By Ted Silary
Philadelphia Daily News
FOR THE 32nd consecutive season, the Daily News is attempting to give college basketball coaches a helping hand with recruiting.
Our five categories for seniors are point guards, wing guards, small forwards, power forwards and centers. Players are categorized by the position we expect them to play in college. But remember, a player’s role can depend upon the level of school he attends.
The players in “The Best” category are those we believe would be most capable of playing in Division I or the higher levels of Division II, or in a competitive junior-college program if there’s a need for academic strengthening. “Others” are Division IIs or IIIs.
Our rating system: 1. big time; 2. midmajor; 3. low Division I; 4. high Division II. We have compiled a separate list of players who have already made commitments.
Point guards
THE BEST
Parrish Grant, Imhotep, 6-2, orchestrates transition, takes charge in stretch, declined to sign early, rating: 3-4.
LaRon Byrd, GAMP, 6-foot, sweet jumper, skilled in traffic, terrific overall feel, will blossom even more once surrounded by talent, rating: 3-4.
20 OTHERS
Antonio “Gee” Monroe, Comm. Tech
Brendan Stanton, Lansdale
Pendarvis Williams, Bodine
Zafir Williams, Vaux
Darren Lawrence, Straw. Mansion
Andy Bousono, Esperanza
Maurice Robinson, Lincoln
Pat Stewart, SJ Prep
Cory Goodman, Episcopal
John Johnson, Furness
Rus Slawter, Ryan
Ramair “Juice” Garner, Sayre
Hassan Jones, Bok
Ramone Williams, Math/Civics/Sciences
Kevin Mack, Del-Val
Khailief Coates, Olney
Tyrell Smith, Saul
Vince Bullock, Furness
Kyheim Jackson, Phila. Elec.
Shykee Brooks, Freire
Wing guards
THE BEST
Jesse “Booge” Morgan, Olney, 6-4, one of country’s top unsigned WGs, treys to dunks, fills stat sheet, many suitors, well worth price of admission, rating: 1-2.
Jamil Brown, Lamberton, 6-foot, crafty and relentless, feathery touch, strong build, king of transition, rating: 3-4.
Jose Ortiz, Math, Civics and Sciences, 6-3, major spit/grit, can light it up, has battled back from knee surgery, winner, rating: 3-4.
30 OTHERS
Rob Hollomon, West Catholic
Alex Gaddy, Del-Val
Zaahir Smith, Math/Civics/Sciences
Henry Bond, Kensington
Kion Coats, FitzSimons
Luis Martinez, Edison
Lamar Speller, Southern
Marcus Holland, University City
Dain “DJ” Suber, Del-Val
Ivory Wells, Imhotep
Mark Rhine, Penn Charter
Chris Jones, Comm. Tech
Zaahid Holloman, Prep Charter
Anthony Keiter, Ryan
Kevin Garris, University City
Dan Fitzpatrick, SJ Prep
Marcus Grimes, Straw. Mansion
Tim Fahy, Wood
Emmanuel Pittman, Penn
Sam Kurtzman, Haver. School
Marcus Ferrell, Vaux
Melvin Dixon, Franklin
Solomon Davis, Bartram
Devin Colston, Northeast
Donte Greene, Bodine
Haleem “Peanut” Hayward, West Catholic
Tom Cooney, La Salle
Tremell Green, Bok
Kenny Battle, Imhotep
Karl Riley, Franklin LC
Small forwards
THE BEST
Marcus Brown, Engineering & Science, 6-4, old-school approach, big first step, bouncy/brassy, Penn intrigued, strong student, rating: 3.
Ferg Myrick, Prep Charter, 6-6, effective on baseline/near wing, good strength, gets to line, expanding interest, rating: 3.
Gary Lawrence, Chestnut Hill, 6-6, lefty, unorthodox but crafty, owns baseline, expanding skill set, rating: 1-2.
15 OTHERS
Joe Reid, Gratz
Terrance “T-Mac” Bennett, Olney
Theo West, Kensington
Dean Melchionni, Gtn. Academy
Danny Walker, Bartram
Andre Wilburn, Carroll
Melvin Dixon, Franklin
Jonas Skovdal, Conwell-Egan
Chuck Collins, FitzSimons
Jaleel Khabeer, Mastery South
Lamar Gary, Bodine
Mike Leithead, SJ Prep
Deione “Dex” Lathem, Sayre
Nasir Jones, Franklin LC
Germel Ford, Masterman
Power forwards
THE BEST
Koron Reed, Roman, 6-6, Skywalking R Us, runs floor well, must polish ball skills, wiry frame so take and add pounds, rating: 3.
15 OTHERS
Tyree “Chuck” Harris, Prep Charter
Jeffrey Lord, Math/Civics/Sciences
Shawn Washington, Sayre
Kasheef Festus, Carroll
Henry Smith, Bonner
Pete Buzby, SJ Prep
Leroy Evans, Gratz
Jerry Smith, Ryan
Jared James, Roxborough
Andre Howard, Eng. & Science
Brad Miller, Kenn.-Kenrick
Blaire Chesterfield, Furness
Don Rauchut, Penn Charter
Tyrell Johnson, FitzSimons
Lawrence Elliott, Straw. Mansion
Centers
THE BEST
None
FIVE OTHERS
Ade Barek, West Catholic
John Adams, Penn
Bilal Kelley, Straw. Mansion
Brandon Robinson, SJ Prep
Philip Pringle, Dobbins
Top 20 juniors
Tyrone Garland, Bartram, 6-1 PG
Jamir Hanner, Southern, 6-6, PF-C
Daniel Stewart, Neumann-Goretti, 6-6, PF
Devonte “DJ” Newbill, Straw. Mansion, 6-4, WG
Cameron Ayers, Gtn. Academy, 6-5, WG-SF
Rakeem “Rahk” Brookins, Roman, 5-10, CG
Octavious Booker, Freire, 6-6, PF
Deshon Minnis, Southern, 6-2 PG
Donte Williams, Washington, 6-3, WG
Erik Raleigh, Bodine, 6-8, PF-C
Dehaven Brown, Frankford, 6-foot, PG
Fran Dougherty, Wood, 6-7, C
Mike Terry, North Catholic, 6-foot, WG
Jack O’Neill, North Catholic, 6-5, SF
Brandon Smith, Central, 6-5, PF-C
Tyreek Duren, Neumann-Goretti, 6-foot, PG
DJ Irving, Carroll, 5-11, PG
Isaac Robinson, Conwell-Egan, 6-2, WG-SF
Todd Cramer, Chestnut Hill, 6-5, WG-SF
Omari Grier, Episcopal, 6-3, WG
Top six sophomores
Rakeem Christmas, North Catholic, 6-9, C
Juan’ya Green, Carroll, 6-3, WG
Ameen Tanksley, Prep Charter, 6-5, CG
Aquil Younger, West Catholic, 5-11, PG
Jerrell Wright, Dobbins, 6-6, PF-C
Erik Copes, Imhotep, 6-8, C
Already committed
The following players are off the prospects board:
Point Guards: Shannon Givens, Fels, Drexel; Maalik Wayns, Roman, Villanova; Denzel Yard, Franklin LC, Siena.
Shooting Guards: Will Adams, Imhotep, Towson; Tony Chennault, Neumann-Goretti, Wake Forest (junior); Sam Prescott, Imhotep, Marist.
Small Forward: Jeff Holton, Gtn. Academy, American.
Power Forwards: Andre “Scooter” Gillette, Neumann-Goretti, Niagara; Lijah Thompson, Comm. Tech, Robert Morris
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