Our look at high school basketball's best from the 2021-22 season continues with the MaxPreps Junior All-America Team, highlighted by National Junior of the Year
Ronald Holland of
Duncanville (Texas).
Holland, a 6-foot-8 forward, averaged 15.9 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists and two steals for the MaxPreps National Champions. The Panthers are 64-2 with a pair of Class 6A state titles over the past two seasons.
Considered a five-star prospect by
247Sports, Holland joins a list of past winners that includes Ben Simmons, Jayson Tatum, Zion Williamson and Paolo Banchero. See the full list of past MaxPreps Juniors of the Year at the bottom of the page.
Selections are based on team success, individual production and local,
regional and state honors from the recently-completed season. Potential
at the college and professional level is not a primary consideration.
Players in post-graduate and non-scholastic programs are not eligible
for inclusion.
First Team
MAXPREPS NATIONAL JUNIOR OF THE YEAR
6-8 | Forward | Undecided
Led the Panthers (35-1) to the MaxPreps National Championship, averaging 15.9 points,
7.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists and two steals. Holland poured in a game-high
28 points with six rebounds in a win over No. 2
Centennial early in the season.
6-9 | Forward | Undecided
Averaged 22.1 points, 10.9 rebounds and 2.3 blocks to lead the Blazers
(20-11) to the Class AAAAA state title. Jackson is regarded as the
No. 8 overall prospect in his class.
MacKenzie Mgbako, Gill St. Bernard's (Gladstone, N.J.)
6-8 | Forward | Duke
Versatile
forward averaged 19.5 points, 10.6 rebounds and 2.9 assists to lead the
Knights (20-7) to the NJSIAA North Non-Public B title game.
Mgbako recorded a career-high 36 points and 20 rebounds in a win over
Watchung Hills (Warren) in January.
6-3 | Guard | Undecided
Top-ranked prospect averaged 19.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.5
steals and 3.3 assists to guide Camden (31-3) to its first Tournament of
Champions title game appearance since 2000. The Panthers finished the
season ranked No. 9 in the MaxPreps Top 25.
6-4 | Guard | North Carolina
Led the Lions (29-2) to the NJSIAA Tournament of Champions title after averaging 17.5 points, 7.1 assists and 6.5 rebounds. Wilcher produced 22 points, seven rebounds and five assists in the title game.
Second Team
6-7 | Wing | Undecided
Led the Panthers (29-4) to the Class 5A state title and the No. 11 spot in the MaxPreps Top 25 after averaging 18.3 points and 8.3 rebounds. Edwards had a game-high 20 points with six rebounds and four steals in the title game.
6-2 | Guard | Duke
Helped the 32-1 Huskies to the No. 2 spot in the final MaxPreps Top
25 after winning the program's first CIF Open Division title. McCain averaged 16.9 points, 4.7 rebounds and 4.0 assists while
shooting 40.6 percent from 3-point range.
6-3 | Guard | Kentucky
MaxPreps
Kentucky Player of the Year averaged 25.5 points, 7.6 assists, 6.8
rebounds and 4.4 steals to lead the 28-6 Jaguars to the KHSAA Sweet
16. Shepard has amassed over 2,900 points in his high school school career.
6-8 | Forward | Duke
Versatile
two-way forward led the Wolverines (21-7) to the Class
7A state quarterfinals, averaging 20.5 points, 13.6 rebounds, 4.6
blocks and 2.3 steals while shooting 52 percent from the field.
6-5 | Guard | Undecided
Led 35-6 Lions to their first state title game appearance and scored a game-high 23 points in the Class 6A championship game loss to No. 1 Duncanville. Walter averaged 23.3 points and 7.6 rebounds on the season.
Third Team
6-4 | Guard | Undecided
Guided
the Eagles (26-2) to back-to-back state titles and the No. 3 spot in
the final MaxPreps Top 25 after averaging 13.8 points, 4.0
rebounds and 2.7 assists.
6-5 | Guard | Undecided
Under-the-radar
prospect averaged 25.4 points, 7.2 rebounds, 7.0 assists to guide the
Holy Rams (26-9) to the No. 16 spot in the final National Top 20. Look for Dilione to see a significant rise in the national
rankings prior to next season.
6-2 | Guard | Undecided
Top-ranked point guard prospect averaged 20 points, seven assists and six rebounds for the first-year program created by hip hop icon Kanye West.
6--0 | Guard | Undecided
Electric sixth man averaged16.1 points, four rebounds and three assists while shooting 60 percent
from 3-point range to help the 21-5 Lakers finish No. 5
in the National Top 20.
6-4 | Guard | Undecided
Averaged 18.7 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.0 assists to lead the program to its first state title since 2013. Johnson exploded for game-high 27 points with eight rebounds and four steals in the Class AAAAAAA title game victory.
Honorable Mention
6-8 | Forward | Undecided
Top 10 prospect averaged 8.6 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.2 blocks for a balanced offensive attack that saw no player average more than 10.8 points per contest. Biliew was a key cog for the first-year program that advanced to the GEICO Nationals title game.
6-1 | Guard | Arizona
Talented guard averaged 13.5 points to lead the Dragons (25-5) to the No. 8 spot in the final National Top 20. Boswell is regarded as the No. 14 prospect in the Class of 2023 and demonstrated his ability to play high-level defense this season.
6-4 | Guard | Stanford
Averaged 18 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists to help the Eagles (22-8) reach the AAAAAAA quarterfinals.
6-6 | Guard | Connecticut
Region POY and all-state selection averaged 16.6 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.2 assists to lead the Rams (24-6) to the state semifinals.
6-3 | Guard | Undecided
Five-star prospect averaged 19 points, 6.8 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 3.3 steals to lead the Wildcats (25-5) to the AAAAAA state quarterfinals. Collier won state titles with Wheeler as a freshman and sophomore.
Mookie Cook, AZ Compass Prep
6-7 | Wing | Oregon
Top five Class of 2023 prospect averaged 11.5 points to help the Dragons (25-5) earn their second consecutive GEICO Nationals invitation. Cook showed flashes of his elite potential throughout the season but struggled with consistency.
6-2 | Guard | Indiana
MaxPreps Ohio Player of the Year averaged 14.2 points, 6.8 assists and 2.5 rebounds to guide the Elks (29-1) to the Division I state title game and No. 24 spot in the final MaxPreps Top 25.
6-1 | Guard | Michigan State
Averaged 9.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 2.2 steals while impacting the game in a variety of ways for the Lakers (21-5).
6-5 | Guard | Duke
Averaged 11.9 points, 4.5 assists and 3.8 rebounds to help the Warriors (33-8) qualify for GEICO Nationals and finish the season No. 9 in the final National Top 20.
6-0 | Guard | Undecided
Averaged 26 points, six assists, six rebounds and four steals while shooting 38 percent from 3-point range to guide the Gray Bees (25-1) to the No. 6 spot in the final National Top 20.
5-10 | Guard | Undecided
Three-star guard averaged 17.6 points, 3.8 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 1.8 steals while shooting 41 percent from 3-point range and 87 percent from the charity stripe for the 19-8 Crusaders.
6-0 | Guard | Oregon
MaxPreps Oregon Player of the Year averaged 27 points, 5.5 assists, 5.2 rebounds and 3.2 steals to lead the Lions (22-4) to the Class 6A state semifinals.
6-7 | Wing | Undecided
Under-the-radar prospect was named Atlanta Journal Constitution AAAAAA Player of the Year after leading 29-3 Warriors to their first state title. Sherman averaged 17 points and 7.9 rebounds.
6-8 | Wing | Undecided
Chicago native transferred to first-year program Donda Academy prior to his junior season and averaged 18 points and 6.6 rebounds for the upstart program. Taylor is regarded as the No. 6 overall prospect in the Class of 2023.
6-4 | Guard | Undecided
Has seen dramatic increases in his scoring production each season, averaging 19.7 points, four rebounds and 2.8 steals this year. The four-star guard sits at 1,321 career points with a pair of state titles on his resume.
Past MaxPreps National Juniors of the Year
2010 — Austin Rivers, Winter Park (Fla.)
2011 — Tony Parker, Miller Grove (Lithonia, Ga.)
2012 — Jabari Parker, Simeon (Chicago)
2013 — Stanley Johnson, Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.)
2014 — Ben Simmons, Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.)
2015 — Jayson Tatum, Chaminade (St. Louis)
2016 — Kevin Knox, Tampa Catholic (Tampa, Fla.)
2017 — Zion Williamson, Spartanburg Day (Spartanburg, S.C.)
2018 — Vernon Carey Jr., University (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
2019 — Sharife Cooper, McEachern (Powder Springs, Ga.)
2020 — Paolo Banchero, O'Dea (Seattle)
2021 — Jalen Duren, Montverde Academy
