The Spring AAU season is over and soon the future stars of college
basketball will be off to various positional and team camps throughout the
month of June. While there were not any Anthony Davis or Myles Turner like
rises you can certainly expect significant shake-ups when the next batch of
recruiting rankings are released by the major media services (as seen in ESPN’s
new Top 100). While players will continue to trend in both directions over the
next few months it will be hard for anyone to crack the 2015 Top Five (Jaylen Brown, perhaps?). While an
argument could be made for the No. 1 spot I am sticking with the high scoring
guard from Mississippi. 6’4” Malik
Newman might get knocked for how his game is expected to translate at the
NBA level, but right now if your team needs a bucket, Newman is your man.
1.
Malik Newman, 6’4”, G, Callaway High (MS)
PPG:
22.5, RPG: 4.7, APG:1.8, FG: 41.4%
Newman recently won another Mississippi state championship at
Callaway HS; however his team was not allowed to leave the state based on a
2013 ruling. By not playing in some of the major high school tournaments across
the U.S., it seems as though some started to take Newman for granted. The
premier scorer in America kicked things off in April on the Under Armour
circuit. Playing for MWA Elite, Newman averaged 20.5 points per game while
shooting 56% from the floor. After the first and only live spring period Newman
jumped back to the EYBL circuit where he led the league in scoring in 2013.
After a rough start in Dallas, Newman regained his mojo and finished averaging
22.5 points per game. While his shooting numbers slipped, the Jackson Tigers did
manage to sneak into the EYBL Peach Jam where Newman put on a show last year despite
constant double and triple teams.
He can score from all three levels and is
effective in one on one situations, the break, and the pick and roll. Newman
can shoot off the dribble, the catch, and can finish with either hand at the
rim. Add in a step back jumper and Newman is almost impossible to guard right
now. Last year I watched him go for 36 points against Spiece Indy. He finished
13-20, but before he started cramping up the guard was 13-15 against JaQuan Lyle and James Blackmon. There are other players who might have more
“potential” but right now it will be hard for someone to take Newman’s number
one spot.
PPG:
19.4, RPG, 6.6, APG: 3.0, FG: 65.8%
I finally got to see Ben Simmons live at the City of Palm Classic
this past year. I missed his tournament opening 31 point, 14 rebound
performance but saw his other three games during Montverde’s championship run.
I watched him put up 20 and 12 in an overtime win against Isaiah Whithead’s Lincoln squad and then struggle to a nine point
performance on 2-7 shooting the next night. While he looked like a pro and
moved like a pro, he struggled to score outside of the paint. Fast forward to
the spring AAU season and Simmons shot 66% from the floor and even made 5-14
from behind the arc. Overall, he averaged 19.4 points and 6.1 rebounds.
The Australian and future LSU Tiger exudes a certain grace when on
the court and while his offensive game has improved it is also his defensive
ability that puts him at No. 2 in the country. At the City of Palms
championship, Simmons stymied Marcus
Derrickson of Paul VI. The future Georgetown forward could not get by
Simmons off the dribble (not surprising), but he also had his favorite shot
taken away (a three from the left hand wing). Derrickson could not get a good
look from three all game long due to Simmons’ reach and finished just 0-2 from
behind the arc. Given his size, strength, and overall athletic ability Simmons
can guard both forward positions effectively. With his increased offensive
skills and god given athletic ability, the Aussie still has room to grow.
3.
Ivan Rabb, 6’11”, PF, Bishop O’ Dowd (CA)
PPG:
15.2, RPG: 9.9, BPG: 1.2, FG: 61.3%
After leading his high school team to a California state runner-up
performance, the 6’11” Rabb put together an impressive EYBL performance despite
some new pieces to the puzzle for his Oakland Soldier AAU team. In four
tournaments, Rabb came oh-so close to averaging a double-double with 15.2
points and 9.9 rebounds per game. He shot 61.3% from the floor and 72% from the
foul line. The multi-faceted Rabb resembles a young Chris Bosh in the sense
that he is long, lean, and can score effectively in the post or from 12-15
feet. He is also an unselfish player and a good passer from the free throw line
extended. While not much of a shot blocking presence this past AAU season, Rabb
is quick off his feet and possesses good timing.
Last year in the Peach Jam, Rabb watched his teammate and future
Arizona Wildcat Stanley Johnson
dominate play. While Rabb plays next to two talented big men in Stephen Zimmerman and Chimezie Metu, the young and talented
big man will need to continue his upward trajectory and demand the ball more
than he did in the regular season.
4.
Diamond Stone, 6’10”, Dominican Bay (WI)
PPG:
24.8, RPG: 11.0, BPG: 4.3, FG: 61.3%
In six Under Armour games, Stone put up monstrous numbers. While
dominating the paint, Stone also knocked in six out 14 three’s as well. While a
strong case for a higher spot could be made for the 6’10” big man, I still want
to see him do it against elite competition. Last year Stone was the only top
big guy to play on the 16U circuit while his counterparts were all playing up a
level.
Stone has trimmed down over the years, but is still a force down
low with his powerful upper body. He has a soft touch and good form on his jump
shot to go along with his diverse game down low. Will Stone continue to
dominate during July? If so, it might be a Newman / Stone combo at the top of
the rankings.
5.
Cheick Diallo, 6’9”, Our Savior New American School (NY)
PPG:
18.6, RPG: 10.9, BPG: 2.6 FG: 63.3%
The word “motor” is thrown around a lot these days, but it’s fair
to say that Diallo’s motor never stops. Last year he won the NBPA Top 100 MVP
despite still being fairly raw on the offensive end. His offensive game is
slowly catching up to him and the Mali native averaged 18.6 points and 10.9
rebounds per game in the EYBL. Diallo is strongest on the defensive end with
his long arms and quick jump ability which helped him average 2.6 blocks per
game. He runs the floor with a passion which contributes to a fair amount of
power dunks on the break, but he also operated well in the high-lo offense when
catching the ball on the block. Diallo is a game changer on the defensive end
and is on his way to becoming a complete game changer.
Other
Notes:
Small forward Jaylen Brown
out of Wheeler High School in Georgia could easily have made this top list;
however I haven’t seen him play since the City of Palms. Brown’s strength has
always given him an advantage against opposing players but he struggled to
score when he wasn’t overpowering kids. Now it appears Brown his significantly
improved his perimeter game. In the spring, the 6’7” wing made 30-58 three’s
and also shot 53.5% from the floor while averaging 23.5 points per game.
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