MaxPreps preseason National Player of the Year watch list

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MaxPreps will honor its 10th boys basketball National Player of the Year at the conclusion of the 2014-15 season.

What can the last nine winners tell us about who might earn the title in April? See our list of past recipients and a few POY facts and figures below.

Past MaxPreps National Player of the Year winners

2014 – Stanley Johnson, Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.)
2013 – Jabari Parker, Simeon (Chicago)
2012 – Kyle Anderson, St. Anthony (Jersey City, N.J.)
2011 – Austin Rivers, Winter Park (Fla.)
2010 – Harrison Barnes, Ames (Iowa)
2009 – Derrick Favors, South Atlanta (Ga.)
2008 – Brandon Jennings, Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.)
2007 – Kevin Love, Lake Oswego (Ore.)
2006 – Greg Oden, Lawrence North (Indianapolis)

MaxPreps National Player of the Year facts

* Seven of nine MaxPreps NPOY winners led teams to state titles. Only Jennings, who played for a team that doesn't compete for a state title, and Love, who fell to Kyle Singler and South Medford in Oregon's championship game that season, failed to capture a state crown.

* Seven of nine MaxPreps NPOYs were 6-foot-6 or taller. Though high school basketball is a guard's game, Jennings and Austin are the only true guards to win the nation's top honor. Johnson, Anderson and Barnes were all multi-dimensional high school players with the ability to dominate from virtually anywhere on the floor.

* Once again, seven of nine MaxPreps NPOYs averaged 20 or more points per game. Senior year production and success actually matters for our award. Only Parker and Anderson produced less than 20 points per game but both played for balanced, defensive-minded teams that won state titles and were ranked in the top five nationally.

With those facts in mind, here's our take on five who may fit the bill in 2014-15:

Ben Simmons, Montverde Academy (Fla.)
POY path: If Simmons' numbers are in the same neighborhood as they were a year ago (18.5 points, 9.6 rebounds per game) and Montverde Academy is crowned mythical national champ for the third year in a row, the award is his.

Malik Newman, Callaway (Jackson, Miss.)
POY path: Should Simmons stumble, Newman could build his case by leading Callaway to its fourth-consecutive state title and putting up big numbers in the process. He's averaging 26.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game through five outings, but his Chargers tasted defeat over the weekend in a 72-65 loss to Velma Jackson (Camden).

Ivan Rabb, Bishop O'Dowd (Oakland, Calif.)
POY path: The 6-9 power forward will have big stage moments against Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas), Montverde Academy and fellow POY candidate Jaylen Brown and Wheeler (Marietta, Ga.). If he can shine in those opportunities and help O'Dowd end a streak of seven consecutive state championship game defeats, the award may stay in California.

Jalen Brunson, Stevenson (Lincolnshire, Ill.)
POY path: Windy City dynasties Simeon and Whitney Young have combined to win the last six Class 4A state titles. If Brunson can help Stevenson break up that run with a signature performance in the state playoffs, he could make a significant push late in the season. The Villanova signee erupted for 56 points against Whitney Young in last year's 4A semifinals.

Isaiah Briscoe, Roselle Catholic (N.J.)
POY path: A recent Kentucky pledge, Briscoe showed he is one of high school basketball's biggest winners this summer on the Nike EYBL circuit. If he can keep the momentum going by leading Roselle Catholic to the NJSIAA Tournament of Champions crown and notch a big showcase victory or two, don't count out the future ‘Cat.

The Next 10 (listed alphabetically)
Dwayne Bacon, Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.)
Jaylen Brown, Wheeler (Marietta, Ga.)
Jalen Coleman, La Lumiere (LaPorte, Ind.)
Deyonta Davis, Muskegon (Mich.)
Cheick Diallo, Our Savior New American (Centereach, N.Y.)
Luke Kennard, Franklin (Ohio)
Malik Monk, Bentonville (Ark.)
Diamond Stone, Dominican (Whitefish Bay, Wis.)
Jayson Tatum,Chaminade (St. Louis, Mo.)
Allonzo Trier, Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.)

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