Tag: boys basketball

Each Big East basketball program’s highest-ranked 2021 commit

USA Today High School Sports takes a look at each Big East basketball program’s highest-ranked 2021 commit.

With the fall signing period long in the books and the spring signing period underway, it’s time to take a deeper look at the crop of prospects ascending to the college ranks in the coming weeks months.

Despite Creighton and Villanova making it to the Sweet 16, 2020 was thought to be a down year for the Big East on the court. The conference is primed to bounce back in a big way next season thanks to an influx via the recruiting trail, though. UConn’s 2021 recruiting class ranks atop the conference, but the Huskies are not the only Big East team set to welcome a host of talent into their program next season.

Let’s take a look at the highest-ranked commit in each Big East program’s 2021 recruiting class.

Note: List is subject to change pending the outcome of the spring signing period and decisions of currently uncommitted recruits.

The Top 10 remaining unsigned 2021 basketball recruits entering Spring Signing Period

USA Today High School Sports takes a look at the top 10 remaining unsigned 2021 basketball recruits ahead of the Spring Signing Period.

The Fall Signing Period has come and gone, but there are still plenty of elite 2021 basketball recruits available for the taking with the Spring Signing Period set to commence Wednesday.

Some of the top prospects in the country remained unsigned entering the Spring Signing Period, with consensus No. 1 recruit Chet Holmgren and 247Sports’ No. 4 recruit Patrick Baldwin Jr. headlining the bunch. Jaden Hardy, the No. 2 recruit in the class of 2021, and Michael Foster, the 14th-ranked prospect, are also currently uncommitted, but are expected to forego playing college basketball for the professional ranks.

RELATED: No. 1 2021 recruit Chet Holmgren will choose a college

Let’s take a look at the top 10 remaining unsigned recruits with the Spring Signing Period just one day away.

Note: Rankings and measurables courtesy of 247Sports.

Boys Basketball: Top four seeds advance to GEICO Nationals semifinals

No. 1 Montverde Academy, No. 2 AZ Compass Prep, No. 3 Sunrise Christian and No. 4 IMG Academy are playing in Friday’s semifinals.

The boys’ side of the GEICO Nationals is down to four teams.

No. 1 Montverde (Fla.) Montverde Academy, No. 2 Chandler (Ariz.) AZ Compass Prep, No. 3 Bel Aire (Kan.) Sunrise Christian Academy and No. 4 Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy all took take of business in the quarterfinals to advance to Friday’s semifinals. IMG Academy is slated to play Sunrise Christian Academy at 2:30 p.m. ET, while Montverde Academy takes on AZ Compass Prep at 4:30 p.m. ET.

The winner of both games will meet in the finals on Saturday.

Three of Thursday’s four quarterfinal matchups were nailbiters. Montverde Academy cruised to an 85-64 win over Mouth of Wilson (Va.) Oak Hill, but AZ Compass Prep, Sunrise Christian Academy and IMG Academy won their quarterfinal games by a combined 11 points.

AZ Compass Prep fended off Wasatch Academy behind 22 points and 10 rebounds from TyTy Washington. AZ Compass Prep shot just 5-23 in the first half, but fired at a 50% clip in the second. Napa (Calif.) Prolific Prep gave Sunrise Christian Academy a run for its money, but a dunk from Zach Clemence with 35 seconds left secured a 56-55 win for the Kansas prep school. IMG Academy, the defending GEICO national champions, led wire-to-wire in its win over Milton (Ga.) High School, but Milton battled back from 17 points down to its lead to one with 1:25 remaining before IMG Academy pulled away for a 73-68 win

Semifinal action of the GEICO Nationals semifinals can be watched on ESPN2.

RELATED: No. 1 2021 recruit Chet Holmgren will choose a college

Alaska HS basketball team cleared to wear ‘Black Lives Matter’ on gear gifted by Puma

East Anchorage’s boys basketball team united its community by wearing “Black Lives Matter” on its gear. Puma helped the cause with sneakers.

Corrections and clarifications: The headline on this article has been revised to reflect that East Anchorage High School was allowed to wear athletic gear containing the phrase “Black Lives Matter” in the Alaska state tournament.

East Anchorage High School boasts one of the best boys basketball programs in the state of Alaska.

It also features a group of young men dedicated to bringing about change in their community.

East Anchorage players had been wearing “Black Lives Matter” in their gear since the beginning of their season. While wearing the message of unity and equality, East Anchorage pieced together an undefeated regular season. However, after winning its conference tournament last week, a formal complaint was issued to the Alaska Sports Activities Association (ASAA) claiming that Black Lives Matter is a political statement and the team should have to cover the phrase during the state tournament.

Disappointed in the criticism of the team’s efforts to unify the community, Damarion Delaney, one of East Anchorage’s star players took to Twitter to shed light on the situation. Fortunately, the ASAA ruled in favor of East Anchorage and allowed them to continue wearing their full uniforms.

Delaney’s Twitter thread caught the attention of David Bullock, an Alaska native currently living in Los Angeles and CEO of 907 Agency. He immediately took action, reaching out to Puma in an effort to garner additional support of East Anchorage’s efforts. Puma responded by gifting each East Anchorage player and coach a pair of black sneakers, which Bullock gifted to the team hours before its Alaska 4A state championship game Saturday.

“The thread on Twitter received hundreds of retweets and favorites, which is what got my attention,” Bullock told USA Today High School Sports. “I viewed this as an attempt to silence the movement. I reached out to Puma Basketball to support these young men. In response, Puma sent a pair of black shoes to every player and coach on the team, which I delivered to them hours before the state championship.”

Photo: ARM Creative

East Anchorage ultimately completed a perfect season by winning its state title game, but its players achieved far more than just a trophy in doing so. Like it or not, East Anchorage left a profound impact on its community — one that will play a major role in how it combats social and racial injustices moving forward.

“The efforts to silence this team’s message of equality weren’t successful and ultimately amplified their voices,” Bullock said. “Not only did this group of young men stick to their beliefs, but they completed a perfect season and became Alaska state champions.”

Five-star 2021 CG Hunter Sallis commits to Gonzaga

Gonzaga landed the No. 6 recruit in the class of 2021 on Friday.

Five-star Omaha (Neb.) Millard North combo guard Hunter Sallis is heading to Gonzaga.

The No. 6 recruit in the class of 2021 according to 247Sports brought an end to his recruitment Friday morning, committing to the Bulldogs over Creighton, Iowa State, Kansas, Kentucky, North Carolina, Oregon and UCLA, among others.

Sallis is now the highest-rated prospect to ever commit to Gonzaga.

“I feel like it was the right fit because I had already gotten down there on an official visit and I felt comfortable with the coaches,” Sallis said, per 247Sports’ Eric Bossi. “It was really about how they were on the visit. I was able to get there and really get to know them as people instead of just coaches.”

According to 247Sports, Sallis is the No. 2 combo guard in his class behind Jaden Hardy. He is also the top recruit in his home state of Nebraska. Sallis’ commitment could be just the beginning of a stretch of recruiting victories for Gonzaga, as Chet Holmgren, the top recruit in the class of 2021, is currently considered a Bulldogs lean.

RELATED: No. 1 2021 recruit Chet Holmgren will choose a college

“Sallis is a big guard who can play on or off the ball,” 247Sports’ Brian Snow said in his scouting report of the combo guard. “He is right around 6-foot-4 with the ability to really make shots, long arms, and is a solid athlete who has gotten better at a rapid rate.

“With his basketball IQ and passing ability, he serves as someone who can be a lead guard who takes care of the basketball and controls the game as a scorer and a distributor. Once he gains strength and gets more confident in his own ability the sky is the limit for what he can accomplish going forward.”

Which boys HS basketball programs won state championships this season?

USA Today High School Sports takes a look at which boys high school basketball programs have won state championships so far this season.

The COVID-19 pandemic threw a major wrench in this year’s high school basketball season, but champions have still been crowned across the country and plenty more are still to come.

23 states have already completed their postseason slates, while 27 more (including the District of Columbia) will name champions before the year is up. Only New Jersey elected not to host postseason play this high school basketball season.

USA Today High School Sports will keep you posted on who brings home hardware across the boys high school basketball landscape with a running list of state champions.

WATCH: Texas HS basketball star leads team to state title with 2 buzzer beaters

Terrance Arceneaux helped Beaumont United win its first state championship Friday night with a pair of buzzer-beaters.

Big-time players make big-time plays in big-time games. Terrance Arceneaux lived up to that billing and then some Friday night, hitting two buzzer-beaters to help Beaumont United win its first boys basketball state championship.

Arceneaux drained buzzer-beaters at the end of regulation and overtime, leading Beaumont United to a 71-70 victory over Kimball High School to claim the Texas Class 5A title. The 6-foot-7 junior first hit a three as time expired in regulation to tie the score at 64 and send the game into overtime.

https://twitter.com/JoeJHoyt/status/1370563828388225028?s=20

He then followed up his regulation heroics with another three at the buzzer in overtime, this one giving Beaumont United the win and state championship.

Arceneaux, who finished with 24 points, nine blocked shots and seven rebounds earned game MVP honors. According to 247Sports, he is currently the No. 111 recruit in the class of 2022 and boasts offers from Houston, Lamar, LSU, Old Dominion, Oral Roberts, Rice, TCU and Texas A&M.

“Arceneaux is an explosive athlete with a wiry build,” 247Sports’ Brandon Jenkins said in his scouting report of Arceneaux. “He is a long and rangy prospect who gets off his feet to rise up in a hurry and already has a history of dunking on people. He stands out on the defensive end with excellent length combined with good bounce and fluid strides.

“Each time he laces them up, Arceneaux is bound to get his fair share of deflections and blocks. His best basketball is ahead of him if he continues to improve his jump shot and ability to play off a live dribble in the half-court.”

Chet Holmgren named 2021 Naismith Boys HS Basketball Player of the Year

Chet Holmgren has been named the 2021 Naismith Boys High School Basketball Player of the Year by the Atlanta Tipoff Club.

Chet Holmgren, the top recruit in the class of 2021, has been named the Naismith boys high school basketball Player of the Year by the Atlanta Tipoff Club.

Holmgren is averaging 20.6 points per game so far this season for Minnehaha Academy and has scored in double figures every game. With Holmgren leading the charge, Minnehaha currently sits at 13-1 on the year. Holmgren is the first Minnesota native to receive the Naismith High School Trophy.

“This is a tremendous honor, and I’m so appreciative to win the Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophy,” Holmgren said. “I’d like to thank my family, teammates and coaches for helping me to achieve success, and I also want to thank the Atlanta Tipoff Club and Jersey Mike’s for recognizing me.”

Holmgren recently narrowed down his recruitment to a list of finalists consisting of Georgetown, Gonzaga, Memphis, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina and Ohio State. Gonzaga is currently viewed as the favorite to land Holmgren, as his 247Sports Crystal Ball reads 100% in favor of the Bulldogs.

“It is great to see the fans (on social media) trying to lead me to their school,” Holmgren said. “I am not letting it play too much into my decision because at the end of the day I have to find what is best for me and my future. Wherever I end up going, I am sure their fans will be the happiest for me.”

RELATED: No. 1 2021 recruit Chet Holmgren will choose a college

The Jersey Mike’s Naismith High School Trophy for Player of the Year was first presented in 1987, and the winners are selected by a group of basketball journalists from around the country who form the Naismith Awards national high school voting academy. The selections were based on outstanding performances during the 2020-21 high school basketball season.

Past notable boys winners have included Jason Kidd (1992, St. Joseph
Notre Dame High School, Alameda, Calif.), Kobe Bryant (1996, Lower Merion High School, Ardmore, a.), LeBron James (2003, St. Vincent-St. Mary, Akron, Ohio) and Derrick Favors (2009, South Atlanta High School, Ga.).

Emoni Bates, Chet Holmgren headline Naismith boys’ All-America teams

The Atlanta Tipoff Club announced its high school boys’ All-America teams Tuesday.

The Atlanta Tipoff Club announced its high school boys’ All-America teams Tuesday, with top 2021 recruit Chet Holmgren and top 2022 recruit Emoni Bates headlining the group of players as first-team selections.

Jaden Hardy, the No. 2 recruit in the class of 2021, and Duke commit Paolo Banchero, the No. 3 recruit in the class of 2021, are also among the numerous notable names selected to Naismith’s All-America teams. You can read the three teams and honorable mention selections below.

First Team

  • F Paolo Banchero — O’Dea High School (Wash.)
  • F Emoni Bates — Ypsi Prep Academy (Mich.)
  • G Jaden Hardy — Coronado High School (Nev.)
  • C Chet Holmgren — Minnehaha Academy (Minn.)
  • F Jabari Smith — Sandy Creek High School (Ga.)

Second Team

  • G Kennedy Chandler — Sunrise Christian Academy (Kan.)
  • G J.D. Davison — Calhoun High School (Ala.)
  • C Jalen Duren — Montverde Academy (Fla.)
  • F Caleb Houstan — Montverde Academy (Fla.)
  • G Hunter Sallis — Millard North High School (Neb.)

Third Team

  • F Kendall Brown — Sunrise Christian Academy (Kan.)
  • F Daimion Collins — Atlanta High School (Texas)
  • F Michael Foster — Hillcrest Prep (Ariz.)
  • F A.J. Griffin — Archbishop Stepinac High School (N.Y.)
  • F Harrison Ingram — St. Mark’s School (Texas)

Honorable Mention

  • F Patrick Baldwin Jr. — Hamilton High School (Wisc.)
  • G Tamar Bates — IMG Academy (Fla.)
  • C Nate Bittle — Prolific Prep (Calif.)
  • G Max Christian — Rolling Meadows High School (Ill.)
  • F Matt Cleveland — Pace Academy (Ga.)
  • F Moussa Diabate — IMG Academy (Fla.)
  • G Keyonte George — iSchool Entrepenurical Academy (Texas)
  • G Scoot Henderson — Kell High School (Ga.)
  • G Nolan Hickman — Wasatch Academy (Utah)
  • G Trevor Keels — Paul VI High School (Va.)
  • G Aminu Mohammed — Greenwood Laboratory School (Mo.)
  • G D.J. Wagner — Camden High School (N.J.)
  • G TyTy Washington — AZ Compass Prep (Ariz.)
  • F Peyton Watson — Long Beach Polytechnic High School (Calif.)
  • G Mikey Williams — Lake Norman Christian School (N.C.)

15-year-old New York HS basketball star Jo-Jo Wright killed in car crash

15-year-old New York high school basketball star Jo-Jo Wright was killed in an automobile accident Wednesday afternoon.

15-year-old New York high school basketball star Jo-Jo Wright was killed in an automobile accident Wednesday afternoon.

According to Newsday, Wright was on his way to a local gymnasium for a workout when the 2012 Honda CRV carrying Wright, who was sitting in the backseat at the time of the accident, and a teammate collided with an 87-year-old male driving a 2006 Toyota, per police. The collision caused the CRV to hit a pole. Wright was rushed to Nassau University Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

“I am devastated,” Uniondale coach Tom Diana said. “He was the best. A different kind of kid. He was funny and playful and full of life … And he might have been one of the most talented players to ever walk the halls at our school. He had a great future.”

Wright starred at Uniondale High School in Long Island and made an instant impact as a freshman last season, earning All-Long Island boys basketball team honors after averaging 19 points, nine assists, six rebounds and three steals per game. With Wright running the show, Uniondale went 20-2 in 2019-20, including a 19-game winning streak and a trip to the Nassau County championship game. Wright was also part of the New York Lightning AAU program.

“I know this gets lost because of what a great basketball player he was, but he was an even better person,” Diana said. “He had goals but he was always a good person.

“[Wright] wanted to be a big-time player and he had a work ethic to match that,” he added. “I don’t know who worked harder. It’s great when your best player is also your hardest worker. I have no doubt he could have become whatever he wanted in basketball.”