
Sophomore All-Americans (from left to right) DeAndre Ayton, Jaylen Nowell, James Walker Jr., Cody Riley and Alex Barcello.
Photos by MaxPreps photographers/Graphic by SocialRecluse Graphx
Highlighted by National Sophomore of the Year
James Walker Jr. of
Jonesboro (Ga.), MaxPreps presents the 2014-15 Boys Basketball Sophomore All-American Team.
Selections are based on team success, individual production and local, regional and state honors from the recently completed season. Potential at the college or professional level is not a primary consideration. Players in post-graduate programs are not eligible for inclusion.
Past Sophomore of the Year selections include:
2014 – Joshua Jackson, Consortium (Detroit); Jayson Tatum, Chaminade (St. Louis)
2013 – Malik Newman, Callaway (Jackson, Miss.)
2012 – Andrew Wiggins, Huntington St. Joseph Prep (W.Va.)
2011 – Aquille Carr, Patterson (Baltimore)
2010 – DaJuan Coleman, Jamesville-DeWitt (DeWitt, N.Y.)
FIRST TEAMDeAndre Ayton, Balboa City (San Diego)
6-11 | 225 | Center247Sports.com's No. 1 2017 prospect piled up 21.1 points, 16.0 rebounds and 3.8 blocked shots per game.
Alex Barcello, Corona del Sol (Tempe, Ariz.)
6-2 | 165 | GuardArizona's Gatorade Player of the Year posted 19.9 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.2 assists per outing, helping Aztecs win fourth state title in a row.
Jaylen Nowell, Garfield (Seattle)
6-5 | 190 | GuardAveraged 23.3 points and 6.1 rebounds per game for Washington Class 3A state champs. Bulldogs could be preseason national Top 10 in 2015-16.
Cody Riley, Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.)
6-8 | 240 | ForwardLast year's MaxPreps Freshman of the Year was lead dog for team that went 26-4 and won California Division V state title. Averaged 15.6 points and 9.4 rebounds per game.
MAXPREPS NATIONAL SOPHOMORE OF THE YEAR
James Walker Jr., Jonesboro (Ga.)
6-5 | 210 | WingNationally ranked Cardinals are 60-7 with a pair of state titles in Walker's two seasons with program. Averaged 17.3 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game en route to Class 4A player of the year honors.
SECOND TEAM
Zachariah Brown, Miami Beach (Fla.)
7-1 | 265 | CenterOne of the more intriguing 7-footers to come along in recent years, recorded 19.3 points, 17.0 rebounds and 8.6 blocked shots per game. Reportedly transferring to Miami High.
Jalek Felton, Mullins (S.C.)
6-4 | 180 | GuardEarly North Carolina Tar Heel pledge poured in 28.8 points per game to go along with 6.6 assists and 5.1 rebounds.
Markus Howard, Perry (Gilbert, Ariz.)
5-11 | 170 | GuardLed the state of Arizona in scoring at 32.4 points game – including 50 in a January win over rival Highland. Headed to Findlay Prep next season.
Michael Porter Jr., Father Tolton (Columbia, Mo.)
6-8 | 200 | WingAlready over 1,000 career points, put up 26.1 per game this season to go along with 7.5 rebounds. Class 3 all-state selection led Tolton to 25-3 record and state quarterfinals.
Austin Wiley, Spain Park (Hoover, Ala.)
6-10 | 240 | CenterFirst team Class 7A all-state and Birmingham News All-Metro Player of the Year. Averaged 19.2 points and 12.2 rebounds per game for 24-win Jaguars.
THIRD TEAM
Wendell Carter Jr., Pace Academy (Atlanta)
6-10 | 240 | ForwardRegular 20/20 (points/rebounds) guy en route to HoopSeen.com Class AA first team all-state and Atlanta/South Fulton POY honors.
Matt Coleman, Maury (Norfolk, Va.)
6-1 | 170 | GuardGroup 5A first team all-state and all-Tidewater pick put up 20.5 points and 5.2 assists per contest.
Jordan Goodwin, Althoff Catholic (Belleville, Ill.)
6-3 | 215 | GuardChicago Tribune second team all-state pick led Althoff Catholic to 3A title game, posting 19.7 points, 8.7 rebounds and 3.0 assists per contest.
Quade Green, Neumann-Goretti (Philadelphia)
5-11 | 170 | GuardGuard High has another young star in the backcourt in Green, who contributed over 17 points per game for Class AAA state champs.
John Petty, J.O. Johnson (Huntsville, Ala.)
6-6 | 180 | WingProduced over 18 points and seven rebounds per game for Alabama's Class 5A state champs.
HONORABLE MENTION
Li'Angelo Ball, Chino Hills (Calif.)
6-5 | 205 | GuardWired to score, produced over 20 points per game playing alongside brother Lonzo – a first team MaxPreps Junior All-American.
Brian Bowen, Arthur Hill (Saginaw, Mich.)
6-7 | 185 | WingPut up 19 points and 14 rebounds per game for Michigan Class A semifinalist.
Troy Brown, Centennial (Las Vegas)
6-6 | 195 | GuardFirst team all-state selection produced 16.0 points, 7.9 rebounds and 5.3 assists per outing.
L.J. Figueroa, Oldsmar Christian (Fla.)
6-5 | 180 | GuardShot 52 percent from the field and 84 percent from the line, averaging over 17 points and five rebounds for 34-6 Oldsmar Christian program.
D.J. Harvey, DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.)
6-6 | 195 | WingContributed 13 points per game for DeMatha team that finished 33-4 and ranked No. 19 nationally.
Markell Johnson, East Tech (Cleveland)
6-0 | 165 | GuardDivision I all-state guard pumped in 22.5 points per game to go along with 5.7 assists and 3.4 steals.
Terrence Lewis, Riverside University (Milwaukee)
6-5 | 180 | WingLone sophomore to receive WBCA all-state consideration in state's largest two classifications, averaged 19.0 points and 10.5 rebounds per game.
Chuma Okeke, Langston Hughes (Fairburn, Ga.)
6-7 | 210 | ForwardAll-State choice in Georgia's largest classification, putting up 22.8 points and 8.5 rebounds per night.
Paul Scruggs, Southport (Indianapolis)
6-3 | 195 | GuardOn a team ranked No. 1 in Indiana for much of the regular season, averaged 17.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and 5.7 assists per game.
Sage Surratt, East Lincoln (Denver, N.C.)
6-2 | 190 | GuardTeamed with brother and Junior All-American Chazz to lead East Lincoln to Class 2A title game, piling up 24.6 points, 8.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game.
Xavier Tillman, Forest Hills Central (Grand Rapids, Mich.)
6-8 | 240 | ForwardEarned all-state mention after producing 16.7 points and 9.7 rebounds per game for 23-1 Rangers.
Gary Trent Jr., Apple Valley (Minn.)
6-5 | 195 | GuardNo Tyus Jones, no problem for Apple Valley. Trent stepped up by producing 21.3 points per game, leading Eagles to first state title.
Jarred Vanderbilt, Victory Prep (Houston)
6-7 | 195 | WingSpecial prospect but difficult to gauge overall accomplishment against non-traditional schedule. Earned all-Greater Houston honors from Houston Chronicle.
Leondre Washington, Teaneck (N.J.)
5-11 | 160 | GuardNJ.com all-stater is a baby-faced assassin, averaging over 22 points per game for the Highwaymen.
Kris Wilkes, North Central (Indianapolis)
6-8 | 175 | ForwardBuzz is strong after sophomore campaign that included averages of 17.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per outing.