March Rankings Update: 2024 Underrated Players Part 1

Here at Prep Hoops PA, we cast a wide net, covering high school and prep basketball across the state. Rankings are also extremely difficult. So, inevitably, players slip through the cracks. Here are players outside the Top 100 who are underrated and/or will outplay their current ranking.

#101 Pearse McGuinn Pearse McGuinn 6'8" | PF Cardinal O'Hara | 2024 State PA | F 6’7 Cardinal O’Hara

From his sophomore to his junior season, McGuinn grew immensely as a player. He improved in nearly every statistical category, most notably points (12.2), rebounds (5.1), blocks (2.7), and 3-points percentage (42.3% on 2 attempts/g). The stretch big was a key piece in an O’Hara squad that made it to the PCL quarterfinals and earned a seat in the 6A state playoffs. Running with K-Low Elite, McGuinn will get to test his new and improved skills on an ultra competitive level and turn his D1 interest into scholarship offers.

#104 Greg Guidinger Greg Guidinger 6'6" | SF Central York | 2024 State PA | W/F 6’7 Central York

Guidinger is a swiss army knife at the 3/4 spot. After a breakout summer with Philly Pride UAA, he led Central to a York-Adams championship and won the league’s Player of the year award, averaging 17 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 4.1 assists. The combo forward shoots the 3 at a high volume, making as many as 5 in a game (twice) and shows the potential to shoot it off of movement. He also has the agility to slash to the cup and protect the rim from the weak side. Numerous mid-majors have already offered,

#106 EJ Campbell EJ Campbell 6'0" | CG Spring Ford | 2024 State PA | 6’1 G Spring-Ford

Co-captaining the Rams run to a PAC 6 title and runner up in District 1 6a, Campbell has cut his teeth against quality teams in the Philly area. He’s a quick lead guard who can set the table for everyone else but is more than willing and able to get buckets. When he gets in the paint, Campbell can finish with either hand. He can spray the ball around from there too. He averaged around 20 points across the PAC 6 and District 1 6A playoffs. With him and Jacon Nguyen at the helm, the Rams are still on the hunt for a 6A state championship.

#109 Bahsil Laster Bahsil Laster 6'4" | SF Academy of New Church | 2024 PA | 6’5 G Academy of the New Church

Laster made his way over to ANC after breakout season at Archbishop Wood. There, as the tallest player on the Lions, he was thrust into somewhat of a point-forward role – handling the ball on offense and defending closer to the basket on defense – and succeeded. Laster can still lock-down almost anyone on the perimeter and stride past defenders to the rim. But this season he progressed as an off-ball defender and showed more consistency with his jumper, contributing 13.9 points, 6.7 boards, and 2.3 steals per. As a result, ANC’s guard heavy team made it back to the Friends League title game.

#153 Kevin Rucker Kevin Rucker 6'5" | SG Bonner-Prendergast | 2024 State PA Jr | 6’5 G Bonner-Prendie

Rucker Jr’s decision to put on the Friar’s green is working out for the Chester native. The hype around “Pop” was already building, but it exploded once BP got into their non-league schedule at events like Slam Dunk to the Beach and the Play-by-Play Classic. At 14.5 ppg, 5.1 rpg, and 2.2 assists per contest, he flashed as a prospect who can score off-the-bounce and provide secondary playmaking. Despite taking some lumps, his hard work earned him Third team all-PCL as well. Rucker Jr is good now and can still get a lot better. 

#253 Nasseem Wright | W 6’6 Math, Civics & Sciences

Wright caught some people’s eyes when stepped on the scene as a sophomore then really took his respect around the city as a junior. The Elephants often played through him at the elbow, where he could slash the basket and display his touch around the hoop. Other times, he played off of his teammates, cutting and attacking from the second side. The prototypical wing averaged 14.3 points and 6.3 rebounds as he made First team All-Public League. Wright has the talent to be one of the top 10 players in the state. He just has to continue putting it all together.

Other names worth mentioning:

#105 Ty Mishock Ty Mishock 5'10" | PG Spring Ford | 2024 State PA | G 5’10 Devon Prep

#120 Jalen Harper Jalen Harper 6'2" | PG St. Joseph’s Prep | 2024 State PA | G 6’3 St. Joe’s Prep

#149 Malik Rasul Malik Rasul 6'8" | PF Westtown School | 2024 State PA | F 6’8 Westtown

#150 Jacob Cummiskey Jacob Cummiskey 6'3" | CG Central Bucks East | 2024 State PA | G 6’3 Central Bucks East

#190 Jahseir Sayles Jahseir Sayles 6'6" | SF Plymouth Whitemarsh | 2024 State PA | W 6’6 Plymouth Whitemarsh

#212 Nyle Ralph-Beyer Nyle Ralph-Beyer 6'4" | SG West Chester Henderson | 2024 State PA | G 6’4 West Chester East

#214 Connor Fleet Connor Fleet 6'0" | CG West Chester Henderson | 2024 State PA | G 6’0 West Chester East

#268 Micah Hill-Benitez Micah Hill-Benitez 6'4" | SF Downingtown East | 2024 State PA | W/F 6’4 Downingtown East

#274 Kamani Healy | W 6’4 Cheltenham