There MIGHT be a bias leaning toward larger metro areas, but I think the AAU circuit does a good job of bringing that national talent together, allowing for head to head matchups for players from different regions, and that is where/how the majority of rankings are complied.
FWIW, Sidney was seen as a Top 5, 5* prospect prior to moving to LA.
8/24/06:
"Cousins was followed by Jacksonville (Miss.) Piney Woods power forward Renardo Sidney, who gave Cousins competition for the No. 1 slot in the rankings.
"It was a two-horse race for No. 1 between DeMarcus Cousins and Renardo Sidney," Rivals.com national basketball recruiting analyst Jerry Meyer said. "They're both skilled power forwards. They're that same type of player."
The 6-foot-9, 234-pound Cousins' strength, athleticism and size put him into the discussion for the No. 1 spot, but his explosiveness and ability to play in transition separated him from the pack.
"He's an inside and outside scoring threat," Meyer said. "What stands out about him is how good he is in transition. He can do things going full speed to the rim."
Sidney also stood out as a power forward who can excel as a passer. During the AAU season, he was able to get the ball to center Kevin Love, the No. 7 prospect in the class of 2008, on a regular basis.
"You can run the offense through Sidney," Meyer said. "He's similar to Cousins, but with Cousins there's a little more athleticism. Renardo isn't quite as explosive, but he's a skilled player. When he was teamed up with Kevin Love, he did a great job of feeding Love the ball down low."
http://basketballrecruiting.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=575326
