High school basketball: Emoni Bates, Jabari Smith headline list of 10 players off to a hot start this season

By Jordan Divens Dec 17, 2020, 1:00pm

Under the radar wing Saint Thomas joins five-star prospects on list of players making the most of early-season action.

High school basketball is underway in roughly half the country with many teams in participating states getting in a handful of games already. Five-star seniors Jerddarian Davison, Michael Foster Jr. and Jabari Smith are among the players who have taken advantage, getting their seasons jumpstarted in a big way.

Alabama signee Davison has already authored a 57-point game while Smith has solidified his status as one of the top forward prospects in the country.

Fourteen states are scheduled to tip off their seasons in January and five others in February or March. Expect more big name prospects to continue to deliver in attention-grabbing fashion. Until then, we spotlight early standouts from a unique 2020-21 season.
Saint Thomas, Millard North
Saint Thomas, Millard North
Photo by: Samuel Mfinanga
Hot starts

Widely regarded as the top prospect regardless of classification, the Michigan State commit is averaging 25.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, three assists and 2.7 steals per contest through three games.

Top 10 sophomore prospect leads the Flames in scoring and rebounding, averaging 19.9 points and 12.4 rebounds per contest. His top performance of the season was a 40-point, 16-rebound outburst in a win over Forest Lake Academy (Apopka, Fla.).

Averaging 34.3 points, 14.8 rebounds, seven assists and five blocks per game for the Rabbits through the first four games of the month.

Although the Tigers are off to a rough 4-4 start, Davison has played at a high level. That includes a 57-point performance in the first game of the season.



Top 10 senior prospect has been on a tear for the unbeaten Bruins, averaging 32.4 points, 19.2 rebounds, 7.3 blocks and 3.8 assists per contest.

The five-star junior is averaging 31 points, eight rebounds and six assists per contest through his team's first five games.

Playing at a high level through two games, averaging 26 points, 12.5 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game for No. 23 St. Mark's.

After averaging 34.8 points, 15.7 rebounds and 3.6 assists per contest last season, the five-star guard has put together a number of impressive performances to start his senior year including scoring 43 points in a 74-72 victory over Kickapoo (Springfield).

The Auburn signee put up 36 points in a 76-73 victory over preseason No. 22 Milton (Ga.).

Although often overshadowed by five-star teammate Hunter Sallis, Thomas established himself as the team's leading scorer through four games averaging 23.3 points, six rebounds and 4.3 assists per contest for nationally-ranked Millard North.