Ranking the Top Candidates for 2017 High School Basketball Player of the Year

Now that a good chunk of the high school basketball season has been completed, it is time to see which players are in prime positions to be considered Player of the Year.

For this type of award at the high school level, a player needs to be part of a winning program while also putting up good individual numbers. Playing against a tough or national schedule is also a key part of being in the equation, as some players are putting up great numbers against top-notch competition.

Here's a look at eight players who are firmly in the race for Player of the Year honors. The list includes six seniors and two juniors who are making moves with huge high school seasons. 

8. Kevin Knox

Gregory Payan/Associated Press

Measurables: 6'8", 205 lbs

School: Tampa Catholic (Tampa, Florida)

One of the nation's premier uncommitted seniors, Kevin Knox is having a huge senior season, as the McDonald's All-American is averaging close to 28 points and 10 rebounds per game for Tampa Catholic.

Playing a tougher schedule than in seasons past, Knox has helped his school to a 15-5 mark, recently scoring 27 points in a loss to powerhouse Montverde Academy. Knox is still considering Duke, Florida State, Kentucky and North Carolina.

7. Zion Williamson

Measurables: 6'6", 225 lbs

School: Spartanburg Day (Spartanburg, South Carolina)

The junior has become a national sensation, thanks to his unbelievable acrobatics on YouTube mixtapes. When Drake is wearing your high school jersey—as he did with Zion Williamson's—you know you're doing something right.

As for actual numbers, Williamson hasn't played the toughest competition at Spartanburg Day, but he has dominated the schools that he's faced, as he's racked up multiple 40-point outings this season. Williamson is also the People's Champ of high school basketball. With 172,000 Instagram followers and 26,000 Twitter followers, a lot of people have become fans of Williamson's game.

6. Wendell Carter

Gregory Payan/Associated Press

Measurables: 6'10", 240 lbs

School: Pace Academy (Atlanta)

Heading to Duke after finishing his senior season, Wendell Carter is having an outstanding season playing all over the floor on the offensive end, but his team hasn't played the best against a tough national schedule.

At 10-8, Pace Academy has lost some close, tough games, but Carter has delivered the goods with a number of double-double performances. In a loss against The Patrick School and Kentucky commit Nick Richards, Carter soundly outplayed the 5-star big man, finishing with 28 points, 18 rebounds and four steals.

5. Collin Sexton

Measurables: 6'2", 175 lbs

School: Pebblebrook (Mableton, Georgia)

The high-intensity senior is piling up huge scoring numbers, including a ridiculous 53 points and 11 three-pointers during his high school's senior night earlier this week. Already a gifted scorer with a propensity for playing hard on both ends, Collin Sexton has improved a streaky perimeter jumper, molding it into a weapon and making it nearly impossible for defenders to stop him at the high school level.

The Alabama commit will now look to add some hardware before the end of the season, as Pebblebrook has lost in the state title game in each of the past two seasons. If Sexton averages more than 30 points per game (which he's already doing at over 32 points per game) and captures the state title, he'll be in the conversation as one of the nation's best guards. 

4. Trevon Duval

Gregory Payan/Associated Press

Measurables: 6'3", 190 lbs

School: IMG Academy (Bradenton, Florida)

Spending his senior season at IMG Academy, Trevon Duval is still putting up good numbers and winning a lot of games while playing one of the toughest schedules in the country. The acrobatic finishing ability is still there from Duval, but he's now playing under more control and making smarter decisions with many talented teammates around him.

IMG Academy holds a 20-1 record on the season, and Duval has performed against many of the nation's best teams, so his schedule plays a factor in his ranking here.

3. Marvin Bagley III

Gregory Payan/Associated Press

Measurables: 6'11", 220 lbs

School: Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, California)

The nation's top junior is making his presence felt in a big way at Sierra Canyon, as it pulled off a huge win over La Lumiere at the Hoophall Classic. Marvin Bagley III finished with 21 points and nine rebounds in that one, and he's helped his team to an outstanding 17-1 start.

Also the MVP of the Bass Pro Tournament of Champions, Bagley has been consistently productive against the best teams in the country, and he's already commanding double-teams from nearly all opponents. Williamson is having an impressive junior season, but Bagley is still the top player and prospect in the 2018 class.

2. DeAndre Ayton

Gregory Payan/Associated Press

Measurables: 7'0", 245 lbs

School: Hillcrest Hoops (Phoenix)

Still the nation's top big man, DeAndre Ayton is a double-double machine who runs the floor well and has many skills of a new-age center. Not many 7-footers can knock down jumpers like Ayton can, and his ability to hit free throws is another bonus to his developing game.

Ayton also has the advantage of playing well in head-to-head matchups with elite big men, as he's registered two double-doubles against 5-star big man Mohamed Bamba this season. Also playing a national schedule, Ayton will continue to get showcase games the rest of the season to state his case for the top spot.

1. Michael Porter Jr.

Gregory Payan/Associated Press

Measurables: 6'10", 210 lbs

High school and hometown: Nathan Hale High School; Seattle, Washington

Why his season stands out: The best player in the country this season as been Porter Jr. as he's moved to a new state and continued to dominate the high school level. From a win-loss perspective, Nathan Hale went 3-18 last season and is now 15-0 with wins over storied programs like Oak Hill Academy and Sierra Canyon

Porter is a huge reason why. The jumbo wing put up 36 points, five rebounds and four assists in the win over Oak Hill while also scoring 27 points and grabbing 15 rebounds against Marvin Bagley and Sierra Canyon. Washington has a potential superstar hitting campus next season as Porter tries to help them to a turnaround as well.

Recruiting ratings via Scout.com.

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