It’s tough to honestly pick an All-American team. Gone are the days when so much of the nation’s high school basketball talent was concentrated in major cities like New York, L.A., Chicago and Philly – now the game is everywhere, with superstars coming out of small Midwestern towns, previously overlooked Northwest suburbs and the football territories of the Deep South, to name a few. So even in an era where YouTube highlights and regular national TV broadcasts allow more people to see more high school stars outside their own area code, the sheer volume of quality players spread around the map can be overwhelming. As a result, hype and reputation play too much of a role in determining who gets what awards and honors, and people make lazy picks, sometimes without even having seen a kid play.
While selecting the Dime/2K Sports High School All-American Team, we aimed to give hype and rep as little weight as possible. Each of the 10 players on this list the Dime crew has witnessed multiple times, both in person and on TV, and so we can vouch: They’re legit. Regardless of class, here is the nation’s high school elite as we see it:
FIRST TEAM
Myles Mack – Guard
5-9, Senior, St. Anthony (Jersey City, N.J.), College: Rutgers
Mack may be more of an undersized shooting guard than a point guard, but his size doesn’t limit his effectiveness in any way. His quickness makes staying in front of him a near impossible task for most defenders, and he’s a streaky shooter that can score in bunches from NBA range. Mack averaged 15 points, four assists and three steals per game to lead St. Anthony to a perfect 33-0 season, a state title and most important, the nation’s No. 1 overall ranking.
Austin Rivers – Guard
6-4, Senior, Winter Park (Fla.), College: Duke
Good luck finding a better scorer than Rivers – in any class. No one in the country, on any level, hunts and finds their offense like Rivers, son of Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers. He’s a marksman from NBA range with the perfect combination of quickness and speed, which helps him get into the lane at will. His athleticism allows him to finish with authority. Rivers averaged 29 points and six rebounds per game en route to leading the Wildcats to their second consecutive state title. Amongst countless other accolades, you can understand why we named him the Dime/2K Sports Player of the Year.
Bradley Beal – Guard
6-4, Senior, Chaminade College Prep (St. Louis, Mo.), College: Florida
Beal combines Ray Allen-like accuracy with a strong upper body, which allows him to be virtually unguardable. He went for 40 points in a 76-58 nationally televised win over McCluer North in February, and averaged 32 points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals per game this season. He was also named the Gatorade National Boys Basketball Player of the Year, after winning Gatorade Player of the Year in Missouri for the second consecutive year.
Michael Gilchrist – Forward
6-7, Senior, St. Patrick (Elizabeth, N.J.), College: Kentucky
Gilchrist may very well be the most talented all-around player in the country. He’s the ultimate utility player who can break down slower defenders on the wing and post up smaller defenders in the paint. He won MVP at the prestigious City of Palms Classic and helped the Celtics (26-1) hold down the No. 1 national ranking for most of the year. Gilchrist averaged 19 points, 14 rebounds, six assists, five blocks and four steals per game this season.
Anthony Davis – Forward
6-10, Senior, Perspectives Charter (Chicago, Ill.), College: Kentucky
Few, if any, combine the size and length of Davis, and know exactly how to maximize every bit of it to his advantage. Averaging 32 points, 18 rebounds, seven blocks, four assists and four steals per game this season, Davis does everything on the court. He is quicker than most big men and his footwork is second to none.
Check the next page to see who made the Second Team…
SECOND TEAM
Myck Kabongo – Guard
6-2, Senior, Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.), College: Texas
Kabongo is one of the best playmakers in the class and combines speed with dynamic athletic ability. His mid-range game allows him to keep the defense off balance, and his vision on the court is unparalleled. Kabongo averaged 17 points, seven assists and five rebounds per game for Findlay this season, which was ranked in the Top 10 in the nation all year.
Shabazz Muhammad – Guard
6-6, Junior, Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.), College: Undecided
Muhammad is smooth, efficient and probably the best pure scorer in his class. His jump shot is accurate, and he uses his strength to absorb contact and finish in the paint. Muhammad picked up right where he left off in AAU last summer, leading Bishop Gorman with 25 points and eight rebounds per game this season. Muhammad was named Gatorade Player of the Year in Nevada.
James McAdoo – Forward
6-8, Senior, Norfolk Christian (Norfolk, Va.), College: North Carolina
McAdoo is a workhorse in the paint, lean enough to out-quick slower post defenders, but still has enough bulk to overpower them in the paint if need be. Add that to a motor that won’t be denied, and it’s easy to see why he was named Gatorade Player of the Year in Virginia. In addition to winning a second-straight VISAA Division II state title, McAdoo averaged 23 points, nine rebounds, two steals and two blocks per game this season.
Perry Ellis – Forward
6-8, Junior, Wichita Heights (Wichita, Kan.), College: Undecided
This marks Ellis’ third straight year being named Gatorade Player of the Year in Kansas. He led the Falcons to a 25-0 record and a third consecutive Class 6A state championship, averaging 22 points, eight rebounds and two assists a game this season. Ellis’ effectiveness is his versatility. He’s strong and physical in the paint with a plethora of post moves, but also runs the floor and can consistently knock down shots from the perimeter.
Tony Parker – Forward
6-9, Junior, Miller Grove (Lithonia, Ga.), College: Undecided
Parker has the toughness of Charles Barkley, the low-post moves of Elton Brand and the rebounding ability of Dennis Rodman, making him one of the most dominant big men in the country, regardless of class. Parker averaged 18 points, 16 rebounds and four blocks per game this season en route to leading Miller Grove to its third straight state title in Class AAAA.
What do you think?
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