Our look at high school basketball's best from the 2021-22 season continues with the MaxPreps Sophomore All-America Team, highlighted by National Sophomore of the Year
Ian Jackson of
Cardinal Hayes (Bronx, N.Y.).
Jackson, a 6-foot-4 guard, averaged 19.8 points, five rebounds and four assists to lead the Cardinals to the CHSAA Class AA state title and the No. 7 spot in the MaxPreps Top 25.
Regarded as the No. 2 overall prospect by
247Sports, Jackson joins a list of past winners that includes R.J. Barrett, Jalen Green, Jonathan Kuminga and Andrew Wiggins. See the full list of past MaxPreps Sophomores of the Year below.
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
6-8 | Wing | Uncommitted
Atlanta Journal Constitution All-Metro Cobb County first-team selection averaged 19.5 points, 11.7 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 2.4 blocks to lead the Indians (15-10) to the AAAAAAA state tournament.
MAXPREPS NATIONAL SOPHOMORE OF THE YEAR
6-4 | Guard | Uncommitted
Averaged 19.8 points, five rebounds and four assists to guide the Cardinals (26-3) to the CHSAA Class AA state title and No. 7 spot in the MaxPreps Top 25.
6-5 | Guard | Uncommitted
MaxPreps North Carolina Player of the Year piled up 24.5 points, 9.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.7 steals to lead the Raiders (26-2) to the Class 4A state quarterfinals.
6-5 | Guard | Uncommitted
Dallas Morning News first team all-area selection averaged 23.7 points and 5.7 rebounds to lead the Wildcats (32-5) to the third round of the Class 6A state tournament. Johnson is regarded as the No. 3 prospect in the Class of 2024.
6-6 | Wing | Uncommitted
First
team Baltimore Catholic League selection averaged 22
points, six rebounds and four assists to lead the Gaels (32-7) to the
program's first Baltimore Catholic League Tournament championship since
2017.
Second Team
6-7 | Wing | Uncommitted
Top-ranked sophomore prospect averaged 13.8 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.8 assists to lead the
Knights (20-7) to the NJSIAA North Jersey, Non-Public B title game. Cunningham showed flashes of his elite potential throughout the season.
6-10 | Center | Uncommitted
Under-the-radar
prospect averaged 17.5 points, 13.3 rebounds and 5.3 blocks to lead the
Wildkats to the Class 4A state semifinals. Bidunga posted 32
points, 20 rebounds and 11 blocks in a 59-45 win Feb. 11 over Richmond.
6-7 | Forward | Uncommitted
Five-star prospect averaged 16.8 points and 9.1 rebounds to lead the Cardinals (31-7) to the TAPPS Class 6A state title. McNeeley had a game-high 19 points in the state championship game.
6-5 | Guard | Uncommitted
Led the Saints (25-7) to the CIF Division I state semifinals after averaging 20 points, five rebounds and four assists. Miller was the only sophomore to be named to the 10-player Los Angeles Times All-Star team.
6-3 | Guard | Uncommitted
Averaged 22.9 points as the Crusaders (30-6) reached the CIF Open Division state title game. The five-star guard scored a team-high 20 points in the championship game loss to Centennial.
Third Team
6-1 | Guard | Uncommitted
Prolific scorer averaged 25 points to lead the Bruins to a winning record at 12-11. The five-star prospect has surpassed 1,000 career points after a breakout sophomore season.
6-3 | Guard | Uncommitted
Highly-regarded prospect was a key cog in the Crusaders (26-4) run to the CHSAA Class AA title game. Fland averaged 14.4 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.7 assists as Stepinac finished No. 13 in the final MaxPreps Top 25.
6-5 | Wing | Uncommitted
Averaged
20.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.8 steals to lead the
Crusaders (22-8) to the Class 3A state semifinals. Knox has
recorded over 1,000 career points through his first two seasons.
5-11 | Guard | UncommittedProduced 14 points, 5.1 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals to guide the Patriots to the Class 5A state title and No. 25 spot in the final MaxPreps Top 25.
6-9 | Forward | Uncommitted
Top 25 prospect averaged 20.6 points, 11.3 rebounds, 3.5 blocks and 2.4 assists while shooting 56 percent from the field to lead the Seahawks (12-10) to the Class 2A state tournament. Stevenson posted 42 points, 21 rebounds and eight blocks in a January win.
Honorable Mention
Marcus Allen, Norland (Miami)
6-7 | Wing | Uncommitted
Averaged 18.2 points and 7.7 rebounds and shot 57 percent from the field in guiding the Vikings (20-10) to the Class 5A state quarterfinals. Allen posted a career high 27 points three times this season.
5-8 | Guard | Michigan
The only player in the sophomore class committed at the collegiate level, Anderson averaged 30 points, 3.5 assists and 2.6 assists while shooting 48 percent from the field and 40 percent from 3-point range. He dropped a career high 55 points in a 81-73 win Nov. 23 over Midtown (Atlanta).
6-1 | Guard | Uncommitted
Third team Associated Press All-State selection averaged 18.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.5 steals and 3.3 assists to lead Milwaukee Academy of Science (23-6) to the WIAA Division 4 state title game.
6-5 | Guard | Uncommitted
After sitting out at the beginning of the season due to CIF transfer rules, the five-star guard provided a spark for the Trailblazers (26-5). Elohim averaged 11.2 points, 5.5 rebounds and two assists while shooting 40 percent from 3-point range in 17 games.
6-8 | Forward | Uncommitted
Led the Cadets (15-13) to a 8-7 finish in Washington Catholic Athletic Conference play after averaging 13 points and seven rebounds. Freeman is regarded as the No. 28 prospect in the Class of 2024.
6-3 | Guard | Uncommitted
Under-the-radar guard averaged 22.8 points, five rebounds and four assists while shooting 56 percent from the field and 46 percent from 3-point range. Haynes became the fastest player to surpass 1,000 career points in program history.
6-6 | Guard | Uncommitted
Playing on a roster filled with fellow four-star and five-star prospects, Howard showed promise averaging 14 points per game for the first-year program. The Georgia native is regarded as a top 20 prospect.
6-0 | Guard | Uncommitted
Nevada Preps All-Southern second team selection
averaged 15.5 points, two assists and two steals to navigate the Gaels (30-1) to the Class 5A state title game and the No. 23 spot in the final
MaxPreps Top 25.
6-5 | Guard | Uncommitted
The
son of 18-year NBA veteran Nazr Mohammed averaged 17.2 points, 6.2
rebounds and 4.8 assists to navigate the Mustangs (17-9) to the NCHSAA
Class 4A state quarterfinals. Sir upped his averages to 25.8 points, six
rebounds and 5.8 assists in four state tournament games.
5-11 | Guard | Uncommitted
NJ.com third team all-state selection averaged 18.4 points while leading the Hawks (23-3) to the NJSIAA North Jersey Non-Public B quarterfinals. Pettiford exploded for a season-high 40 points in a Jan. 15 triple-overtime victory over Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey).
6-9 | Center | Uncommitted
Although his number don't stand out, Queen is regarded as a top 10 prospect nationally and showed his potential in limited minutes for the GEICO Nationals champions. He averaged 6.2 points and 4.2 rebounds after winning MaxPreps National Freshman of the Year honors last season.
6-2 | Guard | Uncommitted
Las Vegas Review-Journal Nevada Preps All-Southern second team selection
averaged 14 points, five rebounds and five assists for the state runner-up. The Gaels fell just shy of setting the national record with 10 consecutive state titles.
6-8 | Wing | Uncommitted
Interstate Athletic Conference first-team selection averaged 16.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.8 blocks and 1.8 steals. Rooths is regarded as the No. 29 prospect in the Class of 2024 according to 247Sports.
6-0 | Guard | Uncommitted
Led the Saints (23-4) to the Philadelphia Catholic League tournament and PIAA Class 4A state tournament championship, averaging 19.3 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.3 assists while shooting 49 percent from the field and 44 percent from beyond the arc.
6-8 | Forward | Uncommitted
Earned first team Sunshine Independent Athletic Association honors after averaging 18.9 points, 11.7 rebounds and 2.2 assists. Yeanay earned SIAA tournament MVP after guiding the Lions (25-8) to the title.
Past MaxPreps Sophomores of the Year
2010 — DaJuan Coleman, Jamesville-DeWitt (DeWitt, N.Y.)
2011 — Aquille Carr, Patterson (Baltimore)
2012 — Andrew Wiggins, Huntington Prep (Huntington, W.Va.)
2013 — Malik Newman, Callaway (Jackson, Miss.)
2014 — Joshua Jackson, Consortium (Detroit); Jayson Tatum, Chaminade (St. Louis)
2015 — M.J. Walker, Jonesboro (Ga.)
2016 — Romeo Langford, New Albany (Ind.)
2017 — R.J. Barrett, Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.)
2018 — Jalen Green, San Joaquin Memorial (Fresno, Calif.)
2019 — Jonathan Kuminga, Our Savior New American (Centereach, N.Y.)
2020 — Emoni Bates, Lincoln (Ypsilanti, Mich.)
2021 — D.J. Wagner, Camden (N.J.)
