2020 Rankings Update: Top Ten
With our first rankings update in 4 months, there has been a significant amount of movement overall but especially in the top 20. Here’s a look at the top 10 players in the rankings and how they got there. Justin…
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Continue ReadingWith our first rankings update in 4 months, there has been a significant amount of movement overall but especially in the top 20. Here’s a look at the top 10 players in the rankings and how they got there.
Justin Powell, North Oldham – Already committed to Auburn for college, Powell is a top 60 or so national recruit in about any rankings service you look at. The big question about Justin now is if he is going to get healthy again. The 6’6 shooter has only played about 10 games of high school or AAU since last December. Assuming he’s fine when the high school season rolls around, Justin remains the top player in the rankings.
Dayvion McKnight, Collins – Dayvion moves up to second overall and is likely the front-runner for Mr. Basketball in 2020. His recruiting momentum keeps rolling along and it likely won’t be long until the high major schools start offering scholarships to Kentucky’s best point guard prospect. McKnight is one of the best rebounders in the state and can facilitate offense for others or create shots for his teammates.
Jackson Sivills, McCracken County – Jackson continues to accumulate offers heading into the end of his AAU career. Sivills has great wing size at 6’6 and can score the ball at all three levels. His recruitment will be one of the most interesting to follow as he has several suitors at the high mid major level and could find himself a high major recruit if he waits until the Spring to commit.
JJ Traynor, Bardstown – If you’re looking for the player with the highest ceiling in 2020, Traynor is the guy. He keeps getting better and better and has stopped taking plays off. JJ is bouncy and long and can really protect the rim on the defensive end too. Traynor has the potential to play at the high major level. If he keeps developing at the rate he has been the last 12 months, it’s not out of the question for JJ to be a Power 5 recruit.
Kenny White, Madisonville-North Hopkins – White is one of the more frustrating players in the class to evaluate because he has stretches where he looks like a high major player (like 2 games at Rupp Arena back in March). Then there are times that Kenny coasts through a game. At 6’7 and possessing a high skill level, Kenny has the potential to be an all league player in college but he’s going to have to keep his motor running all the time. If he does that, Madisonville could win the state tournament.
Marques Warrick, Henry Clay – Warrick has looked like a different player this summer. Ques has been shooting the lights out of every gym he’s been in. He still has to a lot of room to improve too. As he adds strength and bulk in college, Warrick is going to be a very good D1 player and should get even more scholarship offers to go with the ones he already has.
Marcellus Vail, Collins – Marcellus is more than just a scorer. In recent months, he has really bought in on defense and has been playing super hard. Don’t be surprised if he adds several more scholarship offers in the coming months. If Vail continues to shoot as well as he has during his AAU season, his stock will keep soaring.
Howard Fleming, Male – Howard put on a show at the Collins event last month and earned his first two D1 scholarship offers. Howard is skilled and athletic with a high ceiling. At this point the only knock on him is his injury history. Fleming has a recurring shoulder injury that limited him to 13 high school games last season. If he can stay healthy and play like he did in June, Male will be a top state title contender and Howard will be the 7th Region’s Mr. Basketball nominee.
Ksuan Casey, Madisonville-North Hopkins – Ksuan has long been one of my favorite players in the class. Casey is a pure post player but has also shown some stretch to his game in recent years. The big man’s best basketball is ahead of him. Ksuan is one of the youngest players in the 2020 class and is nowhere near the player he will be after he gets in a college strength and conditioning program.
Cody Potter, Shelby Valley – Cody cracks the top ten in the class rankings for the first time. He’s a sniper from long range and coaches have taken notice as Potter has added a couple of scholarship offers in recent months. Against the Indiana Junior All-Stars, Cody made several shots from deep to help keep the Kentucky team in the game when Indiana tried to run away with it early on. Once Cody shows he can guard athletic wings, expect to see his college stock keep going up.