(HOF, Springfield, MA)
MLK Day has always been a big day for high school basketball tournaments and great NBA match ups. The Hoophall Classic, which is played at the Basketball Hall of Fame, and features some of the nation’s best teams and players, has a four game slate that is broadcasted on ESPNU every year. This year’s games featured plenty of talent, but I’m here to narrow it down and highlight the players who stood out to me—these are the guys to keep an eye out for in the coming years.
Vernon Carey Jr. (#2 in the class of 2019)
Carey put his full arsenal on display against national powerhouse Oak Hill, and it was nothing short of mind blowing. He’s listed at 6’10” and 260 pounds so he can compete on the block with anyone, but that doesn’t stop him from pushing the ball in transition and making plays for his teammates. He also has a consistent jump shot that stretches all the way out to the three point line.
Scottie Barnes (#16 in the class of 2020)
The aspect that stood out most to me about Barnes is his IQ and feel for the game. He is surrounded by plenty of talent (like Vernon Carey) and uses that to his advantage. Don’t kid yourself though, Barnes can create for himself with ease. He uses his length to get to the rim quickly, and is deadly in the mid range game with his ability to just rise up over his defender.
Keldon Johnson (#7 in the class of 2018)
The five star prospect shot into the top 10 of ESPN’s latest rankings as he dominated the EYBL with Boo Williams. The scary thing is, Johnson looked even better with Oak Hill than when I saw him over the summer. Johnson has a much improved three point shot which also makes it much easier for him to drive to the hoop, which is where he’s best. He also competes on both ends and is lethal in transition. He will be a big contributor in Lexington next year.
Louis King (#21 in the class of 2018)
King is also one of those guys who had a very big summer, and greatly improved his stock by playing in the EYBL. He’s always been known as a knockdown three point shooter but recently elevated his game to the next level by being more efficient with his dribbles and becoming a much better finisher at the rim. He’s one of the smoothest players in his class and will be a big problem alongside Oak Hill point guard Will Richardson and Bol Bol at Oregon next year.
Noah Farrakhan (#13 in the class of 2020)
The sophomore guard from New Jersey played a huge role in IMG’s victory over Westtown, and showed everyone watching, why he’s one of the best guards in his class. Farrakhan displayed the whole package, from getting steals, setting up his teammates, knocking down three pointers and of course, showing off his crazy athleticism for a couple of dunks in the fast break. He also stayed very composed and handled any pressure thrown at him throughout the entire game.(Note: He will also will go down as the best player in my class that I have against.)
Josh Green (#32 in the class of 2019)
Nicknamed Mr. Do It All, Josh Green is the kind of player every coach wants on their team. I love Green’s game because he gets after it on both ends, he is one of the best defenders in his class and can score it from all three levels on the offensive end. He is also a freak athlete that already has the size for an NBA two guard, standing at 6’6” and 180 pounds. The Australian native is also very unselfish and leaves everything on the floor, expect his ranking to go up as time goes on.
Cam Reddish (#3 in the class of 2018)
There isn’t much to say about Reddish that I haven’t already said, the bottom line is that the talent is oozing out of him, but the effort and consistency isn’t always there. I can’t dispute those critics, but every time I watch Reddish, I am absolutely blown away. He has great size at 6’8” and makes the most difficult shots look like layups. If his defense comes around (which I’m sure it will) he looks like a strong early candidate for the number one pick in the 2019 draft since he is one of the most offensively gifted high school players I have ever seen.
RJ Barrett (#1 in the class of 2018)
I’ll admit, I wasn’t originally sold on Barrett as the number one player in his class. But after seeing him in the EYBL, then with Team Canada (he dropped 38 points to beat Team USA in the 19U semifinals) and then finally seeing him play on ESPN twice in the past week, you can say that I’m officially sold. He gives it his all on both ends of the floor, always taking charge to guard the opposing teams best player, and can score in a variety of ways on the offensive end. He lets the game come to him and often has his defense create offense. He doesn’t do the nasty step back threes like Cam Reddish or the flashy warm up dunks like Zion Williamson, but his productivity and effort is what got him to number one, and in my opinion it’s what should allow him to stay there.
It was another great year for the Hoophall Classic and high school basketball fans all around the world who were able to see the players of the future. Stay tuned for more articles as we move deeper into the High School and College seasons. And, congrats to the McDonald’s All American boys and girls players announced this week. Much more on that to come too.