ALL-USA Boys Basketball – Syndication Server

USA TODAY High School Sports Awards unveils Boys Basketball Player of the Year nominees

The 2023-24 ALL-USA team has been set.

The nominees for Boys Basketball Player of the Year have been released, a top-tier roster of 25 standouts who need little introduction.

From familiar last names that carry flashes of NBA highlights to 5-star phenoms to dynamic talents who helped their teams hold firm in the USA TODAY HSS Super 25 all season, the collective group will make deciding on the best of the best in August a tall task.

Until then, the HSS staff would like to extend a massive standing-O to each of the players selected this year.

And now … here is the ALL-USA TODAY HSSA Boys Basketball Team:

JCameron Boozer (12) during the Section 7 high school boys tournament at State Farm Stadium. Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Ace Bailey, F, McEachern High School (Georgia) — SR

Jalil Bethea, G, Archbishop Wood High School (Pennsylvania) — SR

Flory Bidunga, C, Kokomo High School (Indiana) — SR

Annor Boateng, F, Little Rock Central High School (Arkansas) — SR

Cameron Boozer, F, Christopher Columbus High School (Florida) — JR

Carter Bryant, F, Centennial High School (California) — SR

Brayden Burries, G, Eleanor Roosevelt High School (California) — JR

Jacob Cofie, C, Eastside Catholic School (Washington) — SR

VJ Edgecombe, F, Long Island Lutheran High School (New York) — SR

Isaiah Evans, F, North Mecklenburg High School (North Carolina) — SR

Boogie Fland, G, Archbishop Stepinac High School (New York) — SR

Dylan Harper, G, Don Bosco Prep (New Jersey) — SR

Darren Harris, G, Paul VI Catholic High School (Virginia) — SR

Gicarri Harris, G, Grayson High School (Georgia) — SR

Morez Johnson, C, Thornton Township High School (Illinois) — SR

Kon Knueppel, F, Wisconsin Lutheran High School (Wisconsin) — SR

Jackson McAndrew, F, Wayzata High School (Minnesota) — SR

Trey McKenney, G, St. Mary’s Preparatory School (Michigan) — JR

Mercy Miller, G, Notre Dame High School (California) — SR

Koa Peat, F, Perry High School (Arizona) — JR

Trent Perry, G, Harvard-Westlake School (California) — SR

Travis Perry, G, Lyon County High School (Kentucky) — SR

Tahaad Pettiford, G, Hudson Catholic High School (New Jersey) — SR

Drake Powell, F, Northwood High School (North Carolina) — SR

Cam Scott, G, Lexington High School (South Carolina) — SR

From the HSSA

Nominees for both the regional and national programs are posted as they are selected. Regional nominees represent the best in their respective areas, while national nominees are recognized as the top high school athletes nationwide.

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Reigning ALL-USA POY Sharife Cooper finding new motivation in final season

Auburn signee Sharife Cooper is finding new motivation to dominate again this season after winning ALL-USA Player of the Year last season.

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Sharife Cooper is in this weird space where on one hand, as the reigning ALL-USA Player of the Year and No. 2 overall player in USA Today Sports’ Chosen 25, he feels the bull’s-eye growing daily; yet on the other hand he hears the whispers that McEachern High School (Powder Springs, Georgia) is vulnerable this year with Cooper as the only returning starter from last year’s 32-0 state championship team.

“It can make you think crazy if you let it,” said Cooper, a point guard who is signed to Auburn. “I don’t. I just use it as motivation both ways; if people are sleeping on us that makes me want to go all out even more, and if people want to be first to knock off the champs I can’t let that happen, so I have to go all out. Either way, I’m going all out.”

That PSA was deafening last weekend at the Thanksgiving Shootout.

Cooper averaged 48 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds a game; that included a 44-point, 10-rebound, six-assist performance against No. 12 Mayfair (Lakewood, California), which featured five-star guards Josh Christopher, who is ranked No. 16 in the Chosen 25, and Dior Johnson.

The Indians, who check in at No. 6 in USA Today’s Super 25, won 87-79 and sit at 6-0 for the season.

For the season, Cooper is averaging 34 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists a game. That’s up from last season when Cooper averaged 28.6 points, 8.7 assists and six rebounds a game.

“Every time we step on the court, one way or the other people want us to fail,” Cooper said. “That’s the bottom line. It’s a different energy when it’s you and your guys against everyone else. It’s different, but I like it.”

Another difference is Cooper’s role as a scorer; sounds wild for a guy who averaged 28 points a game last season, but Cooper said he’s taking on the challenge of elevating his scoring this season.

“Last year I had guys that would take that load, but this year it’s something I have to do more of for my team,” Cooper said. “I’ve always prided myself in being the guy who would do whatever it takes for my team to win because winning is all that matters to me. Scoring comes naturally to me so it’s just a matter of staying aggressive. I still don’t force things, and I’m a natural playmaker so I’m always gonna make my teammates better and make the right basketball play. It’s a new year and a new challenge, and I’m ready for it.”

Follow Jason Jordan on Twitter: @JayJayUSATODAY