High school basketball: Preseason guide to the 2021-22 season, including top teams, players and events to watch

By Jordan Divens Dec 6, 2021, 2:45pm

From the best team and player in all 50 states to the top events around the nation.

Since late October, MaxPreps has been previewing the 2021-22 high school basketball season from the release of national rankings to identifying the top player in all 50 states. We've consolidated all of that information in one place to help fans get up to speed ahead of tip-off.

Included are a look at top teams, players and events. Of note heading into this season is a split in the national rankings with the National Top 20 encompassing academy and independent programs and the MaxPreps Top 25 featuring high schools which compete for a state title as part of a recognized governing body.

Click "Full Article" links for more information on each category.
Graphic by: Ryan Escobar
Preseason MaxPreps Top 25
FULL ARTICLE
Preseason National Top 20

Preseason All-America Team

First Team
Amari Bailey, Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.)
D.J. Wagner, Camden (N.J.)
Cason Wallace, Richardson (Texas)
Dariq Whitehead, Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.)



Second Team
Terrance Arceneaux, Beaumont United (Beaumont, Texas)
Jaden Bradley, IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.)
Nick Smith, North Little Rock (Ark.)
Bruce Thornton, Milton (Ga.)

Third Team
Kylan Boswell, AZ Compass Prep (Chandler, Ariz.)
Caleb Foster, Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.)
Keyonte George, IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.)
Chris Livingston, Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.)
Mark Mitchell, Sunrise Christian Academy (Bel Aire, Kan.)

Honorable Mention
Kel'el Ware, North Little Rock (Ark.)

Underclassmen to Watch
Marvel Allen, Calvary Christian Academy (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
Cameron Boozer, Columbus (Miami)
Kanaan Carlyle, Milton (Ga.)
Isaiah Collier, Wheeler (Marietta, Ga.)
Mookie Cook, AZ Compass Prep (Chandler, Ariz.)
Naasir Cunningham, Gill St. Bernard's (Gladstone, N.J.)
Robert Dillingham, Donda Academy (Simi Valley, Calif.)
Justin Edwards, Imhotep Charter (Philadelphia)
Isaiah Elohim, Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.)
Kwame Evans Jr., Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.)
Baye Fall, Denver Prep Academy (Denver)
Jeremy Fears, La Lumiere (La Porte, Ind.)
Cooper Haynes, Briarcrest Christian (Eads, Tenn.)
Ronald Holland, Duncanville (Texas)
Jared McCain, Centennial (Corona, Calif.)
MacKenzie Mgbako, Gill St. Bernard's (Gladstone, N.J.)
Ahmad Nowell, Imhotep Charter (Philadelphia)
Derik Queen, Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.)
Simeon Wilcher, Roselle Catholic (Roselle, N.J.)
Wesley Yates III, Beaumont United (Beaumont, Texas)

Best player in all 50 states
Arizona — Kylan Boswell, AZ Compass Prep (Chandler)
Arkansas — Nick Smith, North Little Rock
California — Amari Bailey, Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth)
Colorado — Baye Fall, Denver Prep Academy (Denver)
Connecticut — Donovan Clingan, Bristol Central (Bristol)
District of Columbia —Christian Watson, St. John's
Florida — Dariq Whitehead, Montverde Academy (Montverde)
Georgia — Bruce Thornton, Milton
Kansas — Mark Mitchell, Sunrise Christian Academy (Bel Aire)
Maryland — Tyrell Ward, DeMatha (Hyattsville)
Mississippi — Kimani Hamilton, Clinton
Missouri — Julian Phillips, Link Academy (Branson)
New Jersey — D.J. Wagner, Camden
New York — Jaquan Sanders, Our Saviour Lutheran (Bronx)
North Carolina — Jayden Epps, Combine Academy (Lincolnton)
North Dakota — Joe Hurlburt, Enderlin
Pennsylvania — Dereck Lively II, Westtown (West Chester)
South Dakota — Caden Hinker, Mitchell
Tennessee — Brandon Miller, Cane Ridge (Nashville)
Texas — Cason Wallace, Richardson
Virginia — Chris Livingston, Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson)
West Virginia — Isaac McKneely, Poca
Graphic by: Ryan Escobar
Best team in all 50 states
Alabama — Oak Mountain (Birmingham)
Arkansas — North Little Rock
Delaware — Seaford
District of Columbia — Gonzaga
Georgia — Milton
Maine — South Portland
Massachusetts — Andover
Minnesota — Totino-Grace (Fridley)
Mississippi — Brandon
Montana — Lodge Grass
New Hampshire — Lebanon
New Jersey — Camden
New Mexico — Las Cruces
North Carolina — Greensboro Day (Greensboro)
North Dakota — Enderlin
Ohio — Centerville
Oklahoma — Union (Tulsa)
Oregon — Grant (Portland)
Rhode Island — La Salle Academy (Providence)
South Dakota — DeSmet
Texas — Duncanville
Washington — Auburn
West Virginia — Huntington Prep (Huntington)

Tournaments and events to watch
FULL ARTICLE

December
2-4 — Bob Kirk Invitational (Cumberland, Md.)
2-4 — Battle at the Rock (Rock Hill, S.C.)
2-4 — Barry Pruitt Hurricane Classic (Jonesboro, Ark.)
2-4 — NIBC at Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.)
2-5 — Marshall County Hoopfest (Benton, Ky.)
3-4 — Tyler Lewis Hoopfest (Lewisville, N.C.)
3-4 — Chicago Elite Classic (Chicago)
3-4 — Red River Hoopfest (Texarkana, Texas)
2-5 — Marshall County Hoopfest (Benton, Ky.)
4 — National Hoopfest (Hyattsville, Md.)
4 — The Chosen 1's Invitational (Los Angeles)
4 — TOC Showcase (Marietta, Ga.)
4 — Sneakers for Santa (Brownsburg, Ind.)
6-8 — Norm Stewart Classic (Columbia, Mo.)
8-11 — Hoophall West (Phoenix, Ariz.)
9-11 — The Bash (Columbia, S.C.)
9-11 — Battle in the Bluff (Bartlett, Tenn.)
10-11 — Holiday Hoopfest (Lehi, Utah)
10 — Hoop Group Reading Tip-Off (Reading, Pa.)
9-11 — Hawks-Naismith Classic (Atlanta and Norcross, Ga.)
17-18 — Hoophall Central (Sioux Falls, S.D.)
15-21 — Tarkanian Classic (Las Vegas)
17-18 — Memphis vs. the World (Eads, Tenn.)
17-21 — 'Iolani Classic (Honolulu)
17-22 — City of Palms Classic (Fort Myers, Fla.)
17-22 — King of the Bluegrass (Fairdale, Ky.)
26-30 — Governors Challenge (Salisbury, Md.)
27-29 — King Cotton Holiday Classic (Pine Bluff, Ark.)
27-29 — Battle at the Villages (The Villages, Fla.)
27-29 — Slam Dunk to the Beach (Lewes, Del.)
27-30 — Beach Ball Classic (Myrtle Beach, S.C.)
27-30 — Chick-fil-A Classic (Lexington, S.C.)
27-30 — Les Schwab Invitational (Hillsboro, Ore.)
27-30 — John Wall Holiday Invitational (Raleigh, N.C.)
27-30 — The Holiday Classic (San Diego)
27-30 — Proviso West Holiday Tournament (Hillside, Ill.)
27-30 — The Classic at Damien (La Verne, Calif.)
27-31 — Arby's Classic (Bristol, Tenn.)
27-31 — Jack Tosh Holiday Classic (Elmhurst, Ill.)
28-30 — Hoop City Classic (Mitchell and Sioux Falls, S.D.)
28-31 — Whataburger Tournament (Fort Worth, Texas)

January
5-8 — All State Sugar Bowl National Prep Classic (New Orleans)
6-8 — Hoophall South (Bentonville, Ark.)
6-8 — NIBC at La Lumiere (La Porte, Ind.)
6-9 — Mustang Madness (Paducah, Ky.)
7-8 — Chance Harman Classic (Floyd, Va.)
7-8 — Miami Classic (Miami, Fla.)
8 — Showdown in O-Town (Orlando, Fla.)
8 — Highland Shootout (Highland, Ill.)
8-9 — The Legends Classic (Akron, Ohio)
13-15 — Bass Pro Shops Tournament of Champions (Springfield, Mo.)
13-17 — Spalding Hoophall Classic (Springfield, Mass.)
14-17 — Flyin' to the Hoop (Dayton, Ohio)
15 — Big City Showdown (Las Vegas)
21-22 — Ascender Classic (Bradenton, Fla.)
21-22 — Quincy Shootout (Quincy, Ill.)
21-23 — Crush in the Valley 1 (Napa, Calif.)
27-29 — Montverde Academy Invitational Tournament (Montverde, Fla.)
28-29 — Nike Extravaganza (Santa Ana, Calif.)
29 — Longhorn 5-star Classic (Milton, Ga.)



February
3-5 — St. James Invitational (Hagerstown, Md.
3-5 — Metro Classic (Toms River, N.J.)
4-6 — DeAndre Ayton's Duel in the Desert (Glendale, Ariz.)
5-6 — Court XIV Classic (Charlotte, N.C.)
6 — Lehigh Valley Hoop Fest (Lehigh, Pa.)
12 — Heartland Hoops Classic (Grand Island, Neb.)
18-19 — Dr. Pepper Classic (Chattanooga, Tenn.)
19-20 — Crush in the Valley 2 (Napa, Calif.)
Top 10 senior prospect Cason Wallace brings high expectations to Richardson (TX).
Top 10 senior prospect Cason Wallace brings high expectations to Richardson (TX).
File photo by Michael Horbovetz

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