Kevin Love, Ben Simmons, Cade Cunningham and Lonzo Ball are a few of the high school
basketball stars to earn MaxPreps National Player of the Year since the
award was instituted in 2006. The list of candidates for the 2021-22 honor has been narrowed to seven based on team success and individual
excellence throughout the season.
Gradey Dick and Mark Mitchell of Sunrise Christian Academy (Bel Aire, Kan.), Keyonte George and Jarace Walker of IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.), Chris Livingston of Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.), Nick Smith of North Little Rock (Ark.) and Dariq Whitehead of Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) are the seven finalists for this year's honor.
Six of those players — Dick, George, Livingston, Mitchell, Walker and Whitehead will be trying to lead their respective teams to a title at GEICO Nationals later this month. Smith is in the hunt for a state title in Arkansas.
MaxPreps National Player of the Year will be announced April 12 in conjunction with the release of the MaxPreps All-America Team.
Height: 6-7 | Position: W | Year: Senior
The Kansas signee is having a tremendous campaign for the top-ranked Buffaloes, averaging 18.0 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.0 assists while shooting 51.3 percent from the field and 46.7 percent from 3-point range. Regarded as a top 25 prospect in the Class of 2022, Dick led the NIBC in scoring at 17.5 points per contest over 10 conference games.
Height: 6-4 | Position: G | Year: Senior
Top five prospect averaged 17.0 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.1 assists to lead the Ascenders to a second place finish in the NIBC during his only season with the program. The Baylor signee exploded for 40 points, eight rebounds and four assists on 15 of 23 shooting in a signature performance against La Lumiere (La Porte, Ind.) last month at the Metro Classic.
Height: 6-6 | Position: W | Year: Senior
Regarded as the No. 7 prospect in the Class of 2022 according to 247Sports Composite Rankings, Livingston averaged 17.2 points, 8.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists while shooting 55 percent from the field. The Kentucky signee has led the Warriors to a 31-7 record and the No. 7 spot in the National Top 20 rankings after spending his previous three seasons in Ohio.
Height: 6-8 | Position: F | Year: Senior
Top 15 prospect averaged 16 points, six rebounds and three assists while shooting 55 percent from the field for the 24-1 Buffaloes. The Duke signee had a pair of stellar outings at the Spalding Hoophall Classic, going off for 27 points and 12 rebounds against Combine Academy (Lincolnton, N.C.) and finishing with 23 points and eight rebounds versus Wasatch Academy (Mt. Pleasant, Utah).
Height: 6-5 | Position: G | Year: Senior
The Arkansas signee has put up the most impressive numbers of any POY finalists, averaging 26.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 7.3 assists for the 25-3 Charging Wildcats, ranked No. 7 in the MaxPreps Top 25. Regarded as No. 6 prospect in the Class of 2022, Smith looks to lead North Little Rock to its second consecutive state championships to cap an impressive season.
Height: 6-8 | Position: F | Year: Senior
After battling through injuries early in his high school career, Walker has remained healthy and put together a tremendous year, averaging 16.7 points, 8.2 rebounds and 4.0 assists while shooting 68 percent from the field. Regarded as the No. 9 prospect in the Class of 2022, the Houston signee led the Ascenders to a 20-4 record and the No. 2 spot in the National Top 20.
Height: 6-6 | Position: G/W | Year: Senior
Top five prospect averaging 17.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.4 assists for the 19-4 Eagles, ranked No. 4 in the National Top 20. The Duke signee was the third-leading scorer in NIBC play, averaging 16.8 points over the course of 10 conference games. Whitehead went off for a season-high 31 points in a loss to IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) in December.
Past MaxPreps National Players of the Year
2006 — Greg Oden, Lawrence North (Indianapolis)
2007 — Kevin Love, Lake Oswego (Lake Oswego, Ore.)
2008 — Brandon Jennings, Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.)
2009 — Derrick Favors, South Atlanta (Atlanta)
2010 — Harrison Barnes, Ames (Iowa)
2011 — Austin Rivers, Winter Park (Fla.)
2012 — Kyle Anderson, St. Anthony (Jersey City, N.J.)
2013 — Jabari Parker, Simeon (Chicago)
2014 — Stanley Johnson, Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.)
2015 — Ben Simmons, Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.)
2016 — Lonzo Ball, Chino Hills (Calif.)
2017 — Michael Porter Jr., Nathan Hale (Seattle)
2018 — R.J. Barrett, Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.)
2019 — Sharife Cooper, McEachern (Powder Springs, Ga.)
2020 — Cade Cunningham, Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.)
2021 — Chet Holmgren, Minnehaha Academy (Minneapolis, Minn.)
