Each year since 2006, MaxPreps has recognized the top high school basketball players in America. Past
honorees include 2021 NBA All-Stars Bradley Beal (2011), Jaylen Brown (2015), Devin Booker (2014), Anthony Davis (2011), Kevin
Durant (2008), James
Harden (2007), Kyrie Irving (2010), Zach LaVine (2013), Julius Randle (2012 and 2013), Ben Simmons (2014 and
2015), Jayson Tatum (2014, 2015 and 2016) and Zion Williamson (2017 and 2018).
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.
6-foot-1 | Senior (2021) | Guard | Tennessee
Averaged 14.7 points, 5.1 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 3.1 steals per game, guiding the Buffaloes to the GEICO Nationals title game.
6-9 | Senior (2021) | Forward | Kentucky
MaxPreps Texas Player of the Year averaged 35.2 points, 14.4 rebounds, 7.0 assists and 6.2 blocks for the 19-5 Rabbits.
6-10 | Junior (2022) | Center | Uncommitted
No. 2-ranked junior prospect averaged 14.3 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.2 blocks
per contest to help the Eagles win a fifth national championship since 2013.
MAXPREPS NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
7-0 | Senior (2021) | Center | Uncommitted
Averaged 20.8 points, 12.6 rebounds, 4.7 blocks and 4.5 assists while shooting 80 percent from the field. Holmgren was part of four state championship teams at Minnehaha Academy.
6-3 | Senior (2021) | Guard | Uncommitted
Helped put AZ Compass Prep on the national map this season, averaging 24 points, seven assists and six rebounds per game.
Second Team
Matthew Cleveland, Pace Academy (Atlanta)6-7 | Senior (2021) | Wing | Florida State
Five-star prospect averaged 22.8 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.3 steals and 2.6 assists, helping Knights to their second consecutive state title and first GEICO Nationals berth.
6-3 | Senior (2021) | Guard | Alabama
Tallied
32.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 3.6 steals per game as the
Tigers reached the state semifinals. Davison opened his senior campaign
with a 57-point game and posted 14 double-doubles.
6-5 | Senior (2021) | Guard | Duke
Limited to just 11 games, future Blue Devil averaged 28.7 points,
9.1 rebounds, 7.2 assists and 3.8 steals while recording six
triple-doubles. Piled up 1,803 career points.
6-10 | Senior (2021) | Forward | Auburn
Produced 23.4 points, 9.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.5 blocks per game to lead the Patriots to the state championship game. Finished career with just under 2,000 points.
6-7 | Senior (2021) | Wing | Loyola-Chicago
MaxPreps
Nebraska Player of the Year averaged 21.2 points, 7.9 rebounds and 5.2
assists per game in leading Millard North to its first state title.
Third Team
6-10 | Senior (2021) | Forward | Michigan
Versatile five-star forward led fifth-ranked Ascenders in scoring and rebounding, averaging 14.1 points and 7.5 rebounds per outing while shooting 64 percent from the field.
6-3 | Junior (2022) | Guard | Uncommitted
Atlanta
Journal Constitution Class 6A Player of the Year averaged 32 points,
seven rebounds and six assists as Longhorns reached the state title game.
6-6 | Junior (2022) | Wing | Uncommitted
Poured in 31.1 points per game to go along with 15.8 rebounds, 6.1
assists and 4.7 steals while shooting 71 percent
from the field for state quarterfinalists.
6-5 | Senior (2021) | Guard | Gonzaga
Top 10 prospect averaged 22.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.4 steals. Sallis tallied 25 points, six rebounds and five assists in Mustangs' state-title game win.
6-2 | Junior (2021) | Guard | Ohio State
Atlanta Journal Constitution 7A Player of the Year averaged 17 points, nine assists and seven rebounds per contest. Led Eagles to their first state title since 2012 and the program's first GEICO Nationals appearance.
Honorable Mention
6-8 | Junior (2022) | Wing | Uncommitted
Top-ranked Class of 2022 prospect averaged 25.2 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.5
assists in a shortened 10-game season for the first-year program.
6-11 | Senior (2021) | Center | Oregon
Oregon native averaged 17 points, eight rebounds and three blocks per game in lone season with the No. 10 Crew.
6-6 | Senior (2021) | Guard | Michigan State
Catalyst for the Hurricanes' first state championship, averaging 33.4 points, 11.2 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 2.3 steals.
Malaki Branham, St. Vincent-St. Mary (Akron, Ohio)6-4 | Senior (2021) | Guard | Ohio State
Ohio
Mr. Basketball averaged 21.3 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.7 assists per contest. Branham put an exclamation point on his senior year
with 37 points in the Fighting Irish's title victory.
6-8 | Senior (2021) | Guard | Baylor
Five-star prospect averaged a team-high 16 points per game and shot 62 percent from the field to help third-ranked Buffaloes to their second consecutive top five finish in the national rankings.
6-6 | Senior (2021) | Guard | Michigan State
Chicago
Sun-Times Player of the Year averaged 24 points, 10 rebounds, four
assists and three steals to guide the Mustangs to a 15-0 record.
Christie became the all-time leading scorer in Mid-Suburban League
history, finishing with over 2,000 career points.
6-3 | Senior (2021) | Guard | Connecticut
MaxPreps Pennsylvania Player of the Year helped the Vikings reach state championship game, averaging 18.6 points, 6.5 assists and 3.5 steals per contest. He became
the program's all-time leading scorer in the process with over 1,400
points.
6-10 | Senior (2021) | Forward | Purdue
MaxPreps Indiana Player of the Year averaged 21.5 points, 14.4 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.1 blocks to lead the Braves to their second consecutive state title. Furst finished an impressive four-year run as the
program's all-time leading scorer with 2,087 career points.
6-5 | Senior (2021) | Guard | Connecticut
MaxPreps Maryland Player of the Year averaged 18.8 points, 11.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 2.1 steals and 1.9
blocked shots per contest as the Stags finished No. 4 in final MaxPreps Top 25.
6-3 | Senior (2021) | Guard | Kentucky
MaxPreps Utah Player of the Year averaged 16.0 points, 3.3 assists and
2.5 rebounds per game to help the Tigers finish No. 12 in final MaxPreps Top 25.
6-8 | Senior (2021) | Forward | Dayton
Top 50 prospect transferred after the New Year and provided a strong second option for the Dragons, averaging 15 points, nine rebounds and three blocks per contest.
6-7 | Senior (2021) | Forward | Kentucky
MaxPreps Illinois Player of the Year averaged 24.4 points, 12.5 rebounds and three assists per game to lead the Friars to the Catholic League Blue championship.
6-8 | Senior (2021) | Forward | Michigan
Top 10 prospect averaged 13.2 points and 4.6 rebounds per outing while shooting 53 percent from the field and 40 percent from 3-point range.
6-7 | Senior (2021) | Wing | Stanford
Five-star prospect averaged 23.5 points, 13.5 rebounds and 8.3 assists per outing in an abbreviated 7-2 season.
6-3 | Senior (2021) | Guard | North Carolina State
MaxPreps North Carolina Player of the Year averaged 25.6 points per game to lead the Jaguars to their third straight state championship, posting a 76-2 record during their dominant three-year run. Smith pumped in 33 points, 10 assists, nine rebounds and five steals in the state title game.
