MaxPreps is celebrating its 10th anniversary this summer. In recognition of a decade as America's source for high school sports, we will look back at the top teams, athletes, games and moments of the MaxPreps era over the next month.
After ranking the
Top 10 boys basketball teams last week, we move to the individual stars today by breaking down the Top 10 high school players of the last 10 years. State championships, major player of the year awards and undeniable dominance at the high school level were the factors taken into account in compiling this list.
Top 10 boys basketball players of the MaxPreps era
10. Sebastian Telfair, Lincoln (Brooklyn, N.Y.)Years: 2000-04
Resume: Thanks to books, documentaries and a Sports Illustrated cover, Telfair reached celebrity status before graduating from high school. That attention came because he could flat-out ball, leaving Lincoln as New York's all-time leading scorer with 2,785 points. Telfair led the Railsplitters to three PSAL titles and one state title. The point guard committed to Louisville but skipped college altogether and was picked No. 13 in the 2004 NBA Draft by Portland.
After high school: Telfair has been a disappointment at the professional level. Now with the Phoenix Suns, the NYC legend is on his seventh team in eight NBA seasons.
[Sebastian Telfair on the Top 10 New York City Point Guards list]
Shabazz Muhammad led Bishop Gorman to three state titles in four years.
Photo by Jim Redman
9. Shabazz Muhammad, Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas)Years: 2008-12
Resume: The arrival of Shabazz Muhammad coincided with Bishop Gorman's rise to national prominence on the basketball court. The high-scoring guard helped the Gaels win three state titles and become a fixture in the national rankings. Only future UCLA teammate Kyle Anderson's remarkable run at St. Anthony prevented Muhammad from winning MaxPreps National Player of the Year honors as a senior, when he poured in 30.4 points and grabbed 10.1 rebounds per game.
After high school: Will be a freshman at UCLA this fall.
[Video of Shabazz Muhammad]8. Kyle Anderson, Paterson Catholic (N.J.)/St. Anthony (Jersey City, N.J.)Years: 2008-12
Resume: Anderson is the winningest player of the last decade. He went 91-1 in his final three years of high school and is the only player on this list with a pair of national titles. As a sophomore, the 6-foot-7 point-forward also helped Paterson Catholic capture the City of Palms Classic – the most prestigious tournament in the country.
Anderson earned MaxPreps National Player of the Year honors as a senior.
After high school: Will be a freshman at UCLA this fall.
[Photo and video gallery of Kyle Anderson]
Harrison Barnes won his final 53 games at Ames High School in Iowa.
Courtesy of Ames High School
2006-10
Resume: Barnes captured
MaxPreps National Player of the Year honors as a senior, posting 26.1 points, 10 rebounds and 3.1 steals per game. The 6-foot-8 wing led Ames to back-to-back state titles and 53 wins in a row to close out his career.
After high school: After two years at North Carolina where he never quite lived up to the massive expectations created for him, Barnes was drafted No. 7 overall in June by the Golden State Warriors.
[Video of Harrison Barnes, Way Back When]6. Derrick Rose, Simeon (Chicago)Years: 2003-2007
Resume: Rose led Simeon to back-to-back Class 4A state titles as a junior and senior and nabbed various All-American honors following both campaigns. He dominated a matchup with Brandon Jennings with a monster national television performance in a win over Oak Hill Academy in 2007. Rose is one of three mega-talents from the Class of 2007 on the list.
After high school: Rose has surpassed monster expectations by becoming one the NBA's elite talents. He was the league's MVP in 2010-11 and was the Rookie of the Year in 2008-09. Bulls fans are hoping a torn ACL suffered in the playoffs won't halt his Hall of Fame trajectory.
[Video of Derrick Rose, Way Back When]
