Player of the Year Brandon Jennings heads list of the nation’s elite.
Compiled By Dave Krider
MaxPreps.com
2007-08 MaxPreps National Player of the Year
Brandon Jennings, Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.)
First Team (Listed Alphabetically)
Tyreke Evans
6-6/212/Senior/Guard
American Christian (Aston, Pa.)
Headed To: Undecided (Memphis, Villanova, Texas, Seton Hall)
Evans set a school record with 3,327 points in five years. As a senior he averaged 31.1 points, 8.1 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 4.0 steals for the 29-7 Eagles. Coach Tony Bergeron calls him “a player without weakness. I was very, very impressed with how hard he worked to become a great defensive player. He was an absolute joy to coach.”
Derrick Favors
6-9/230/Junior/Forward
South Atlanta (Atlanta, Ga.)
“He had the most unbelievable statistical season I ever saw in my life,” coach Michael Reddick said. “It was just like he was playing PlayStation. He is an all-around great talent and hungry to be the best.” Playing only about 22 minutes a game, Favors averaged a remarkable 23.7 points, 17.1 rebounds and 9.1 blocks with a school-record 19 triple-doubles for the 27-3 Hornets.
Jrue Holiday
6-4/175/Senior/Guard
Campbell Hall (North Hollywood, Calif.)
Headed To: UCLA
Holiday guided the Vikings to three Division IV state championships during his brilliant four-year career. As a senior he averaged 25.3 points, 12.0 rebounds, 6.8 assists, 4.6 steals and 2.4 blocks for the 31-5 state champs. He set career school records with 2,666 points and 1,255 rebounds while leading the Vikings to a dominating 123-12 record (56-0 at home). He was named Gatorade National Player of the Year. Coach Terry Kelly says, “In my mind he is the most complete player in high school at the guard position. We always asked him to guard the best player on the other team and he is an amazing on-ball defender.”
Brandon Jennings
6-1/170/Senior/Guard
Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.)
Headed To: Arizona
As a senior, Jennings averaged a prolific 35.5 points to set school records with 1,312 points this year and 1,927 in his two-year career. He also averaged 7.5 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 4.0 steals while shooting 50 percent from the field. In addition, he set a school record with a single-game explosion of 63 points. The Warriors were 74-5 during his tenure and were crowned nationals champions in his junior year. SEE FEATURE
Samardo Samuels
6-9/240/Senior/Center
St. Benedict’s (Newark, N.J.)
Headed To: Louisville
Samuels was the anchor for a 24-1 team which played, perhaps, the nation’s toughest schedule. He averaged 22.5 points and 9.0 rebounds while shooting 60.9 percent from the field. He also shot 47.1 percent from three-point range (8-17) and blocked 35 shots. He finished No. 2 in school history with 1,355 career points. Coach Danny Hurley says, “More than any other player I’ve been around, he has added elements to his game every year. He’s always a win-first player – a guy who brought it every game.”
Second Team
Demar DeRozan
6-6/210/Senior/Forward
Compton (Compton, Calif.)
Headed To: Southern California
DeRozan averaged 29.2 points, 8.9 rebounds and 4.0 steals this year, with high games of 47 points and 18 rebounds. He was the slam-dunk champion at the McDonald’s All-American Game in Milwaukee, Wis. “He’s probably the best player ever to come out of Compton,” says coach Tony Thomas. “He’s the all-time leading scorer in Moore League history. He attacks the basket and is very physical. He’s unstoppable.”
Greg Monroe
6-10/235/Senior/Center
Helen Cox (Harvey, La.)
Headed To: Georgetown
Monroe led his young school to a 36-7 record and its first Class 4A state title. He averaged 22.0 points, 14.5 rebounds and 3.5 blocks while shooting 65 percent from the field and 75 percent from the free throw line. He was named Louisiana’s Mr. Basketball. “There was no way that our school would have been known nationwide without Greg,” says coach Tyron Mouzon. “He’s helped us build a foundation and legacy of our own. The real measure won’t be fully understood until he’s gone.”
Renardo Sidney
6-10/235/Junior/Center
Fairfax (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Sidney averaged 24.0 points, 13.7 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 3.7 blocks this year and showed a surprising three-point touch during the state playoffs. He had highs of 36 points and 21 rebounds and shot close to 60 percent from the field. He also had 28 double-doubles for the 27-6 Lions. “What incredible skills he possesses,” coach Harvey Kitani marvels. “He is a phenomenal passer and has an outstanding feel for the game.”
Lance Stephenson
6-6/215/Junior/Guard
Lincoln (Brooklyn, N.Y.)
Stephenson led the Railsplitters to a 30-4 record and their second consecutive New York State Federation Class AA Tournament of Champions title. He averaged 24.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists. He continued to raise his level of play in the big games and was named MVP at the Tournament of Champions. Coach Tiny Morton put it simply: “He filled the chart this year – he did everything.”
Willie Warren
6-3/195/Senior/Guard
North Crowley (Fort Worth, Texas)
Headed To: Oklahoma
Warren set a flock of records this year – after a brief stay at Oak Hill Academy – while leading the Warriors to a sparkling 38-1 record and their first Class 5A state title. He averaged 24.8 points, 4.3 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 3.5 steals while shooting 54 percent from the field. His major school records were 2,189 career points, 259 three-point career baskets and a 47-point game. Coach Tommy Brakel called it a “fabulous year. He even matured from when he came back to the state final game. We had other floor captains, but he was our leader.”
Third Team
Al-Farouq Aminu
6-8/210/Senior/Forward
Norcross (Norcross, Ga.)
Headed To: Wake Forest
Aminu paced the 29-2 Blue Devils to their third consecutive Class AAAAA state title by averaging 22.6 points, 11.2 rebounds and 2.6 assists. He also shot 36 percent from three-point range and finished with 73 steals and 50 blocked shots. He was named Georgia’s Mr. Basketball. Coach Eddie Martin praised, “There were times he just flat-out put us on his back and carried us. He’s not only a big-time player, but he also could play (big) in crunch time.”
Luke Babbitt
6-8/225/Senior/Forward
Galena (Reno, Nev.)
Headed To: Nevada
Babbitt established a Nevada state record by scoring 2,941 points during his career. As a senior he averaged 29.8 points, 13 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 3.0 steals. He blocked 68 shots and had outstanding shooting percentages of .510 from the field, .400 from three-point range and .800 from the free throw line. Coach Tom Maurer calls him “a multi-dimensional offensive player. His ball handling is unbelievable and his foot speed going to the rim is unbelievable.”
William Buford
6-5/185/Senior/Guard
Libbey (Toledo, Ohio)
Headed To: Ohio State
Ohio had several outstanding seniors this year, but Buford emerged with the coveted Mr. Basketball crown. He led the Cowboys to a 24-3 record and runner-up honors in the Division II state tournament by averaging 23.1 points, 10.6 rebounds and 5.4 assists. He also had 57 steals and 44 blocks and finished his career with a school-record 2,059 points. Coach Leroy Bates pointed out, “His scoring average went down (from last year), but our overall team play went up because he sacrificed. He put up fewer shots, but hit a higher percentage and his assists increased.”
B.J. Mullens
7-1/268/Senior/Center
Canal Winchester (Canal Winchester, Ohio)
Headed To: Ohio State
Mullens averaged 27.5 points - with a high of 62 - and scored a school-record 1,868 points during his career. He also averaged 15.3 rebounds, 3.1 blocks and shot a lofty 71.2 percent from the field for the 21-3 Indians. Coach Kent Riggs noted, “What stood out was his athletic ability for 7-foot-1. He jumps well and has real good hands for a kid that size. He’s the best player in school history and has got an NBA future.”
Tyler Zeller
7-0/220/Senior/Center
Washington (Washington, Ind.)
Headed To: North Carolina
Zeller led Indiana with a 33.1 scoring average while pacing the Hatchets to a 23-2 record and the Class 3A state championship. He also averaged 11.0 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 2.1 blocks while shooting 68.6 percent from the field and 81.2 percent from the free throw line. He set school records by averaging 22.1 points and shooting 68 percent from the field for his career. Coach Gene Miiller says, “We’ve had a lot of great players, but in my mind he’s the best to ever play at Washington and the best I’ve ever coached (in 33 years).”
Honorable Mention
Kenny Boynton
6-2/180/Junior/Guard
American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.)
Boynton was among the nation’s leading scorers this year with a 34.2 scoring average. He also averaged 4.85 rebounds, 2.54 steals and 2.2 assists. He scored 40 or more points six times with highs of 61 and 50. He also often took on the challenge of guarding the opponent’s best player.
DeMarcus Cousins
6-10/250/Junior/Forward
LeFlore (Mobile, Ala.)
Cousins, who has great untapped potential, is a big man who loves to play on the perimeter. He proved he could do it by drilling a trio of three-pointers during a loss in the Class 6A state semifinals. A very good passer for his size, he averaged 17.4 points, 10.6 rebounds and 3.3 blocks for a 30-3 team.
Ed Davis
6-9/215/Senior/Center
Benedictine (Richmond, Va.)
Headed To: North Carolina
Davis completed his career by leading the Cadets to a 28-7 record and the Virginia Independent Schools Division I state title. He averaged 21.1 points, 14.0 rebounds, 6.4 blocks, 2.5 assists and 59 percent shooting from the field. Counting his first two years at Mechanicsville Hanover, he finished his career with 2,301 points.
Larry Drew
6-0/160/Senior/Guard
Taft (Woodland Hills, Calif.)
Headed To: North Carolina
Drew is the consummate point guard. He averaged an impressive 9.4 assists this year and missed the school record by one with 19 assists in a single game. He handed out 10 or more assists in 15 games. The Taft floor general also averaged 15.6 points – with a high of 35 – to go along with 4.7 rebounds and 3.3 steals per outing.
Michael Dunigan
6-10/248/Senior/Center
Farragut Academy (Chicago, Ill.)
Headed To: Oregon
Crowned Mr. Basketball in Illinois, Dunigan averaged 17.5 points, 12.0 rebounds and 6.0 blocks while shooting 54 percent from the field. A 4.0 student, he had high games of 28 points, 22 rebounds and 12 blocks.
JaMychal Green
6-9/230/Senior/Center
St. Jude (Montgomery, Ala.)
Headed To: Alabama
Green earned Alabama’s Mr. Basketball award by leading the Pirates to the Class A state championship with a 29-6 record. He dominated the title game with 39 points, 17 rebounds and five blocks. He averaged 25.3 points, 17.0 rebounds and 5.0 blocks and finished his career with over 2,500 points.
Xavier Henry
6-6/220/Junior/Forward
Putnam City (Oklahoma City, Okla.)
Henry influenced every game at both ends of the floor as he paced the Pirates to a 25-2 record and the Class 6A state quarterfinals. He finished his junior year with averages of 25.8 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 2.0 blocks. He shot 50 percent from the field, including 34 percent from three-point range.
Scotty Hopson
6-6/205/Senior/Forward
University Heights (Hopkinsville, Ky.)
Headed To: Tennessee
Hopson helped transform the Blazers from a team which posted a 13-15 record last year to an outstanding 30-5 squad. As a senior he averaged 24.2 points, 11.4 rebounds and 3.1 blocks. He shot 36.3 percent from three-point range.
Sylven Landesberg
6-6/205/Senior/Forward
Holy Cross (Flushing, N.Y.)
Headed To: Virginia
Named Mr. Basketball in New York, Landesberg averaged 29.6 points, 11.4 rebounds and 3.1 assists while shooting 52 percent from the field and 77 percent from the free throw line. He set school scoring records with 2,149 career points, 917 in a year and 51 (tie) in a game.
Malcolm Lee
6-5/180/Senior/Forward
J.W. North (Riverside, Calif.)
Headed To: UCLA
Lee held the Huskies together this year when they lost four players for disciplinary reasons. He had to play out of position, but still led the team in scoring (23.6), rebounding (7.5) and assists (3.4). He also averaged three steals and shot 58 percent from the field as North posted a 20-8 record.
Darius Miller
6-7/215/Senior/Forward
Mason County (Maysville, Ky.)
Headed To: Kentucky
Named Kentucky’s Mr. Basketball, Miller sparked the Royals to a 34-4 record and the state championship. He averaged 20.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists. He also had 114 steals and 82 blocked shots. He shot 55.1 percent from the field and 77 percent from the free throw line.
Mike Rosario
6-3/180/Senior/Guard
St. Anthony (Jersey City, N.J.)
Headed To: Rutgers
Rosario was the ringleader as the Friars posted a flawless 32-0 record and were crowned national champions by MaxPreps. Playing only about 24 minutes per game on a very talented team, Rosario still averaged 19.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.0 steals. He shot 55 percent from the field, 45 percent from three-point range and 83 percent from the free throw line.
Iman Shumpert
6-4/185/Senior/Guard
Oak Park-River Forest (Oak Park, Ill.)
Headed To: Georgia Tech
Shumpert paced the Huskies to a 24-6 record. He was the pacesetter with a 15.9 scoring average and a 3.7 assist average. Even though playing point guard, he was second in rebounding with a 7.7 average. He shot 49 percent from the field and 38 percent from three-point range.
Chris Singleton
6-9/225/Senior/Center
Dunwoody (Dunwoody, Ga.)
Headed To: Florida State
Singleton helped the Wildcats compile a 27-4 record and reach Georgia’s Class 3A Final Four. He averaged 17.6 points, 15.4 rebounds, 5.3 blocks and 4.4 assists. He shot 43 percent from three-point range and had four triple-doubles, along with 16 double-doubles.
Kemba Walker
6-1/190/Senior/Guard
Rice (New York, N.Y.)
Headed To: Connecticut
Overshadowed as an underclassman in one of the nation’s highest profile programs, Walker came into his own as a senior and became the go-to player in the lineup. As a senior he averaged 19.8 points, 8.0 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 3.0 steals. He finished among the Raiders’ top 10 career scorers.
MaxPreps “All-American Week” Lineup
Thurdsay – Girls National Player of the Year
Friday – Girls All-American Team
