Video: Vernon Carey Jr. highlights See the University star ball out in his junior season.
High school basketball is underway and a number of players have put up stat-stuffing performances already.
MaxPreps takes a look at 10 players from each high school class set to make the biggest impacts this season. The senior, junior and sophomore classes will each have a starting five and second team, while the freshman class is highlighted with 10 players to watch.
With a list that includes some of the top names in high school basketball, here is a look at the players set to make the biggest impact in high school basketball in 2018-19. Note, players in post-graduate or non-scholastic programs are not eligible for inclusion.
Class of 2019
First Team
6-foot-9 | Forward | Uncommitted
Top 10 prospect averaged 18.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, 3 assists and 2.9 blocks for St. Benedict's Prep last season, earning second team
MaxPreps Junior All-American honors. This season, he will be expected to be the catalyst for the No. 1 team in the nation.
6-3 | Guard | Uncommitted
The top-ranked guard, according to
247Sports, averaged 23 points, 7.8 rebounds and 4.1 assists per contest for Christ the King last year, earning third team MaxPreps Junior All-American honors. This season, he will spearhead a loaded Warriors roster.
6-10 | Forward | Uncommitted
The MaxPreps National Junior of the Year averaged 26 points and 10.4 rebounds per game last season. He led the Sharks to the City of Palms Classic title, a Class 5A state championship and a run to the GEICO Nationals title game.
6-2 | Guard | Syracuse
New York's all-time leading scorer enters his senior season with over 3,300 career points. Coming off a season in which he averaged 50 points per game, the only question is what can he do for an encore?
6-9 | Forward | Uncommitted
The MaxPreps Junior All-American first team selection last year averaged 23.3 points and 12.3 rebounds , leading the Spartans to their second consecutive state title. Look for the talented senior to have a huge senior year in his quest for a third state title.
Second Team
A MaxPreps Junior All-American first team selection, Hurt averaged 33.9 points, 15 rebounds, 3.9 blocks and 3.6 assists per game last year while leading the Rockets to a 26-3 mark. The goal this season will be a state title as one of the top uncommitted prospects in the country is expected to have a massive senior season.
6-11 | Forward | Uncommitted
The Eagles fell short of the WIAA 4A state title last season, losing by two points in the championship game. McDaniels averaged 21.3 points, 10 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 3.3 blocks per contest, so look for the top 5 overall senior to light up the scoreboard this season.
6-6 | Guard | Duke
The back-to-back NCBCA Player of the Year led the Chargers to a second straight state title while averaging 25.4 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game. Moore will look to finish off his incredible high school career with a three-peat.
6-5 | Guard | Uncommitted The MaxPreps Junior All-American honorable mention selection led the Trailblazers to the CIF Open Division state title last season, averaging 19 points per game. Look for the athletic guard to have a big senior year against one of the toughest national schedules in the nation.
6-9 | Forward | Uncommitted
The top 10 prospect tallied 20.2 points and 11.3 rebounds per game last season, leading the Lakers to their third consecutive GEICO Nationals bid. Stewart is poised for another monster year with a much better supporting cast around him in 2018-19.
Cassius Stanley, Sierra Canyon
Photo by Heston Quan
First Team
6-9 | Forward | Uncommitted
The play-making forward will once again team up with Carey Jr. to form
the most menacing one-two punch in high school basketball. Barnes had a spectacular sophomore season, taking a leadership role in key events like the City of Palms Classic and GEICO Nationals.
7-1 | Center | Uncommitted
The fundamentally sound big man is one of the more consistent performers
in the nation, averaging 16.3 points, 9.1 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per
game last season. He again will be the anchor for a top 10 Stags team, showing steady improvement throughout his high school career.
6-4 | Guard | Uncommitted He began his junior year with a scintillating performance, going off for 31 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in a three-point loss to the No. 9 McEachern. Expect these kinds of performances more often than not this year for the highly touted guard.
6-6 | Guard | Uncommitted The ultra-talented guard battled injuries over the summer, but is expected to be healthy for the start of 2018-19. The
MaxPreps National Sophomore of the year averaged 27.9 points, 7.7 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game last season.
6-6 | Guard | Uncommitted
After leading Little Elm to a 28-8 record last season, expect Hampton — who went for 30 points, eight rebounds, and six assists per contest — to be hungry to lead the Lobos to a stronger finish in 2018-19.
Scottie Barnes, University
File photo by Jim Redman
6-9 | Forward | Uncommitted
The District 25-6A Player of the Year averaged 28 points, 12.4 rebounds and 2.5 blocks, leading the Vipers to a final mark of 24-11. Brown will look to improve upon last season and lead Vandegrift farther this season.
6-0 | Guard | Uncommitted
He had an impressive start to his junior season, leading No. 9 McEachern to a 75-72 win and spearheading a late comeback with 16 fourth-quarter points while finishing with 23 points, eight assists and seven rebounds. Look for Cooper to be the catalyst for a loaded Indians squad.
6-5 | Guard | Uncommitted The District 4-6A co-MVP averaged 18.8 points, 8.4 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game last season in the Lone Star State. Transferring to Montverde Academy will be a huge change for the talented junior, but he's projected to be a key cog in the Eagles national title defense.
7-0 | Center | Uncommitted
A top-ranked junior prospect averaged 14.1 points, 9.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 3.1 blocks per game last season for a 29-5 Rancho Christian. This season, with his team ranked in the preseason Top 25, Mobley is destined for a massive uptick in his production.
6-4 | Guard | UncommittedKyree Walker had a huge sophomore season for the Hawks, averaging 25 points, 8.7 rebounds, 8.3 assists, 2.7 steals and 2.4 blocks per game. The do-it-all guard is expected to have another impressive year with rumors of a potential move to the class of 2019.
Cade Cunningham, Montverde Academy
Photo by Andrew Bershaw
First Team
6-8 | Wing | Uncommitted
Set for a breakout sophomore season after averaging 14.1 points and 10.2 rebounds per game as a freshman, Banchero led the Irish to a 24-6 record. Look for a young O'Dea team to be a contender in a strong Metro League this season.
6-9 | Forward | Uncommitted
The
MaxPreps Freshman All-American first-team selection averaged 19.1 points, 11.7 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game, leading the Purgolders to the state title game. Look for a strong year and an opportunity to get his team over the hump in 2018-19.
5-10 | Guard | Uncommitted
The MaxPreps Freshman of the Year poured in an incredible 32.7 points and 7.8 assists per game last season. After a transfer to Marshall County, Harmon looks to duplicate his success this season.
6-8 | Forward | Uncommitted
A popular name this summer, from his stellar play and development to his multiple offseason transfer announcements. After attending Huntington Prep last season, Kuminga was expected to play at Lincoln Academy this season before transferring to Our Savior New American.
5-9 | Guard | Uncommitted
The Clarion-Ledger third team All-State selection as a freshman, Ruffin averaged 19.6 points, 5.8 assists and 3.6 steals per game in 2017-18. Expectations will be high entering his sophomore campaign for the Chargers.
Michael Foster Jr., Washington
File photo by David Steutel
6-1 | Guard | Uncommitted
An Associated Press All-State honorable mention selection last season who averaged 22.3 points, 3.4 assists and 3.4 rebounds per game. The talented guard will be a player to watch in the Hoosier State.
6-11 | Center | Uncommitted
After the loss of Kofi Cockburn in the offseason, the Royals will rely heavily on Cisse to be the go-to guy. He showed flashes of greatness last season, including a triple-double in the CHSAA Class AA title game. The big man will need to be more consistent with his scoring for the Royals this season.
6-4 | Guard | Uncommitted
The MaxPreps Freshman All-American third team selection led the Cougars in scoring last season, averaging 25 points per contest. Look for Hardy to lead a young, but talented Coronado team to improve on its 17-12 finish last year.
5-11 | Guard | Uncommitted
The MaxPreps Freshman All-American second teamer scored 50 points early in the year and performed on a high level throughout, averaging 15.9 points per game. Without Alonzo Gaffney this season, Johnson will be expected to improve his production to lead the way in 2018-19.
6-7 | Wing | Uncommitted
A MaxPreps Freshman All-American third team selection, he averaged a team-high 12.7 points and 7.2 rebounds per game this season. Patterson led the Argonauts to the Non-Public B South quarterfinals in 2017-18.
Jaden Hardy, Coronado
File photo by Jann Hendry
Players to Watch:
6-7 | Wing | Uncommitted
6-2 | Guard | Uncommitted
6-8 | Forward | Uncommitted
6-1 | Guard | Uncommitted
6-4 | Guard | Uncommitted
6-3 | Guard | Uncommitted
6-8 | Forward | Uncommitted
6-2 | Guard | Uncommitted
6-6 | Wing | Uncommitted
6-5 | Guard | Uncommitted
