Future Hall of Famer Anthony Davis tops list of area’s premier prep prospects
Here’s a look at the best high school basketball prospects this state has produced over the last 25 years. Remember, this is a ranking of prospects while in high school and not the best high school players.1. Anthony DavisSchool/year: Perspectives (Class of 2011)Consensus national rank: No. 1Post-high school career: A national champion and player of the year at Kentucky as a freshman. The No. 1 pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, Davis, who’s a nine-time All-Star and one-time champ, is a future Hall of Famer.2. Derrick RoseSchool/year: Simeon (2007)Consensus national rank: No. 5Post-high school career: After leading Memphis to the Final Four in his only college season, Rose was the No. 1 pick in the 2008 NBA Draft. With the Bulls, he became the youngest MVP in league history.3. Shaun LivingstonSchool/year: Peoria Central (2004)Consensus national rank: No. 2Post-high school career: After winning back-to-back state championships, the 6-7 guard went directly to the pros, drafted fourth overall by the Clippers. A devastating knee and leg injury stunted his career at the age of 21, yet he still carved out a highly successful 14-year career and won three NBA championships.4. Eddy CurrySchool/year: Thornwood (2001)Consensus national rank: No. 1Post-high school career: Curry went the preps-to-pros route and was chosen No. 4 by the Bulls in the 2001 draft. Although he put together a decadelong career, the mercurial big man was never able to live up to all the hype and expectations.5. Jahlil OkaforSchool/year: Young (2014)Consensus national rank: No. 1Post-high school career: It has been a whirlwind for Okafor, who was the national freshman of the year and an All-American in his one season at Duke. He helped the Blue Devils to a national championship and was the No. 3 pick in the 2015 NBA Draft.Okafor’s best season as a pro came in his rookie year with the 76ers, when he averaged 17.5 points and seven rebounds. His career then sputtered, and he has spent time playing in Mexico, Spain and Puerto Rico.6. Jabari ParkerSchool/year: Simeon (2013)Consensus national rank: No. 3Post-high school career: After a very productive one season at Duke, Parker was the second overall pick by the Bucks in 2014. Although he averaged 14.1 points a game in his NBA career, including 20.1 points in the 2016-17 season, injuries, including two ACL tears, derailed him. After taking a year off, he played last season in the EuroLeague.7. Jalen BrunsonSchool/year: Stevenson (2015)Consensus national rank: No. 19Post-high school career: If this was all simply based on accomplishments after high school, Brunson is likely right behind Davis at No. 2. He’s a two-time NCAA national champion at Villanova, the 2018 college player of the year and a current NBA star with the Knicks. Brunson was top five in MVP voting last season after averaging 28.7 points a game.8. Jon ScheyerSchool/year: Glenbrook North (2006)Consensus national rank: No. 28Post-high school career: After one of the all-time great high school careers in state history, Scheyer scored 2,000 career points, was named an All-American and won a national championship as a senior at Duke. A serious eye injury in his first NBA Summer League altered his playing career. Scheyer is now the coach at Duke.9. Jereme RichmondSchool/year: Waukegan (2010)Consensus national rank: No. 24Post-high school career: He played just one season at Illinois, was arrested and battled legal trouble thereafter. He has played sparingly overseas over the years. But there wasn’t much Richmond couldn’t do on the floor at 6-7.10. Shannon Brown School/year: Proviso East (2003)Consensus national rank: No. 3Post-high school career: Brown put in three solid seasons at Michigan State, including a junior season when he averaged 17.2 points a game. He was a first-round pick in the NBA Draft and played a solid bench role for eight seasons.
Here’s a look at the best high school basketball prospects this state has produced over the last 25 years. Remember, this is a ranking of prospects while in high school and not the best high school players.
1. Anthony Davis
School/year: Perspectives (Class of 2011)
Consensus national rank: No. 1
Post-high school career: A national champion and player of the year at Kentucky as a freshman. The No. 1 pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, Davis, who’s a nine-time All-Star and one-time champ, is a future Hall of Famer.
2. Derrick Rose
School/year: Simeon (2007)
Consensus national rank: No. 5
Post-high school career: After leading Memphis to the Final Four in his only college season, Rose was the No. 1 pick in the 2008 NBA Draft. With the Bulls, he became the youngest MVP in league history.
3. Shaun Livingston
School/year: Peoria Central (2004)
Consensus national rank: No. 2
Post-high school career: After winning back-to-back state championships, the 6-7 guard went directly to the pros, drafted fourth overall by the Clippers. A devastating knee and leg injury stunted his career at the age of 21, yet he still carved out a highly successful 14-year career and won three NBA championships.
4. Eddy Curry
School/year: Thornwood (2001)
Consensus national rank: No. 1
Post-high school career: Curry went the preps-to-pros route and was chosen No. 4 by the Bulls in the 2001 draft. Although he put together a decadelong career, the mercurial big man was never able to live up to all the hype and expectations.
5. Jahlil Okafor
School/year: Young (2014)
Consensus national rank: No. 1
Post-high school career: It has been a whirlwind for Okafor, who was the national freshman of the year and an All-American in his one season at Duke. He helped the Blue Devils to a national championship and was the No. 3 pick in the 2015 NBA Draft.
Okafor’s best season as a pro came in his rookie year with the 76ers, when he averaged 17.5 points and seven rebounds. His career then sputtered, and he has spent time playing in Mexico, Spain and Puerto Rico.
6. Jabari Parker
School/year: Simeon (2013)
Consensus national rank: No. 3
Post-high school career: After a very productive one season at Duke, Parker was the second overall pick by the Bucks in 2014. Although he averaged 14.1 points a game in his NBA career, including 20.1 points in the 2016-17 season, injuries, including two ACL tears, derailed him. After taking a year off, he played last season in the EuroLeague.
7. Jalen Brunson
School/year: Stevenson (2015)
Consensus national rank: No. 19
Post-high school career: If this was all simply based on accomplishments after high school, Brunson is likely right behind Davis at No. 2. He’s a two-time NCAA national champion at Villanova, the 2018 college player of the year and a current NBA star with the Knicks. Brunson was top five in MVP voting last season after averaging 28.7 points a game.
8. Jon Scheyer
School/year: Glenbrook North (2006)
Consensus national rank: No. 28
Post-high school career: After one of the all-time great high school careers in state history, Scheyer scored 2,000 career points, was named an All-American and won a national championship as a senior at Duke. A serious eye injury in his first NBA Summer League altered his playing career. Scheyer is now the coach at Duke.
9. Jereme Richmond
School/year: Waukegan (2010)
Consensus national rank: No. 24
Post-high school career: He played just one season at Illinois, was arrested and battled legal trouble thereafter. He has played sparingly overseas over the years. But there wasn’t much Richmond couldn’t do on the floor at 6-7.
10. Shannon Brown
School/year: Proviso East (2003)
Consensus national rank: No. 3
Post-high school career: Brown put in three solid seasons at Michigan State, including a junior season when he averaged 17.2 points a game. He was a first-round pick in the NBA Draft and played a solid bench role for eight seasons.
What's Your Reaction?
