Recruiting Roundup: Early Look at the High School Player of the Year Race

The national Class of 2016 is loaded with 5-star prospects at the top of the rankings, which makes the race for national player of the year an enticing thing to track this high school season.

Many top players have already matched up in elite showcase events like Josh Jackson and Prolific Prep battling Miles Bridges and Huntington Prep, or Jayson Tatum and Chaminade facing Oak Hill Academy. The great performances in head-to-head showcase games make for a wide-open race early in the season as many prospects are vying for top honors in the senior class. With Duke commit Harry Giles down for the season with a torn ACL, it just opens up an opportunity for someone else to join the race for player of the year.

Bleacher Report spoke with national recruiting analysts from multiple outlets to get their take on players who have made a big impact early in the race for player of the year this season. These five players were mentioned by multiple recruiting analysts as being in the race. This isn't an exclusive list of candidates for this honor as the season progresses, but rather it's a look at the players getting the most buzz right now. 

Gregory Payan/Associated Press

Josh Jackson, Prolific Prep (Uncommitted): "Of anybody I have seen this season, nobody impacts winning in more ways than Josh Jackson does. He has been a dominant scorer when needed, is a superb playmaker for others, rebounds and is an elite level defender." — Eric Bossi, Rivals.com

Jayson Tatum, Chaminade (Duke): "Jayson Tatum is one of the best scorers in the class and early this season he has taken his game to even another level. In high-profile games he has brought the effort and has put his team on his back and is stating a loud case for player of the year honors." — Brian Snow, Scout.com

De'Aaron Fox, Cypress Lakes (Kentucky): "De'Aaron Fox has really developed over the course of the last year and is firmly in the player of the year conversation. For a point guard, Fox has tremendous size, speed and athleticism. But perhaps his biggest strength is his perimeter defense." — Evan Daniels, Scout.com

Miles Bridges, Huntington Prep (Michigan State): "Miles Bridges' game continues to improve and he continues to become a better long-range shooter. As has always been the case, his explosiveness around the basket is top of the line." — Jerry Meyer, 247Sports.com

Andrew Jones, MacArthur (Texas): "Andrew Jones has developed an alpha-type mentality and he's unguardable in high-ball screen situations. He's explosive at the basket, he can create for others or defend. There's really no holes in his game." — Corey Evans, HoopSeen.com

The only 4-star player mentioned among that group is Jones, a native of Irving, Texas, who has exploded on the national scene since July. Many scouts that spoke with Bleacher Report feel that Jones is a 5-star player who could very well play his way into the McDonald's All-American Game this spring.

Obviously, there is a long way to go in the season with plenty of other showcase games to play, but this is a race to follow over the next few months. 

Texas Makes Early-Season Recruiting Statement

Eric Gay/Associated Press

Shaka Smart has capitalized early at Texas, especially with Saturday's home win over a then-top-five team in North Carolina in front of a very full Frank Erwin Center.

The win, and program in general, also made a very strong impression on Jones, one of the best available players in the Class of 2016. Jones committed to the Longhorns on Monday and it gives Smart three solid additions to his roster next season as the Texas native joins 4-star center James Banks and 4-star guard Jacob Young.

Defeating North Carolina was a major statement for Smart and his program because he's captured the Texas fanbases' interest while football is down. The Texas basketball team is already exceeding expectations by picking up wins against national title contenders.

"On the recruiting side, the UNC performance and atmosphere was the final nudge that pushed Andrew Jones to Texas. And in the long term, Shaka has the attention of recruits and those involved in recruiting now that he's putting his product on the floor, and he has a signature win," said Dustin McComas, Texas basketball writer for Orangebloods.com.

With Smart having a unique "Havoc" style of play, it was always going to be intriguing to see how Texas would look since the roster was filled with players mostly recruited by former head coach Rick Barnes. But those players have bought in and helped create a team that can win now, and it's helped in recruiting. The future is bright at Texas if Smart can continue to get high-level players. Next up, the Longhorns will work hard to keep 5-star center Jarrett Allen close to home.

Nike Hoop Summit Roster Released

The annual Nike Hoop Summit has become a major attraction for NBA scouts and draft experts as it gives high school seniors a chance to play against top international players in a major showcase game.

Since the Class of 2016 is loaded with 5-star prospects, it makes for an interesting process of who makes the (expanded) 12-man roster. 

The players that made the team for the game to be played in April 2016 include Kentucky commits Edrice Adebayo, Fox and Wenyen Gabriel, Terrance Ferguson (Alabama), Markelle Fultz (Washington), Jonathan Isaac (Florida State), Josh Langford (Michigan State), Payton Pritchard (Oregon) and Tatum (Duke). Unsigned players include big men Allen and Marques Bolden as well as wing Jackson. Duke commit Giles, out with a torn ACL this season, will serve as a captain.

Notable players who didn't make the roster include Kentucky commit Malik Monk, Michigan State commit Miles Bridges, UCLA commit Lonzo Ball and Duke commit Frank Jackson. Unsigned senior guards like Rawle Alkins and Kobi Simmons also didn't make the roster. There are so many talented and versatile wings and guards in this class that some elite players had to be left off.

With the way this roster has been constructed, USA Basketball is putting a premium on size, as it went big at a number of different positions. The addition of Pritchard, an Oregon product who is local to the Portland-based Hoop Summit, is notable, but he also participated with USA Basketball in the 3-on-3 World Championships this summer.

Recruiting ratings via 247Sports.

Unless otherwise noted, all quotes and information were obtained firsthand.