Compiled By Jason Hickman
MaxPreps.com
2006-2007 MaxPreps National Player of the Year
Kevin Love, Lake Oswego, Ore.
First Team (Listed Alphabetically)
Jon Diebler
6-7/Senior/Guard
Upper Sandusky (Upper Sandusky, Ohio)
Headed To: Ohio State
Perhaps no player meant more to the success of his team than the national scoring leader, Upper Sandusky's (23-4) Jon Diebler. The Ohio State-bound scoring machine poured in 41.2 points per game and snared 12.7 rebounds. Diebler added to his legend in his final game by scoring 48 points with a broken nose in an 87-85 loss to Dayton Dunbar in Ohio's Division II title game.
Eric Gordon *
6-4/Senior/Guard
North Central (Indianapolis, Ind.)
Headed To: Indiana
"Air" Gordon led North Central (21-4) to Indiana's 4A title game by averaging 28.7 points and 2.7 steals per game. The future Hoosier erupted for 43 points in an ESPN-televised showdown with Loyola Academy (Ill.), a 41-point win for North Central. Gordon is an efficient scorer, shooting 57.9 percent from the field and 87.3 from the line.
Kevin Love *
6-10/Senior/Forward
Lake Oswego (Lake Oswego, Ore.)
Headed To: UCLA
The most highly-decorated player in Oregon high school basketball history, Love carried Lake Oswego (26-2) to its third-straight championship game appearance by averaging 33.9 points and 17 rebounds per game. Love helped the Lakers win a state title in 2006 and finished his career with 2,628 points, a Beaver State record.
Derrick Rose *
6-2/Senior/Guard
Simeon (Chicago, Ill.)
Headed To: Memphis
Rose didn't post mind-blowing statistics as a senior, but with players like Tim Flowers and Kevin Johnson in the Simeon (33-2) lineup, he didn't need to. Rose averaged 18.4 points per game with 7.0 assists and 6.2 rebounds, helping his Wolverines become the first Chicago Public League team to win back-to-back Illinois AA titles.
Kyle Singler *
6-8/Senior/Wing
South Medford (South Medford, Ore.)
Headed To: Duke
Tough to leave Singler off the first team considering he was named Oregon's Co-Player of the Year along with Lake Oswego's Kevin Love. Singler's 29.3 points and 10.6 rebounds per game led South Medford (27-3) to a Class 6A title, as well as national-level victories over Mountain View, Ariz., Raleigh-Egypt, Tenn., and Lake Howell, Fla.
Second Team
James Anderson
6-5/Senior/Wing
Junction City (Junction City, Ark.)
Headed To: Oklahoma State
Anderson had the best season that nobody seems to know about, at least at the national level. Folks in Arkansas know all about the 6-5 senior after he averaged 38.1 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 2.6 steals per game in leading Junction City (32-3) to a 2A championship. Anderson scored 43 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in the title game.
Jerryd Bayless
6-4/Senior/Guard
St. Mary's (Phoenix, Ariz.)
Headed To: Arizona
Regarded as Arizona's best player since Mike Bibby, Bayless averaged 33 points per game, finishing his four-year run at St. Mary's with 2,828 points. After an up-and-down season against elite-level national competition, Bayless almost single-handedly lifted St. Mary's (19-13) to the 5A title contest with games of 37, 49, 32, and 37 in the playoffs.
Nick Calathes
6-5/Senior/Guard
Lake Howell (Winter Park, Fla.)
Headed To: Florida
Calathes capped one of the great prep careers in Florida history by leading Lake Howell (27-3) to a 5A championship. A likely two-time selection as the state's "Mr. Basketball," Calathes piled up 27.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 4.7 assists as a senior. Lake Howell accumulated a 111-16 record during Calathes' four-year run with the program.
Corey Fisher
6-1/Senior/Guard
St. Patrick (Elizabeth, N.J.)
Headed To: Villanova
St. Patrick's 30-2 record, achieved against arguably the nation's toughest schedule, and back-to-back New Jersey Tournament of Champions titles say more about Fisher than his statistics. The Villanova-bound guard averaged 22.3 points per game, with clutch efforts in big wins against St. Benedict's Prep (24 points) and Huntington, W.V. (37).
O.J. Mayo *
6-5/Senior/Guard
Huntington (Huntington, W.V.)
Headed To: USC
Mayo has created almost as many headlines off the court as on it recently, but with three state titles in two different states, he has proven to be the ultimate winner at the high school level. West Virginia's Player of the Year, Mayo guided Huntington to a 25-2 record with his 28.4 points per game, chipping in nearly seven assists, and six rebounds.
Third Team
Luke Babbitt *
6-8/Junior/Forward
Galena (Reno, Nev.)
Headed To: Ohio State
A recent Ohio State commitment, Babbitt averaged 27.8 points and 9.5 rebounds per game during the regular season for Galena (23-9). The junior forward then turned it up a notch in the postseason, scoring over 34 points per game during the Grizzlies' state championship run. Babbitt was named Nevada's state Player of the Year.
Kenneth Boynton, Jr.
6-2/Sophomore/Guard
Blanche Ely (Pompano Beach, Fla.)
Headed To: Undecided
A sophomore is stealing some player of the year honors from Lake Howell's Nick Calathes in Florida, and his name is Kenneth Boynton, Jr. Remember it. Boynton led Ely to its first state title since 1993, filling it up to the tune of 29.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game. The sophomore phenom topped the 40-point mark three times.
Johnny Flynn
6-0/Senior/Guard
Niagara Falls (Niagara Falls, N.Y.)
Headed To: Syracuse
Mr. Basketball in the state of New York, Flynn helped Niagara Falls (21-3) - along with current Syracuse freshman Paul Harris - win a state title in 2005 and compile a 40-8 record over the past two seasons. As a senior, Flynn averaged 26.7 points per game and led the Wolverines back to the state's AA title game.
Corperryale Harris
6-4/Senior/Guard
Redford (Detroit, Mich.)
Headed To: Michigan
Michigan's Mr. Basketball, Harris carried the load for Redford (20-7), averaging 33.5 points and 12.0 rebounds per game. The future Michigan Wolverine led his Huskies to the state's Class A title game, scoring 31 in a losing effort. Harris had a 52-point, 15-rebound effort against Detroit's Ford High Dec. 19.
Kosta Koufos
7-2/Senior/Forward
GlenOak (Canton, Ohio)
Headed To: Ohio State
Koufos bested a talented list of candidates to take Division I Player of the Year honors in Ohio. A versatile threat at 7-2, Koufos averaged 26 points and 16 rebounds per game, leading GlenOak (23-4) to the state's Final Four. The future Buckeye posted a 30-point, 20-rebound, 10-block triple-double against Firestone March 17.
High Honorable Mention
Rotnei Clarke *
6-0/Junior/Guard
Verdigris (Claremore, Okla.)
Headed To: Undecided
Already a two-time Tulsa World All-Metro Player of the Year, Clarke continued his remarkable high school career by averaging 37.6 points per game this season, bringing his career total to 2,534. Clarke averaged 46.2 points in Verdigris' (20-4) six playoff games, including games of 57 and 60. Not just a scorer, Clarke also grabbed 9.3 rebounds and distributed 6.1 assists per game.
Michael Coburn
6-0/Senior/Guard
Mount Vernon (Mount Vernon, N.Y.)
Headed To: Rutgers
Coburn helped carry on the Mount Vernon (24-5) basketball tradition by guiding the Knights to a pair of state titles and four Section 1 championships. The Rutgers-bound guard averaged 22.9 points, 5.3 assists, and 3.3 assists per game. Also an outstanding student, Coburn earned Section 1 Mr. Basketball honors.
Courtney Fortson
5-11/Senior/Guard
Jefferson Davis (Montgomery, Ala.)
Headed To: Undecided
Fortson was named Alabama's Mr. Basketball and 6A Player of the Year after leading Jefferson Davis (21-6) to the state championship game. Still looking for a place to play next season, Fortson averaged 23.7 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 4.2 steals per game just two years after playing on the Volunteers' junior varsity team.
Blake Griffin
6-9/Senior/Forward
Oklahoma Christian (Edmond, Okla.)
Headed To: Oklahoma
Griffin built a resume at Oklahoma Christian (24-3) that most kids can only dream about. He was a member of four state championship teams, was a two-time first team All-State selection, and will cap it off by playing in the McDonald's All-American Game. Griffin averaged 27.5 points and 16 rebounds per game this season for the Saints.
J.J. Hickson
6-9/Senior/Forward
Wheeler (Marietta, Ga.)
Headed To: North Carolina State
A first team All-State selection and Atlanta Journal-Constitution Cobb County Player of the Year, Hickson averaged 22.6 point and 11.5 rebounds for Wheeler (22-7). Hickson's high school career came to a close in a first round state playoff loss to Gani Lawal and Norcross, despite his 18-point, 14-rebound, four-block effort.
Jrue Holiday
6-4/Junior/Guard
Campbell Hall (North Hollywood, Calif.)
Headed To: Undecided
Holiday teamed up with older brother Justin - headed to the University of Washington - to lead Campbell Hall (33-1) to California's Division IV state title. Jrue is regarded as one of the nation's top junior prospects, and he showed why for the Vikings this winter, averaging 23.2 points, 9.4 rebounds, 6.5 assists, and 4.2 steals per game.
R.L. Horton
6-0/Senior/Guard
Lanier (Jackson, Miss.)
Headed To: Undecided
A former teammate of current Golden State Warrior Monta Ellis, Horton may have surpassed the achievements of his former backcourt mate over the past two seasons. Mississippi's Mr. Basketball averaged 27.7 points, 4.6 assists, and 4.1 rebounds in leading Lanier (39-3) to its third-straight state title. As a junior, Horton scored 23 points in three minutes as part of a 50-point game.
Brandon Jennings
6-2/Junior/Guard
Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.)
Headed To: USC
With Nolan Smith and Alex Legion playing on the wings, floor general Jennings was the perfect addition to the Oak Hill (41-1) roster this season. The Compton Dominguez (Calif.) transfer scored at a 15-point per game clip, while dishing 12 dimes per contest. Jennings had 20 assists in a 113-59 win over Winston-Salem Prep in December.
Taylor King *
6-8/Senior/Wing
Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.)
Headed To: Duke
It's difficult to grasp why King's game has drawn so much criticism because all he did at Mater Dei (33-4) was win and put up huge numbers. The future Duke Blue Devil led his Monarchs to the California Division II state title this year, averaging 26.7 points and 10.9 rebounds per game. King scored 2,803 points and led Mater Dei to a 97-11 record over the past three seasons.
Gani Lawal
6-9/Senior/Forward
Norcross (Norcross, Ga.)
Headed To: Georgia Tech
Lawal's season numbers weren't gaudy, but the Georgia Tech-bound forward produced in a big way when it mattered. Norcross (29-3) needed all of Lawal's 31 points, 13 rebounds, and six blocked shots in the state's AAAAA title game to get past Centennial. For the season, Georgia's Mr. Basketball averaged 18.4 points and 8.1 rebounds.
Delvon Roe
6-8/Junior/Forward
St. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio)
Headed To: Undecided
Roe, a Division I first team All-State selection in Ohio, was the centerpiece of a St. Edward (25-1) team that held down the No. 1 spot in MaxPreps National Rankings for much of the season. Roe's 22 points per game helped the Eagles win their first 25 games, winning MVP honors at South Carolina's prestigious Beach Ball Classic in December.
Tyrone Shelley
6-6/Senior/Wing
Crawford (San Diego, Calif.)
Headed To: Pepperdine
Shelley made short work of current University of Arizona freshman Chase Budinger's area scoring record, finishing his career with 2,962 points - 28 more than Budinger. The Pepperdine-bound Shelley averaged 34.9 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 5.1 steals per game this season for San Diego's Crawford High (20-7).
Nolan Smith
6-3/Senior/Guard
Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.)
Headed To: Duke
Smith emerged as the first option in the Oak Hill (41-1) attack minus departed stars Tywon Lawson and Michael Beasley, averaging 21.3 points per game to go along with over four rebounds and three assists. The Maryland native lit up South Medford, Ore. for 30 points in the Les Schwab Holiday Invitational championship game in December.
Lance Stephenson
6-5/Sophomore/Guard
Lincoln (Brooklyn, N.Y.)
Headed To: Undecided
Hailing from the same school that produced Stephon Marbury and Sebastian Telfair, Stephenson is on course to become the Big Apple's next hoops superstar. Averaging 25.2 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game, Stephenson helped Lincoln (24-6) capture its fifth PSAL AA title in six years, as well as the state AA title.
Chris Wright *
6-1/Senior/Guard
St. John's College (Washington, D.C.)
Headed To: Georgetown
Like his future teammates at Georgetown, Wright had a monster year at D.C.'s St. John's College (25-9). With highs of 57, 43, and 40, Wright averaged 30.5 points per game against a demanding schedule. At December's Beach Ball Classic in Myrtle Beach, S.C., Wright posted consecutive 30-point games against Galena, Nev. (32), Arlington Country Day, Fla. (32), and St. Edward, Ohio (31).
Honorable Mention
Chris Allen
6-4/Senior/Guard
Meadowcreek (Norcross, Ga.)
Headed To: Michigan State
Georgia's AAAAA Player of the Year will play for Tom Izzo after throwing in over 26 points per game and leading his Mustangs to the second round of the state playoffs.
Cole Aldrich
6-11/Senior/Center
Jefferson (Bloomington, Minn.)
Headed To: Kansas
Minnesota's Associated Press Player of the Year powered his way to 22.9 points and 17 rebounds per game, helping Jefferson contend for its first state title since 1987.
DeJuan Blair
6-8/Senior/Forward
Schenley (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
Headed To: Pittsburgh
Blair averaged just 16 points per game for Class AAAA champion Schenley, but shined on the big stage, including 32 points and 20 rebounds against DeMatha Catholic (Md.) and 18 points and 23 rebounds in the state title game victory over Chester.
William Buford
6-5/Junior/Wing
Libbey (Toledo, Ohio)
Headed To: Ohio State
Yet another future Buckeye, Buford earned Division I first team All-State honors after averaging 28.4 points per game, helping Toledo Libbey to a 19-3 record.
Victor Davila
6-9/Junior/Forward
Starmount (Boonville, N.C.)
Headed To: Undecided
A first team All-State selection after leading Starmount to the state title game, Davila averaged 23.2 points and 11.7 rebounds per game.
Austin Daye
6-10/Senior/Wing
Woodbridge (Irvine, Calif.)
Headed To: Gonzaga
If it's possible to quietly average 30.9 points and 14.7 rebounds, Daye did resulting in Southern Section Division I-A Player of the Year honors.
Malcolm Delaney
6-3/Senior/Guard
Towson Catholic (Towson, Md.)
Headed To: Virginia Tech
Delaney - not heralded teammate Donte Greene - was the Baltimore Sun All-Metro Player of the Year after scoring 19.5 points per game and adding 4.5 assists.
LaceDarius Dunn
6-4/Senior/Guard
Excelsior Christian (Monroe, La.)
Headed To: Baylor
Small school sensation repeated as News-Star All-Northeast Player of the Year, carrying Excelsior to a 31-3 record in 2007 with 34.4 points and 9.1 rebounds per game.
Austin Freeman
6-5/Senior/Guard
DeMatha Catholic (Hyattsville, Md.)
Headed To: Georgetown
Freeman averaged 22.2 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game for perennial Maryland powerhouse, including a season-high 39 against Bishop Ireton in January.
D.J. Gay
6-0/Senior/Guard
Sun Valley Poly (Sun Valley, Calif.)
Headed To: San Diego State
A first team All-City selection in Los Angeles, Gay was one of California's top scorers as a senior, pouring in 29.4 points per game.
Donte Greene
6-8/Senior/Forward
Towson Catholic (Towson, Md.)
Headed To: Syracuse
Greene, who averaged 18.3 points and 7.2 rebounds this season, has spurred comparisons to Kevin Durant with his well-rounded game and lean frame.
James Harden
6-5/Senior/Wing
Artesia (Lakewood, Calif.)
Headed To: Arizona State
The backbone of back-to-back state championship teams at Artesia, Harden tallied 18.8 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 3.9 assists for the Pioneers as a senior.
Blake Hoffarber
6-4/Senior/Guard
Hopkins (Minnetonka, Minn.)
Headed To: Minnesota
Tubby Smith should love Hoffarber, who chipped in 25.2 points per game en route to earning Associated Press first team All-State honors.
Jamelle Horne
6-8/Senior/Wing
San Diego (San Diego, Calif.)
Headed To: Arizona
Horne's production dipped a bit with the arrival of 6-10 freshman Jeremy Tyler, but the Arizona-bound wing still averaged a double-double with 20.9 points and 10.7 rebounds.
Armon Johnson *
6-3/Senior/Guard
Hug (Reno, Nev.)
Headed To: Nevada
One of the more underappreciated talents in the country, Johnson poured in 33.6 points a night en route to tying Nevada's career scoring mark with 2,616 points.
Gary Johnson
6-7/Senior/Forward
Aldine (Houston, Texas)
Headed To: Texas
Johnson earned 5A All-State honors after dominating the paint in the Houston area this year, churning out 26.4 points and 13.4 rebounds per night for the 32-2 Mustangs.
Dwight Jones
6-5/Senior/Wing
Cummings (Burlington, N.C.)
Headed To: North Carolina - Football
Expected to play football at North Carolina, Jones was the Associated Press state Player of the Year after leading Cummings to a second-straight state title, averaging 24 points and 12 rebounds per game.
Levi Knutson
6-4/Senior/Guard
Arapahoe (Littleton, Colo.)
Headed To: Colorado
The Rocky Mountain News All-Colorado Player of the Year was nearly unstoppable for the Warriors as a senior, averaging 28.6 points and 6.0 rebounds per game.
Jai Lucas
5-10/Senior/Guard
Bellaire (Bellaire, Texas)
Headed To: Undecided
McDonald's All-American led Bellaire to district title with 24.3 points and 6.6 assists per game.
Maurice Miller
6-3/Senior/Guard
Raleigh-Egypt (Memphis, Tenn.)
Headed To: Georgia Tech
Miller gets it done on and off the court, boasting a 4.6 grade point average to go along with his 19 points per game and selection as Tennessee's Mr. Basketball.
Keaton Nankivil
6-8/Senior/Forward
Madison Memorial (Madison, Wis.)
Headed To: Wisconsin
Wisconsin's Player of the Year averaged 16.8 points, 11 rebounds, and 6.8 blocks for Madison Memorial, which went 94-8 during his four years with the program.
Romero Osby
6-8/Junior/Forward
Northeast Lauderdale (Meridian, Miss.)
Headed To: Undecided
A first team All-State selection, Osby put up 24.0 points and 11.3 rebounds per game, collecting 28 double-doubles in 35 games.
Venoy Overton
6-0/Senior/Guard
Franklin (Seattle, Wash.)
Headed To: Washington
Washington's 4A Player of the Year led a high-scoring Franklin outfit with 22.0 points and 5.7 assists per game.
Keiton Page
5-10/Junior/Guard
Pawnee (Pawnee, Okla.)
Headed To: Oklahoma State
Another scoring extraordinaire from the state of Oklahoma, Page averaged 35.9 points and 7.1 assists per game with nine games of 40 or more.
Patrick Patterson *
6-8/Senior/Forward
Huntington (Huntington, W.V.)
Headed To: Undecided
Averaging 17 points and 11 rebounds this season, Patterson would have likely been a two-time West Virginia Player of the Year had a guy named O.J. Mayo not shown up.
Anthony Raffa
6-1/Senior/Guard
Wildwood Catholic (Wildwood, N.J.)
Headed To: Albany
One of New Jersey's top scorers this season, Raffa filled it up to the tune of 30.4 points per contest and led Wildwood Catholic to the Non-Public B title game against St. Patrick.
John Roberson
5-11/Senior/Guard
Plano (Plano, Texas)
Headed To: Texas Tech
Dallas Morning News All-Area Player of the Year led Plano to regional quarterfinals with averages of 25.4 points and 6.1 assists.
Jeff Robinson
6-6/Senior/Forward
St. Patrick (Elizabeth, N.J.)
Headed To: Memphis
The other half of St. Patrick's All-American one-two punch along with Corey Fisher, Robinson scored 20 points and grabbed 10 boards a game for coach Kevin Boyle.
Renardo Sidney
6-10/Sophomore/Forward
Artesia (Lakewood, Calif.)
Headed To: Undecided
A first team All-CIF selection as a sophomore, Sidney averaged 18.6 points and 9.0 rebounds per game on a loaded Artesia squad.
Chace Stanback
6-8/Senior/Forward
Fairfax (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Headed To: UCLA
The Los Angeles All-City Player of the Year led Fairfax to a Division I state title, contributing 25.8 points and 11.9 rebounds per game to the Lions' cause.
Durrell Summers
6-5/Senior/Wing
Redford Covenant (Redford, Mich.)
Headed To: Michigan State
A double-double machine despite being just 6-5, Summers challenged for Mr. Basketball honors after posting 31.6 points and 16.4 rebounds per game.
Darquavis Tucker
6-5/Senior/Wing
Arthur Hill (Saginaw, Mich.)
Headed To: DePaul
A Michigan Mr. Basketball finalist, Tucker helped Arthur Hill to a 19-3 record with 24.5 points and 5.0 assists per game.
Corey Stokes
6-6/Senior/Wing
St. Benedict's Prep (Newark, N.J.)
Headed To: Villanova
On a team loaded with Division I-bound players, Stokes managed to drop in nearly 25 points per game for coach Dan Hurley's 24-1 Gray Bees.
Evan Turner
6-6/Senior/Forward
St. Joseph (Westchester, Ill.)
Headed To: Ohio State
A first team All-State selection, Turner paced one of Illinois' best teams with 22 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists per game.
Bradley Wanamaker
6-3/Senior/Guard
Roman Catholic (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Headed To: Pittsburgh
Wanamaker's 17.8 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game helped Roman Catholic to a 28-3 record and earned him Philadelphia Daily News All-City Player of the Year.
* Two-time MaxPreps All-American
