Wednesday, June 24, 2009
NY2LASPORTS.COM - CLASS OF 2012 PLAYER RANKINGS
Antonio Curro - National Recruiting Editor NY2LASports.com
June 24, 2009
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RANKINGS WEEK is in full swing here at NY2LASports.com and after releasing our new Top 150 for the 2010 & 2011 classes earlier this week we head into the future today with a look at what is shaping up to be a very strong 2012 class nationally. With tons of size, lots of explosive athletes, and some big time sleepers the 2012 class has all the makings of something exciting in the coming years and you can expect to hear an awful lot about some of the names that made the cut in the new NY2LASports.com Top 150 for the Class of 2012. Here's a look at some of what you can expect to see from the rising sophomore class nationally...
NY2LASPORTS.COM TOP 150 PLAYER RANKINGS - CLASS OF 2012
Power Forwards/Centers
Bigs, bigs, and more bigs is the story of the day here as the 2012 class has a number of interior prospects from coast to coast that are sure to land on the radars of college coaches across the country. Be sure to remember names like 6-9 DaJuan Coleman of Syracuse, New York (#5); 6-11 Andre Drummond of Hartford, Connecticut (#7); 6-7 Ricardo Gathers of LaPlace, Louisiana (#9), and 6-9 Hanner Perea of Birmingham, Alabama (#11) as they're sure to generate a lot of pub in the coming years.
However, while each of those is a promising talent in his own right, the bar in the 2012 class could be set by 6-8 Kansas native Perry Ellis. Ellis has excellent length, a solid skill set, great feel for the game, and untapped potential that colleges across the country are already lining up around the block to see. With a big time high school season already under his belt and rave reviews from coast to coast, Ellis is a blue chip talent that oozes potential and is one of the 2012 prospects by which others are measured at this point in the game. Point Guards
Looking at a deep floor general group in the 2012 class the conversation must start with 6-7 Kyle Anderson of Fairview, New Jersey. Not only does the young Anderson have excellent instincts and big time physical upside but he flat out knows how to play and puts it down on the national circuit in a major way. With a couple tournament championships under his belt this spring, Anderson continues to evolve into a big time talent and provided he can continue to develop his skills on the defensive end against smaller and quicker guards, Anderson could become one of the best floor generals to come down the pipe in a long time.
Anderson isn't the only 2012 PG to get some burn though as the 2012 class has a ton of talented young lead guards. 6-5 LaDarius White of McComb, Mississippi (#10) has to be mentioned in any conversation as he has a chance to challenge the top 5 if he continues to evolve and develop. Add to the mix talented prospects like 6-1 Jaran Reese of Bryan, Texas (#12); 6-2 Lynden Rose of Houston, Texas (#21); 5-10 Javan Felix of New Orleans, Louisiana (#31); and 6-1 Jaylen Beckam of Lexington, Kentucky (#36) and its safe to say that there will be a number of talented floor generals getting major ink from the 2012 class over the next few years.
Shooting Guards
Putting the ball in the basket is always a top priority and the 2012 class has more than its fair share of talented perimeter scorers with range, versatility, and athleticism. Las Vegas is always hot but the 2012 class stands to sizzle with super talents like 6-4 Shabazz Muhammad rocking the hardwood. The mult-skilled Muhammad promises to challenge for the top spot and is already regarded by some as the top player in the 2012 class. Muhammad is already showing he's the real deal and when talking about impact players in the 2012 class the Las Vegas phenom is a major conversational piece to say the least.
While Las Vegas is home to one of the hottest talents in the 2012 class, the country as a whole possesses some solid talent as well from top to bottom and guys like 6-4 Jordan Price of Conyers, Georgia (#8); 6-4 Christopher Thomas of Denver, Colorado (#14); 6-3 Jordan Tebbutt of Tualatin, Oregon (#22); and 6-3 Omar Calhoun of Brooklyn, New York (#27) are just of few of many talented SG's to make the cut in the new NY2LASports.com Top 150 for the Class of 2012 that stand to make a lot of noise in the coming years.
Small Forwards
Explosive wing talents and slashing scoring machines are the story of the day here and the 2012 class has a number of excellent wing talents who stand to become big time impact players over the next couple of years if they continue to progress. Arguably the most explosive of the bunch athletically is 6-5 Justin Anderson of Spotsylvania, VA. The young Virginia talent has hops from another planet and is a human highlight reel waiting to happen in the open floor. Arguably one of the most hyped and discussed talents in the 2012 class for the past couple of years; Anderson gets his just due as he secures a top 5 spot in the new rankings.
As explosive and exciting as Anderson is, Philadelphia native 6-6 Savon Lloyd-Goodman is that smooth. With an advanced skilled floor game that shreds opposing teams and stands superior to most in the 2012 class, Goodman follows in the footsteps of current Class of 2011 #1 Michael Gilchrist as the next big thing in the Team Final program. Goodman knows how to play and does so in a smooth fashion that puts W's on the board and generates big time press in the process.
Biggest Movers
6-5 PG LaDarius White of McComb, Mississippi
6-4 SG Shabazz Muhammad of Las Vegas, Nevada
6-11 C Andre Drummond of Hartford, Connecticut
6-9 F/C Emmanuel Ochenje of Carbondale, Illinois
6-6 PF Gavin Thurman of Kansas City, Missouri
Ones to Watch
6-9 F Hanner Perea of Birmingham, Alabama
6-11 C Ismaila Dauda of Miami, Florida
6-9 PF Joshua Scott of Colorado Springs, Colorado
5-10 PG Siyani Chambers of Hopkins, Minnesota
6-2 PG Rayven Lee of Dearborn Heights, Michigan
