One of the things that separates the HOOP SCOOP from everybody else in our business is the fact that we have a long history of looking at things in a variety of ways and, now that the dust has cleared and we’ve had some time to put everything we’ve seen from this past spring and summer into perspective, we think this is the perfect time to publish our 2019 Post Summer HOOP SCOOP All-American Teams, which features our ranking of the top 100 high school players nationally regardless of class and position and includes 69 seniors, 26 juniors, four sophomores, and one freshman. And, believe it or not, 6’9 Soph Emoni Bates from Ypsilanti (Lincoln) MI is the fifth player on the First Team. Bates will have to get bigger and stronger physically, but otherwise this long lanky multi-dimensional athlete has no weaknesses in his game and he is skilled enough to play just about any position on the court. He also has tremendous speed and quickness, great body control and a knack for being able to find ways to get to the basket and finish at the rim, and a soft tough on his jump shot and the ability to beat you with his outside shooting. Add the fact that he covers an incredible amount of ground in a hurry, knows how to compete, has an extremely high basketball IQ, handles the ball extremely well for somebody, is an excellent rebounder and shot blocker, and has a great nose for the ball and it is easy to see why he has superstar written all over him. As a matter of fact, Bates is arguably the best player this age that we’ve seen since we first saw LeBron James back when he was a sophomore in high school and he scored 34 points against Mouth of Wilson (Oak Hill) VA in a single-day event in Columbus, OH. Akron (St. Vincent-St. Mary) OH did not win the game, but James did make a 3-point shot to cut lead to two points with 10 seconds left in the game, which was followed by a stop and a long 3-point shot by James that rimmed in and out at the buzzer. And from that point on, which was in the middle of his sophomore year, it was pretty clear James was the best player in the country regardless of class. We mention this because we suspect that it will only be a matter of time before history repeats itself.
The other big story that we must address is the fact that several of the very elite players in the Class of 2020 have already decided to forgo their senior year in high school and a guaranteed spot on the prestigious McDonald’s All-American Team and, instead, either have graduated early from high school and plan to enroll into college this fall or have decided to go overseas to play professionally for a year and then plan to enter their name into the NBA Draft next spring. That first scenario applies to 7’0 N;Faly Dante from Bel Aire (Sunrise Christian) KS, who was ranked among the top five players nationally in the Class of 2020 until he recently picked the University of Oregon over the University of Kentucky and made it known that he plans to enroll into school sooner than later. Not only does this give the Ducks the quick fix and potentially dominating big man that they will need in the middle for the upcoming season, but it also moves their recruiting class, which also includes 6’6 Chris Duarte from Northwest Florida State (JC) FL, 6’8 C,J, Walker from Orlando (Oak Ridge) FL, 6’8 Chandler Lawson from Memphis (Wooddale) TN, 6’10 Isaac Johnson, from American Fork (H.S.) UT, and 6’8 Lok Wur from Papillion (La Vista South) NE, up from #12 to #2, behind Memphis and ahead of USC, Duke, Gonzaga, Kentucky, Georgia, Villanova, Florida, and Florida State in our Final Ranking of the Top Recruiting Classes for the Class of 2019. As for the second scenario, it came to fruition a couple of months ago when 6’4 R.J. Hampton from Little Elm (H.S.) TX, who firmly established himself among the top five players in the Class of 2020 last spring in theNIKE EYBL (Elite Youth Basketball League), announced his plans to go to Australia for a year and play professionally. And now there is talk about 6’5 Jalen Green from Napa (Prolific Prep) CA following in the footsteps of Hampton and playing professionally overseas for a year as well.
Another important trend that we’ve been watching is the arms race that has been building up between Montverde (Academy) FL and Bradenton (IMG Academy) FL, which are two of the premier basketball programs in the nation. The former will go to war this winter with the likes of 6’7 Cade Cunningham, who now appears to be the consensus #1-ranked player nationally in the Class of 2020; 6’8 Scottie Barnes, who is a legit top 10-ranked senior nationally and recently decided to transfer from Fr. Lauderdale (University School) FL: 6’9 Day’Ron Sharpe, who is already verbally committed to North Carolina and recently decided to transfer from Winterville (South Central) NC; 6’6 Moses Moody, who is one of the best outside shooter’s in the nation and is good enough to get serious consideration for next year’s McDonald’s All-American Game; 6’5 Zeb Jackson, who is a legit 51-100 range senior nationally, has already verbally committed to the University of Michigan, and is transferring from Toledo (Maumee Valley Country Day) OH; 6’4 Jr Langston Love, who was one of the flavors of the day at the EYBL Finals at the Peach Jam, belongs in the 11-5 range nationally in the Class of 2021, and is transferring from Cibolo (Byron R. Steele) TX, and 6’5 Soph Caleb Houston and 6’4 Soph Dariq Whitehead, both of whom were in the program a year ago, are originally from Ontario, ON and Newark, NJ, and are good enough to be ranked among the top sophomores in the nation.
The latter will return 6’4 Jaden Springer, who was injured most of the spring and summer, but has the skills, athleticism, talent, and pedigree necessary to be a top 10-ranked senior nationally; 6’0 Noah Farrakhan, who has tremendous speed and quickness and is a consensus 51-100 range player nationally in the Class of 2020; and 6’10 Soph Brandon Huntley-Hatfield and 6’6 Soph Jarace Wallker, who are originally from Clarksville, TN and Glen Rock, PA respectively and are two of the top 20-ranked sophomores in the nation. And they are adding 6’9 Jalen Johnson, who is like a point/forward, is good enough to be a consensus top five-ranked senior nationally, and is transferring from Glendale (Nicolet) WI,; 7’0 Mark Williams, who was one of the best shot blockers/rebounders in the NIKE EYBL Finals at the Peach Jam, is good enough to be ranked among the top 20 seniors nationally and is transferring Norfolk (Academy) FL; 6’4 Matt Murrell, who is a tough match-up when he’s using his strength and athleticism to attack the basket, is good enough to be ranked in the 51-100 range nationally in the Class of 2020, and is transferring from Memphis (Whitehaven) TN; 6’9 Jr Moussa Diabate, whose forte is rebounding, blocking shots, running the court, and getting to the rim, is good enough to be ranked in the 11-15 range nationally in the Class of 2021, and is transferring from Daytona Beach (DME Academy) FL, and 7’0 Frosh Jahzare Jackson from Ft. Lauderdale, FL, who is tremendous physical presence in the post and is one of the top players nationally in the Class of 2023. Are you starting to get the idea that these two teams have more talent in terms of what these guys will be than schools like Duke, North Carolina, and Kentucky? You also can rest assured that things should be very interesting if they square off in the Championship Game in this year’s City of Palms Classic and/or, once again, at the GEICO High School Nationals, where they met a year ago in the semi-finals and IMG Academy advanced on to beat La Porte (La Lumiere) IN in the Championship Game.
2019 POST SUMMER HOOP SCOOP ALL-AMERICAN TEAMS
| FIRST TEAM HOOP SCOOP ALL-AMERICAN |
| Position | Player | Height | Class | Hometown (High School) State | College |
| PF | Evan Mobley | 7’0 | Sr | Temecula (Rancho Christian) CA | USC |
| PF | Paolo Banchero | 6’8 | Jr | Seattle (O’Dea) WA |
| WF | Emoni Bates | 6’8 | Soph | Ypsilanti (Lincoln) MI |
| 2G | Cade Cunningham | 6’7 | Sr | Montverde (Academy) FL |
| 2G | Jalen Green | 6’5 | Sr | Napa (Prolific Prep) CA |
| SECOND TEAM HOOP SCOOP ALL-AMERICAN |
| Position | Player | Height | Class | Hometown (High School) State | College |
| PF | Jonathan Kuminga | 6’9 | Jr | Centereach (Our Savior New American) NY |
| PF | Jalen Johnson | 6’9 | Sr | Bradenton (IMG Academy) FL | Duke |
| WF | Patrick Baldwin | 6’9 | Jr | Sussex (Hamilton) WI |
| PG | Jalen Suggs | 6’4 | Sr | Minneapolis (Minnehaha Academy) MN |
| PG | Sharife Cooper | 6’0 | Sr | Powder Springs (McEachern) GA |
| THIRD TEAM HOOP SCOOP ALL-AMERICAN |
| Position | Player | Height | Class | Hometown (High School) State | College |
| C | Chet Holmgren | 7’0 | Jr | Minneapolis (Minnehaha Academy) MN |
| C | Moussa Cisse | 6’11 | Jr | Memphis (Lausanne) TN |
| PF | Greg Brown | 6’8 | Sr | Austin (Vandegrift) TX |
| WF | Scottie Barnes | 6’8 | Sr | Montverde (Academy) FL |
| PG | Zion Harmon | 5’11 | Jr | Benton (Marshall County) KY |
| FOURTH TEAM HOOP SCOOP ALL-AMERICAN |
| Position | Player | Height | Class | Hometown (High School) State | College |
| WF | Ziaire Williams | 6’7 | Sr | Chatsworth (Sierra Canyon) CA |
| 2G | Josh Christopher | 6’4 | Sr | Lakewood (Mayfair) CA |
| 2G | Jaden Springer | 6’4 | Sr | Bradenton (IMG Academy) FL |
| 2G | Devin Askew | 6’3 | Jr | Santa Ana (Mater Dei) CA |
| PG | Jeremy Roach | 6’2 | Sr | Fairfax (Paul VI) VA | Duke |
| FIFTH TEAM HOOP SCOOP ALL-AMERICAN |
| Position | Player | Height | Class | Hometown (High School) State | College |
| C | Mark Williams | 7’0 | Sr | Bradenton (IMG Academy) FL |
| WF | Samson Ruzhentsev | 6’7 | Sr | Chattanooga (Hamilton Heights) TN |
| WF | B.J. Boston | 6’7 | Sr | Chatsworth (Sierra Canyon) CA | Kentucky |
| 2G | D.J. Steward | 6’3 | Sr | Chicago (Whitney Young) IL |
| PG | R.J. Davis | 6’1 | Sr | White Plains (Archbishop Stepanic) NY |
| SIXTH TEAM HOOP SCOOP ALL-AMERICAN |
| Position | Player | Height | Class | Hometown (High School) State | College |
| C | Day’Ron Sharpe | 6’9 | Sr | Montverde (Academy) FL | North Carolina |
| PF | Isaiah Toddd | 6’9 | Sr | Durham (Trinity Academy) NC |
| WF | Terrence Clarke | 6’6 | Jr | Wolfeboro (Brewster Academy) NH |
| 2G | Cameron Thomas | 6’3 | Sr | Mouth of Wilson (Oak Hill) VA |
| 2G | Nimari Burnett | 6’3 | Sr | Napa (Prolific Prep) CA |
| SEVENTH TEAM HOOP SCOOP ALL-AMERICAN |
| Position | Player | Height | Class | Hometown (High School) State | College |
| C | Hunter Dickinson | 7’0 | Sr | Hyattsville (DeMatha) MD |
| PF | Makur Maker | 6’11 | Sr | Orange (Lutheran) CA |
| PF | Michael Foster | 6’9 | Jr | Phoenix (Hillcrest Academy) AZ |
| 2G | Kyree Walker | 6’5 | Sr | Phoenix (Hillcrest Academy) AZ |
| 2G | Earl Timberlake | 6’5 | Sr | Hyattsville (DeMatha) MD |
| EIGHTH TEAM HOOP SCOOP ALL-AMERICAN |
| Position | Player | Height | Class | Hometown (High School) State | College |
| C | Jalen Duren | 6’9 | Soph | Philadelphia (Roman Catholic) PA |
| C | Mady Sissoko | 6’9 | Sr | Mt. Pleasant (Wasatch Academy) UT |
| PF | Jaemyn Brakefield | 6’9 | Sr | Huntington (Prep) WV |
| 2G | Langston Love | 6’4 | Jr | Montverde (Academy) FL |
| PG | Kennedy Chandler | 5’11 | Jr | Memphis (Briarcrest) TN |
| NINTH TEAM HOOP SCOOP ALL-AMERICAN |
| Position | Player | Height | Class | Hometown (High School) State | College |
| C | Walker Kessler | 6’11 | Sr | College Park (Woodward Academy) GA |
| PF | J.T. Thor | 6’9 | Sr | Norcross (H.S.) GA |
| PF | Jabari Smith | 6’8 | Jr | Tyrone (Sandy Creek) GA |
| 2G | Moses Moody | 6’6 | Sr | Montverde (Academy) FL |
| 2G | Jaden Hardy | 6’4 | Jr | Henderson (Coronado) NV |
| TENTH TEAM HOOP SCOOP ALL-AMERICAN |
| Position | Player | Height | Class | Hometown (High School) State | College |
| C | Nate Bittle | 6’11 | Jr | Central Point (Crater) OR |
| PF | Isaiah Jackson | 6’8 | Sr | Waterford Township (Waterford Mott) MI |
| WF | Cameron Fletcher | 6’6 | Sr | St. Louis (Vashon) MO | Kentucky |
| WF | A,.J. Griffin | 6’6 | Jr | White Plains (Archbishop Stepanic) NY |
| 2G | Adam Miller | 6’3 | Sr | Chicago (Morgan Park) IL |
| ELEVENTH TEAM HOOP SCOOP ALL-AMERICAN |
| Position | Player | Height | Class | Hometown (High School) State | College |
| C | Moussa Diabate | 6’9 | Jr | Bradenton (IMG Academy) FL |
| WF | Addison Patterson | 6’7 | Sr | Scottsdale (Bella Vista Prep) AZ |
| WF | Jabri Abdur-Rahim | 6’5 | Sr | Blairstown (Blair Academy) NJ | Virginia |
| 2G | Bryce Thompson | 6’4 | Sr | Tulsa (Booker T. Washington) OK |
| 2G | Aminu Mohammed | 6’4 | Jr | Springfield (Greenwood Laboratory) MO |
| TWELFTH TEAM HOOP SCOOP ALL-AMERICAN |
| Position | Player | Height | Class | Hometown (High School) State | College |
| C | Boubacar Coulibaly | 6’10 | Sr | San Gabriel (Academy) CA |
| PF | Lance Ware | 6’9 | Sr | Canden (H.S.) NJ |
| PF | Terrence Williams | 6’7 | Sr | Washington (Gonzaga) DC |
| 2G | Daishen Nix | 6’4 | Sr | Las Vegas (Trinity International) NV |
| 2G | Caleb Love | 6’3 | Sr | St. Louis (Christian Brothers) MO |
| THIRTEENTH TEAM HOOP SCOOP ALL-AMERICAN |
| Position | Player | Height | Class | Hometown (High School) State | College |
| C | Cliff Omeyuni | 6’11 | Sr | Roselle (Catholic) NJ |
| WF | Jaylen Clark | 6’6 | Sr | Corona (Centennial) CA |
| 2G | Keon Johnson | 6’5 | Sr | Bell Buckle (Webb) TN | Tennessee |
| 2G | Elijah Fisher | 6’5 | Frosh | North York (Crestwood) ON |
| 2G | Max Christie | 6’4 | Jr | Rolling Meadows (H.S.) IL |
| FOURTEENTH TEAM HOOP SCOOP ALL-AMERICAN |
| Position | Player | Height | Class | Hometown (High School) State | College |
| C | Frank Kepneng | 6’10 | Jr | West Chester (Westtown School) PA |
| WF | Micah Peavy | 6’6 | Sr | Duncanville (H..S.) TX |
| 2G | MarJon Beauchamp | 6’6 | Sr | Glendale (Dream City Christian) AZ |
| PG | Dalen Terry | 6’6 | Sr | Phoenix (Hillcrest Academy) AZ | Arizona |
| PG | Jalen Terry | 5’11 | Sr | Flint (Beecher) MI | Michigan State |
| FIFTEENTH TEAM HOOP SCOOP ALL-AMERICAN |
| Position | Player | Height | Class | Hometown (High School) State | College |
| C | Elijah Hutchins-Everett | 6’10 | Sr | Montclair (Immaculate Christian) NJ |
| PF | Justin Lewis | 6’8 | Sr | Baltimore (Polytech) MD |
| 2G | Jonathan Lawson | 6’6 | Jr | Memphis (Wooddale) TN |
| PG | Isael Silva | 6’3 | Jr | Sacramento (Jesuit) CA |
| PG | Marcus Dockery | 6’2 | Sr | Arlington (Bishop O’Connell) VA |
| SIXTEENTH TEAM HOOP SCOOP ALL-AMERICAN |
| Position | Player | Height | Class | Hometown (High School) State | College |
| C | Dawson Garcia | 6’9 | Sr | Prior Lake (H.S.) MN |
| PF | Henry Coleman | 6’8 | Sr | Richmond (Trinity Episcopal) VA |
| PF | Corey Walker | 6’7 | Sr | Jacksonville (Bishop John J. Snyder) FL | Tennessee |
| 2G | Dwon Odom | 6’3 | Sr | Alpharetta (St. Francis) GA | Xavier |
| PG | Zaon Collins | 6’1 | Jr | Las Vegas (Bishop Gorman) NV |
| SEVENTEENTH TEAM HOOP SCOOP ALL-AMERICAN |
| Position | Player | Height | Class | Hometown (High School) State | College |
| C | Isaiah Cottrell | 6’9 | Sr | Huntington (Prep) WV | West Virginia |
| WF | Kendall Brown | 6’7 | Jr | Bel Aire (Sunrise Christian) KS |
| 2G | Hassan Diarra | 6’3 | Sr | Putnam (Putnam Science) CT |
| 2G | Jamal Mashburn | 6’0 | Sr | Wolfeboro (Brewster Academy) NH |
| PG | L.J. Cryer | 6’0 | Sr | Katy (Morton Ranch) TX | Baylor |
| EIGHTEENTH TEAM HOOP SCOOP ALL-AMERICAN |
| Position | Player | Height | Class | Hometown (High School) State | College |
| C | Xavier Foster | 7’0 | Sr | Oskaloosa (Senior) IA |
| WF | Julian Strawther | 6’6 | Sr | Henderson (Liberty) NV | Gonzaga |
| 2G | Chris Livingston | 6’5 | Soph | Akron (Buchtel) OH |
| 2G | Joe Bamisile | 6’3 | Sr | Monacan (H.S.) VA | Virginia Tech |
| PG | Andre Curbelo | 6’0 | Sr | Brookville (Long Island Lutheran) NY |
| NINETEENTH TEAM HOOP SCOOP ALL-AMERICAN |
| Position | Player | Height | Class | Hometown (High School) State | College |
| C | Dain Dainja | 6’8 | Sr | Brooklyn Park (Park Center) MN | Baylor |
| PF | Trey Patterson | 6’8 | Jr | Franklin Township (Rutgers Prep) NJ |
| 2G | Ian Martinez | 6’3 | Sr | San Juan Capistrano (J. Serra Catholic) CA | Utah |
| 2G | Reece Beekman | 6’3 | Sr | Baton Rouge (Scotlandville) LA | Virginia |
| PG | Noah Farrakhan | 6’0 | Sr | Bradenton (IMG Academy) FL |
| TWENTIETH TEAM HOOP SCOOP ALL-AMERICAN |
| Position | Player | Height | Class | Hometown (High School) State | College |
| PF | Arthur Kaluma | 6’8 | Sr | Irving (University) TX |
| WF | Mwani Wilkinson | 6’6 | Sr | Las Vegas (Bishop Gorman) NV |
| WF | Will Jeffress | 6’6 | Jr | Erie (McDowell) PA |
| PG | Meechie Johnson | 6’0 | Jr | Garfield Heights (H.S.) OH | Ohio State |
| PG | Rickie “Pop Pop” Isaacs | 6’0 | Soph | Mt Pleasant (Wasatch Academy) UT |
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