NBATalk's Head of the Class: 1993 With more and more high school players making the jump straight to the NBA, high school scouting has taken on a much greater importance the last few years. NBA scouts and general managers regularly attend high school basketball games and this year as many as 5 or 6 high school players are seriously considering making themselves eligible for the draft. Prep Stars Recruiting Handbook has been ranking high school players for years and has teamed up with NBAtalk to take a look back at the Top 10 players in high school graduating classes since 1993. We also took a look at Prep Stars final high school rankings for each player and are also noting which players were voted to McDonald's All-American squad (McD). *Class of 1993 The Class of 1993 was probably Prep Stars least accurate year. Tim Duncan, who has risen to the level of NBA superstar got little notice as did Keith Van Horn and Austin Croshere. But consider the fact that only Cuttino Mobley and Austin Croshere were NOT selected in the top 5 picks in the draft. Impressive. 1. Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs (Prep Stars High School Rank: #179) Drafted in 1997, 1st pick What We Say Now: Duncan followed up a brilliant Rookie-of-the-Year season by leading the Spurs to seize the NBA Championship. Re-signed this summer with San Antonio for 3 years for the MAX. 2. Rasheed Wallace, Portland Trail Blazers (McD) (Prep Stars High School Rank: #3) Drafted in 1995,4th pick What they said then: 'Tremendous raw talent isn't real strong yet, but he'sstill developing. Lacks offensive polish, but he's among the top five or six prospects and a potential super. Quick, long-legged leaper/rebounder/rejector deluxe plays even taller than he is. Anticipates very well on defense and does a good job of keeping the ball high when in traffic. Sensational slammer has good form on his turnaround jumper to 16 feet and he uses the glass nicely inside. Agile player needs to develop post moves.' (Prep Stars) What we say now: Arguably the best player on the most talent-laden team in NBA history. Currently ranks in the top 20 among NBA players in 6 different categories (points, FG%, blocks, etc) Signed a 6 yr/$80 million dollar deal after just three years in the pro's. 3. Ray Allen, Milwaukee Bucks (Prep Stars High School Rank: #26) Drafted in 1996, 5th pick What We Say Now: Already a Movie-star, All-Star, and Olympian, Allen had his rookie contract extended by Milwaukee at the Maximum $70.9 million rate for six years. 4. Antonio McDyess, Denver Nuggets (Prep Stars High School Rank: #23) Drafted in 1995, 2nd pick What We Say Now: An established All-Star and Olympic champion, McDyess was traded to Phoenix in the final year of his rookie deal, only to snub the Suns and return to sign with Denver as a free agent for 6 years at $67 million. 5. Keith Van Horn, New Jersey Nets (Prep Stars High School Rank: #119) Drafted in 1997, 2nd pick What We Say Now: Injury-plagued and oft-maligned, Van Horn has yet to tap the extent of his personal potential, yet the Nets still rewarded him with the maximum $71 million for 6 years. 6. Jerry Stackhouse, Detroit Pistons (McD)(Prep Stars High School Rank: #1) Drafted in 1995, 3rd pickk What they said then: 'Near-super combo forward is one of the nation's premierprospects. With a more consistent J, he could be a legitimate superstar.Fast, quick and strong athlete has terrific moves, outstanding leapingability (quick leaper) and fine passing skills. Left hand is good. Goes towar on D and on the boards. Not bad mid-range shooter and hits anoccasional three-pointer. Mental approach key in development' (Prep Stars) What we say now: One of the first to be anointed heir apparent, coming out of UNC, Stackhouse is finally living up to the billing… currently third league-wide in scoring, his first year as a starter (replacing the retired Joe Dumars, now his boss) he played all 82 games, made a run for Most Improved, and earned the coaches appointment to the All-Star team, all well as a shot at the dunk contest. 7. Joe Smith, Detroit Pistons (Prep Stars High School Rank: #27) Drafted in 1995, 1st pick What We Say Now: Solid yet unspectacular, Smith's generally considered a disappointment for a number one pick. Despite that, as well as being forever tainted by bringing down the T-Wolves with a secret contract, suitors around the league were ready to throw piles of dough at Joe. 8. Cuttino Mobley, Houston Rockets (Prep Stars High School Rank: #NR) Drafted in 1998, 41st pick What We Say Now: A bonafide star-in-the-making, Cuttino has all the skills to ball for years to come. He's hands down the best unheralded rookie of his class and surely one of the best second round sleepers of all time. Just got his due last summer with a 6 year, 31 million dollar deal, which is still a steal. 9. Marcus Camby, New York Knicks (Prep Stars High School Rank: #11) Drafted in 1996, 2nd pick What We Say Now: Savior or softie? Nobody knows for sure, since Marcus has experienced both constant injuries and overwhelming scrutiny during his tenure thus far. From Toronto to New York, Camby is constantly battling injuries and bearing out trade rumors, but he still had his rookie contract extened for 6 years and $39 million . 10. Austin Croshere, Indiana Pacers (Prep Stars High School Rank: #103) Drafted in 1997, 12th pick What We Say Now: Made his name last year by blowing up in the playoffs after a solid and surprising regular season run, where Croshere established career highs across the board, leading to a nomination for Most Improved, as well as an offseason windfall deal of $51 million over 7 years as well as a permanent place in the Pacers' rebuilding process. What happened to: Randy Livingston (Prep Stars High School Rank: #2) Livingston was the hottest player in high school hoops when he agreed to play at LSU. Livingston spent two injury-shortened seasons at Louisiana State, playing a total of just 29 college games after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and was never the same. He was drafted in 1996 with Houston Rockets 42nd pick and has played with Houston, Atlanta, Phoenix and Golden State. He now is in the CBA with the Idaho Stampede. Darnell Robinson (Prep Stars High School Rank: #4) Played at Arkansas (his junior year he averaged 12.7 ppg) before leaving early for the NBA draft in 1996 where he was drafted by the Dallas Mavericks with the 59th pick. Never stuck with an NBA team and has spent most of his career in Europe and Israel playing hoops. Ronnie Henderson (Prep Stars High School Rank: #5) Attended LSU along with Livingston in what was once termed the backcourt of the future. Henderson had a much better career at LSU averaging 23.3 ppg as a sophomore before declaring for the NBA draft. He was selected by the Washington Bullets in the second round (55th pick overall) of the 1996 NBA Draft. ------------------ [This message has been edited by countingcrow (edited January 18, 2001).]
That's some pretty good company for Cat. By the way, I saw Randy Livingston play recently in a game against the Lightning. ------------------
Joe Smith over Cat and Camby? Bah. ------------------ The Serious Police are watching. Follow the rules or be assimilated. Shandon is underrated.
I noticed that too. I wouldn't put smith above cat, although i do think he's better than camby. ------------------
