High school basketball’s class of 2011 is now front and center.
As the few remaining 2010 prospects decide where to suit up next season, the junior class is quickly becoming the focus of college coaches and fans eager to get an early look at the sport’s next generation of stars – and the 2011 class has plenty of those.
Here is a glance at 10 names sure to become firmly entrenched in the lexicon of basketball fans over the next 12 months;
Bradley Beal
Photo by Steven Maikoski/USA Basketball
6-3 / 185 / Guard
2009-10 season: St. Louis scoring machine poured in over 29 points per game.
Recruiting status: Committed to Florida prior to junior season.
Wayne Blackshear, Morgan Park (Chicago, Ill.)
6-5 / 205 / Wing
2009-10 season: Earned MaxPreps All-America honors after posting 29 points and 13 rebounds per game.
Recruiting status: Committed to Louisville.
Quinn Cook, DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.)
6-0 / 175 / Guard
2009-10 season: Emerged as the star for a DeMatha team featuring at least five other future Division I players.
Recruiting status: Georgetown would love to keep this Stag guard at home but plenty of major suitors (including Duke and Kentucky) are making pitches as well.
Michael Gilchrist, St. Patrick (Elizabeth, N.J.)
6-7 / 190 / Forward
2009-10 season: Gilchrist was outstanding in support of Duke-bound point guard and first team All-American Kyrie Irving, averaging a double-double (16 points, 11 rebounds) for nationally-ranked St. Patrick.
Recruiting status: Committed to Kentucky in an announcement televised by ESPNU on Wednesday.
Myck Kabongo, St. Benedict's Prep (Newark, N.J.)
6-2 / 170 / Guard
2009-10 season: Led St. Benedict’s Prep to a 20-1 record and No. 2 national ranking with over 18 points and six assists per outing.
Recruiting status: Committed to Texas during his sophomore year.
James McAdoo, Norfolk Christian (Norfolk, Va.)
6-8 / 220 / Forward
2009-10 season: Bounced back from a shoulder injury nicely, tacking up over 22 points and grabbing 10 rebounds a night.
Recruiting status: Committed to North Carolina following junior season.
Quincy Miller
Photo by Nicholas Koza
6-9 / 195 / Forward
2009-10 season: Long, skilled forward can do a little bit of everything, leading the way for a National Christian Schools Athletic Association national championship team at Quality Education.
Recruiting status: Was one of the hottest tickets in Las Vegas last summer and is being hotly pursued by the likes of Baylor, Duke, Georgetown and Kentucky.
LeBryan Nash, Lincoln (Dallas, Texas)
6-7 / 220 / Forward
2009-10 season: Used mature physique and athleticism to carve out 17 points and 10 rebounds per game for a 28-4 Lincoln team.
Recruiting status: Big 12 teams are lined up to get Nash’s ear, including Oklahoma State and Texas.
Austin Rivers, Winter Park (Winter Park, Fla.)
6-3 / 185 / Guard
2009-10 season: The only non-senior to earn MaxPreps first or second team All-America honors, Rivers led Winter Park to a state title with averages of 23.9 points and 4.3 rebounds per game.
Recruiting status: Rivers made an early commitment to Florida, but recently pulled back to take a look at Duke and North Carolina, among others.
Adonis Thomas, Melrose (Memphis, Tenn.)
6-6 / 210 / Wing
2009-10 season: A prototype wing/small forward, Thomas contributed 18.0 points, 11.2 rebounds and 3.8 blocked shots per game for a state championship Melrose team.
Recruiting status: Florida, Kentucky and Tennessee would love end Josh Pastner’s recent run of success with hometown recruits.
Note: MaxPreps will take a deeper look at the nation’s top 2011 talents Tuesday, April 20 with the 50-player Junior All-American Team.
