College Hoops 2011-12: Power Ranking the Top 50 Recruits

The 2011 NCAA Championship Game just finished and, already, teams across the country are beginning work on the 2011-12 season.

Decisions are being made by some of the top players of whether or not they will return to school or enter the NBA Draft.

Off-season weight training and conditioning goals are being set and players from every position are looking to gain an advantage for next season.

One of the most important parts of looking ahead is seeing where the top high school players rank and where they will be headed in the fall.

The following is a Power Ranking list of the Top 50 high school players.

As you will see, in many cases, the rich are getting richer. Some of the best teams have, once again, pulled in the top talent in the nation. 

Each player's basic information (Hometown, Height, and Weight) is given along with what school they will be attending.

Also, a short description of each player's skills and strengths is listed so that you can find out more about them before the first jump ball in November.

50. Amir Williams

detnews.com

Beverly Hills, MI

6'9" 220 lbs

Ohio State

Williams' length and athleticism will be a huge plus for Thad Matta's Buckeyes.

He gets off of the floor quickly and finishes about the rim. 

Williams scores facing up or posting up.

Imagine how imposing a tandem of Sullinger (6'9" 280 lbs) and Williams will be...Sorry, Big Ten!

49. Mycheal Henry

Chicago, IL

6'5" 190 lbs.

Illinois

With Henry's build and burst, Bruce Webber will have a bona fide big-time slasher and a lock-down defender.

If he can continue to develop his shooting touch, Henry could become one of the Big Ten's top wings before he leaves Champaign. 

48. Shannon Scott

Alpharetta, GA

6'2" 175 lbs.

Ohio State

Talk about backcourt talent. Not only does Thad Matta have Aaron Craft returning, now he adds one of the best floor generals in the South.

Scott's ability to penetrate and distribute will help Ohio State continue to create nearly impossible match-ups.

As Scott continues to solidify his shot and extend his range, he will become even more lethal.

47. Dezmine Wells

Raleigh, NC

6'4" 220 lbs.

Xavier

Musketeer coach Chris Mack loves big, physical wings and he has another good one in Wells.

Because of his more-than-solid build, Wells can punish smaller defenders and finish strong in the lane.

Or he can handle himself capably against taller and longer opponents.

Loves shutting down the other team's best perimeter player. 

Tu Holloway and Dezmine Wells together...Fuggetaboutit!

46. D'Angelo Harrison

http://c.photoshelter.com

Fort Bend, TX

6'3" 186 lbs.

St. John's

Steve Lavin's Red Storm has lots of holes to fill and D'Angelo Harrison may be ready to step in right away.

Very versatile SG who can take you off the dribble or nail the outside jumper.

Fearless taking the ball into the lane. Can draw fouls and drop the FTs.

45. Sam Thompson

Chicago, IL

6'6" 200 lbs

Ohio State

Multi-talented perimeter player who can guard and play all three positions.

Possesses a good mid-range game. Needs to add further consistency and range.

Sees the court well and finds teammates in position to make shots.

44. Trevor Lacey

Huntsville, AL

6'3" 190 lbs.

Uncommitted

Lacey has good size and strength. Soft stroke helps him to knock down shots that he creates or in coming off of screens.

Needs to tighten up handle, but will play mostly SG at the next level.

Lacey is the kind of player that finds ways to win. School team won State Championships his sophomore and junior years.

43. Dai-Jon Parker

Alpharetta, GA

6'3" 185 lbs

Vanderbilt

Even though the Commodores return most of their team from this year, Parker has the talent to move into the rotation very soon.

Smart person, smart player. Great frame allows him to guard bigger players.

Explosive leaper with terrific range. Needs to continue to work on ball-handling skills so he can slide over to the PG when needed.

42. Chris Jones

Memphis, TN

5'10" 180 lbs.

Tennessee

Fantastic scoring point guard who never takes a possession off.

In spite of his size, Jones does not hesitate to go into the lane.

Uses overall athletic ability to stay out of trouble and always get his shots off.

41. Sheldon McClellan

Houston, TX

6'5" 185 lbs.

Texas

Big-time slasher with size. Better-than-average handle that helps him do more.

Can defend either wing position well.

Needs to improve outside shooting ability so that opponents don't play off of him.

40. Maurice Harkless

Queens, NY

6'6"  180 lbs.

St. John's

Proto-typical St. John's wing. Lightning fast. Great hops.

Excellent in transition. Finishes well at the rim

Has improved his mid-range and three-point shooting.

To become a complete player, Harkless needs to focus on rebounding and defense. 

39. Nick Faust

Baltimore, MD

6'5" 170

Maryland

Great size at SG. Can score from any place on the court.

Nice handle allows for him to share playmaking duties if needed.

Some have compared Faust's on-court manner to Stephon Curry...Looks innocent, but will not hesitate to beat you.

38. Norvel Pelle

Compton, CA

6'10" 210 lbs.

St. John's

Another of Steve Lavin's truckload of tremendous talent.

Very long. Very lean. Runs the floor better than most Bigs in the country.

Good anticipation helps him be a shot-blocking nuisance.

Needs to add mass to his frame in order to battle under the boards in the Big East.

37. Deuce Bello

High Point, NC

6'3" 170 lbs.

Baylor

For his size, Bello may be one of the best players at rising up in traffic and throwing it down!

Lightning fast. Quick off of the floor. Gets lots of points off of dunks.

To round out his game, needs to improve his shot and his handle.

36. Jahii Carson

Mesa, AZ

5'10 170 lbs.

Arizona State

Size is not an issue for Carson. Physicality and strength allow him to face any opposing PG.

Great burst helps him blow by defenders. Changes speeds well.

Tends to over-dribble or dribble without purpose.

Nice range forces opponents to pick him up early.

35. Jakarr Sampson

Akron, OH

6'8" 190 lbs.

St. John's

Long combo-Forward. Very athletic. At his size, Sampson can defend anywhere from the two to the four.

Can pull down the defensive rebound, and then lead the break off the dribble.

Extending his shooting range will add a further dimension to his versatile game.

Man, does Steve Lavin have some players comin' in?

34. Nick Johnson

Henderson, NV

6'2" 175 lbs

Arizona

Unbelievable hops. Can throw it down in traffic. Is deadly on the break

Great motor. Always ready to pounce. Could become a great defender for Sean Miller.

Adding some lbs. will help him on both ends of the court.

Nice jumper. Nice range.

33. Adjehi Baru

Richmond, VA

6'9" 225 lbs.

College of Charleston

Excellent recruit for Bobby Cremins.

Never takes a play off. Never gives up on a ball. Goes after every rebound.

Can score facing up or posting up. Good court vision. Good passer out of the post.

Defends the paint well. Good anticipation helps Baru block shots.

32. Johnny O'Bryant

Cleveland, MS

6'10" 245 lbs.

LSU

Great size helps him post up and box out effectively. Uses body well

Wants the ball down low and knows what to do with it when he gets it.

Strong hands allow O'Bryant to get most anything that is thrown his direction. 

Could be a program-changer in Baton Rouge.

31. Dorian Finney-Smith

Portsmouth, VA

6'7" 185 lbs.

Virginia Tech

Attacks the offensive glass. More of a face-up four or a three.

Great handle for a player his size. Good range almost to NBA three.

Needs to add body mass and work harder on the defensive boards in order to battle inside.

30. Ky Madden

Lepanto, AR

6'5" 170 lbs.

Arkansas

New Razorbacks coach Mike Anderson will absolutely love Ky Madden!

His size and skills make him one of the most versatile combo guards in the nation.

Can see over or shoot over most any defender. Has a tight handle and explosive first step.

Quickness and agility help him guard any of the three perimeter positions. 

29. Tony Wroten

Seattle, WA

6'4" 195 lbs.

Washington

Wroten is one of the bigger PGs on this list. Size helps him see the court and his teammates.

Can get into the lane capably and delivers the ball effectively for scoring opportunities.

Needs to make the good play instead of trying to make everything great.

May have a chance to play immediately with Lorenzo Romar's early departures.   

28. Levi Randolph

Madison, AL

6'5 190 lbs.

Alabama

Anthony Grant can't wait for Randolph to get to campus.

He is another multi-skilled perimeter player, able to guard all three positions.

Can beat you off the dribble or pull up and hit shots.

Will need to add some lbs. as he goes to Tuscaloosa to compete every night in the SEC.

  

27. Michael Gbinije

rivals.com

Richmond, VA

6'6" 194 lbs.

Duke

Gbinije is exactly the kind of player you expect Coach K to recruit: Lots of skills, great fundamentals, exceptional grasp of the game.

May be the SF with length that the 2010-11 Blue Devils were missing.

Solid frame, good athlete. Jumper is good out to the arc.

Depending on the mix this fall, could see immediate action as Duke moves on from the Singler/Smith(Irving?) era.

26. Ben McLemore

St. Louis, MO

6'5" 185 lbs.

Kansas

Bill Self's Jayhawks played a lot of three guard sets with no one on the perimeter taller than 6'3"

McLemore will give Kansas another wing with a little more length.

He has all the skills to be a great scorer and defender.

McLemore used to play inside in high school, so he has some interior skills that help him go strong to the defensive board and gives him a nice post-up game. 

25. Chane Behanan

Bowling Green, KY

6'6" 250 lbs.

Louisville

While Behanan is slightly shorter than is usually preferred for a PF, he makes up for it with surprising agility and bounce.

Can step out to fifteen-feet to hit jumpers.

A good passer who will find teammates cutting to the basket.

In spite of his size, Behanan needs to continue to improve his post moves and scoring

24. Quinn Cook

Washington, D.C.

6'1" 180 lbs.

Duke

Quinn Cook is a classic point guard who has a great handle, can penetrate and distribute.

He scores well, but his best skills are in leading the team and directing the action.

He will be fully recovered from a knee injury by the time that he gets on campus.

If Kyrie Irving enters the NBA Draft, Cook will be ready to step right in to the starting PG role.

23. Kyle Wiltjer

Portland, OR

6'9" 225 lbs.

Kentucky

Wiltjer is a coaches dream: Size. Skills. Smarts.

Can score both inside and out. He runs the floor well in transition, and can even knock down the three.

Exceptional footwork and uses his body well to box out and seal defenders.

What Terrence Jones does concerning entrance into the NBA Draft will determine whether Wiltjer plays alongside of him or in place of him

22. Michael Carter-Williams

Hamilton, RI

6'4" 175 lbs.

Syracuse

Carter-Williams can score in so many ways, and has been improving his ball-handling and the play-making parts of his game.

An extremely thin, versatile combo guard will give Jim Boeheim one more backcourt option starting next season.

Has demonstrated some significant defensive skills.

21. Rodney Hood

Meridian, MS

6'7" 180 lbs.

Mississippi State

Long and skilled lefty who can score from anywhere on the court.

Can consistently hit from three, but Hood can also get to the rim and finish.

Must work on becoming a better rebounder and defender

Great anticipation helps Hood to make steals and block shots

20. Wayne Blackshear

Chicago, IL

6'5" 210 lbs.

Louisville

Though Blackshear has a powerful body, he is best running the floor in transition.

Strength and leaping ability help him to absorb contact in the lane and still finish at the rim.

Excellent rebounder on both ends. Good ball handler who can defend both SGs and SFs.

Needs to continue to develop a solid mid-range and three-point shot. 

19. DeAndre Daniels

Bradenton, FL

6'8 190 lbs.

Uncommitted

Skilled, long shooting forward who can score in a variety of ways.

Exceptional speed for his size. No problem shooting over most defenders on the wing.

Good rebounder at both ends of the court.

Needs to see the court better  and develop his passing skills.

18. Cody Zeller

Washington, IN

6'11" 215 lbs.

Indiana

Great size and length with the potential of adding lbs. to fill out his lean frame.

Runs the floor well and is very mobile in half-court sets.

Good basketball IQ. Rebounds both ends of the court well.

Younger brother of UNC center, Tyler Zeller.

17. B.J. Young

Florissant, MO

6'3 170 lbs.

Arkansas

Young is another great backcourt recruit for new Razorback coach Mike Anderson.

Never takes a possession off. Has no problem getting to the rim on the break or when driving to the basket.

Beats defenders off the dribble with nasty first step

Good mid-range shooter. Still can improve three-point shooting

16. Jabari Brown

Oakland, CA

6'4" 205 lbs.

Oregon

Dana Altman's job of rebuilding Oregon basketball took a huge leap forward when he signed Brown.

He might be one of the best shooters in the 2011 class. 

He can knock down three-pointers, hit jumpers coming off screens and post up smaller perimeter players.

Uses his body well both on offense and defense.

15. Myck Kabongo

Henderson, NV

6'2" 160 lbs.

Texas

Kabongo may be the best pure point guard in the 2011 class.

Rick Barnes will love the fact that he consistently makes great decisions with the ball.

He is equally skilled at beating defenders off the dribble or pulling up and hitting mid-range and three-point jumpers.

But, Kabongo also uses his elite-level quickness and athleticism to be dominant on the defensive end of the court.  

14. P.J. Hairston

Greensboro, VA

6'4" 230 lbs.

North Carolina

Hairston is the real deal, combining great size, strength and skills.

He causes severe match-up problems.

Hairston has outstanding shooting range and can finish well at the rim.

Adding a mid-range game would complete his scoring package.

13. Branden Dawson

Gary, IN

6'6" 220 lbs.

Michigan State

Great athlete that uses his physicality on offense and defense.

Can grab the rebound on the defensive end and start the break himself.

Finishes with power in transition and in the lane.

Needs to continue to develop his shooting and handle to round out his exceptional game.

12. Rakeem Christmas

Bryn Athyn, PA

6'9" 220 lbs.

Syracuse

One of the top post players in the 2011 class.

Dominates the paint, consistently blocks/changes shots.

Pounds both the offensive and defensive glass

When he improves post moves, Christmas will be a great inside-scoring threat

11. Josiah Turner

Sacramento, CA

6'3" 185 lbs.

Arizona

Great scoring point guard with excellent burst and size

Slick handle. Can finish with either hand

Doesn't force action. Creates shots for himself and for his teammates

Continued development of his jumper puts him right at the top of the list of PGs

10. Adonis Thomas

Memphis, TN

6'6" 205 lbs.

Memphis

Josh Pastner will love this multi-faceted combo forward

Quickness, athleticism and intelligence helps him play bigger than his measurements

Brutal on the boards. First-rate post-up game.

Finishes well in traffic. Contact in the lane does not bother him.

9. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope

Greenville, GA

6'6" 185 lbs.

Georgia

Great shooter with nice length. Deep range on his jumper.

Plays well at all speeds. Creates his own shots off the dribble.

Good court vision helps him spot teammates. Can deliver the ball to create scoring opportunities

Excellent defender that can guard both perimeter positions

8. James McAdoo

Norfolk, VA

6'8" 220 lbs.

North Carolina

Nephew of former NBA great Bob McAdoo. One of the best combo forwards in the 2011 class

Works hard in practice and games. Student of the game. Exceptional fundamentals.

Making strides on adding range beyond the arc.

Goes after every rebound on both ends

7. Brad Beal

St. Louis, MO

6'4" 195 lbs.

Florida

Pure shooter who moves well without the ball and creates space to get shot off

Insane range that spreads the floor

Sees the court well and makes defenders pay if they attempt to double-team

Will be a perfect fit for Billy Donovan's fast-paced attack

6. LeBryan Nash

Dallas, TX

6'7" 230 lbs.

Oklahoma State

Powerful, physically-gifted player. Contact does not phase Bryan one bit.

Built like and plays like Ron Artest

Attacks the glass and the rim. Relentless rebounder. Great post-up player and defender.

Has added a more steady stroke out to the arc.

5. Marquis Teague

Indianapolis, IN

6'2" 170 lbs.

Kentucky

How many years can Kentucky go in a row in getting the best PGs?

Teague is a custom-fit for Calipari's offense and style. Relentless penetrator.

Amazing first step. Great handle.

Sees court and takes advantage of whatever opportunities the defense gives 

4. Mike Gilchrist

Elizabeth, NJ

6'7" 210 lbs.

Kentucky

And the elite-level talent just keeps coming to Lexington...

Gilchrist is a thoroughbred's thoroughbred. Unbelievable physical abilities.

Strives to excel in the big and little parts of the game.

Exceptional all-around skills. Great scorer, rebounder, and defender. 

3. Quincy Miller

High Point, NC

6'10" 210 lbs.

Baylor

One of the most versatile players in the 2011 class.

Like Perry Jones, a long wing player with unlimited upside

Size, skills, smarts. Can score with his back to the basket or out beyond the arc.

Can create shots off the dribble and deliver the ball to teammates

2. Anthony Davis

Chicago, IL

6'10" 220 lbs.

Kentucky

Wow! May be the most exceptionally versatile player in the 2011 class

Has skills of a smaller player due to a late growth spurt (seven inches in one year)

Impacts the game across the board. Averaged 32.0 ppg, 22.0 rpg and 7.0 blocks as a senior

Ready to step in and be a dominant player from the very beginning at Kentucky

1. Austin Rivers

Winter Park, FL

6'4 189 lbs.

Duke

Rivers is arguably the best player in the 2011 class 

2011 Naismith Player of the Year...2011 Wooten Player of the Year

Can do it all. Excellent shooter and scorer.

Will be an exceptional addition to the Blue Devil backcourt