010 in boys basketball

USA TODAY High School Sports revisits the boys basketball recruiting Class of 2010 and what its members achieved in college and the NBA in the subsequent decade.

As boys basketball Early Signing Period gets underway Wednesday, a new cast of players hoping to be the stars of the future will officially end their recruitment.

On this day, fans will see which schools sign the best high school prospects and position themselves for success in the coming seasons.

With that in mind, let’s take a look back to the signing class one decade ago, the 2010 class, and what became of its top recruits.

High school stats and info are compiled from MaxPreps or the player biography on the respective college websites, unless otherwise stated. The class ranking is based on the 247Sports Composite.

Harrison Barnes

School: Ames (Iowa)
College: North Carolina
NBA team: Sacramento Kings
Noteworthy: Barnes looked like the next big thing when he enrolled at North Carolina as the No. 1 player in the Class of 2010. Named the 2009-10 ALL-USA Player of the Year, he averaged 27.1 points, 10.4 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 4.0 steals per game, became the school’s all-time leader in points and lead Ames to back-to-back undefeated championships. He was drafted by the Golden State Warriors, where he won a title in 2015 and has since played for the Dallas Mavericks and Sacramento Kings.

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The Bryce Thompson Blog: This is why I chose Kansas…

Elite scoring guard Bryce Thompson did an exclusive blog breaking down the reasons behind his big decision.

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Booker T. Washington High School (Tulsa, Oklahoma) combo guard Bryce Thompson picked Kansas over Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and North Carolina.

Thompson, five-star prospect led the Under Armour Association in scoring this past summer and gives the Jayhawks their third commit from the 2020 class.

Follow Jason Jordan on Twitter: @JayJayUSATODAY

Miller Grove to name its court after former ALL-USA Coach of the Year Sharman White

Miller Grove to name court after former ALL-USA Coach of the Year Sharman White.

Miller Grove coach Sharman White is headed to Georgia Tech as an assistant. (Photo: USA Basketball)

Earlier this decade when Wheeler High School (Marietta, Georgia) named its basketball gym after former coach Doug Lipscomb, Sharman White recalled thinking “it was cool because they gave him his flowers while he could smell them.”

“I never related it to myself,” said White, head boys’ basketball coach at Pace Academy (Atlanta). “I was just happy that they honored him while he could enjoy it. So many times it’s after someone has passed. I just liked that they did that.”

RELATED: Georgia to implement first shot clock

Chances are he’ll have a similar feeling tonight when Miller Grove High School (Lithonia, Georgia) names its court after White, who coached the Wolverines from 2005-2016.

In 11 years at Miller Grove, White won seven state titles and posted a 264-47 record. He’s also won two gold medals as an assistant coach with USA Basketball and was named ALL-USA Boys’ Basketball Coach of the Year in 2014 and National High School Association Coach of the Year in 2016.

White left Miller Grove (Lithonia, Ga.) in 2016 to take an assistant coaching position at Georgia State, where he served for two seasons before taking the job at Pace in 2018.

Miller Grove’s court will now be called “Sharman White Court” with White’s signature.

RELATED: The Sharman White Blog

“It’s humbling and it’s a blessing,” White said. “We had a special run at Miller Grove, and it means a lot to receive this honor.”

White will be honored between the girls and the boys game.

“It’s really cool because I can enjoy it while I’m still actively coaching and still striving to be the best that I can be at this profession,” White said. “It’s definitely gratifying.”

Follow Jason Jordan on Twitter: @JayJayUSATODAY

2019-20 Super 25 Preseason Boys Basketball Rankings released

The Super 25 Preseason High School Boys Basketball Rankings have been released. Check out which teams make up the top 25.

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USA TODAY High School Sports is revealing the 2019-20 Super 25 Preseason Boys Basketball Teams. The Super 25 has been a staple of USA TODAY for more than 30 years and highlights the best teams around the nation.

Each post contains analysis, key players and more from USA TODAY Sports’ Jason Jordan in consultation with the USA TODAY High School Sports staff.

ALL-USA: 19-20 ALL-USA Preseason Boys Basketball Team

LOOKBACK: 2018-19 Final Super 25 Boys Basketball rankings

Click through to see each team:

No. 25 ARCHBISHOP STEPINAC

Archbishop Stepinac (White Plains, New York) stars AJ Griffin (21) and R.J. Davis (1) (Photo: Lonnie Webb Photography)

Location: White Plains, New York
Preseason Rank: 25
2018-19 record: 14-16
Final 2018-19 Super 25 ranking: Not Ranked

Last year, injuries early in the season prevented the team from living up to its potential record-wise. Archbishop Stepinac proved that in the playoffs, getting to the championship game.

A.J. Griffin and R.J. Davis combined for more than 45 points per game last season, but they’re more than just scorers. Griffin averaged a double-double with 10.9 rebounds and was an elite defender, putting up 3.5 blocks and 2.4 steals, and David had seven rebounds to go with 4.9 assists. All five starters are returning, and the team is getting back junior Jonah Phang, a 6-foot-8 center who missed last season due to a knee injury. With a healthy team, it will be exciting to see if the Crusaders can live up to expectations.

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Top recruiting battles headed into basketball’s Early Signing Period

From Blue Blood battles to mid-majors trying to steal five-stars, we take a look at the top recruiting battles headed in to the Early Signing Period.

Months before elite college basketball programs duel on the hardwood they duke-it-out in high school gyms and in the living rooms of the top high school basketball players trying to lure them to their school.

From Duke and Clemson’s 11th hour battle for Zion Williamson to North Carolina’s fight with Oregon and others to land Cole Anthony, the recruiting trail has seen tumultuous battles over the years.

Recruiting: 2020 Chosen 25 Basketball Recruiting Rankings

Here’s a look at the top down-to-the-wire battles in college basketball recruiting for the 2020 class.

Prolific Prep (California) guard Jalen Green (Photo: Rick Managan)

Jalen Green
School: Prolific Prep (Napa, California)
Position: Combo Guard
Height/Weight: 6-5/180
Considering: Auburn, Memphis, Oregon, Fresno State, USC

The Buzz: Green originally said that he would make his announcement on Christmas Day, but now he’s reportedly planning to hold off until after his season ends. Green, ranked No. 3 in the Chosen 25, has already taken visits to each of his five schools and is receiving the full-court press not just from the coaches, but committed recruits at each school. Sharife Cooper, an Auburn commit who is ranked No. 2 in the Chosen 25, told USA Today Sports he “is coming hard” after Green.

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Tipoff Classic to feature first shot clock in Georgia HS hoops history

Georgia will be implementing the first shot clock in the state’s history at the Hawks-Naismith Tipoff Classic.

Come Friday the 12 Georgia-based high school basketball teams competing in the Hawks-Naismith Tipoff Classic will have to be intentional on offense because for the first time in the state’s history, the Georgia High School Association has approved the experimental use of a 30-second shot clock.

The Tipoff Classic, which runs from Nov. 15-16 at Pace Academy (Atlanta), is the first of six events that will implement the shot clock this season.

Currently just eight states – New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Washington, California, Maryland, North Dakota and South Dakota – use shot clocks in high school games.

ESPN National Recruiting Director for Basketball Paul Biancardi has long been outspoken about implementing a shot block in high school basketball and said he was “thrilled” to see another state experiment with it.

“I am excited beyond belief about the progressive and collaborative efforts from both the Atlanta Hawks and The Atlanta Tipoff Club to implement a shot clock during the Hawks-Naismith Tipoff Classic,” said ESPN National Recruiting Director for Basketball Paul Biancardi. “After coaching college basketball for more than 20 years, I am thrilled to see this premier event make this change on behalf of the players, coaches and fans. The high school game is moving towards a national shot clock. In the meantime, I believe that the rest of the country will model this concept.”

Pace Academy coach Sharman White, whose team will host and participate in the event, said he doesn’t anticipate the shot clock being a major adjustment for his team since they regularly implement it in practice to create the uptempo style they like to play.

“I’m confident that our guys will be ready because they’re used to it,” said White, a former ALL-USA Coach of the Year who has won seven state titles. “I love it. I think it’s a move in the right direction for Georgia and even the country.”

Follow Jason Jordan on Twitter: @JayJayUSATODAY