Top247 Class of 2019 basketball rankings updated

By Jordan Divens Aug 23, 2018, 2:00pm

Michigan commitment Cole Bajema among prospects on the rise.

Video: Jaden McDaniels Ultimate Highlights
Federal Way (Wash.) star checks in at No. 4 in latest Top 247 update.

247Sports shook up its basketball rankings earlier this week with an update to its in-house Top 247.

While the names near the top remained relatively unchanged, there were 17 players further down the list rising 20 spots or more.

Five players entered the Top 50 for the first time:



* No. 19 Oscar Tshiebwe of Kennedy Catholic (Hermitage, Pa.) made the biggest leap, rising 53 spots in the latest rankings. West Virginia is the current leader for the 6-foot-9, 230-pound post player's services.

* No. 25 Boogie Ellis of Mission Bay (San Diego, Calif.) and No. 50 Donovan Williams of Fort Bend Elkins (Missouri City, Texas) each jumped 43 spots.

* No. 46 Robbie Beran of Collegiate (Richmond, Va.), a 6-9 forward, jumped 34 spots.

* No. 41 C.J. Walker of Oak Ridge (Orlando, Fla.) jumped 25 spots.

TOP 247: See the full list here
Washington small school star Cole Bajema took advantage of his opportunities this summer.
Washington small school star Cole Bajema took advantage of his opportunities this summer.
Photo by: Vince Miller
Cole Bajema, a 6-7 wing from Lynden Christian (Lynden, Wash.), came from way off the radar to land at No. 56. He committed to Michigan in early August after a monster July on the club circuit.

Bajema was Washington's Class 1A Player of the Year as a junior, averaging over 23 points and seven rebounds per game while leading Lynden Christian to a state title.



Rankings updates provide a nice lead-in to the 2018-19 season, but don't quite tell the whole story. Here's a look at five players outside the Top 150 who will make big headlines over the winter:

* No. 168 Mylik Wilson will look to repeat the success of last year's Rayville (La.) squad that finished the season as undefeated Class 2A state champions.

* No. 178 Joseph Girard III of Glens Falls (N.Y.) will look to build on his New York record 3,306 career points.

* No. 221 Charles Smith IV is set to make an immediate impact after transferring to Wheeler (Marietta, Ga.).

* No. 230 Niven Glover of aforementioned Oak Ridge is the top returning scorer for the defending Class 9A state champions.

* No. 232 Jovan Blacksher returns to Shadow Mountain (Phoenix, Ariz.) looking to guide the Matadors to their fourth consecutive state title.